Venezuelan Ambassador Says Embassy Flooded With Support

[cal04]

Venezuelan Ambassador Says Embassy Flooded With Support After Assassination Comment

For Venezuela's ambassador, the day began with word that a prominent American television preacher was asking the Bush administration to assassinate Venezuela's president. By the end of the day, the Venezuelan Embassy's voice mail and e-mail systems had been overloaded with American well-wishers, and Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez considered Tuesday a very good day indeed.

"You don't have an idea how good I feel with all the support I have got and I keep getting. It keeps coming to us, and to all the consulates, the Venezuelan government, the media. Hundreds of people in this country that are supporting a president who was elected," Alvarez told reporters. A week after his 49th birthday, Alvarez was asked how much more difficult his job had become after former presidential candidate Pat Robertson had told viewers of his Christian Broadcast Network that the United States should had the capability to "take out" Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

"Let me tell you," Alvarez said, "today is one of the days I haven't felt alone at all. I have felt a lot of support from many people in this country, particularly in the Christian community." He waved a stack of papers that he said was a sampling of hundreds of e-mails he had received from Americans angered by Robertson's suggestion. Particularly Christians, he said, told him Robertson was out of line. "For any Christian, including ourselves, this is not the way we read the Bible," which teaches people not to kill, Alvarez said. And that holds even when countries and their leaders have differences, he said.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB58E5WQCE.html

[knowbody0]

1. that's my America

[Cha]

2. I'd like to e-mail the

Venezuelan Ambassador, Bernado Alvarez, myself :)

"INAPPROPRIATE"??

"On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Robertson's comment was "inappropriate" and the United States did not agree with him, but neither he nor anybody else condemned the comment. Both McCormack and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Robertson was a private citizen stating an opinion.

"We don't consider that it is enough just to say that this is a private citizen with an opinion," Alvarez said."

Alvarez is dead on!

rummy and mccormack are being disingenous with these remarks and could really give a shit.

[dansolo]

4. Not just disengenuous

They're probably just upset that the cat is out of the bag. Pat probably mouthed off because he knows that plans are already in place. Of course, with his ego, he wanted to be out in front with his comments, so when an assassination did take place, he can make the claim that he either predicted it, or led it to happen.

[0007]

46. There may be somelthing to what you're saying

[jokerman93]

57. I agree

This behavior calls to mind Robertsons "prophesy" that Bush would win in an overwhelming landslide in the '04 election. Wonder if he had an inside line on that little message from "God" too.

Robertson probably just wants to ensure his continued relevance to the cult following of drooling christian idiots who keep his pockets lined. The scary part is that he feels emboldened enough to openly offer such blood-thirsty editorials in the first place. One wonders what sick, barbaric mentality he's cultivating in his "flock" these days.

[xxqqqzme]

62. his 'prayer' was answered!

n/t

[fujiyama]

74. I thought that may be a possibility

The US already tried to get rid of him in one coup. What's to say they can't try it again - this time using deadly force?

[bobbieinok]

43. hasn't W condemned Cindy's comments??? she's more a private citizen

than Pat

[whatever4]

50. Good point

That's what I thought too. Who weakens United States policy more, and who deserved a comment to that effect? Not her. She's not even a mainstay public figure, one that ran for the highest office in our nation. In the world perhaps. She's criticized, is publicly rebuffed, while his comment isn't even apologized for except in the most general, face-saving of terms.

...ever feel like the American public is simply too stubborn to join in with the liberals in condemning this admin? Ever wonder if, for some crazy reason, if we all turned against the antiwar effort, and embraced the monster Bush, they'd then jump all on it to leave his side? Just to be contrary to us? I'm thinking, gee OK then, we'll leave it to you then, YOU folks can be the sane ones, we nominate YOU sane, but please, just DO SOMETHING about this monster you've elected.

We don't even care who's right and who's wrong anymore. Just do something.

[HeeBGBz]

47. Robertson is a suspected terrorist

Why isn't he in jail?

[Blaq Dem]

79. Amen to that!!!

[hyphenate]

52. Hey--let them keep supporting Robertson

perhaps all these "Christians" will begin to see how whacked out these assholes really are finally, and will begin to get the glimmer of intelligence that they were born with and lost somewhere along the way.

[xxqqqzme]

65. pr is a 'private' citizen the way

michael moore is a private citizen. That didn't stop them from trashing him. In fact pr is even less of a 'private citizen'. I don't know ANYone on the left w/ their own cable network promoting their personal viewpoint 24/7.

[NeoConsSuck]

73. A private citizen stating an opinion..?

so I could make public death threats against Robertson and not suffer any consequences? Hey, I'm a private citizen. A lot more private than Robertson.

How come right wing scum can make threats but they throw a Portland guy in prison because he mentioned a 'burning bush' in a barroom?

[murray hill farm]

3. Thanks for posting this!

i am sure the whole world will react the same...and has, but i don't think the white house or bushco will contemn this horrid act by Robertson...if bush is afraid to face cindy...he is even more afraid to face robertson with such a condemnation.

[bribri16]

5. I love this statement:

Alvarez on the support he is receiving from US citizens.

"Hundreds of people in this country that are supporting a president who was elected," Alvarez told reporters." :rofl:

[Peace Patriot]

8. Oh, oh, oh, YES, bribri16! You are so clever! You picked this up!

I didn't catch it. "...a president who was elected...". Har, har, har, har, har!

[bobbieinok]

38. DUer reported after failed 2002 take out of Chavez that someone in adm

(Rice?) said just b/c a president is elected doesn't mean he's legitimate!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bobbieinok]

41. maybe it was this from truthout

http://www.truthout.org/docs_02/05.01B.Rice.Coup.htm

....

Just because Chavez was elected doesn't mean he exhibited democratic values, Rice said. "We cannot fall into that trap," she said.

....



Rice's comments on the brief coup in Venezuela were in response to a student's question on whether the United States was practicing hypocrisy in extolling democracy everywhere else but failing to denounce a coup against a leftist leader in its own backyard.

"In fact, the United States did speak out, ... both publicly and privately. We did make very clear that we believe that democratically elected governments could not be overthrown by extraconstitutional means," Rice said.

Still, she said, "It is a complex world. It is a hard world. The complexities bring you into different kinds of situations in which different tactics are important."

She said she hoped the coup experience would lead Chavez "to recognize the importance of democratic values for real -- not just claiming that, because you're elected, you are exercising democratic values."

"When people are elected, they especially have a responsibility to talk about the importance of respecting democratic processes."

....

[Cha]

55. But we Can Fall into the

bushwa TRAP????

Not on your measely life, little con job.

[fujiyama]

75. Yet at the same time

Someone like Musharraf is legitimate even if he's not elected.

This administration's logic will make your head spin.

[Pierogi_Pincher]

77. Good observation! n/t

[jonnyblitz]

14. LMFAO!!! that was good...nt

[Beam Me Up]

19. DIPLOMATIC SLAP DOWN!!

kSNAP!!

Let those who have EARS hear!!

:rofl:

[HeeBGBz]

48. I caught that too.

Smackdown!

[Tesla]

49. Good one!!!

I hope this takes that freak off of TV on his "24/7 Robertson channel".

[Al-CIAda]

6. .

[Judi Lynn]

7. So glad to hear this. I hope the support grows and grows.

Hope a ton of bricks falls on _Bush's high priest, tax-exempt multi-multi-millionaire Robertson.

[Say_What]

9. Contacting the Venezuelan Embassy

Their front page is filled with articles including Ambassador Alvarez's statement.

<clips>

EMBASSY OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA
Statement by Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez on Pat Robertson Declarations
August 23, 2005

We would like thank the American people for the support they have offered us in the wake of the Reverend Pat Robertson´s call for the murder of our President, Hugo Chávez.. The messages of support have flooded our Embassy´s electronic and voice mails.

We are very disappointed with Pat Robertson´s statements over the Christian Broadcast Network. Mr. Robertson is of course no ordinary private citizen. He was a candidate for the GOP´s Presidential nomination in 1992. The organization that Mr. Robertson leads, the Christian Coalition, claims nearly 2 million members and has a multi million dollar a year budget. In 2000 it was credited with helping George W. Bush win the important South Carolina primary and catapulting him to the nomination of his party for President. Mr. Robertson has been one of this President´s staunchest allies. His statement demands the strongest condemnation by the White House.

Mr. Robertson´s call that U.S. government covert operatives murder President Hugo Chávez is a call to terrorism. His call that President Bush violently impose the outdated Monroe Doctrine on Venezuela is a call for American intervention in the sovereign affairs of our democratic country.

The United States may not permit its citizens to use its territory and airwaves to incite terrorism abroad and the murder of a democratically elected President. Venezuela demands that the U.S. abide by international and domestic law and respect our country and its President.

http://www.embavenez-us.org/

[jonnyblitz]

13. i like that picture of him holding up the Chomsky book...

:thumbsup:

[marbuc]

15. Do you know the title of this Chomsky book?

[Paulie]

16. Hegemony or Survival

[marbuc]

17. Thanks!

[Say_What]

51. "Hegemony Or Survival, America's Quest for Global Dominance"

He was holding this at a mock trial that found U.S. President Bush guilty of imperialism and crimes against humanity.



http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1717

Book is here:

http://www.alibris.com/search/detail.cfm?chunk=25&mtype=&qisbn=0805074007&S=R&bid=8375660262&pbest=&pqtynew=&page=1&matches=32&qsort=p

[d_b]

33. Wow

Where did you find that picture?

[Say_What]

53. Same Yahoo! slide show that included this...

Click the link and scroll down to pic of Chavez in the Politics section.
Enjoy!!

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=ss

[Peace Patriot]

10. Here's the embassy email. They are requesting comments of support.

[e-mail]

To: Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez

[Say_What]

11. Here's another....

[e-mail]

[tomg]

25. Thanks for the address. Sent. nt

[Rainscents]

29. Thanks... Sent!!

[burrowowl]

30. Done!

Thanks!

[Robeson]

12. Thanks! Sent.

[understandinglife]

18. Done.

Text of message:

Mr Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez, we are totally embarrassed once again by yet another fanatic supporter of Bush and his neoconster regime. Please know we are doing all we can to stop the crimes of the Bush administration and the vile acts of those who support them.

My wife and I condemn the remarks made by one Pat Robertson.

We consider his behavior illegal and immoral and are urging that he be arrested and charged with threatening terroristic action on the President of Venezuela.


Sincerest apologies and Peace,

Peace.

[Pierogi_Pincher]

20. Newbie here...and, DONE!

Thanx for the Ambassador's address.:thumbsup:

[Rainscents]

27. Welcome to DU!!!

:hi:

[Sgent]

32. Welcome

and what a great first message!!! :yourock:

[lavenderdiva]

59. Welcome to DU, Pierogi_Pincher!

:hi:

and thanks for taking action! :applause:

[Pierogi_Pincher]

76. Thanx, you wunnerful people for welcoming me.....

Can't remember how I found DU, but glad I did.

Funny thing, we've been partial to CITGO for over TWELVE years now--what's the term for doing something inherently right without realizing it? Plus we wouldn't buy Exxon after that horrendous spill. Then BP pushed my buttons when a car wash of theirs damaged my car and they wouldn't pay for it. It WAS defective because the wash bay & the whole facility was gutted for remodeling to become British Petroleum within a week that I got the damage! Even w/ supporting pix & two estimates, they nixed me, so we NIXED 'EM BACK!

As far as my electronic letter to the Ambassador, the content was somewhat scathing--referencing PR's 'purported ministry of God'. He and his words/thinking are ANATHEMA.

Proud of our Citizens!
:grouphug:
Love yas!

[Sequoia]

80. Welcome Peirogi_Pincher!

Sent email too.

[truthseeker1]

68. Done. Thanks for the email address. (NT)

[TankLV]

70. Done - yesterday.

[Beam Me Up]

21. Here is their Web Site with a statement from their Ambasador about

Robertson's statement:

http://www.embavenez-us.org/

We would like thank the American people for the support they have offered us in the wake of the Reverend Pat Robertson´s call for the murder of our President, Hugo Chávez.. The messages of support have flooded our Embassy´s electronic and voice mails.

We are very disappointed with Pat Robertson´s statements over the Christian Broadcast Network. Mr. Robertson is of course no ordinary private citizen. He was a candidate for the GOP´s Presidential nomination in 1992. The organization that Mr. Robertson leads, the Christian Coalition, claims nearly 2 million members and has a multi million dollar a year budget. In 2000 it was credited with helping George W. Bush win the important South Carolina primary and catapulting him to the nomination of his party for President. Mr. Robertson has been one of this President´s staunchest allies. His statement demands the strongest condemnation by the White House.

Mr. Robertson´s call that U.S. government covert operatives murder President Hugo Chávez is a call to terrorism. His call that President Bush violently impose the outdated Monroe Doctrine on Venezuela is a call for American intervention in the sovereign affairs of our democratic country..

International Message: Bush Regeime = Terrorists.

[R Hickey]

78. I just sent them my idea about discount gas for Democrats

I wrote them with the suggestion that Citco stations offer fifty cents off each gallon that they sell to cars wearing a Democratic bumper sticker. I hope they can use my idea.

[wli]

22. where's the contact info on the Venezuelan ambassador?

I want to send in a letter, too.

[cal04]

24. On the right hand side

under telephone area codes
American Citizens support Venezuela and condemn Robertson's statements. Please send your opinion

http://www.embavenez-us.org/

[wli]

26. Thanks. Very helpful info. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

23. ttt n/t

[IndianaGreen]

28. My e-mail to the Venezuelan Embassy

Apoyamos a Chavez contra Robertson!

My family and I are appalled at the terrorist threat issued by Pat Robertson to Presidente Chavez. Robertson's threat puts him in opposition to the people of Venezuela who have democratically elected President Chavez twice in free elections. We Americans cannot point fingers at Venezuela when our own country lacks free and democratic elections.

We support President Chavez and the Venezuelan people in their struggle against American imperialism, globalism, and terrorism.

Viva Chavez! Viva Venezuela!

Patria o muerte! Venceremos!

[badgervan]

34. Apology Sent

Another new guy. Message sent. Why is it so hard for some to tell the difference between basic right and wrong? A so-called "minister" of Christ, for God's sake. What the hell are we becoming as a country?

[Rainscents]

35. Great first post!!!

Welcome to DU!!! :hi: :yourock:

[Nothing Without Hope]

37. Welcome to DU, badgervan! Robertson and Bush are NOT our country

and it's past time to show the world this.

Glad to have you in our community! :hi:

[ProudDad]

40. Welcome to DU

Take a chair and set a while...

[lavenderdiva]

60. Welcome to DU, badgervan!

:hi:

and thanks for taking action! :applause:

[Sabriel]

61. Welcome badgervan, from the Fox Valley! n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

31. Great! I'll send one too! n/t

[roguevalley]

36. done to both

[ProudDad]

39. Done, thanks for posting

My letter:

-----------------------------------------------------------

Viva Venezuela y Viva Chavez!

Pat Robertson (whoever he is) doesn't speak for me or anyone else I know. He is a symbol of everything wrong with the "christian" right-wing of this country including the unelected bush administration.

Hugo Chavez is a beacon of light for us as much as he is for la gente de venezuela. The good people in the U.S. are holding on to the hope that we can fight our way to elect a leader as enlightened as he is.

I personally want to thank your government for trying to show the world that there's a better way to spend a country's resources. I wish you well now and in the future.

Muchas Gracias;

<me>
<where I live>

-------------------

Yep, fuck you bush, I dare you to put me in gitmo you turd...

[patdem]

45. Dag nabit...I sent an e-mail too, but I always forget to sign/address it!

Maybe I should send it again with signature?

[Carolab]

42. Done. n/t

[ngGale]

44. Done ...

[SydBinFL]

54. Done!

Sent my support for Chavez and the people of Venezuela.

[FourStarDemocrat]

56. Welcome to DU SydBinFL !

:hi:

[IndyOp]

58. Done! Thanks DU'ers --

To: Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez

I condemn the threatening comment that Reverend Pat Robertson made in regards to assassinating President Chavez.

I am horrified by the comment and by the fact that there is not yet an overwhelming public outcry against Robertson.

It has long been the policy of the United States to use the military and CIA to destroy governments that resist US imperialism. I am hopeful that Robertson's very public comment teaches our citizens of the true intentions and past actions of the US government. I pray that public awareness can cause real change that will keep President Chavez and all others safe from US covert action in future.

Hugo Chavez is a beacon of light for us - especially as he now boldly challenges the current US administration by offering to provide health care and gasoline to the US poor. I hope that President Chavez will continue to speak boldly.

With sincere good wishes to all people of Venezuela,

<me>

==========================
P.S. If you have citizens of Venezuela who have organized free and fair elections in your country, could you ask for volunteers to come to the US to help us? The past two presidential elections were stolen by Republicans, as have been a number of Congressional elections. Given that our votes are no longer cast freely or counted fairly we could use your help to re-establish a democracy here in the United States.

:bounce:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

63. cool-gives me an idea to send one, too

viva chavez!

[TroglodyteScholar]

64. Warning to the Bush administration:

You want to tear down separation of church and state? Then you have to deal with idiots like Robertson who will be seen as representatives of your administration. Get used to it, assholes.

[mojavekid]

66. done! that felt good!,

....................hold on, there's someone at the door..at this hour???

[Zgrrl]

67. Email sent yesterday...

Dear Ambassador Alvarez,

I must apologize for the hateful, despicable remark uttered by Pat Robertson about your democratically-elected President, Hugo Chavez.

Pat Robertson does not speak for me or my family. He is not a Christian. He is a vile, contemptuous man who is out of step with the majority of the people of the United States. I can assure you that the majority of Americans do not believe in murder and are appalled by his remarks. He is a criminal who should be behind bars. I am truly ashamed for my country.

I am also ashamed that my country's President, George W. Bush, has not
publicly condemned Mr. Robertson's remarks. I did not vote for Mr. Bush, and neither did anyone in my family or my wide circle of friends and acquaintances. In fact, no one can figure out how he got re-elected. We are suspicious that something went very wrong with the vote counting in
Ohio.

Please know that the vast majority of Americans, who are helpless under this current neoconservative regime, are loving, peaceful people. We do not believe in murder or assasination. Those of us who are true Christians remember that God said, "Thou shalt not kill." I am surprised that "Reverend" Robertson forgot that part of the Ten Commandments. Even my five-year-old son knows it.

Pat Robertson is on the fringe of society, and should be treated as such. He is a phony and a charlatan. It is a pity anything he says receives any media attention at all - he should be simply ignored.

In peace and solidarity,

[AzDar]

69. Robertson to Gitmo...wonder if anyone would "accidentally"

piss on his Bible??LOL

[TalkingDog]

71. I sent one to the whole country.....a' la....sorry everybody....

Dear Venezuela,

I was shocked and dismayed to hear a man who, in his own opinion is a Godly man, suggest the assassination of your president, Hugo Chavez.

This man, Robertson, is a mere huckster who thinks he speaks for the American people. He does not. As an American I can tell you that many of us find him repugnant at the best of times and vile at the worst.

I cannot apologize for him, that is his sin to repent. But I will tell you that many, many of us thank your great leader for his offer of fuel for the poor. He is a kind and generous man. And we hope that you, as a nation, will see that this once great country is temporarily under the control of greedy madmen who do not honor or support our Constitution. Pray for us, that we should make it through this dark time.

Your friend in America,

[cal04]

72. Venezuela’s Ambassador comments and José Serrano

Alvarez classified Robertson’s call for Chavez’s assassination as “a call to terrorism.” “The United States may not permit its citizens to use its territory and airwaves to incite terrorism abroad and the murder of a democratically elected President,” said Alvarez.

According to Alvarez, Venezuela’s embassy in the U.S. has been flooded with e-mail and voice messages expressing support for Venezuela, in light of Robertson’s statement. “We would like thank the American people for the support they have offered us in the wake of the Reverend Pat Robertson’s call for the murder of our President, Hugo Chávez,” said Alvarez.

U.S. Representative José Serrano (D-NY) also issued a statement today, in which he said, “Reverend Pat Robertson's statement advocating assassinating President Hugo Chavez was beyond the pale.” Serrano highlighted that President Chavez is the democratically-elected leader of the Venezuelan people and that despite this he “has been repeatedly targeted by administration and its proxies with the worst kind of character assassination, solely because they disagree with his social and economic policies. Now it seems that their campaign has turned into one of overt intimidation.” Pat Robertson calls himself a man of God. It is extremely distressing to hear that someone who claims to hear the call of the Lord would advocate for breaking one of his commandments. A full retraction and apology is warranted from Rev. Robertson,” said Serrano.

http://venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1731