Thread by @HillelNeuer

As the U.N. today elects slave state Mauritania to its Human Rights Council, I share this:

1. "Mr. President, people around the world ask: 'Why does a human rights council include so many non-democracies?' Defenders of the system have a ready reply: “We need a big tent...”

2. “We need a big tent,” they say, “so that countries with poor records can engage, learn and improve.” Well, perhaps nations with spotty records, who actually wish to make progress, can be embraced & given technical cooperation, for example, to train their judges or police..."

3. "But does the UN have to keep electing the world’s worst abusers, dictatorships whose only intent is to win a false badge of international legitimacy?"

4. "I ask all here who propagate the “big tent” theory: Since Vladimir Putin was elected again & again to this Council, did he learn & improve? Or on the contrary, did Russia assassinate more journalists, persecute more dissidents & launch more deadly invasions than ever before?"

5. "Since China was elected repeatedly to this Council, did the Communist rulers learn and improve? Or did they crush more dissidents, like Liu Xiaobo, than ever before?"

6. "And I want to know: Since Venezuela was elected and reelected to this Council, did Chavez and Maduro learn and improve? Or did they arrest, persecute and jail more opposition leaders, like Mayor Antonio Ledezma of Caracas?"

7. VENEZUELA interrupts: "It is unacceptable in this Human Rights Council for a NGO to use offensive language. We respect freedom of expression, but this cannot be understood as giving permission or carte blanche to demonize any country. We hope you call this speaker to order."

8. (Chairman gives me back the floor)

"What is offensive is that Venezuela kills protesters and uses this Council as carte blanche to cover up their abuses.

'Big tent,' Mr. President?

No — big lie."