Joe Kennedy Uses Latest Citgo Commercial to Slam U.S. Government and 'Big Oil'

NewsBusters ^ | January 23, 2008 | P.J. Gladnick

[PJ-Comix]

Although former U.S. Congressman, Joseph Kennedy III has been criticized for his Citgo commercial last year promoting discount heating oil provided by the Hugo Chavez Venezuelan government as a PR ploy, his latest commercial goes way beyond mere syrupy praise. Kennedy is now using the most recent Citgo commercial as a launchpad to blast the U.S. government and "Big Oil" as you can see in this video. After an introduction similar to the previous commercial showing poor people suffering from the cold, Kennedy goes on the attack:

...Yet our own government cut fuel assistance. And the Big Oil companies with oil and money to burn all said "no" when we asked for help. All but one. Citgo. Owned by the Venezuelan people, is donating millions of gallons to non-profit Citizens Action...

Actually Citgo is owned by the Chavez run Venezuelan government, not the "people." As for the Venezuelan people themselves, it turns out their plight is getting even worse under the corruption ridden Chavez government. This widespread corruption has even been recognized in the the latest issue of the liberal New Republic. Alvaro Vargas Llosa has this to say about life under Chavez in Slum Lord:

After an extensive visit to the slums of this capital, I am convinced that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lost the recent referendum that would have extended the time he could remain in office not because his countrymen value democracy so much, but because his social programs are crumbling. In the barrios of Petare, Catia, Baruta and other places, the nationalist/populist model is collapsing.

Through a network of "missions," the government has been using oil revenue to provide food, housing, cars, education and health care for millions of Venezuelans. In theory, Venezuelans are enjoying the "social justice" denied to them during decades of rule by the country's elites. In real life, the missions are plagued with corruption and inefficiency, and are severely hampered by the insecurity and the shortages that have become the hallmark of Venezuelan society.

...Corruption has eroded the prestige of the Habitat mission through which the government supposedly dishes out checks to poor Venezuelans so they can buy a house. It is not unusual for an aspiring homeowner to find out that a mystery person has cashed the check using his or her name. "The same people who hand out the checks cash them for the benefit of their relatives," explains Eladio, who told me a nephew recently suffered such an experience.

..."The government led Venezuelans to believe that they could become a consumer society without producing anything," says Luis Ugalde, the president of Andres Bello University, "and the results are now speaking for themselves."

When I asked Beatriz, a social worker who spends her time in Catia, to talk to me about Chavez's missions, she responded, "One cannot speak about that which doesn't exist." That strikes me as an appropriate way to sum up Venezuela's nationalist/populist model.

Perhaps Joe Kennedy needs to personally speak to the Venezuelan people he loudly touts on his Citgo commercials to find out for himself what life is actually like for them down there. Somehow I don't think they are too happy with the idea that Chavez is wasting their oil on PR gimmicks to ingratiate himself with American leftists like Kennedy while life for the average person in Venezuela continues to deteriorate.

[PJ-Comix]

Joe Kennedy now using Citgo commercials as a leftwing platform.

[Vaquero]

TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!!

he needs impeachment and worse.

[olezip]

Joe Kennedy, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, has never had to work for a living. His communist leanings may be a result of his realization that he is a failure at free enterprise, that I suspect about which he has not a clue. Nor, I suspect, does he understand basic economics. ...just another leftist.

[Bon mots]

The Kennedy clan are sinking lower and lower... too bad they floated to the surface after Chappaquiddick.

Did they give this one a lobotomy like they did to Sister Rosie or what?

If not, perhaps they should consider such. It would represent a remarkable improvement, I’m sure.

[Just mythoughts]

He must be chewing the same leaves as Chavez.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957520/posts

[nyyankeefan]

another kennedy another anti-american blame america lib/dem socialist!!!!

screw all the kennedy’s and their lib/dem bastion taxachusssetts that spawned them!!!

[tiger-one]

Screw the Citgo stations...Go Red Sox

[Jimmy Valentine]

Give it a little more time. When the old drunk Teddy finally collapses and dies, that will be the end of "Camelot".

The Kennedy bloodline has thinned out into irrelevance in three generations.

The fourth generation will be back to being broke, shanty Irish trash.

[camle]

personally I’d rather take the vnenzuelean oil at below market prices, then let them sell it for full price. the difference in revenue will eventually cost chavez.

[GeneralisimoFranciscoFranco]

My local Citgo has always been the cheapest gas and diesel in town. Costs me about two bucks per fill up since they started this crap. but it gives me a warm feeling every time I don’t give my money to hugo.

[laconic]

There’s good money in helping alleviate poverty on behalf of America-hating dictators. I understand Joe the Third makes about $400K a year shilling for Mr.Chavez and shrieking about “the poor”.

[metesky]

Remember that when "Young" Joe was in Congress, Roll Call or The Hill (Can't remember which) voted him Stupidest House Member and dubbed him "The Wizard of Uhs" as in his speech pattern, "uh, uh ,uh".

One of the Citgo ads he was running showed a black woman huddling in a cold apartment with Joe's voice over claiming that even though the woman was a retired military officer, she couldn't heat her apartment.

I think the outrage on that one was pretty large because I only saw it two or three times before Christmas before Joe pushed it down the memory hole.

On a brighter note the Citgo station two blocks away that we did business with for years before Chavez started with his antics is now a Shell station, so it appears that we weren't the only ones boycotting the place.
;O)

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

My cousin in Massachusetts claims that Joe the lib is “earning” a salary of $600,000 per year.

[Leisler]

Joe Kennedy’s Citizen Oil is but one of about ten Kennedy controlled Citizen Oil. One is non-profit and pays Joey 4-600,000/per year. For the little people. The other Citizen Oils are for profit and private. No telling what sweetheart deals Joe gets from Hugo, et al, for being a traitor. I doubt Kennedy’s take it up the back cheaply.

[RSmithOpt]

How come JK don’t promote a commercial that 30% of the price of a barrel of oil is due directly from global speculation?

[TYVets]

The fourth generation will be back to being broke, shanty Irish trash.

The timing is perfect for Joe to migrate to Cuba and become the next Fidel !

[GQuagmire]

I don’t know about the rest of the country, but here in the People’s Republic of Mass. the airwaves are inundated with these commercials. I can’t change the channel quick enough when I hear Comrade Kennedy’s voice.........

Hey Joe, did the Venezuelan people vote to send the oil to you? I didn’t think so

[theBuckwheat]

And if the news that Chavez has sent money to AlQuaeda, then doing business with Citgo is helping to fund people trying to murder Americans.

[FishTale]

"Screw the Citgo stations...Go Red Sox"

Pardon me but... Huh?

[jimfree]

Citgo is not owned by the Venezuelan people. Walter Williams test applies here. Can each sell his share?