MSNOW: Democratic leaders are failing to stand up to Trump on Venezuela [View all]

Congressional Democratic leaders’ criticisms of President Donald Trump’s shocking military operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have been so weak and ambivalent that they’ve left him on far stronger ground politically than he should be as he lays out an imperialistic agenda to “run” the oil-rich country.

“Nicolas Maduro is a criminal and authoritarian dictator who has oppressed the people of Venezuela for years,” Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a Saturday statement. “He is not the legitimate head of government. Undoubtedly, the rule of law and democracy have broken down in Venezuela and the people of that country deserve better.” The entire first paragraph of Jeffries’ statement was devoted to condemning Maduro — not Trump.
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When Jeffries finally gets around to criticizing Trump’s actions, he does not express opposition to the invasion itself, but to Trump acting without Congress’ permission. “The Trump administration has not sought congressional authorization for the use of military force and has failed to properly notify Congress in advance of the operation in Venezuela,” he said. Democrats deserve credit for taking steps to pass a resolution to constrain Trump’s ability to conduct further military operations in Venezuela without congressional approval (even if it faces slim chances of gaining veto-proof support). But instead of making an issue about Trump not going to war the right way, they ought to be making a case against war itself.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed Jeffries’ mealy-mouthed position. In a statement, he also began by condemning Maduro as illegitimate, objecting to the Trump administration’s failure to seek congressional authorization, and then describing Trump’s intention to run Venezuela “without a credible plan” as “reckless.”