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CNN Interviews America’s Leading Socialist, Doesn’t Ask About Venezuela

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Rachel Stoltzfoos Staff Reporter
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Sen. Bernie Sanders was given a pass on Venezuela in an interview with CNN’s Brooke Baldwin on Tuesday.

Although he is America’s leading socialist and a candidate for president, he was not asked to comment on the violent clashes that broke out across the country on Tuesday in an attempt to overthrow Nicolas Maduro’s illegitimate socialist government.

As Baldwin questioned Sanders on a number of subjects, including healthcare and his vote in support of a 1994 tough-on-crime bill, Venezuelans were facing down pro-Maduro forces using armored vehicles to mow down protesters. The U.S. has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the rightful leader of the country, and is backing his effort to seize control of the government. (RELATED: MSNBC Reporter Inadvertently Makes The Case For The Second Amendment)

Sanders has criticized Maduro’s regime, but stopped short of calling it a dictatorship. He is opposed to the idea of a U.S. military intervention to unseat Maduro, saying in a recent interview that option should be “off the table.”

“The world community has got to be mindful of the suffering and the hunger that’s going on in Venezuela right now,” he told the New Yorker in the April interview. But, at the end of the day, I think what you want in one of the largest countries in Latin America is free and fair elections, and we want to do everything we can to establish democracy there.”

President Trump tweeted in support of Guaido’s efforts Tuesday, joining other vocal supporters of the uprising, including Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.

“The United States stands with the people of Venezuela and their freedom!” Trump said.

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