Posted on 08/06/2007 7:36:28 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Aboard the presidential jet, a grinning Hugo Chavez put a hand on Sean Penn's shoulder, praised his acting and added: ''And he's anti-Bush!''
The Venezuelan president revelled in his role as host to the Hollywood star as they flew across the country on Friday and travelled through the countryside in a military jeep with Chavez at the wheel, stopping to greet cheering supporters.
The Oscar-winning actor has previously condemned the Iraq war and called for US President George W Bush to be impeached.
But he revealed little about his thoughts on Venezuela, saying he came as a freelance journalist after reporting stints in Iraq and Iran - and was saving his conclusions for print.
''He's a courageous man,'' Chavez said as he introduced Penn to reporters and dignitaries during the flight from Caracas to western Venezuela. ''He's very quiet, but he has a fire burning inside.''
Penn is the latest in a series of US celebrities and public figures to visit Chavez, including actor Danny Glover, singer Harry Belafonte and Cindy Sheehan, who became a peace activist after her soldier son was killed in Iraq.
Enlivened by his conversations with Penn, the socialist president lambasted the US government for ''destroying the world'' with war and warned of brewing economic troubles, saying Washington should do much more for its own poor.
''There could be a revolution there,'' Chavez said. ''We'll help them. The United States must be helped because the United States is going to implode.''
Driving a Venezuelan-made Tiuna jeep through fields of potatoes, corn and lettuce, Chavez craned his head to chat with Penn, who rode in the rear seat wearing sunglasses and taking in the spectacle.
Chavez's clout
Penn's star power was clearly eclipsed by Chavez, who honked to flag-waving admirers along the road through a mountain valley and stopped to kiss children and clasp hands with screaming women.
At the end of the trip, Chavez and Penn donned white lab coats and toured an agricultural research laboratory.
Some Chavez opponents have been critical of Penn's visit, saying he is being used for political purposes.
While Chavez made a speech, however, Penn stood at a distance alongside the audience, occasionally jotting down notes. He spoke only when Chavez asked the actor to say a few words.
''I came here looking for a great country. I found a great country,'' Penn told the crowd.
''I'm also here as a journalist and so I owe it to that medium to wait until I've digested, fact-checked and finished my journey here'' before saying more, Penn said. He thanked Chavez for the visit.
The president lauded Penn as ''a man who is critical of his government and of imperialism.''
At one of Chavez's many roadside stops, Penn remarked: ''I'm just here to take it in like everybody else.''
Chavez noted they were visiting ''one of the most tense zones of Latin America'' - near the border with Colombia, a haven for drug traffickers, left-wing rebels and right-wing paramilitaries.
Security was tight, with soldiers and bodyguards lining the motorcade route.
Holding a map of the border region, Chavez said the US ''empire'' has a strong presence on the Colombian side, including military advisers and spies.
But he kept the tone light with visiting dignitaries from countries including Canada, Poland and Burkina Faso who joined him on the presidential Airbus jet.
With a hearty laugh, he said: ''Surely they're going to take satellite photographs, and they're going to say in Washington that Chavez is going around with a crazy international battalion - African, Canadian, Cuban and gringo!''
- Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan President
Sounds like Hugo is threatening to undermine our government, just as he accuses us of doing his.
As for Sean Penn, what is there to say? He peaked in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" IMHO.
A traitor and an idiot.
Actually, they are both idiots and both traitors (Chavez to Venezuela, Penn to the US).
reminds me of jane fonda.
one cannot have much respect for the united states of america
to take up with the enemy.
and, make no mistake about it, chavez is a communist.
Maybe his trip will go as well in Venezuela, as it did in Louisiana after Katrina.....hmm?
I`m sure Penn has as much money as one could want or have in his over-paid field (thanks to his director Daddy and actress mommy who gave him the opportunity just like a lot of libs in Hollywood today who never had to work for a living) which would afford him to live pretty much anywhere he chooses. Yet for some reason he keeps living in the U.S. Why is that Sean?
I Can’t buy into the “Next Fidel” argument
Chavez can bark all he wants—he has only one market for oil—the United States. He can give away as much as he wants to his compadres in this hemisphere—but he can’t pipe it to Europe or China—thus we have theatre...
More on point—
It’s cute that Sean Penn aspires to be a socialist, ‘cause to me he’ll always be a wife-beater.
I hope Penn stays there & Hanoi Jane etc can join him.
What is it with Hollywood and dictators? First Danny Glover, then Penn. No wonder I never go to movies anymore.
Sean Penn is a snot-nosed Hollywood kid with a limited education, immature about almost everything he’s involved in.
So, what would one expect?
His parents must be very proud — NOT!!!!
The only thing you need to know Hugo is that when and if we want your 5hit we’ll come down there and kill you and take your 5hit. And if inSane Penn is in the way, too bad, so sad, Cindy’s mad. Now that’s what I call Diplomacy.
Speechless. I really believe that Sean Penn has lost his damn mind? This is sad.
You found a great country ay Penn? Now we dare you to move to it...think you will have a nice life there in socialist nirvana? The USA has afforded you star-status and you crap on this nation. You will eventually inherit the wasteland you long for. God bless the USA and puke on you traitors.
I wonder if Sean Penn has deviated from his “I am Sam” role any in the past few years.
[Sean] Penn’s problem is he cares too much. I’m just not sure what the hell he cares about.
I dont know why people value what actors and actresses have to say, or value their opinion over the opinion of anyone in another profession. They pretend for a living.
Hugo Uraguay, and I’ll go Maya way.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
In Penn's defense, he is living in Marin County (CA), which is about as close to living outside of real America as one can be. The politics of that area resembles Penn's very closely. I've run into quite a few moonbats there lately.
It’s like a bad scripted nightmare movie.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.