Chavez to Obama: "Focus on governing your country, which you've turned into a disaster"

[Catherina]

Hugo Chávez says Obama is 'a clown and an embarrassment'
Venezuelan president makes comments after US leader criticises his links with Iran and Cuba in a newspaper interview

Tom Phillips
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 20 December 2011 15.44 GMT
Article history


Hugo Chávez with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: the Venezuelan president has been criticised for his links to Iran. Photograph: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images


On the eve of his first official overseas trip since being diagnosed with cancer, Hugo Chávez has launched a blistering attack on Barack Obama, describing the US president as a "clown" and an "embarrassment".

...

Chávez's comments followed a rare and strongly worded interview with Obama published by the Caracas-based El Universal newspaper. The American president criticised Venezuela's business and political links with Iran and Cuba, and raised concerns at what he called threats to the country's democracy.

...

Referring to Iran, Obama added: "Sooner or later, Venezuela's people will have to decide what possible advantage there is in having relations with a country that violates fundamental human rights and is isolated from most of the world."

Chávez, who travelled to Uruguay to push for full Venezuelan membership of the Mercosur, issued a rebuttal, claiming the interview was motivated by next year's US presidential elections. "Mr Obama decided to attack us," he said. "Now you want to win votes by attacking Venezuela. Don't be irresponsible. You are a clown, a clown. Leave us in peace … Go after your votes by fulfilling that which you promised your people."

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/20/hugo-chavez-barack-obama-clown?CMP=twt_gu

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My 2 cents. I'm glad Chavez repatriated Venezuela's gold out of US & European banks. I know the European gold arrived, but no word on the US gold except for bizarre complaints like this one

[TBF]

1. An opportunity squandered ...

Chavez was very welcoming in 2008 --

Chavez congratulates Obama, suggests rebuilding relations
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal on Thu, 11/06/2008 - 05:02.

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez congratulated US president-elect Barack Obama Wednesday on his "historic" win and said the time had come for the two countries to establish new relations.

Chavez emphasized Caracas' will to "build, on the basis of absolute respect for sovereignty, a constructive bilateral agenda for the welfare of the Venezuelan and the US people," according to a statement issued by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.

http://www.topnews.in/chavez-congratulates-obama-suggests-rebuilding-relations-284493

[Catherina]

2. That was the first thing that came to my mind also

Absolutely squandered.

[joshcryer]

5. Remember Wikileaks?

[TBF]

6. The imperialists can refer to him as crazy if they wish

but I would note that at least Venezuela has a public health care system.

When the Chavez and Obama terms are both complete than we can contrast and compare if you like.

[joshcryer]

7. I think things were OK until Wikileaks, though.

Not blaming Wikileaks but I think Chavez took it personal (and maybe that was the right thing to do). Been downhill since.

[MNBrewer]

3. Is it just me, or does Chavez have a whiff of Stalin to him?

[joshcryer]

4. Hardly.

I might not be a Chavez fan but he's not that totalitarian. He's closer to Trotsky which is why so many people are adoring of him.

[white_wolf]

8. I actually think Chavez considers himself a Trotskyist.

I've heard the actual Trotskyist parties in Venezuela are split in their support of him, because they don't think he has done enough fast enough, but honestly it looks like he has made a lot of progress and I don't think this is something you can or should rush.

[Starry Messenger]

9. Stalin and Roosevelt actually got along.

[white_wolf]

10. I'd say they tolerated each other because they had to.

I don't think they really had anything in common as far as policy goes.

[Starry Messenger]

11. That's very true.

They were hardly drinking buddies. I just can't imagine either of them going after each other in the media, like Chavez goes after Obama. Perhaps if Venezuela and the US had a common enemy, the rhetoric would be different.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

12. Please say you're kidding.