Posted on 02/14/2007 11:59:03 AM PST by Kitten Festival
Treasurer Peter Costello has sparked a diplomatic row with his criticisms of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a parliamentary attack on Labor.
Venezuela's top envoy to Australia last night told The Age that Mr Costello had "offended the people of the nation of Venezuela" with his broadsides.
The Treasurer first criticised Mr Chavez two days ago in an attack on Labor over the Australia-US alliance, noting that several Labor MPs and unionists had invited the Venezuelan President to visit Australia, despite his strident criticism of US President George Bush.
Mr Costello also accused the socialist Mr Chavez of threatening to nationalise the oil industry, but an embassy spokeswoman said last night that it had been nationalised in 1975.
Mr Costello stepped up his attack yesterday on Labor as he sought to embarrass Tasmanian Labor MP Duncan Kerr over a lecture on Bolivarian socialism under Mr Chavez. "The Leader of the Opposition may be a Christian socialist by his own admission, but many of his back bench are Bolivarian socialists, and we are entitled to know how much influence they will have over economic policy in relation to a future Labor government," Mr Costello said.
(Excerpt) Read more at theage.com.au ...
Chavez doesn't like "Who's on First?"
Oh, so, they can dish it out but they can't take it?!
They can insult our president but when someone else "insults" them, they cry like babies.
"..., but many of his back bench are Bolivarian socialists, ..." Uhm... Bolivia??? Did Chavez Jump the border from Venezuela? ;-)
Uh, he said Bolivarian--as in Simon Bolivar, not Bolivian.
And the answer to the second half of your question is, yes.
President Chavez represents the people of the nation - elected by the people and for the people of Venezuela. If you call a democratically elected president a dictator then that is an offence to all."
but if you say he smells of sulfer its OK?
Punk a$$ B!tch = Socialist
I am not in a good mood today.
Bolivarian is Chavez-speak for communist. It means 'Sandinista', or well, in the case of wealthy western leftists, 'Sandalistas.' Different names, but they all suck.
I love this straight talk from our friends in Australia. It would be nice to hear more of it from Bush, Condi, and Gates.
I have just been watching the Australian Parliament in action. It is great stuff. Costello is brilliant.
Must be fun. Is it on C-SPAN? If so, when?
Sky News. Hansard is also available on the Internet.
Thanks.
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