A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON repeatedly refused to comment on the momentous political crisis in Brazil during his daily press briefing on Friday — in almost ludicrous contrast to his long and loquacious criticisms of neighboring Venezuela.
When questioned on the stark contrast, increasingly exasperated department spokesperson Mark Toner replied, “I just – again, I don’t have anything to comment on the ongoing political dimensions of the crisis there. I don’t.”
The State Department has long been eager to criticize Venezuela’s left-wing government, which has pursued policies antagonistic to global corporations. In contrast, it has been silent about the takeover of Brazil by a staunchly right-wing, pro-business government that is making the privatization of state industry a priority.
Friday’s exchange began when The Intercept asked Toner why the U.S. has been joining in regional criticisms of Venezuela’s democratic backsliding but has ignored Brazil’s political crisis, where right-wing lawmakers voted onMay 12 to suspend the elected government and open impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff.
Watch the spokesperson’s responses below:
PLEASE HELP US!!!!!! REBLOG THIS!!!!
FINALLY SOMETHING ABOUT BRAZIL’S SITUATION ON MY DASHBOARD
WE’RE LIVING A REVOLUTION! WE’VE BEEN IN AN ALMOST CIVIL WAR STATE FOR TWO WEEKS! WHAT THE HELL, FOREIGNERS? TALK ABOUT US!
Why isn’t this shit on the new in America tho. Like the fuck I didn’t even know this shit was going on. But what’s the whole protest and marching about anyway? Details people
They’re marching about how new laws are giving politicians even more power than before to take money away from their people. They’re marching because of the money going towards the stadiums for the World Cup and Olympics while their education and health systems suffer. They wants change, and goddamn it’s about time they get it.That stadium is also being built on indigenous people’s land, where they were housed and everything and the Brazilian government forcibly removed said indigenous peoples and bulldozed everything.
