OUR LATIN AMERICAN GROVELING - AT 9:47 P.M. ET:  Our attitude toward Honduras continues to be embarrassing.  The president of that country was lawfully removed from office, is an ally of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, and is a threat to Honduran democracy.  Yet, we champion him:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to meet ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya on Thursday, the State Department said as Washington debates formally cutting off aid to the Honduran government.

Despite worldwide condemnation of the June 28 coup against Zelaya, who was whisked into exile in a military plane while still in his pajamas, Roberto Micheletti's de facto government has said it will not be pressured into stepping down.

Micheletti has so far rejected proposals put forward by mediator Costa Rican President Oscar Arias that would have allowed Zelaya to return to power before November elections in the poor Central American nation.

COMMENT:  There was no coup, despite the term being used over and over by the mainstream media.  The military acted only on direction from the Supreme Court.  As far as "worldwide condemnation" is concerned, some of the institutions involved - like the European Union, would never have acted had Obama not slammed Zelaya's removal first. 

What is our interest here?  Democracy?  A democratic procedure was carried out.  Influence?  With whom?  Will Chavez love us more if we help his friend?

Our Latin American policy has shifted decidedly leftward.  Indeed, Eugene Robinson, the African-American columnist for the Washington Post, recently reported that Obama chewed him out personally for suggesting that the White House be tougher on Chavez.  Obama represents that part of the Democratic Party that believes that we can learn a lot from Fidel Castro, and that Chavez is a legitimate, if eccentric revolutionary. 

I hope Cuban Americans are watching carefully.

September 1, 2009