Members of South Florida's congressional delegation were quick to criticize President Obama for claiming that Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez poses no "serious" national security threat.

Obama, being interviewed Monday with Miami-based America Teve, downplayed the global impact of Venezuela’s dictator.

"We're always concerned about Iran engaging in destabilizing activity around the globe," Obama told the Spanish-language television station. "But overall, my sense is that what Mr. Chavez has done over the last several years has not had a serious national security impact on us."

The comments have been seized upon by Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, as well as South Florida Republicans who have long seen Chavez as a partner with communist Cuba.

Rubio issued a statement calling the remarks “alarmingly naïve.”

"Hugo Chavez is not only a threat to the Venezuelan people's freedom and democratic aspirations, he has also supported Iran's regime in its attempts to expand its intelligence network throughout the hemisphere, facilitated money-laundering activities that finance state sponsors of terrorism and provided a safe haven for FARC narco-terrorists, among many other actions," Rubio stated in the release.

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, who is campaigning for U.S. Senate, chimed in that Chavez “has spread anti-American hatred around the globe” through partnerships with nations such as Iran and Syria.

“He (Chavez) has been deeply engaged in supporting narco-terrorists who advance his interests,” Mack stated.

“He has crushed opposition at home, seeking to model the internal workings of Venezuela on the Cuban revolution. His close friendship with Fidel Castro is legendary. And he has worked closely with the Castro brothers in subverting American policy and undermining freedom and democracy across Latin America. President Obama should be working to isolate Chavez, not downplaying the dangers he poses.”

U.S. Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, strongly disagreed that the White House occupant fails to recognize the threat from Chavez, who has been linked with Castro’s Cuba.

“It is extremely disconcerting that President Obama has chosen to turn a blind eye to Hugo Chavez,” Rivera stated in a release. “The threat that Chavez’s Venezuela represents is growing from a looming specter in our hemisphere to a concrete reality with a worldwide network.

“Venezuela has already demonstrated hostility toward the United States, establishing well-documented ties with other dictators around the world, including Fidel Castro in Cuba, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran and Bashar al-Assad in Syria -- all designated as state sponsors of terrorism by our own State Department. Most recently, it has come to light that the Venezuelan air force was illegally buying munitions from vendors in the United States that were selling parts without a license.

“In addition to his ties with other dictatorial regimes, Chavez has a dangerous track record. There is evidence that Venezuela is establishing itself as a cyber warfare center, and that the now expelled consulate general in Miami was linked to a potential cyber attack on the United States involving affiliates of the Iranian, Cuban and Venezuelan regimes. Chavez has welcomed and provided direct military assistance to terrorist groups like the FARC. He has likewise provided safe havens for narco-terrorists and their drug trade as reports have shown that one third of the world’s cocaine, more than 30 tons of Colombian cocaine, pass through Venezuela each year.

“While President Obama seems aware of the lack of free and democratic elections and the violations of human rights in Venezuela, that is only the tip of the iceberg of the threat that Hugo Chavez poses.”

Obama, in the interview, claimed his concern “when it comes to Venezuela, is having the Venezuelan people have a voice in their affairs and that you end up ultimately having fair and free elections, which we don't always see."



Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.