Kerry Attacks Venezuela's Chavez

Reuters ^ | 3-22-04 | Pascal Fletcher

[Indy Pendance]

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has attacked Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as a dubious democrat hostile to U.S. interests, delivering a slap in the face to the leftist leader who had portrayed Kerry as a potential friend.

The Kerry statement on his Web site made front-page news in Venezuela on Monday, nearly two weeks after Chavez had publicly praised the Democrat contender, hailing his health care plans and likening him to assassinated U.S. President John Kennedy.

In his declaration dated March 19, the Massachusetts senator accused Chavez of undermining Venezuela's democracy, supporting Colombian rebels and "narco-terrorists" and trying to torpedo a constitutional bid by foes to hold a referendum on his rule.

Condemning Chavez's policies as "detrimental to our interests," Kerry said the United States should lead international pressure to persuade him to allow a recall vote.

Venezuelan officials did not immediately respond.

Political analysts said the harsh condemnation of the populist Venezuelan leader aimed to tell him he should not consider Kerry an ideological soul mate united through their opposition to President Bush.

"This gives no reassurance to Chavez. I don't think he's going to find a lot of sympathy from Kerry and the statement makes that clear," said Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank.

Relations between Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, and its main petroleum client have been strained by Bush administration criticism of Chavez's self-styled "revolution," his friendship with Cuba's Communist President Fidel Castro and his resistance to the referendum challenge.

Chavez, a former paratrooper elected in 1998, has repeatedly condemned Bush's trade and foreign policies as "imperialist" and accused the U.S. government of trying to topple him, a charge denied by Washington.

'MIXED SIGNALS'

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jesus Perez said in an interview published on Monday his country's relations with the United States could not be worse and would improve if Bush lost the November election.

Perez told El Universal newspaper Bush was to blame for the tense ties "because of his hostile statements."

But Kerry's declaration firmly quashed Chavez's apparent hopes of a more friendly U.S. policy if Kerry won in November.

"It separates his image from that of Chavez, and it's not just a distancing, it's a clear break," said Venezuelan political analyst and author Alberto Garrido.

Analysts said Kerry's criticism went well beyond a U.S. campaign tactic to win votes in key states like Florida, where anti-Castro and anti-Chavez sentiment is strong among exiled Cubans and Venezuelans.

Kerry said Chavez's "close relationship with Fidel Castro has raised serious questions about his commitment to leading a truly democratic government."

But his statement also chided the Bush administration for sending "mixed signals by supporting undemocratic processes in our own hemisphere," saying it had "acquiesced" to a brief 2002 coup against Chavez. Washington denies it was involved in the coup.

"Kerry is saying there is a lot at stake in Venezuela and that we need to be engaged and firm. He's trying to show he's not a wimpy democrat, that he's a tough-minded, hard-headed guy," Shifter said.

[Argus]

I think this Kerry is a reckless Massachusetts cowboy who will alienate the entire world with his unilateral arrogance. ; )

[squidly]

That's no way for Kerry to talk about a guy who endorsed him only a week ago.

[Howlin]

FYI.

[horse_doc]

Who wants to post this at DU, and watch the fireworks?


Hugo is the new Chez, for the Birkenstock set.

[Eva]

I thought that Kerry had made statements about normalizing relations with Castro? The Democrats held up Bush's nomination to Under Sect'y of State in charge of Latin American affairs, in an attempt to force concessions in the trade relations with Castro. Find out what Kerry had to say back then. The appointment went unfilled for the first two years of the Bush administration due to the Democrat obstruction, at a time that Chavez was tightening his grip on Venezuela. Of Course Chavez thought that a Democrat president would be more beneficial to him.

[js1138]

Bush can be persuasive. No doubt about that. First Iraq, then Libya, now Kerry.

[Plutarch]

Analysts said Kerry's criticism went well beyond a U.S. campaign tactic to win votes in key states like Florida, where anti-Castro and anti-Chavez sentiment is strong among exiled Cubans and Venezuelans.

Aha, they let slip the truth.

Kerry must win all the Gore states, plus either WV, OH, or FL. Looks like FL is Target #1.

[MEG33]

No "Ortega like" treatment for Chavez,I see.It's not prudent when running for President.Kerry is no longer aligning himself with the communists,a real change of heart ,I'm sure/sarcasm

[Indy Pendance]

Those flip flops are sticking out of his mouth!

[Howlin]

''Kerry is much softer on Castro than Al Gore was,'' Ken Mehlman, Bush's campaign manager, said in an interview.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/8181098.htm

[muawiyah]

This is the "Sistah Soljah" moment isn't it?!

[ambrose]

A "Sister Souljah" moment?

[Zeppo]

Very prescient observation...

[marron]

This was Kerry's Sistah Souljah moment. It was his chance to humiliate a co-thinker at no political cost to himself.

I would defy anyone to find the ideological differences between Chavez and Kerry.

[binger]

[Odyssey-x]

Just like Clinton critcizing George Bush I for cuddling up to the butchers of Beijing.

[Robert DeLong]

No doubt Chavez is one of the foreign leaders that supports Kerry's bid for the Presidency that Kerry boasted about. During that conversation Kerry told Chavez that he was going to have to play hardball to win the Florida Cuban and Venezuelan vote to win Florida, but to realize that he does not really mean whatever Chavez may hear him say about him. He promised that after the election he will make overtures that Chavez will accept proving that he is improving American stature across the globe as he promised during his campaigning. Now I say this as jest, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were more truth to this than fiction.

[RightWhale]

It's a start, the first thing he has said that makes any sense. He is only playing follow the leader, though.

[wtc911]

South America.....the fire next time.