Joe Kennedy's Chavez Connection May Be A Liability In Race For Uncle's Seat

The Boston Globe:

As Joseph P. Kennedy II contemplates a race to reclaim the Senate seat held by his family for nearly half a century, his most formidable obstacle may not be a Massachusetts politician but a political leader some 2,000 miles away: President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.

Read the whole story: The Boston Globe

Comments

[OswegoKayaker]

We all knew that Chávez was tweaking GWB with the free oil, I didn't much care because so many poor people got heating oil. I really didn't care that Joe Kennedy got all that oil from a dictator -- it doesn't seem to bother anyone that Saudi Arabia ranks second highest in the countries from which we import oil -- and where did 15 of the 19 September 11 hijackers all come from? Seems just fine that we import (BUY) from them, while a 1 trillion dollar lawsuit is by 9/11 survivors pending against Prince Sultan, 2nd in line for the Saudi throne along with former intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal for funding Osama bin Laden's terror network. Also seems just fine that I am allowed to BUY gasoline at Citgo stations and that Venezuela is #4 on the list of countries where we get our oil. But oh the horror that we TAKE oil to GIVE away so our poor people don't freeze to death. Every year we read about people dying from something that is totally preventable.

Perhaps if our government or our had a bit more compassion Joe Kennedy's Citizens Energy Corporation could have gotten oil from Exxon. Exxon Mobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil company made history in February 2008 by reporting the highest quarterly and annual profits EVER for a U.S. company. And yet I wonder how many gallons of oil they put into freezing peoples' homes.

http://www.citizensenergy.com

[Pleneras]

Oh please Chavez is not some crazy 3rd world leader.. just a man who won't bow to the USA white old man's club. Enough on making out anyone from Latin America crazy when it was the USA who went in there and destroyed progess... American Fruit company, etc... WAR IS A RACKET.

[sector1463]

Only the Republicans could make a philanthropic enterprise that has helped hundreds of thousands of people stay warm through the winter into an evil thing. Or is that just the Boston Globe?

[ghtrains]

Agree. It is totally amazing that this should even be an issue. Anyone making it an issue should be ashamed.

[enquiringmind]

Expect another right wing hatchet job, After a 50 year Cuban embargo THAT NEVER WORKED I would have thought talking to people with whom you may disagree is a good thing. The Republicans will say and do whatever it takes..no prisoners. Traditional media, networks are giving credibility to people like Beck over people like Kennedy.

A man who has failed at everything including being a disc jockey merits higher newsworthiness than a man who has dedicated his life to public service and education at least in the eyes of network tv.

[jojothedoggirl]

In beck's amerika just breathing will get you in trouble.Be­tter toe that party line.

[ailbhe]

Why can't they come up with some new blood?

[James Croteau]

Hmm, I would call that a plus.

[groosemoose]

Grr. I would love more politicians with completely unknown last names. Not sons/spous­es/relativ­es of the established political elite.

[mainemomma]

Having known neighbors who rec'd oil from Citizens Energy... I can safely say that any person who runs against Joe will have to answer to all the folks that he has helped.

Did Exxon give oil to charity? Did any of the oil companies in the states? That would be a big fat no. So, he helped folks while getting oil from Citgo. Who, by the way, has a big fat sign over Fenway Park.

If Joe were in the south, he may have an issue. Here, he is a hero. Run Joe Run!

[j0hnwi11iams]

Republicans think symbolically and Kennedy to them will be guilty through association. I am so freaking tired of dealing with STUPIDITY.

[HeimeBach]

Why do we democrats keep running and hiding from our leftisit leaning philosophy? WHy didn't Obama come out and say ; "yeah Van Jones may be a radical and a leftist, but he represents a significant part of our party . A part that we are going to allow to have their influence on this administration. Therefore Van Jones is staying" ??

[mainemomma]

Van Jones is no different from Rumsfeld and Cheney. The only difference is that the repubs defended their weirdos... and the dems let them go. I, for one, wish he hadn't resigned.

[JenniferEccles]

I hope he does run for the seat. MA atty general Coakley has already announced and she terrifies me. She is a former prosecutor and her tough as nails personality leaves me cold.

[mainemomma]

Coakley would rock.

[hilary916]

We have Carly Fiorina running here in CA for Boxer's seat. Yikes.

[Phxflyer]

Leave it to the republicans to find something wrong with a charity that kept people from freezing to death.

[mainemomma]

You put it quite well. In New England, we rely on mostly fuel oil for heat. Drafty old houses take a lot of oil. Joe has helped many many folks here. If he were running in Texas, it might matter. Here, it would not matter. Exxon didn't donate a drop.

[escribacat]

The repubs of course will try to destroy him because of his connection to Chavez but it will be interesting to see how they try to overcome the amazing good he does. And Chavez is absolutely right -- it's very ironic that a Third World country is donating oil to the poor of the US.

[JakeMontero]

maybe, Chavez is a clown dictatr. but Joe needs to worry more about the nanny's and babysitters ....r

[Progressiveama]

isn't that Michael, who died?

[JudgeMoonbox]

Why would Joe Kennedy's connection to Hugo Chavez be a liability, but the Republicans' refusal to break the Oil Oligopoly not be? If Chavez was that evil, wouldn't genuine alternatives to imported oil, like solar power and public transit, hurt his evildoing more than being shunned by the Joe Kennedys?

[useyourbrain]

But the entire Bush administration's connections to Enron, et al, are fine as part of your resume. Ashcroft couldn't find an attorney in his department that didn't have some connection to Enron -- including himself.

Where else but in Amerika of the early 21st century could someone be pilloried for giving needed heating fuel for free to hundreds of thousands of families.

[waltie]

I understand that Ted Kennedy Jr. is not interested in politics but he is, nevertheless, impressive.

[JakeMontero]

agree... he would be my choice

[Vthockeydad]

Based on what ??

[AntiSheep13]

Obviously his last name... It frightens me to think of what motivates so many people when they step into the voting booth.