Chavez: If Climate Were Bank, U.S. Would Have Saved It

By: Amanda Sterling
Topics: World Affairs

(AP PHOTO)

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez spoke at the U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen today, decrying capitalism and saying that "if the climate was a bank, [the United States] would already have saved it," Politico's Glenn Thrush reports.

"The United States can produce dollars, just print them, and they think they've saved their banks and the capitalist system," Chavez reportedly said.

Forbes reports that the South American president also slammed President Obama for his decision to deploy additional troops to Afghanistan.

"I think Obama isn't here yet," he said. "He got the Nobel Peace Prize almost the same day as he sent 30,000 soldiers to kill innocent people in Afghanistan."

This is something of a reversal from Chavez's last word on Mr. Obama back in September, when he called the U.S. president "intelligent" and compared him to John F. Kennedy at the United Nations. At that speech Chavez commented that the air "doesn't smell like sulfur anymore" now that Mr. Obama was in office – a knock on former President George W. Bush.

Today, however, Chavez took an anti-U.S. tone, proclaiming that "There is a ghost running through the streets of Copenhagen." That ghost, he said, is capitalism.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protestors congregated outside Copenhagen's Bella Center, where the climate talks are being held. reports that more than 200 have been arrested by police carrying tear gas and wielding batons.

Chavez had a comment on the protests, too.

"I think we need to say hello to all the people out there," he said. "Most of them young."

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by jwmcardsfan December 19, 2009 5:09 PM EST: Another Marxist blowhard. What a buffoon!
And you leftists on this blog aren't much different.
Capitalism works! Everywhere its tried.
Socialism fails! Everywhere its tried.
Look it up!; Reply to this comment


by freestaterevolution December 17, 2009 11:56 AM EST: Thank you Hugo! You have proved what so many of us have been saying for so long- that this entire "Climate Summit/Enviro-Justice" movement is deeply rooted in a Marxist, anti-free market, socialistic ideology. The crowd's standing ovation at the summit pretty much sums this all up.

The left-wing loons make this so easy. Their ignorance is our bliss. Next...; Reply to this comment

by joseluisbelmar December 16, 2009 3:55 PM EST

Hugo Chavez opened his big fat mouth again and the media does not understand that his attacks are made to get attention in the worldwide media for free. Perhaps someone could send him to the hospital with a broken nose, two broken teeth and a sored mouth like Berlusconi. The difference is that Berlusconi talks sense most of the times, and Chavez talks BS. Hugo Chavez is the greatest danger Latin America could ever had; greater than Hitler was for Europe. Time will confirm this. José Luis Belmar

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by Matt2023 December 16, 2009 7:28 PM EST: emm let me guess your a rich south american..
..how about the american sponsored right-wing dictatorships in south america how would you rate those?


by liberalme December 16, 2009 3:52 PM EST: I though we just did Capitalism and was now time for Socialism, I'm confused.; Reply to this comment


by lovegetspeace December 16, 2009 3:01 PM EST: Folks,

How many Toyota Prius exist in Venezuela?; Reply to this comment


by geminispyder-2009 December 16, 2009 2:58 PM EST: Chavez: "If Climate Were Bank, U.S. Would Have Saved It"

And if Democracy were a bean burrito, Chavez would've eaten it up and shat it right out.

So what's your point Chavez?; Reply to this comment


by billpl-2009 December 16, 2009 2:51 PM EST: if climate were a bank...Chavez would nationalize it; Reply to this comment


by yermamma December 16, 2009 2:30 PM EST: "if the climate was a bank, [the United States] would already have saved it,"

Sure he's nuts at times but the truth of that statement is pretty funny.; Reply to this comment

by ddaryl1 December 16, 2009 2:22 PM EST

innocent people in Afghanistan.. Sorry hugo but the Taliban and AL Quida are not innocent

that being said he is 100% correct. Capitialism sucks, and if the climate was a bank the US would save it. But the climate does not produce wealth so corporate Ameirca doesn't care and will do whatever it has to to make sure it doens;t interfere with their plans for increasing their wealth

Reply to this comment


by freestaterevolution December 17, 2009 12:11 PM EST: Capitalism doesn't suck, corruption sucks. Capitalism is just an economic system. If someone makes their own t-shirts to sell at a concert parking lot, and then live off of until the next concert (thinking back to my old Grateful Dead days), they are a capitalist.

If that person takes their profits, pays another person for a veggie burrito in the concert lot- then instantly other people are gaining something by that one t-shirt transaction. If the t-shirt guy sells enough shirts, he can choose to take some profit to buy more shirts next time around- and then he can hire someone to help...job created! This is elementary school stuff. But its not evil, it promotes free thought, inspiration, creativeness.

If the government came in and said- "t-shirt guy, get out, we're making the shirts now- you can have a slice of gov. cheese and some bread", you would probably say to the government, "We can run this parking lot much better then you. And we don't want your cheese either!" It's about freedom.

Capitalism doesn't suck. Corrupt people suck.