Radio Iowa: Harkin Defends Chavez U.N. Speech Against Bush

[DeepModem Mom]

Harkin defends Venezuelan President's U-N speech against Bush
by Darwin Danielson

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat, today defended Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's United Nations speech in which Chavez called President George Bush the devil. Harkin said the comments were "incendiary", then went on to say, "Let me put it this way, I can understand the frustration, ah, and the anger of certain people around the world because of George Bush's policies." Harkin continued what has been frequent criticism of the president's foreign policy.

Harkin says Bush came to office saying he wanted a new humility in foreign policy in reaching out to other countries, but Harkin says Bush's actual policy has been heavy handed. Harkin says the anger against Bush is generated from the Iraq war, which Harkin says was "unnecessary."...

http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=020BFC5A-FA7D-42CC-9BA6A4ED9DA063B8

[wakeme2008]

1. Thank you Harkin...

I am tired of the House Dems slamming Chavaz

[saigon68]

27. Like appeaser Pelosi

And the rest of the DLC crowd

[VegasWolf]

2. Finally, a DEMOCRAT with balls. Few and far between. nt

[rrasile]

38. Balls ?

Small balls at best. Let's be careful people. We have candidates working hard playing that center and some need those Righty votes to get elected.
Make a joke about it, everyone should know how right the man was. The wealthy hate him because he's proving that Socialism can work in our modern times. The average stiff population is growing throughout the world and Mexico is the latest example and it grows everyday in our country.

[TankLV]

44. BULLSHIT. I don't WANT any "rightie" votes if it means COMPROMISING

our principles!

If these imaginary - IMAGINARY (they don't exist) righty voters who are thinking of voting DEMOCRATIC) - want to go ahead on their own and vote for us - of their own free will with no changing or hiding by us of our LIBERAL and PROGRESSIVE values, fine.

But NEVER, EVER - try to mollify our values for these ASSWIPES!

So, you just join up, and proceed to lecture US?!

How's that "unity party" crap going for ya?!...

[AzDar]

3. Excellent. n/t

[NOLADEM]

4. Finally

[unkachuck]

5. Harkin's right, you know....n/t

[PSPS]

6. Hmmm. "Understand the frustration" isn't the same as "Defends"

I guess it's that librul med1a!

[killbotfactory]

15. Yeah.

I wouldn't expect any democrat to say "Chavez was right!". Generally, our politicians don't refer to each other as pure evil.

[Ken Burch]

41. That's what Republicans call US...

If our candidates won't attack him for his evil, why can't they get out of the way for somebody who does?

[leesa]

7. Good. He should also defend him...Bush did try to overthrow him

after all.

[Bozita]

8. I've had enough Rangel and Pelosi. Tom Harkin is speaking for me today!

[partylessinOhio]

9. Viva Harkin and Chavez!

Balls of steel!

[LibDemAlways]

10. Thank you, Harkin. At last a Democrat who isn't

falling all over himself to defend the chimp.

If a world leader had publically dissed Clinton (unlikely since Clinton was respected), repukes would be clammering for tv facetime to solemnly agree.

Glad to see that Harkin isn't drinking the same kool-aid as Rangel and Pelosi.

[Poll_Blind]

12. A-the-hell-MEN! n/t

PB

[Poll_Blind]

11. I put in the fourth rec, will someone honor us with one more? n/t

PB

[roody]

13. Harkin voted to give Bush war powers.

[killbotfactory]

14. and then apologized for it

and said he was wrong.

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/media/storage/paper818/news/2003/11/03/News/Harkin.Blasts.Bushs.Iraq.War.Policy-1097490.shtml

[ForPeace]

16. Harkin 2008!

n/t

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

17. I'm going to fucking vomit.

How many people died in Iraq today? Where the fuck is Osama?

[saigon68]

28. Osama is lying on a beach chair, across from Ocean Drive in Miami Beach

[Phredicles]

18. Recommended, and I'm remembering why I was so sorry to see

Harkin's 1988 presidential campaign end. Maybe he'll give it another go some day?

[nicknameless]

19. Finally!

:thumbsup:

[puffthemagicdragon]

20. Iowa peeps kick butt

love you harkin, miss you iowa peeps, FANTASTICO HARKIN, and VIVA CHAVEZ!@!!!!!!

[NorthernSpy]

21. Finally, someone brave enough to be honest! I love this guy...

Unless he caves and takes it all back.

Please don't cave, Sen. Harkin! You were RIGHT to say this. It needed to be said.

[anotherdrew]

22. THAT is how it's done! way to go Harkin! let's hope the rest harken to him

to those who's feelings were hurt by the big bad man who used the awful mean words, I say...
sometimes,

the truth hurts

dubya... is a devil folks*












--
* no not REALLY, it's a just a figure of speech, you know? please...

[eridani]

23. Damn!

Best option silence, IMO. But if you have to say something, Harkin said exactly the right thing.

[countryjake]

24. Finally!

[farmboxer]

25. Why no outrage over the Pope calling Bush the Antichrist?

Rove is playing the damned media. Look how cruel Bush has been. Hell, he is for torture! Harkin has balls! Thank you Harkin.

The truth to a Republican is like a cross to a vampire!

[Inspired]

26. That's my Senator! n/t

[Tin Man]

29. Harkin now backing-off earlier remarks

also from radioiowa, comes this story:

Harkin issues prepared statement to supplement his earlier remarks on Chavez

On Thursday morning, Harkin spoke with radio reporters in Iowa by phone and was asked for his thoughts on the speech in which Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez referred to President Bush as the devil. Harkin called the comments incendiary, but Harkin immediately went on to say he could "understand the frustration and the anger of certain people around the world because of George Bush's policies."

On Thursday afternoon at 4:30, Harkin's staff issued a prepared statement in which Harkin is quoted as saying the Chavez speech was "unworthy of a nation's leader." Harkin said, again, that he "understood the frustrations of many in the international community because of George W. Bush's policies" but Harkin went on to say that did not give Chavez or others "the right to come to our country and personally insult and attack the President of the United States."

Here is Harkin's prepared statement in its entirety: “Yesterday’s comments by President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela were incendiary and unworthy of a nation’s leader. While I understand the frustrations of many in the international community because of George W. Bush’s policies, I do not believe that gives them the right to come to our country and personally insult and attack the President of the United States. This is especially inappropriate at a forum such as the United Nations, dedicated to civil and peaceful dialogue among nations.”

http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=3B684905-1D6F-48B5-B5C3D354BE011BAD&dbtranslator=local.cfm

[Karenina]

30. He got the memo.

It smelled of sulphur.

[Tin Man]

31. No, it smelled like victory

[arewenotdemo]

37. good one

[Zorra]

33. Chavez called the guy who wants to cap him "the devil". The same

guy that tried to overthrow his government.

The same guy that stole the Presidency of the US. The same guy that lied us into an unjustifiable war.

Bu*h may not be the devil, but he is doing his best to be a candidate for the job.

He deserved the insult, no matter what the venue.

And Bu*h is so full-on evil that calling him the devil may have actually flattered him.

[LibDemAlways]

34. Sounds like between morning and afternoon he received a

threat from some prominent member of the Bush Crime Family, either Rove or Cheney.

[Tin Man]

35. Bahahawaha - good one!

:rofl:

[TankLV]

45. Paging Durbin - paging dicky durbin! You're wanted on the Democratic

Apology line! Stat!..

...paging Durbin...

please pickup the YELLOW courtesy phone to the White House!...

[rman]

39. wow, the pressure must really be on

Anyone heard anything from Kucinich on this matter?

[robcon]

32. Harkin is an ass.

Is he working for the rethugs?

[1932]

36. Well, that's a convincing argument.

[Ken Burch]

42. Are you?

You always take the anti-progressive side in the debates here.

[Ken Burch]

40. I supported Harkin in '92, but the "liberal" media drove him out

of the race as early as they could. They couldn't stand the idea of a Democrat with strong principles beating ol' 41. They acted like he was a Democratic version of "Bob Dole Bob Dole"(as the Capitol Steps used to call the Man from Russell).

Thanks Tom, for showing once again that you supporters were right and the media was wrong.

[TankLV]

43. Thank you Harkin. Now maybe Rangle and Pelosi could learn a thing or 2

from his statement...