Frederick Co. MD "Up and Coming" Young Democrats

Spencer Knoll Bio

President Obama's friendly interactions with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during the Summit of the Americas are a welcome change from the policies of the George W. Bush administration. But, the criticism that has arisen from those interactions are not wholly without merit. It is important that the President consider his position in relation to that of Venezuela's President and act accordingly.

Chavez has spent several years in the global public's eye lambasting not just President Obama's predecessor but America as a nation. It would be foolish, then, to assume that he just happens to like Barack Obama and will now fall in line. No, he expects something from America.

Granted, I do believe that what he wants more than anything is respect, and we should be more than willing to show him that. We should be willing to have normal relations and mutual respect with any country willing to extend to us that same courtesy. But, we cannot allow leaders like Hugo Chavez to dictate the terms of a relationship with America. While that may not actually happen, appearances matter. Photos of a smiling President Obama shaking hands with President Chavez and patting him on the back give the wrong impression to the rest of the world.

CNN's senior political analyst David Gergen said it best when he commented that the President may want to "shake hands, [but] hold the smiles." We should treat Venezuela's President with respect and diplomatic courtesy, but given his track record, it is not time to elevate him to our level on the global stage.

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