Kennedy Criticized Over Chavez Link

ABC News ^ | 2-16-07 | STEVE LeBLANC

[mgist]

BOSTON Feb 16, 2007 (AP)— In a TV commercial, former Rep. Joseph Kennedy stands aboard an oil tanker moving across the Boston skyline and promises that millions of gallons of discounted heating oil are on their way to poor, shivering families, courtesy of "our good friends in Venezuela.

What he doesn't mention is that those "good friends" include Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a socialist and staunch U.S. critic who famously called President Bush "the devil" in a speech last year at the United Nations.

The reference to Venezuela has led to accusations that Kennedy is a shill for Chavez.

Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., fired off a letter to Kennedy this week accusing him of working with "a sworn enemy of the United States" and betraying the legacy of President John F. Kennedy, his uncle, who spoke of the perils of communism.

"Hugo Chavez is providing your company `low-cost heating oil' not to help the American people, but rather to exploit his apologists in the name of public relations. Sadly, you have chosen to actively participate in his charade," Mack wrote.

In an interview this week with The Associated Press, Mack went further, calling the ad "part of a propaganda message from Hugo Chavez."

Kennedy fired back by saying that if Mack wants to create a moral litmus test for oil-exporting countries and other trade partners, the congressman should hold Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia and China to the same standard.

"Once we've followed the Mack Doctrine and refused oil from every country that fails to meet our disciplined moral standards, I'm sure you'll enjoy your walks to Washington, because there certainly won't be fuel to fly you there," Kennedy wrote to Mack.

In an interview with the AP, Kennedy defended his decision to refer to "our good friends in Venezuela."

Kennedy said he approached other oil companies but only Citgo, the Venezuelan government's Texas-based oil subsidiary, responded with an offer of aid. He said nothing in his contracts require him to publicly thank Citgo and Venezuela. That was his decision, he said.

"I think it would be the height of arrogance to accept the help and assistance of Citgo, the only oil company to respond to my plea to help, and never even mention them in the ad," said Kennedy, who served in Congress from 1987 to 1999.

Although he declined to offer an opinion on Chavez, Kennedy did say he had "significant disagreement with the kind of personal politics that have characterized the relationship" between Chavez and Bush, on both sides. He also said "there have been many changes in Venezuela since I started going there 25 years ago, some of them for the better."

Citizens Energy was founded by Kennedy in 1979 in the wake of the energy crisis of the late 1970s with the goal of reducing the cost of home heating oil for the poor and elderly.

The corporation signed its first crude oil contract with Venezuela that year, and in its first 18 months, Citizens Energy had delivered more than 13 million gallons of home heating oil from Venezuela to families in Massachusetts. Citizens Energy has since expanded to 16 states and this year will deliver low-cost oil to between 300,000 and 400,000 households.

Washington resident Lucille Benjamin lives in one of those households. "It doesn't matter to me where it comes from as long as it keeps me warm," she said, "and right now I'm warm."

This is not the first time Massachusetts has found itself debating Chavez. Last year a Boston City Council member called for the demolition of the famous neon Citgo sign above Fenway Park in a protest over Chavez's "devil" insult. The sign remains.

Kennedy's energy-assistance program has won praise from some Republicans, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is running for president.

In 2005 Romney extended his thanks to "all of those around the world working to get lower-priced energy to us," but refused to answer a question about the propriety of doing business with Chavez.

A spokesman for Romney said he is a staunch critic of Chavez, noting Romney denounced Chavez as a "cartoon character" in a TV interview in August.

[cripplecreek]

promises that millions of gallons of discounted heating oil are on their way to poor, shivering families, courtesy of "our good friends in Venezuela.

More likely headed to the owners of apartment buildings and landlords.

[GeneralisimoFranciscoFranco]

Bleh

[mgist]

The leftists are master manipulators with MSM at their disposal. Vulnerable countries don't stand a chance against these elitist, sociopathic, manipulators. We really can't blame those countries that voted for Chavez and Correa. there but for the grace of God go us. Much prayer my friends.

[digger48]

And just how much does THIS buck-toothed maggot get fed for his tireless efforts?

[mgist]

What does "Bleh" mean?

[Brad from Tennessee]

I've always had a grudging respect for Joe Sr. and Rose. After them, each generation tries to outdo the last one in moral corruption.

[TNCMAXQ]

I could vomit when I see those "thanks Joe" ads on New England News Channel or other local stations. It's like he is some kind of superhero to poor people.

[Brad from Tennessee]

I can't vouch for this site but it says Joe makes $400,000 a year from this "charity":

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=26749

[kidd]

Kennedy fired back by saying that if Mack wants to create a moral litmus test for oil-exporting countries and other trade partners, the congressman should hold Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia and China to the same standard.

Kennedy is a pure moron. Just how much oil does he think China sends to the US?

[Radix]

The Boston Globe had former Congressman Joe Kennedy as a shoe-in for Governor of the Commonwealth several years back.

Joe (Duhhh) Kennedy decided not to run.

Thank God.

Unfortunately, in this state Kennedy would win, and the Globe for once had something right.

The Boston Globe is the most subversive newspaper in this country, and they are financially in seriously dire straits.

I will not miss them when they are gone.

[Leisler]

Rose spent the last 11 years of her drooling life at Hyannisport. Never the less, when she died, thank God, she was a legal resident of Florida, and hence Fat Ted, the Swimmer, and the rest of the inbreeds didn't have to pay Massachusetts inheritance tax.

It's nice not to be a little person.

[Radix]

"Joe makes $400,000 a year from this "charity"

Joe gave his brother a lot of grief for giving himself a huge raise while running this "charity' several years ago.

Michael Kennedy dodged a legal bullet concerning statutory rape charges against a family baby sitter just a bit later.

Unfortunately, he could not dodge a tree while skiing, and he broke his neck (and more).

Now, Joe Kennedy has again taken over the reigns of this bullshit "charity' company at a very high rate of compensation.

[6SJ7]

Washington resident Lucille Benjamin lives in one of those households. "It doesn't matter to me where it comes from as long as it keeps me warm," she said, "and right now I'm warm."

It doesn't matter where it comes from. That's the kind of thinking that got Germans into trouble.

[Lets Roll NOW]

Speaking of the Germans, old man Kennedy traded with them during WWII when it was still considered treason. Just following the family tradition.

[steve in DC]

This whole thing is logically problematic for me....

Joe Kennedy is noteworthy, only because his uncle, John Kennedy, had been president.

Now, during his term of office, John Kennedy was at loggerheads with Fidel Castro. He identified Castro as a singular threat to the peace and security of the United States. He rightly saw Castro as a communist agent provocateur in the Western Hemisphere.

He angled, at several turns, to have Castro overthrown (Bay of Pigs), rendered politically impotent (Cuban Missile Crisis) and even assassinated (several CIA sponsored attempts).

Today, Fidel Castro stands as a hero of this thug, Caesar Chavez. Chavez embraces, not only Castro's politics, but also Castro's destabilizing revolutionary methods.

And Joe Kennedy is locked in a love embrace with Chavez, becoming, essentially, a Fifth Columnist acting on behalf of the Castro regime.....

Were his uncle still alive, I somehow feel that the lionization and familial embrace of these murderous thugs (Castro and Chavez) would not be the way the Kennedy family would operate....

But, then, once you embrace a murderer (Ted Kennedy) as the partiarch of your family, I guess the moral center is pretty much gone....

[Wally_Kalbacken]

What's the "carbon footprint" of a home heagted by an oil-fueled furnace vs. one fuled by natural gas?

I thought so.

[buccaneer81]

Washington resident Lucille Benjamin lives in one of those households. "It doesn't matter to me where it comes from as long as it keeps me warm," she said, "and right now I'm warm."

I wonder if she ever had family serving to protect her and her selfish treasonous attitude?

[razorback-bert]

Joe also has lots of travel perks via the "charity".