Hearing Is Believing (Listen to Harken)

Power Line ^ | September 23, 2006 | John Hinderaker

[yoe]

We linked the other day to a news report about Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's apparent endorsement of Hugo Chavez's attack on President Bush as "the Devil" at the U.N. Now I've listened to the audio, and it's pretty remarkable. You don't hear much about Harkin these days, but he is one of the most far-left politicians ever elected to the Senate. If the Democrats were to re-take control of that body, he would be a senior and prominent member of their caucus.

As Harkin expressed himself over the radio, he found Chavez's attack on President Bush as "the Devil" entirely understandable. Harkin says that all Muslim countries used to love us, and it's only the President's fault that we now have problems in the Muslim world. He also seems to experience some confusion about which "Chavez" he's talking about.

Harkin must have taken some heat for his comments on the radio, because he put a completely different statement (on his web site), after the fact. To see what he really thinks, listen to the audio below:

UPDATE: One more thing. When you listen to Harkin's comments in Iraq, bear in mind that he voted in favor of the Iraq war resolution!

[Thommas]

Insert foot, then mumble that it's really a silver spoon stickin' outta your pie-hole.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Tell us again about going toe to toe with North Viet MiGs, Tom. I never get tired of hearing the story...

[litehaus]

'Hero Pilot Harken' mouths off again.........

[Eric in the Ozarks]

"At em boys,
give em the gun, uh-uh uh uh."

[John Carey]

Great post thanks. Can you tell us on what radio station and when? I think I missed it (though I listened just now and this is typical of the Senator...)

[popdonnelly]

Harkin's opinion is representative of a heck of a lot of Democrats. I take it he's not running for re-election this year, so he thinks he can get away with it.

[Safetgiver]

Harkin says that all Muslim countries used to love us, and it's only the President's fault that we now have problems in the Muslim world......Ummm, somebody ought to tell Jimmuh Carter that. He'd be so relieved. He could say "i didn't start this shiite".

[BusterBear]

Harkin is only saying what many libs say. Chavez got a standing ovation at his speeches in Harlem and at Cooper Union. I heard some people commenting to the effect, "He really gave it to Bush - you have to hand it to him."

[jazusamo]

What a buffoon. I recall many muslims in various countries dancing in the streets and celebrating the attack on 9/11.

Ceasar Chavez? Yeah Harkin we know what you mean, you hate our president so much you will side with anyone who demeans him even if you don't know that persons name.

[docbnj]

I listened to this. Harkin is a dope.

He blames Bush for not taking a more humble approach to other countries. We tried that, and got 11 Sep 2001. Then Harkin blames Bush for the moslem hatred of us. He says that he understands the moslem rage. He thinks that if we had helped poor countries more wirth clean water (which, by the way, we do), they wouldn't be so unfriendly. (We are the biggest donor to the struggle against AIDS, and we get no thanks at all for this, not even from Harkin, who probably voted for the appropriations himself!)

Then Harkin blames Bush for Venezuela and Chavez. But Chavez displaced the more moderate government in that country, and rigged the elction which tried to recall him from his rule there. That election was endorsed and approved by the befuddled Jimmy Carter, who is probably a friend of Harkin.

Harkin apparently doesn't believe that we have any enemies in the world: just friends that President Bush has for some reason offended.

Harkin is dangerous. What is wrong with Iowa, anyway? How do they end up electing people like that?

[R.W.Ratikal]

Harkin is not "far left" but is a typical Democrats in the Congress. The entire party leadership is far left. In fact they are so far left that they could easily qualify as communists.

If you don't believe it read the Communist Manifesto and then read the Democrat Party Platform. Let me know if you see any differences.

A few Democrats running for office condemned Chavez's U.N. remarks for political purposes. The truth is that many Democrats and Democrat leaders have said far worse of President Bush almost every day.

Of course, we can disregard anything said in the U.N. because the U.N. is irrelevant.

Don't buy CITGO! "President" Chevez owns it.

[Clintonfatigued]

Tom Harkin is a Marxist. Hopefully, he won't seek reeelction.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Don't count on that. His kind die in office.

[RightWingConspirator]

Harkin isn't just any lib, he is a US Senator.

[kenth]

He blames Bush for not taking a more humble approach to other countries. We tried that, and got 11 Sep 2001. Then Harkin blames Bush for the moslem hatred of us. He says that he understands the moslem rage. He thinks that if we had helped poor countries more wirth clean water (which, by the way, we do), they wouldn't be so unfriendly.

The left is nothing but a gaggle of big (alternate word for kitty cats). After 9/11, they wanted to do nothing more than cry, wallow in self-pity and bask in the glow of international sympathy. They didn't actually want to do anything about the attack.

It reminds me of hollywood's 9/11 telethon. By the time it aired, most of America had turned their initial shock and grief into seething rage. Yet, the hollywood bozos thought it was still time for crying, so they went on screen and all tried to outcry each other.

Sorry, went off tangent there. The left hates America as it is, and as it is supposed to be. They want their version of America, which would have nothing in common with the real America other than a name. Heck, they'd probably change that too as soon as they could. The leftists love any attack on America, or on the people who keep this country strong.