Chavez: Obama "A Poor Ignoramus"

Reuters:

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama was at best an "ignoramus" for saying the socialist leader exported terrorism and obstructed progress in Latin America.

"He goes and accuses me of exporting terrorism: the least I can say is that he's a poor ignoramus; he should read and study a little to understand reality," said Chavez, who heads a group of left-wing Latin American leaders opposed to the U.S. influence in the region.

Read the whole story: Reuters

Comments

[AliMB]

Part I

This news doesn't surprise me one bit; Chavez has always been and will always be a v0latile a n t i -American figure (irrespective of the occupant in the WH). Chavez uses his v i r u l e n t rhetoric as a means to externalize Venezuela's various problems. This is a standard l e f t i s t tactic in South America, particularly useful for imp0verished and u n e d u c a t e d segments of the population.

When Chavez regularly i n s u l t e d President Bush (to the delight of many of this forum), it was using an easy punching bag for his self-styled Chavismo. In Venezuela, like many other Latin American countries, giving the appearance of strong-man carries positive political consequences. With a new and popular president in Washington, Chavez has had to tone down his rhetoric so as to not appear like a b u f f o o n . Given that a n t i -Americanism is a pillar of his political movement, calling Obama “un pobre ignorante” is probably only the beginning.

[AliMB]

Part II

One of the biggest foreign policy failures of the Bush administration was its inability to develop a coherent strategy towards Chavez. A common attitude was that Chavez was a just t i n - p o t politico, and that if you ignore him he will eventually go away. Due to the administration's preoccupation with the Middle East, and the bonanza that Chavez got from the high price of energy commodities, this attitude augmented a generally counterproductive strategy.

Let us hope that President Obama will tackle this ‘Chavez problem’ in a robust fashion. With oil prices down, the time is ripe to do so.

[AmandaBC]

Everything this joker says should be seen in light of this sentence from his profile:

"I think Dick Cheney is a patriot"

[AmandaBC]

Everything this j0ker says should be seen in light of this sentence from his profile:

"I think D.ick Ch.eney is a patriot"

[AmandaBC]

Get lost, ditt0head.

[AliMB]

lol

[AliMB]

Get lost, ditt0head.

AmandaBC's analysis of all those who are against Chavez:

"Those who ha.te him are the country's fa.scists, America's best friends, i.e. those who tried to stage a coup with CIA money."

lol

[iblog]

Heh.

Chavez just blew Obama's Sociailist­/Communist­/Marxist street creds to bits.

[haval2]

Hugo Chavez is inadequate except for all things tyrant. PIG.

[Soundofthunder]

The demonization of Chavez has more to do with Venezuela's oil fields than the personality of its president. Once again, America shows its hand, oil hegemony, with bellicose rhetoric. Obama had best soften this hard line lest he fall into Bush's pattern of planting infamous labels on leaders and countries that butt up against the interests of the corporations who, last I checked, still run America.

SOT

[klaatu barada nikto]

demonization of Chavez? I think Chavez is the only one accusing anyone of being demonic.

[Soundofthunder]

So accusing someone of exporting ter ror ism isn't demonizing?

SOT

[Truthseeker55]

Chavez is correct. Obama SHOULD read more and educate himself on the real world.

Bravo Chavez.

[panchovilla]

I agree.

But, actually, what Chavez said was *not* exactly the way Reuters put it. Context matters. Chavez said that, accusing him Chavez (as Obama did) of being an "obstacle to progress" in Latin America and an "exporter of terrorism" (actual words used by Obama, who -- again -- offended Chavez first!), demonstrated ignorance. That he had to get himself better informed. "The least one could say," Chavez added, "is that Obama is showing to be ignorant" of the facts about what's going in Latin America.

However, the *main* point Chavez made was his demanded that the U.S. president respect Venezuela: "If Obama respects us, we will treat him with respect." Thanks to Reuters, etc., Chavez's response to Obama's accusations got muted into an out-of-nowhere, gratuitous insult.

Here's the video (in Spanish). It's the second video, labeled "Sobre Cuba y Obama." So, you be the judge:

http://www.radiomundial.com.ve/yvke/noticia.php?21806

[panchovilla]

[Typos fixed, I hope]

I agree.

But, actually, what Chavez said was *not* exactly the way Reuters put it. Context matters. Chavez said that, accusing him (Chavez, as Obama did) of being an "obstacle to progress" in Latin America and an "exporter of terrorism" (the actual words used by Obama, who -- again -- offended Chavez first!), demonstrated ignorance. That he (Obama) had to get himself better informed. "The least one could say," Chavez added, "is that Obama is showing to be ignorant" of the facts about what's going in Latin America.

However, the *main* point Chavez made was to demand respect to Venezuela from the U.S. president: "If Obama respects us, we will treat him with respect." He said. Now, thanks to Reuters, etc., Chavez's response to Obama's accusations got muted into an out-of-nowhere, gratuitous insult.

Here's the video (in Spanish). It's the second video, labeled "Sobre Cuba y Obama." So, you be the judge:

http://www.radiomundial.com.ve/yvke/noticia.php?21806

[whosyourdaddy]

I'm glad that Obama told this petty socialist dictator the real deal.
However, where does that leave the entire far left in this country? I have read hundreds of comments here extolling Chavez. How about Sean Penn, will he be flying down to Venezuela to tell poor Chavez that Obama a mean guy and give his hero a sympathy hug?
Are you in a conflicted rage over Obama's insult to this great hero of yours?

[AmandaBC]

How's Chavez a "dictator"? Please do amuse us...

[Truthseeker55]

.....He can't amuse us with an explanation. Chevaz being a dictator is what he has been told to believe.

[AliMB]

I think the problem is that you are using fallacious logic in order to assess the value of Hugo Chavez i.e. Chavez cannot possibly be a dictat0r because he was democratically elected. This is poor reasoning.

While I do not think that Venezuela has become a full-dictat0rship yet, the anti-dem0cratic behavior exhibited by Chavez is arguably the most atr0cious in the region (aside from the c0mmunist dictat0rship of Cuba). Some of the highlights off the top of my head:

1) manipulating votes with money 2) violating the constitution by issuing a re-vote on a rejected referendum 3) eliminating term limits while in office 4) using youth g a n g s for intimidation purposes 5) using nationalization as a political weapon

I assume you are from Canada; maybe you have heard of the increased immigration flow of Venezuelan citizens to Canada over the past few years. This has a direct correlation to the behavior of Hugo Chavez.

[CeeCee]

"Socialist dictator"?? Dictator and socialist mutually cancel each other out........

However, Chavez would benefit from a education about the "real world". But he's too busy slinging mud.

[whosyourdaddy]

Sort of like Stalin and Mao weren't dictators either?

[dontvote4him]

Hugo,
Now I like you.

[AhnAmuru]

^ Enemy combatant.
^Giving comfort to the enemy.
^ Sleeper.

[Pupadup4oBama]

If one of us had said that about Shrub we would have been called treasonous and unpatriotic...but I see it's ok for you to do likewise - especially to a LEGALLY elected prez.

[CeeCee]

You can have him.

[AhnAmuru]

Scramble the bombers!

Defcon 2.

[retroredux]

Chavez-please go downtown and find a rat that'll chew that thing off your face.

[klaatu barada nikto]

that is his face

[Pupadup4oBama]

ROFlLMAO!

[AmandaBC]

I think it was a really bad call by Obama to say that Chavez "exported terrorism and obstructed progress in Latin America." This is the typical right-wing rhetoric I'd expect from someone like Bush, McCain, Palin etc. So, Chavez has very good point, considering the tangible social progress Venezuela has made under him.

[curly2]

Me too. It wasn't a good choice of words on Obama's part. I thought he was going to try to build bridges, not tear them down.

[j0em0mma]

Agreed. W-T-F Obama???

[klaatu barada nikto]

he was referring to Chavez backing the FARC. still a bad choice of words.

[AliMB]

"I think it was a really bad call by Obama to say that Chavez "exported terr0rism and 0bstructed progress in Latin America""

If it is true, there is nothing wrong in the President saying this, particularly if it is reference to an a n t i - A me r i c a n political leader. It is known that Chavez and his pr0xies support F A R C . The latter group is classified as a terr0rist organization by the US. Chavez is also widely known to use his petrodollars (once a bonanza given the price of energy commodities) to c0rrupt electoral processes. I was in one country when Chavez's briefcases and energy packages arrived for l e f t i s t alcaldes to ensure some vote buying.

"...considering the tangible social progress Venezuela has made under him"

The social progresses you refer to are a facade; essentially the by-product of gauche government subsidies, or part of an effort to consolidate political power. The last time I was in Caracas, the city was riddled in vi0lence. In fact, I think it was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

[AmandaBC]

"If it is true, there is nothing wrong in the President saying this, particularly if it is reference to an a n t i - A me r i c a n political leader."

This the extent of your thought (or lack thereof): anyone who's against the US government is a terr0rist. Stuck on Bush...

"The social progresses you refer to are a facade"

Nope, it's real and tangible. You're just rehashing Limbaugh's talking points which, in turn, are his "interpretation" of Venezuela's right-wing lies.

[MrGiggles]

This silly little man loves his names. If you think about it going from a President who was "Satan" to one that is merely an "ignoramus" could be interpretted as an improvement. Perhaps this is Hugo's way of reaching out.

[KOisGod]

LOL, si se purde!

[Gumby123]

I'm beginning to agree with Chavez, god help me. Obama disses Sarkozy by sending a welcome letter to the previous prime minister Chirac. -

http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualites/2009/03/19/01001-20090319ARTFIG00357-confidentiel-barack-obama-a-ecrit-a-jacques-chirac-.php

Oh no! Obama sent a letter to Chirac, saying he looks forward to working with him the next four years. Le Figaro, French newspaper is horrified at the faux pas. Doesn't Obama ever consult his staff before acting? Sarkozy is the President there! It's like Sarko writing to George Bush and saying he looks forward to working with him. Chirac is the FORMER president.

[bma83]

I hate it when people spread stupid information. President Obama did not "diss Sarkozy by sending a welcome letter to the previous prime minister Chirac."
President Obama was replying to a letter Chirac wrote as the head of his foundation — the Jacques Chirac Foundation for sustainable development and cultural dialogue.

What the hell is the big deal?!?!

http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/03/23/obama-writes-letter-to-chirac-blogosphere-goes-crazy/

[CeeCee]

Thank you!

[jsgaetano]

Maybe he doesn't want to meet with Sarko.

[ConnectTheDots]

Even the Christian Science Monitor debunked that:

http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/03/23/obama-writes-letter-to-chirac-blogosphere-goes-crazy/

[CeeCee]

oh please!

Obama and Sarkozy met last year and spent time together.

[foxbat]

Hey, looks like Chavez got his new GOP membership card and secret decoder ring. Get in line with the rest of the folks using 20th century gimmicks in a 21st century world.

[slithers]

ummmm Chavez is extreme left.

[AmandaBC]

Nope. By American standards, any conservative around the world is a leftist and any true socialist a madman... Sorry the rest of the world doesn't agree with your silly, provincial view of international politics.

[jazzzzz41]

perhaps it`s just the CIA that continues to try to overthrow Chavez

[Gunga-Din]

Obama rules Cia

[klaatu barada nikto]

when did they last try to overthrow Chavez? last week or so?

[AlanBJ]

Chavez is not the enemy. Our government (Pentagon, CIA) has done everything, including psychological warfare, to undermine and oust Chavez's Socialist agenda, which thus far have failed.

Please President Obama, if you said this, please do not allow yourself to succumb to propaganda spewed on by the US and other capitalist governments. The Bush administration illegally aided the opposition to topple Chavez's leadership. To fall for the rightist's smear of associating Chavez with terrorism is the same as the Right accusing you of "palling around with terrorist."

Was it true? No'

Is it fair? No

Is it propaganda? Yes

So please President Obama, do a thorough, objective research on Latin America and the US covert and corrupt role in undermining it, including covertly meddling and influencing their elections, and come back with more responsible rhetoric.

I may not agree with all Chavez does, but he is not the enemy.

[jazzzzz41]

Don`t worry.Obama says only what the oil corporations say to him

[AlanBJ]

i doubt that.. i just dont want him to be brainwashed by previous bush antics of anything not american is terroism. thats all..

[Snuffleupagus]

Yes, good summary.
Here is more.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=12848

Chavez openly spoke about how food producers in Venezuela needed to serve the needs of the Venezuelan people and to provide a percentage of their production for basic staples needed for everyday life. They refused. Then he nationalized at least two of them.

His actions with Venezuelan banks have been exemplary. The world crisis caused by corrupt American banking practices hit Venezuela too. But Chavez bailouts all include CONTROL and OWNERSHIP for the people. Contrast that with our response.

Funny how both of THOSE stories about Chavez never turned up here over the past week....but say just one word about saint Obama and here we go.
Cue the tin soldiers from the D party, and lets whip up some good ol hate so once our puppet Colombia has made enough military incursions into Venezuela to start some battles, we can have another war. Sick, sick sick.

[klaatu barada nikto]

actually the banking crisis mostly occurred because of derivative contracts written in the UK.

[MacQ]

Don you fret. Soon we'll be just like Venezuela.
We will not be evil America anymore. We'll be wonderful like Cuba and Russia and Iran (all the good guys).