Nobody has ever accused famed Mexican American journalist Jorge Ramos of being tight-lipped or afraid to express his opinions. The eight time Emmy award winner and longtime Univision anchor is left-leaning politically, but well short of favoring a progressive agenda. In short, Ramos is a fierce proponent of democracy in the region and holds distain for those countries that play by their own rules.
Like most of us, Ramos is no fan of Russia’s president Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. On a recent visit to the war zone and a refugee camp in Poland, Ramos was deeply moved by the psychological toll the conflict has had on kids. The sad experience prompted him to write an opinion piece called “The Children of War” on his website, Jorgeramos.com. And at the same time, he blasted Mexico’s president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for taking a neutral stance on Russia’s unprovoked aggression.
Lately however, Ramos and AMLO have been at odds for another reason. The up-coming Summit of the Americas is in Los Angeles June 6-10 and Brian Nichols, the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, doesn’t want to extend an invitation to Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
“Western Hemisphere leaders have placed strengthening democracy at the center of their efforts to improve the lives of their people,” Nichols said last week. “Since 2001, regional leaders upheld a strict respect for democracy as a condition for attending these summits.”
Obviously, the above mentioned countries have not been playing ball as promised. But Lopez Obrador, a socialist who would make Bernie Sanders look more like Ronald Reagan, has said that he will not attend the summit if his friends are excluded.
“Who are we to judge who can and can not attend?” tweeted AMLO. “If there are differences, let there be dialogue”
Ramos countered in a video message that “the brutal dictatorships in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela are supported by numerous human rights violations reported by Amnesty International and other organizations.
“There are hundreds and hundreds of political prisoners jailed in those countries,” continued Jorge. Mexico must take sides, but our (media) side must be that of freedom and respect for human rights.”
Ramos can back up his statements personally. In 2019, he and his crew were held hostage by Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro, who was angered by photos of Caracas residents eating from a garbage can. The ordeal ended within 24 hours, but the memories remain vivid.
The final decision on whether Maduro, Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega and Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel will be invited to the dance is up to Joe Biden. Argentina, Bolivia and Honduras are in agreement with Mexico, exposing a cancer that is growing in Latin America. As for the feisty Ramos, there will be no position change.
“Mr. President, we are still in disagreement,” said the journalist in a message to Lopez Obrador. “Thugs should not join the party.”
