Chavez Vows to Leave Presidency Poor

[cal04]

Poor and proud of it. During a visit to Spain on Tuesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pledged to leave office the poor man he was when he first came to power. ``I grew up poor,'' he told Spanish public television. He said he now belongs to the ``lower middle class'' and doesn't own a house or car.

``When I leave the presidency ... I'm not going to have a house, nor a car, nor foreign bank accounts, nor anything like that. I'll leave the same way I arrived,'' he said. Chavez has long cast himself as a champion of the poor. Since winning an August referendum that sought to oust him, Chavez has moved to consolidate his hold on power and advance what he calls his revolution for the poor.

Critics say the Venezuelan leader is polarizing his nation by vilifying the rich while pumping the nation's oil wealth into food, health and education programs for the majority poor, seeking to retain their votes in future elections.

Chavez opened a five-nation tour. On Wednesday he travels to Libya. He also plans to visit Russia, Iran and Qatar.


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Spain-Chavez.html

[Fridays Child]

1. Viva Chavez!

[meegbear]

2. Is he speaking the truth?

[KDLarsen]

3. I suppose this says something about the state of the world:

Critics say the Venezuelan leader is polarizing his nation by vilifying the rich while pumping the nation's oil wealth into food, health and education programs for the majority poor, seeking to retain their votes in future elections.

All of the sudden you're critisized for trying to prevent people from dying of starvation or other disases, and for trying to give the people free education :eyes:

[berni_mccoy]

4. Exactly!

Who does this left-wing socialistic pinko-commie think he is anyway? A humanitarian or something?!

[DemBones DemBones]

6. Maybe, perhaps, he's a Christian who knows what Jesus would do.

I have no idea whether Hugo Chavez is Christian or Buddhist or Sufi, but I've read the Gospels so I think I know what Jesus would do.

Reports from Brazil are good. Viva Chavez!

[KDLarsen]

11. Is my memory in the holes

.. or didn't the president/PM of Brazil ('Lola' I think he's called) receive a lot of flak for buying a new presidential aircraft (and even one from Airbus!)?

I can't remember whatever happened to that, but I found it ridiculous that the story even got started, considering the savings that would be made by replacing the 30-40 odd year old Boeing 707 with a new A319CJ.

[peacetalksforall]

5. Government = the people.

Somewhere along the way - this country forgot that.

I hope what he has infects others.

The trouble with our country is the wealthy who rule to sustain their wealth. Our country is regressing to 1900 or before (under our leaders). We are destined to pay plenty for our water and oil and be silent and accepting of it.

[KDLarsen]

12. That is the truth

.. and noone should gain anything by being the leader of a country, apart from the salary the office pays. And if the leader wishes to use any of the people's property, it damn better be for the good of the people. Which is why it pissed me off to see Dubya* arrive in the Marine One helicopter to a presidential rally.

[russian33]

7. "pumping the nation's oil wealth into food, health and education programs"

What a bastard! How dare does a leader of a country care about the poor?

[lakeguy]

8. is citgo the gas company that uses venezuelan oil?

i thought this was true and it's the only place i buy my gas!

[Zorra]

9. Yes. Another reason to use Citgo gas - support a real democracy.

Venezuela, Nov 3, 2004 (El Nacional/SABI via COMTEX) -- Citgo, refining subsidiary of the Venezuelan state owned petroleum company Pdvsa (Petroleos de Venezuela) in the US, had a net profit of US$205mil in Q3 2004 (Jul-Sep), almost the double of the amount posted in the same period of 2003. Over the Jan-Sep 2004 period, the company totaled a net profit of US$430mil, a high of 22% in comparison with the US$351mil posted in the same period of 2003. Citgo has issued US$250mil in bonds to fall due in 2011

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:Y-0k99VFvkUJ:news.tradingcharts.com/futures/5/2/60848625.html+citgo+venezuela&hl=en

[Demeter]

10. I Just Hope He Gets To Leave Alive

and lives to complete a natural lifespan, and his fmaily, too.

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. Damn. Bet he doesn't make it through without a visit from the CIA

[Sodium Pentothal]

14. LOL

Critics say he has been pumping the nation's oil wealth into food, health, and education programs for the poor.

GAWD DAM HIM! That oil money is for rich folk only! How dare he take care of the poor with our natural resources!

Thanks for posting this, that is soooo good. Bastards.

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. What a devilishly evil tactic --

pumping the nation's oil wealth into food, health and education programs for the majority poor.

That guy has got to go.

[knowbody0]

16. i love this man