Central Florida Congressman Darren Soto proved a politician can acknowledge a threat and still vote to empower it.
U.S. Representative Soto represents Osceola County, and parts of Orange County and Polk County in Central Florida, with congressional offices in Kissimmee and Orlando.
Recently, Democratic Rep. Darren Soto voted to reaffirm that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, while also voting to limit Republican President Donald Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran. It does seem the vulnerable Central Florida Democrat being targeted nationally is trying to have it both ways.
Republicans said Rep. Soto was “tying America’s hands against a hostile regime” and expressed it was a dangerous double standard.
“You can’t have it both ways,” the National Republican Congressional Committee said. “If Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism on the planet, why would Darren Soto vote to weaken America’s ability to confront it?”
The Central Florida Democrat called taking out Iran’s Ayatollah an “important victory” but said the Republican President has not presented a plan for what happens next.
“Today, I voted to uphold Congress’ constitutional war powers. The president did not seek the support of the American people or the House before entering a war with Iran,” Democratic Rep. Darren Soto posted. “Taking out Ayatollah Khamenei is an important victory. Since then, the Administration has not presented a meaningful plan for what happens next. Now, thousands of troops, countless military assets, and billions of dollars are committed without a timeline and with shifting objectives.”
“Darren Soto’s vote exposes a dangerous double standard,” NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said. “He admits that Iran is the leading sponsor of terrorism, yet still voted to tie President Trump’s hands and weaken America’s ability to defend itself. Floridians deserve leaders who will stand up and keep them safe against terrorist regimes, not politicians playing partisan games with national security.”
The Florida Congressman also attempted to distract away from the issue by attacking Republicans for Obamacare, Medicaid and SNAP funding, while saying he was concerned with rising gas prices even though he had no problem with gas prices under President Joe Biden.
“Meanwhile, Trump says we don’t have enough money to fund Obamacare subsidies to lower healthcare costs, and is cutting Medicaid and SNAP for American families. We also see gas prices and mortgage rates rising due to the war,” Rep. Soto continued. “This is why our Founding Fathers gave Congress the war power. So we could decide whether to go to war, establish objectives, ensure we have the resources for victory, and work with our allies.”
Voters will ultimately decide the Central Florida congressional election, but Republicans will clearly attempt to capitalize on more confusing and conflicting votes from Rep. Soto. Other votes by the Democrat on the issue of immigration also expose him to political attacks for making Central Florida less safe.
This all just looks like more of the same from Double Standard Darren Soto, who has always seemingly struggled with his own political identity.
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