Chavez Catches Hell For 'Devil' Speech

Democrats Take A Break From Criticizing President Bush To Defend Him

(CBS)  It’s rare to hear Congressional Democrats coming to the rescue of President George W. Bush. But a day after Venezuela's president called Mr. Bush a "devil" in front of the United Nations General Assembly, several prominent Bush critics are siding with the White House.

Rep. Charles Rangel – the Democrat who represents the New York City neighborhood that Hugo Chavez visited Thursday – took a swipe at the Venezuelan President for his behavior at the U.N.

Rangel said he wants to make it clear to the Venezuelan President that his comments on Wednesday were inappropriate and the American people are offended by his criticism of President Bush.

"I just want to make it abundantly clear to Hugo Chavez or any other president - don't come to the United States and think 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," Rangel said.

"Any demeaning public attack against him is viewed by Republicans and Democrats, and all Americans, as an attack on all of us," Rangel said.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who spent most of the day criticizing the Bush administration's economic and environmental policies, told reporters that Chavez's performance at the U.N. "demeaned" himself and the his nation.

"He fancies himself as a modern day Simon Bolivar, but all he is an everyday thug," Pelosi said.

Speaking before the General Assembly's annual meeting of world leaders on Wednesday, Chavez called Mr. Bush the "devil" and even said the podium that the President had used still smelled of "sulfur."

Chavez received applause from the audience at the U.N. in New York after his remarks. Mr. Bush was not in the room at the time having already returned to Washington, D.C. after making his own speech to the General Assembly.

This isn't the first time Chaves has taken verbal jabs at President Bush. In a past appearance, Chavez said, "George W. Bush: You are a donkey, Mr. Bush."

But none of his previous comments have been on as large a stage as the United Nations.

Mr. Bush's predecessor, Bill Clinton, added his voice to chorus of Democrats condemning Chavez.

"I think Chavez would be much more effective if he would say something that's true," Mr. Clinton said on CNN. "You know, to me, that would be a much cleverer thing for him to do, where he'd really be doing something good, and he could say, 'I disagree with President Bush,' instead of calling him the devil."

Republicans on Capitol Hill got in on the act, too.

House Majority Leader John Boehner released a statement bashing Chavez.

"Hugo Chavez is little more than a power-hungry autocrat on an anti-American public relations tour -- a showboat whose speech to the United Nations was an embarrassment and an insult to the American people," the Ohio Republican said.

The White House so far has refused to fire back at the Venezuelan leader.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Chavez's comment "is not becoming a head of state."

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton said the remarks "don't warrant a response."

Bolton did add that, while Chavez has the right to express his opinion, it was "too bad the people of Venezuela don't have free speech."

CBS News reporter Charles Wolfson, who covers the State Department, says the Venezuelan's comments are not that big a deal.

Every leader gets his or her fifteen minutes in the spotlight – most use their time for standard policy statements which concern their countries, Wolfson reports. But there are always a few leaders who simply feel, either for nationalistic or individual pride, the urge to use their time to provoke, to use the U.N. podium as their personal platform to see and be seen as an actor on the world stage.

But, CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk says Chavez could be setting himself up to be the chief thorn in America's side.

"Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is rapidly becoming the new Fidel Castro, but with petro-dollars, at the U.N.," said Falk, "and as a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council in October, his anti-Bush comments are making him increasingly popular with member states in his campaign for that position."

Chavez's personal criticisms of the American president were not slowed by the American officials' chidings. During his Thursday appearance in Harlem, he called Mr. Bush an "alcoholic and a sick man."

Venezuela's president had just promised to double the amount of discounted heating oil his country is shipping to needy Americans when he fired the latest salvo.

"Venezuela's generosity to the poor, however, should not be interpreted as license to attack President Bush. Those who take issue with Bush Administration policies have no right to attack him personally," said Rangel, adding that it was also "not helpful when President Bush referred to certain nations as an 'axis of evil'."

[mh4cbs1]

Thanks you Chavez! He called it like it is, and it drives Bush and the corproate media nuts! Of course NOTHING is reported about the substance of Chavez statements, the legitimate complaints over the decades of US exploitation, CIA supported coups, US finaced death squads.
Finally a Chavez comes along, gets elected by a huge margin (more popular than Bush!), and the media can only trivialize and marginalize him.
Does the media forget? It was Bush who LIED his way to his unproovoked invasion of Iraq - costing $300 Billion (so far), thousands of innocent lives, and making us less safe than ever. But Bush is all about FEAR, HATE, LIES and endless WAR. This keeps him in power and profits the super wealthy - his true base.If you love America, you should fear Bush, not Chavez.

RichGarcia2 wrote:

"You can tell Hugo Chavez is just a big liar to stand up there and make the sign of the cross when he is useing all his country oil money to buy weapons"

Bush claims to be religious and uses American Tax Payers dollars that could be spent on improving the lives of millions of Americans to by weapons, so by your definition, that makes Bush "just a big liar" as well.

Do you understand the concept of irony? I bet you don't.

Bush once claimed "I think they pray to a false God, otherwise they wouldn't be killing %u2026 like they have been."

How many people do you think Bush is responsible for killing?

No man of god would do what Bush does.

[richgarcia2]

You can tell Hugo Chavez is just a big liar to stand up there and make the sign of the cross when he is useing all his country oil money to buy weapons,His goal is to take over all of south america If I were the president of the U.S. today I would say lets go kick his *** and take his gas, better to do it now it would be a lot easier we are going to have to do it later when he already has the weapons..Mr. Richard Garcia

LesB35, Venezuela has always had a high crime rate, which has largely been attributed to a huge gap between the rich and the poor and an ineffective and corrupt police force.

This was the case before Chavez even became President.

Having said that, crime, especially violent crime, has increased in the past few years.

To combat this, Chavez has introduced a number of reforms, including socio-economic reforms, as well as police reforms.

Whether these reforms work or not, only time will tell. Hopefully they will.

As part of his reforms, Chavez has been distributing much of the oil wealth into social programs and "missions" aimed at helping the poor.

Some of the "missions" include:

- providing free medical clinics for the poor
- increasing literacy (especially for adults)
- food and housing subsidies

If only Bush did this for the poor.

[lesb35]

MCdazz,I wasn't defending Bush. I was curious why you were defending Chavez. I've heard a very different story from Venezuelans. I hear that crime has become rapant and he has taken money from anyone that owned anything. The biggest question is what is he doing with all that oil money. Is it being used to feed his people.

drgoodwin12 wrote:

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/9/20/123752.shtml?s=rss

"I do not agree 100% with Chavez but he has some points."

Chavez certainly makes some excellent points about the UN and it's failings.

The shortened version is below:

1. Expansion - giving other countries access as new permanent members.
2. Effective methods to address and resolve world conflicts and transparent decisions.
3. The immediate suppression of the "anti-democratic" mechanism known as the veto.
4. Strengthen the role and powers of the Secretary General of the UN.

I don't think there are too many people - Republican, Democrat or other, that would disagree that the UN needs to be re-established or restructured.

[drgoodwin12]

Here is the link to the complete statement by Chavez.http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/9/20/123752.shtml?s=rss Now with tax breaks for U.S. corporations to move overseas where they pay the workers less than the equivalent of minimum wage(U.S.) and not enough to buy the products they are manufacturing. Chavez has a point.And remember Bush called Saddam Hitler prior to the invasion.I do not agree 100% with Chavez but he has some points.

LesB35,

Perhaps you could explain to me what kind of a man GW Bush is.

I could use a good laugh.

LesB35 wrote:

"Really, why don't you share with us what kind of a man he is?"

Chavez is a man who is seeking to create a better life for all Venezuelans - something that Bush should be trying to do for ALL Americans.

Chavez has introduced a range of policies that were sadly lacking due to the previous Venezuelan Gov, which actively sought to keep the poor uneducated and oppressed.

Of course, Bush would have you think that Chavez is an evil man, who doesn't have the support of the majority of Venezuelans - another Bush lie.

There is a reason why Chavez is popular with this people - it's because he cares about them.

It's also why Bush and Co need to demonize Chavez.

Anyway, here's a few reasons why Chavez is more of a man then Bush.

Chavez: Graduated from the Venezuelan Academy of Military Sciences with the rank of sub-lieutenant (left with the rank of lieutenant colonel).
Bush: Skipped Office Candidate School, but received a "special" commission as 2nd lieutenant - the best money could buy.

Chavez: Served his country without dodging his military service.
Bush: Dodged his military service while trying NOT to serve his country.

Chavez: First foreign leader to offer aid to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Bush: Refused Chavez's aid offer and then failed miserably in helping those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

[lesb35]

Really, why don't you share with us what kind of a man he is?

justletmein2 wrote: "Like him Hitler was elected".

So what? Bush was elected as well, and quite frankly, Bush's actions of the last few years could be more likened to Hitler than Chavez.

And unlike Bush, Chavez never dodged his service in the military.

Chavez is more of a man then GW Bush could ever hope to be.

[deepoil]

Ya I agree Chavez was pretty low, name calling Bush. He has brought himself to the level of Dubya. Dubya is always name calling elected leaders "facists,dictators, zealots" that don't follow our plutocratic example of democracy.
Come on you must face facts (those of you anti Chavez) that since NAFTA and the rightwing era that took over South America during the 80's- 90's the continent has gone downhill BIGTIME. The working man has been suffering.
I am an oil man down here working between Colombia, Venez. and Brazil and must say in both Venez. and Brazil the the middle class is growing, education is on the uprise and medical care has improved drastically. But police security is on a decline and the rich are pulling out since ripping off these countries is getting harder these days.
All politicians love a stage, and empty rhetoric is part of their game.
But,they loose my confidence when they lie to their countrymen and promote war instead of peaceful process and fail to protect their countrys rights and laws (eg.Constitution).
So to President Chavez I say, keep your bad feelings and comments about those that upset you to yourself and keep on shhowing the world and your people that you really want to make a better life for your country and those less fortunate.
Don't p-ss off Dubya too much or those Republcrats will gang up on you and bomb a whole load of innocent Polar Beer drinkers, mess up your oilpatch and raise the price of oil again!

Deepsea Oil

[bubuh]

Let%u2019s face facts. Hugo Chavez needs us more than we need him. He is dangerous. High oil prices are keeping his dangerous government prospering. Imagine Hitler with oil. Like him Hitler was elected. And like Hitler he has taken measures to ensure that there can be no political opposition. We faced such a thing recently in Iraq. Thankfully we put an end to the Iraqi tyranny. He is using the income we provide through oil sales to arm himself. In the mean time he has redistributed poverty in Venezuela. It is only a matter of time before he becomes an undesirable military presence in Latin America. If we do not deal with him now our descendants may have a bloody time in the future. His nation needs to be contained in the manner that we have contained Cuba for generations. What I%u2019m calling for is simply a prudent non violent solution. Stop buying his oil.

[bubuh]

I just wrote to express my outrage over the remarks made recently by the visiting South American dictator about our president. His comments crossed the line of decency and civility. It is the kind of outburst one would expect from a young child. What I found even more offensive were that his remarks were made here in our country. He visits and abuses the rights endowed upon us by our creator. Yet he denies the people in his homeland these very same rights that he abused. If a Venezuelan made such comments publicly in Venezuela about Hugo Chavez they would be imprisoned. Many have been. He blatantly disregards diplomatic protocols by harassing the embassy staff in Venezuela as noted in the news recently. His supporters violently attack U.S. officials while he freely moves around here and criticizes us.

He frequently uses the word %u201CGringo%u201D when referring to US citizens. This is a derogatory word no different than any other marginalizing an entire group. This rhetoric is made even more racist by his differentiating between the skin color of North Americans and his own. He did this before the UN assembly as Adolph Hitler might have done had he lived long enough to see the UN.

[bubuh]

He calls us Americans imperialists. By Karl Marx%u2019s definition, an imperialist would exploit the workers and recourses of other countries. Therefore by buying oil from his country we are suppressing his nation and exploiting it. I recommend that we cease all oil purchases and economic ties with the sovereign nation of Venezuela. We get about 11% of our oil form Venezuela. That would increase the price of gas at the pump about 11% or about $0.33.

This would have several effects. Our trade deficit would reduce significantly. Jobs would be created domestically (domestic oil production, agriculture for bio-diesel, research in alternative fuels etc). I think it would be legitimate to nationalize the oil refineries in the United States that Venezuela owns. This would after all be a solution that the sovereign government of Venezuela would understand since they have used this tactic with their land reforms. These refineries could then be consolidated and upgraded for increased capacity and more flexibility (bio-diesel production etc). We will need these refineries tuned to process the massive oil reserve recently discovered in the Gulf of Mexico.

[buddymilo1]

I am very disappointed in Danny Glover "so called actor" in his pic with the wet-back venezuelan with his arm around this *** Hey Danny MOVE

[autummin]

as an american person, i would like to make it clear that i am not offended at all by chavez' comment. actually, i applaud him. if i or any other american said what he did, we would be in the middle of a terrorist investigation right now.

[frankbowers]

Thank You President Chavez for saying to the world the truth something the bas--- knows not I am now referring to gw bush. In America we can not speak out due to the fear of retalation from this president we have today. So many Americans mostly those who claim to be Christians, Catholic Prostant or of Jewish faith, those here in America praise him as if he is God I can think of a lot of words I use daily and to any one who will listening. I am a Catholic and do not understan the christians who have been brainwashed This man has now murdered more than 2600 innocent American military men and women unknown numbers have been disabled. No one knows how many innocent people of Iraq. The list is too long to list. Yet in America should you lie to the JUDGES (the American public) you are subject to the needle. Still the American public honors this lying bas--- as if he is GOD while he continues to murder the people and the military personnel. I could go on but it would be read by few and cursed my many who have sold their souls to this devil. Frank Bowers in Austin, TX the best of good byes to all .

Any truth to the rumor that Hugo Chavez is also President of the 'Dixie Chicks International Fan Club'??

[standlee5]

So is it your opinion that everyone sucks, or just the presidents of the United States.