Ben Cardin actually said...

"The comment you made about leaders in Africa wanting to hold onto power rather than allowing their countries to develop I thought was a very poignant point, and I could not agree more with that assess..."

"If confirmed, I will engage the Vázquez administration by focusing on the multilateral approach to Venezuela within the Organization of American States (OAS)."

"I see in Venezuela's present circumstances echoes of Uruguay's past."

"the promotion and defense of human rights and democracy is central to U.S. national security and prosperity."