Hugo Chavez: Obama is ‘a Clown’ and ‘an Embarrassment’

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reportedly called President Barack Obama “a clown” and “an embarrassment” Monday, following strong comments from Obama in a written interview with Caracas newspaper El Universal, the Guardian --.

“Focus on governing your country, which you’ve turned into a disaster,” Chavez told state television Monday, in reference to Obama.

In the interview with --, Obama said he is concerned about actions the Venezuelan government has taken that have “restricted the universal rights of the Venezuelan people, threatened basic democratic values and failed to contribute to the security in the region,” according to the Guardian’s report on the Spanish language interview.

He also criticized Venezuela’s relationship with Iran and Cuba, saying, “it seems to me that the ties between Venezuela’s government and Iran and Cuba have not served the interests of Venezuela and its people.”

Referring to Iran, Obama said: “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.”

“Mr. Obama decided to attack us,” Chavez said in response to Obama’s words, according to the Guardian. “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.”

Chavez‘s remarks show he’s apparently had change of heart with regard to Obama: A year ago, -- to “sit down to talk, to eat socialist arepas,” a popular corn-based pancake.

This is not the first time Chavez has spoken in insulting terms about a U.S. president: In 2006, he referred to then-President George W. Bush as “the devil” during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

“The devil came here yesterday,” Chavez said when he addressed the U.N., referring to Bush, who had spoken the day before. “And it smells of sulfur still today.”




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Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

Embarassment being 09:45 and clown being 21:45.

Not if it's a digital watch

Chavez hasn't been paying attention to Obama's rising popularity from the middle class..

President Obama’s middle-class momentum

President Obama’s resurgence in a-- — his 49 percent job approval rating is as high as its been since May — is built in no small part on a growing sentiment in the electorate that he is fighting for the middle class.

Asked who they trust more to protect the middle class, 50 percent of respondents chose Obama while just 35 percent named “Republicans in Congress”.

That’s the widest margin the President has enjoyed in Post-ABC polling on that question since December 2010 and is a vast improvement from an early November survey in which Obama had just a four-point edge over Republicans on the “protecting the middle class” question.

Dig deeper into the numbers — and thanks to the crack Washington Post polling department for helping us do just that — and it’s clear that the President’s middle class messaging is resounding in the critical center of the electorate.

Among independents, 49 percent trust Obama more to look out for the middle class while 32 percent side with congressional Republicans. Self described moderates opt for Obama by a wide 58 percent to 26 percent margin.

People who earn between $50,000 and $100,000 — roughly the median household income for those defined as “middle class” — choose Obama 50 percent to 36 percent. Those making under $50,000 give Obama an 18-point edge while the president fights to a statistical draw — 41 percent Obama, 42 percent Republicans — among those making more than $100,000.

Obama campaign advisers credit his more populist pitch — beginning with the rollout of the American Jobs Act and continuing through his ongoing battle on the payroll tax extension — for the improved numbers on the question of who is fighting for the middle class. (It’s not by accident that the White House has installed a countdown clock to the expiration of the payroll tax cut in the briefing room.)

“He actually believes in his core that restoring middle class security is the greatest challenge of our times, and everything he does is centered on that premise,” said Stephanie Cutter, a senior adviser to Obama’s re-election campaign.

As we have written before,--. Those making between $30,000 and $100,000 have one of the key swing groups over the past four elections.

The politics are simple. Win voters who make between $30,000 and $100,000 and you are well on your way to winning a national election. President Obama isn’t there yet but the latest numbers in the Post-ABC poll have to cheer his supporters.

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Not surprisingly there's a cultural subtext that's always missing from stories in the English speaking press about Chavez.

Venezuelan men love to throw insults @ each other-it's something of a national pastime as you'd know if you ever sat playing dominoes with them (dominoes are another national pastime).

So really it's NBD is Chavez calls the US prezziedaint a clown or a jerk-those words are so mild they are almost terms of affection.

I think Hugo is more astute than many ever gave him credit for. He even spoke those words out in public. That is more than the DNC will do!

Well if Hugo Chavez is saying it, its official.

More like the pot calling the kettle black.

Was he wrong?

When did Hugo find to get Fidel's hog out of his mouth to make such a statement?

Who do you think told him what to say?

Newt Gingerich.

I guess nobody has been paying attention to Hugo as of late.

Is he still Axis of Evilness?

Well he wasn't called out as being part of the Axis. As you may remember (or not I guess) that it was Iraq, Iran, and N. Korea. I am sure that got him upset that he wasn't recognized.

Axis of diesel....confirmed.

Here in Massachusetts Hugo is the Hero of Diesel as he gives free oil to Joe Kennedy's "Joe for Oil" program. Even though a couple of years ago he decided to stop giving free oil. That is until the Kennedy power base humbled him and he opened the spigots wide open. I guess he knew who was boss.

Heating oil wasn't it? That doesn't sound too evil to me.

Depends on how you feel about carbon footprints. Apparently some of the greenies would rather freeze in the dark, or at least make others do that than burn fossil fuels.

I have a Timberland footprint made from dead cattle and tree blood.

Wait... weren't you saying he was evil? I said he didn't make the cut. We all know Hugo likes to be seen and heard.

Evilness but that's okay. As long as he isn't one of the assholes that are gunning people down and giving away heating oil to people in Philly or Pittsburgo because they don't need it in Caracas can't be that evil. A bit loopy but not so evil.

Unless you are in his country and he takes a dislike to you.

Is he gunning people down?

I will check later -
PS - Was he not connected to FARC??????

That's Colombia.

I know - Was he not supporting them with arms, money, safe haven etc????

Propaganda that didn't work well. There were no deals.

Are you sure?

Chavez: Take FARC off terror list - CNN

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