Brazil Calls NY Times Alcohol Story 'Slander'

Reuters ^ | May 9, 2004

[sarcasm]

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil on Sunday condemned as slanderous a New York Times article about the drinking habits of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

``The Brazilian government will study the appropriate measures to defend the honor of the president of the republic and the image of Brazil overseas,'' presidential spokesman Andre Singer said in a statement.

The article in the Sunday New York Times said ``some of his countrymen have begun wondering if their president's predilection for strong drink is affecting his performance in office.''

But Singer said Lula's social habits were ``moderate and not at all different from those of the average Brazilian citizen.''

``Only prejudice and lack of ethics can explain this strange attempt to put (his) credibility and his commitment to institutions in doubt.''

Earlier on Sunday, the president's press office said it did not consider the article to be journalism ``but slander, defamation, and prejudice, and the issue will be treated as such.''

Singer did not say what measures Brazil was contemplating. But he said Brazil's ambassador in Washington had been instructed to tell the newspaper of the government's disgust about the article.

[sarcasm]

Brazilian Leader's Tippling Becomes National Concern

[taxesareforever]

``The Brazilian government will study the appropriate measures to defend the honor of the president of the republic and the image of Brazil overseas,'' presidential spokesman Andre Singer said in a statement.

I suppose that they will be in touch with Al(out of a job)Franken to help in sprucing up his image.

[CFC__VRWC]

Earlier on Sunday, the president's press office said it did not consider the article to be journalism ``but slander, defamation, and prejudice, and the issue will be treated as such.''

If the friend-of-Fidel president of Brazil can correctly identify what the NYT is passing off as "journalism" these days, maybe there is some hope.

[Texas Eagle]

Singer did not say what measures Brazil was contemplating.

psssst.....brazil......cancel your subscription.

[speedy]

This is one of those Iran-Iraq war situations -- you don't know which side to root for. On the one hand, you have a dishonest, immoral, viscerally anti-American power. On the other hand, you have Lula. If I recall correctly, this is a textbook construct of Hobson's Choice.

[SamAdams76]

``The Brazilian government will study the appropriate measures to defend the honor of the president of the republic and the image of Brazil overseas,'' presidential spokesman Andre Singer said in a statement.

Andre Singer might want to consult his globe. We are up here - not overseas.

[RJL]

countrymen have begun wondering if their president's (President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva) predilection for strong drink is affecting his performance in office.''

Lula and France's Chiraq have a plan to tax all small arms sales worldwide. I guess kissing Chiraq's bum would probably drive anyone to strong drink.

[USNBandit]

I'll drink to that!

[Frank_2001]

They're a hideous little fishwrapper, but they're OUR hideous little fishwrapper, so tell Brazil to go to Ipanema and pound some sand;)))

[doug from upland]

Caipirinha
2 tsp granulated Sugar or 20 ml syrup
1 Lime (divided in 8 Wedges)
2 oz (60 ml) Cachaça

Muddle the sugar into the lime wedges in an old-fashioned glass. Fill the glass with ice cubes. Pour the cachaça into the glass. Stir well. If you are all out of Cachaça you could make do with white rum.

Now if you are fresh out of rum as well, try the vodka variation of this drink: the Caipiroska. You could also mix it with gin. Then the result would be a Caipiríssima.

[spectre]

"On the one hand, you have a dishonest, immoral, viscerally anti-American power. On the other hand, you have Lula. If I recall correctly, this is a textbook construct of Hobson's Choice."

:>)