Democratic lawmakers blast Chavez

[raysr]

"Remarks this week by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, who hurled insults at President Bush, brought a response on Thursday from congressional Democrats. VOA's Dan Robinson on Capitol Hill reports on the curious defense of the president from two key Democrats who said they resented the Venezuelan leader's behavior on American soil."

--more--
http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-09-21-voa78.cfm

WTF is the matter with these guys? Chavez knows Bush is going to try and kill him. Has already staged a coup against him. I'm an atheist but if there was a Satan, Bush would be it. What a bunch of kiss ass mf'ers. Rangle of all people.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

1. You know, the Democrats don't have a spine, do they?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Yet another display of pathetic flag waving by politicians.

[Deja Q]

3. Think of it this way

Bush may be the black sheep of the American family... but he's still American.

Which is sad, the folks that support Bush have nary an ounce of compassion for their fellow Americans. (which is ultimately not unlike the governments of the countries they deal with; for in the end, they sure as hell wouldn't be taking Americans in...)

And if the situation was reversed, repubs would be patting Chavez on the back and swapping cake recipes.

[Vogon_Glory]

12. Too bloomin' True

<<And if the situation was reversed, repubs would be patting Chavez on the back and swapping cake recipes.>>

Too bloomin' true, as we saw the Repuds demonstrate during the Clinton years.

[silverweb]

4. Wimps.

Can't handle the unvarnished truth.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Election's coming up.

Repubs would be all over any comment, film clip, etc., in which a Dem said something that could be contrued as even faintly defending Chavez; and this would be the basis for nasty attack ads with menacing music and unflattering black & white photography that made the Dem candidate look like Dracula.

[DRoseDARs]

6. Except Chavez WAS NOT on "American" soil. The UN is foreign soil.

And besides, who the fuck cares? Chavez throwing a colorful hissy fit at the UN General Assembly IS NOT the most pressing issue Democrats should be commenting on. It was about as interesting as a catfight between Hollywood starlets. Leave him for the media talking bobbleheads.

Edit:
If they need something to talk about, they can talk about this...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2192155

[mmonk]

7. Dems line up to make their statements

[Tyo]

8. This is such crap

Chavez was only speaking the truth in a language that our Idiot-in-Chief can understand. And while the UN is surrounded by America it is not America so it's not like this guy was coming to our own soil and trashing our President although that wouldn't have bothered me either. The Democratic leadership is such a waste of space I can't believe it sometimes.

[mtnsnake]

9. What a bunch of sucks. No wonder we can't win

[Vogon_Glory]

10. The Incumbent Is A Jerk, But He's OUR Jerk

The incumbent is a jerk, but he's OUR jerk. Our people selected him (Or at least enough voted for him to make any fraud look convincing). We may think he's a jerk, we may SAY he's a jerk, but that's our prerogative on American soil.

If Presidente Hugo Chavez wants to call the Andover cheerleader from Midland a jerk, he should do so on his own media outside of North America.

The jerk IS the President of the United States. His office deserves some patriotic respect even if we don't think that the current occupant doesn't deserve much himself.

[bigluckyfeet]

15. I wish Chavez Could Have said Devil to the chimp's face

Democrats defend the chimp,do you ever see a repuke defend a Democrat.Pelsoi needs to shut her big mouth.

[Vogon_Glory]

16. No. 43 May Be A Jerk, BUT

No. 43 may be a jerk and richly deserves impeachment and removal from office, but I feel that Pelosi and other Democratic politicians were duty-bound to defend no. 43 to that extent. I agree with you that Repuds have lost the sort of decency you described. As for your wish concerning Hugo Chavez and the Midland diablito, I hope Chavez gets his chance.

[Individualist]

18. Not MY jerk!! Hell, no!

He wasn't elected. He was SELECTED BY THE SUPREME COURT. The people of this country ELECTED AL GORE!

[tocqueville]

20. the UN is not the US nt

[mike_c]

21. I can't tell you how much I disagree-- viva Chavez!

The U.N. is international territory. Chavez might as well have been standing on a ship outside the territorial limits, because that's where he was-- outside the territorial U.S.

[rman]

29. The Bush admin deserves no respect whatsoever.

Not from anyone.

[partylessinOhio]

11. Those Dems have sealed their fate.

Big time losses coming in November and 08. Weak, sniveling cowards, could not stand up to a weiner. Chavez unknowingly has exposed them for what they are - BushA$$Kissers!

[CAG]

13. So Charlie Rangel is a Busha$$kisser???? my, oh my.... what a

perspective

[Tyo]

25. So true. Thank you. n/t

[tocqueville]

14. Lawmakers wrong : Chavez NOT on "American soil"

The United Nations headquarters is a distinctive complex in New York City that has served as the headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood, on the east side of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River. Though it is in New York City, the land occupied by the United Nations headquarters is "international territory"<1>, and its borders are First Avenue west, East 42nd Street south, East 48th Street north and the East River east. FDR Drive passes underneath the Conference Building of the complex.

The land does not belong to just one country, but to all countries that have joined the Organization. The United Nations has its own security and fire forces, issues its own postage stamps and conducts business in its six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_headquarters

see even

http://www.un.int/usa/host_hqs.htm

jingoism has no limits

[mike_c]

19. this just shows how ignorant many of our lawmakers really are....

Rather than have the courage to say "that's one of the reasons the U.N. is there, and why it is international territory," they march in lockstep with the knee jerk reaction against Chavez having the nerve to "come to America" to insult our chimp in chief.

Note to dems: I'm actually IN America. Bush is a fuckwit. I'd call Bush the devil, but I'm willing to give Satan the benefit of the doubt and not insult him so lightly.

[never_get_over_it]

22. Read the article - the lawmakers didn't say US soil

the reporter did (at least the lawmakers weren't quoted as saying it in the article)

Rangel said:

"He has to understand that while we have problems politically sometimes with President Bush, that he is still our president and that we resent foreigners coming and condemning our president, whether it is at the United Nations or whether it is in my congressional district," said Charles Rangel.

Pelosi didn't say anything about soil at all -

On edit I think Rangel and Pelosi should have kept their big traps shut - think Rangel did it becacus Chavez apparently called Bush a drunk - in Harlem today - Pelosi just probably couldn't help herself.

[tocqueville]

23. this is Rangel's statement from You Tube

"But you don't come into my country, you don't come into my congressional district, and you don't condemn my president. If there is any criticism of President Bush it should be restricted to Americans, whether they voted for him or not. And I just want to make it abundantly clear to Hugo Chavez or any other president: Don't come to the United States and think, uh, because we have problems with our president, that any foreigner can come to our country and not think that Americans do not feel offended when you offend our chief of state."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2192725

[DRoseDARs]

26. Well, I'm sure Mr. Rangel wouldn't say anything bad about Chavez...

"We have to understand that while we have problems politically sometimes with President Chavez, that he is still their president and that they'd resent foreigners coming and condemning their president, whether it is at the United Nations or whether it is in their capital city."

Condemnation runs both ways, asshole.

[tocqueville]

17. but Charlie Rangel called Clinton a "redneck"....

On September 22, 2005, Rangel compared Republican President George W. Bush to Bull Connor, the former Public Safety Commissioner of Birmingham, Alabama, stating: "George Bush is our Bull Connor." In response, Vice President Dick Cheney, during an interview on the Rush Limbaugh radio program on October 3, 2005, stated: "I'm frankly surprised at his comments. It almost struck me — they were so out of line, it almost struck me that there was some — Charlie was having some problem. Charlie is losing it, I guess." Rangel responded by changing the subject saying, "The fact that he would make a crack at my age, he ought to be ashamed of himself...He should look so good at 75."

Rangel also caused controvery on February 13, 2005, by blasting Bill Clinton as a Redneck in response to Hillary Clinton's refusal to support his views on the Amadou Diallo case. <1>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Rangel

[PFunk]

24. And this is why I now call myself and "Independent Liberal".

Because I now feel that most of the demecractic party has now become DINO's and has long left me and others like me.

[diamidue]

27. I'm not far behind you.

For the life of me, I can't figure out what exactly our elected Dems stand for anymore. Is it asking too much for them to just once step up and take a stance on something important? Here they are falling all over themselves to criticize Chavez, when they should be beating the repugs over the head with the torture issue.

[rman]

28. One of few exceptions: Dennis Kucinich

(I figure this is about Chavez winning the recall referendum)

Statement Of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich On President Chavez’s Victory
Monday, August 16, 2004
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh10_kucinich/040816chavez.html

Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), Ranking Member of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, issued the following statement today on President Chavez's victory:

“I congratulate President Hugo Chavez on his decisive victory. President Chavez’s victory is a victory for the people of Venezuela and for the democratic process. Today’s results demonstrate the people of Venezuela’s confidence in President Chavez and his presidency. I will work to ensure that this Administration recognizes that the people of Venezuela have spoken, and that the United States government now must show its support for the people of Venezuela and President Chavez.”