Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is sharpening his criticism of Hugo Chávez, suggesting the Venezuelan president risks becoming an "outlaw" if he doesn't ensure that next month's recall referendum on his presidency is conducted fairly.
The comments come as Kerry attempts to portray himself as "deeply involved" with Latin America, at the same time accusing the White House of failing to promote democratic reform in Venezuela and elsewhere.
Strategists have suggested the Chávez critique can help Kerry curry support among Cuban-American voters in Florida, who view Chávez as an ally of Fidel Castro. Democrats believe they have an opportunity this year to peel off some reliably Republican Cuban-American voters incensed by the president's recent crackdown on travel and aid to Cuba.
In a televised interview that will air Wednesday in 19 Latin America countries, Kerry called the upcoming referendum in Venezuela "a real challenge to the entire hemisphere" and said that "as president," he would "work with the international community to bring pressure in the interest of democracy.
Miami Herald article
The comments come as Kerry attempts to portray himself as "deeply involved" with Latin America, at the same time accusing the White House of failing to promote democratic reform in Venezuela and elsewhere.
Strategists have suggested the Chávez critique can help Kerry curry support among Cuban-American voters in Florida, who view Chávez as an ally of Fidel Castro. Democrats believe they have an opportunity this year to peel off some reliably Republican Cuban-American voters incensed by the president's recent crackdown on travel and aid to Cuba.
In a televised interview that will air Wednesday in 19 Latin America countries, Kerry called the upcoming referendum in Venezuela "a real challenge to the entire hemisphere" and said that "as president," he would "work with the international community to bring pressure in the interest of democracy.
What a whore.
And a liar to boot if he's claiming to be promoting democratic reform in Venezuela. Venezuela's democratic reform started when Chávez was elected president.
Out of the other side of his mouth, Kerry has recently been calling for letting democracy work by exercising our "considerable diplomatic and moral force" to support democratically elected leaders, which Chávez most certainly is.
Asked about the left-of-center Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Kerry said he was impressed with da Silva's election, "by the way he came up through the people, by his roots."
And he suggested da Silva has been "incredibly responsible monetarily, fiscally."
And he suggested da Silva has been "incredibly responsible monetarily, fiscally."
Chávez came up through the people, "by his roots" and has made certain that Venezuela has paid its international debts, and kept the country afloat in spite of opposition attempts to bankrupt it.
Perhaps Kerry is casting him in a negative light because the polls are starting to predict that he will win the recall referendum handily.
Republicans have charged Kerry with changing his position on Cuba, and Kerry sought in the interview to clarify remarks he made last month about the Varela Project, the petition signed by more than 30,000 Cubans on the island to hold a referendum on whether to hold free elections.
At the time, Kerry noted the project had "gotten a lot of people in trouble."
He told Oppenheimer that the remarks were "misinterpreted" and said he would do more to work with dissidents.
"I support the dissidents wholeheartedly in Cuba," he said. "My impression, the reason I said it's been counterproductive, is they've been encouraged, but without the kind of policies that . . . empower and change."
At the time, Kerry noted the project had "gotten a lot of people in trouble."
He told Oppenheimer that the remarks were "misinterpreted" and said he would do more to work with dissidents.
"I support the dissidents wholeheartedly in Cuba," he said. "My impression, the reason I said it's been counterproductive, is they've been encouraged, but without the kind of policies that . . . empower and change."
I'm sorry I missed that. It's pretty hard not to misinterpret Kerry when he talks out both sides of his mouth - whatever is most expedient at the moment.
John Kerry is as slimey a politician as exists, and if we had a real working democracy in this country people wouldn't have to vote for him out of desperation and because he's the alternative offered to an idiot criminal.
November 2004: Choose your poison.
For good coverage of Latin American affairs, check in with Narco News.
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