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Kerry Attacks Venezuela's Chavez
Reuters ^
| 3-22-04
| Pascal Fletcher
Posted on 03/22/2004 4:28:07 PM PST by 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.
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; castro; commiesforkerry; foreignleaders; hugochavez; kerry; venezuela
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To: Indy Pendance
I think this Kerry is a reckless Massachusetts cowboy who will alienate the entire world with his unilateral arrogance. ; )
2
posted on
03/22/2004 4:30:45 PM PST
by
Argus
(If you favor surrender to terrorism, vote Democrat.)
To: Indy Pendance
That's no way for Kerry to talk about a guy who endorsed him only a week ago.
3
posted on
03/22/2004 4:31:39 PM PST
by
squidly
(I have always felt that a politician is to be judged by the animosity he excites among his opponents)
To: hchutch
FYI.
4
posted on
03/22/2004 4:32:08 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: Indy Pendance
Who wants to post this at DU, and watch the fireworks?
Hugo is the new Chez, for the Birkenstock set.
5
posted on
03/22/2004 4:35:49 PM PST
by
horse_doc
To: Indy Pendance
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.
6
posted on
03/22/2004 4:36:25 PM PST
by
Eva
To: squidly
Bush can be persuasive. No doubt about that. First Iraq, then Libya, now Kerry.
7
posted on
03/22/2004 4:36:48 PM PST
by
js1138
To: Indy Pendance
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.
8
posted on
03/22/2004 4:37:11 PM PST
by
Plutarch
To: Howlin
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
9
posted on
03/22/2004 4:37:31 PM PST
by
MEG33
(John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
To: horse_doc
Those flip flops are sticking out of his mouth!
To: Eva
11
posted on
03/22/2004 4:38:24 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: Indy Pendance
This is the "Sistah Soljah" moment isn't it?!
12
posted on
03/22/2004 4:38:45 PM PST
by
muawiyah
To: Indy Pendance
A "Sister Souljah" moment?
13
posted on
03/22/2004 4:39:21 PM PST
by
ambrose
("I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it" - John F. al-Query)
To: muawiyah
Very prescient observation...
14
posted on
03/22/2004 4:46:48 PM PST
by
Zeppo
To: Indy Pendance; Shermy
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.
15
posted on
03/22/2004 4:56:09 PM PST
by
marron
To: Indy Pendance
16
posted on
03/22/2004 4:58:50 PM PST
by
binger
To: Indy Pendance
Just like Clinton critcizing George Bush I for cuddling up to the butchers of Beijing.
To: Indy Pendance
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.
To: Indy Pendance
It's a start, the first thing he has said that makes any sense. He is only playing follow the leader, though.
19
posted on
03/22/2004 5:15:50 PM PST
by
RightWhale
(Theorems link concepts; proofs establish links)
To: Robert DeLong
South America.....the fire next time.
20
posted on
03/22/2004 5:16:52 PM PST
by
wtc911
(Doesn't matter if your head is in the sand or up your a**, the view is the same.)
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