You can't distance yourself from what's in your heart: Sanders distances himself from 2011 editorial on his Senate website praising the American dream in Venezuela

Sanders distances himself from 2011 editorial on his Senate website praising the American dream in Venezuela

As the political situation in Venezuela deteriorates, an editorial endorsed by presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that praised the socialist country as a place where the "American dream is more apt to be realized" in 2011.

The piece from the Valley News editorial board, which discussed the U.S. jobs and wealth gap, was posted under the "must read" section on Sanders' official Senate website.

"Less remarked, however, is the fact that America's wealth gap is also a race gap," the editorial board wrote. "As the Pew Research Center reported last week, the median wealth of white households is 20 times that of black households and 18 times that of Hispanic households. Think about that. In 2009, the typical black household had $5,677 in wealth — defined as assets minus debts; the typical Hispanic household had $6,325; the typical white household, by contrast, had $113,149.

"These days, the American dream is more apt to be realized in South America, in places such as Ecuador, Venezuela and Argentina, where incomes are actually more equal today than they are in the land of Horatio Alger. Who's the banana republic now?" the piece states.

When asked if Sanders still endorses the article, Sarah Ford, the deputy communications director for Sanders' 2020 campaign, told the Washington Examiner he agrees with overall premise of the article, but specifically disavows the reference to Venezuela.

"Sen. Sanders agrees with many of the important points raised in that article with regard to wealth and income inequality," she said. "With regard to the article's reference to Venezuela, Sen. Sanders has been critical of the Maduro government's repression of dissent and called for international aid to end the ongoing humanitarian crisis, so would not endorse that specific claim."

Violence has escalated in Venezuela as Juan Guaidó, whom the United States recognizes as the legitimate president of the country, called for his supporters to take the country back from strongman Nicolás Maduro's regime. Shocking videos have emerged from Venezuela, with one showing a military vehicle running over pro-Guaidó supporters.

Vice President Mike Pence tweeted his support for Guaidó, saying the United States "will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored."