Venezuela donates more heating oil to U.S. poor

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela donates more heating oil to U.S. poor
Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:46 PM ET

By Jason Szep
WINDHAM, Maine, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Venezuela expanded a controversial program on Thursday of subsidizing costly home-heating oil for the U.S. poor with a pact in Maine, upping the ante in a political brawl with President George W. Bush.

The donations deepen an ongoing spat between oil-rich Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bush, who calls Chavez a threat to democracy in Latin America. Socialist Chavez says Bush is trying to undermine his political support.

Venezuela, where per capita income is about 1/10th that of the United States, donated 8 million gallons (36 million litres) of heating oil at a 40 percent discount to Maine, the third northeastern U.S. state to receive what Venezuela calls its "humanitarian aid."

"This helps Chavez portray America as fundamentally weak," said Bruce Everett, a former executive with the Exxon Mobil Corp who teaches petroleum economics at the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Massachusetts.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-01-12T234600Z_01_N1233184_RTRIDST_0_ENERGY-USA-VENEZUELA-PICTURE.XML

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. You know what I see here?

State's Rights is going to strangle out Bush's near-sighted federal foreign policy. Love it when we can turn their weapon around on them.

And if Exxon Mobil is afraid that it makes us look weak, maybe they can stand by their principles and give us a 40% discount too.

[fasttense]

5. Yeah, I can't believe a US corporation hasn't jumped on the band wagon

with this idea. I guess US corporations are more concerned about profits than with the poor freezing to death.

[Catfight]

2. exactly how does it get to the poor? it's going to the oil industry and

not the poor, I assure you.

[0007]

3. Accordingly, this is how it gets to the poor.

The subsidies in Maine will benefit about 48,000 families in the state's low-income home energy assistance program. Under the terms, the discount will be distributed in the form of $100 in heating oil benefits to each home, state officials said.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Oil has already been delivered to Massachusetts, the Bronx,

and other places. Didn't you see it in the papers? On tv?

There were photos taken of various DEMOCRATIC Senators and Representatives throughout the last two months on the scene as the oil tanker trucks arrived and the gas started flowing to the poor neighborhoods. DU'ers have seen photos taken of William Delahunt and Joe Kennedy on the scene helping carry the hose from the tanker. Very dynamic images.

Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Democratic Congressman Jose Serrano of New York have also delivered Venezuelan oil at a 40% discount to their constituents, with others to follow, including oil to Native American tribes across the country.



Delahunt, Kennedy marking the arrival
of cheaper heating oil in Massachusetts.


Venezuela-CITGO Assists Massachusetts with Heating Oil; Plans for Targeted Programs in Other U.S. Cities

Boston, MA – As promised by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, CITGO joined today with the U.S. Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation such as U.S. Representatives Bill Delahunt and Joseph P. Kennedy II, local energy companies and low-income communities to launch the first of what will be a targeted program of heating oil assistance in Boston, New York and possibly other U.S. cities.

This humanitarian aid will serve over 40,000 low-income households in the state of Massachusetts as well as several hundred institutions such as hospitals, day care centers, homeless shelters and schools.

“CITGO is not just another oil company. With Venezuela’s state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), of which we are a subsidiary, we share a broad social mission,” said CITGO C.E.O Felix Rodriguez. “We are thankful to have found a partner in Massachusetts Representative Bill Delahunt, who helped build the arrangement with Citizens Energy Corporation and the MassEnergy Consumers Alliance that made this project a reality.”

This humanitarian program by Venezuela and Venezuelan-owned CITGO is a response to the emergency caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which has resulted in fuel shortages and high prices. This humanitarian aid will provide 12 million gallons of heavily discounted heating oil for distribution to low-income communities across the state. Consumers will save between 60-80 cents/gallon, for a total savings of $10-14 million this winter. Venezuela supplies virtually all of the oil used for heating in the United States.

The official launch took place at the home of Linda and Paul Kelly, who qualify as recipients of the program and will be served by Citizens Energy Corporation. Rep. Delahunt, who is the leading Democrat on the House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Rep. Edward Markey, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, helped deliver the first load of fuel oil to the Kellys.
(snip/...)

http://www.embavenez-us.org/news.php?nid=2093

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How could I be so forgetful? Venezuela already sent discounted oil to the Gulf Coast after the goddawful hurricane Rita.

On edit: I really hope you aren't claiming Delahunt, Kennedy, Serrano, Rhodes, etc., etc. who have worked on getting these oil deals for their constituents for months after other U.S. oil companies REFUSED TO REDUCE RATES FOR THE POOR are criminals trying to line their own pockets!

[shaniqua6392]

7. Thank you Hugo!!! We love you for helping our fellow Americans.

And thank you to the Dems in office who are helping the less fortunate since our own government could care less. I don't care what the motives are just as long as people who need it receive help.

[1932]

12. Read post #9.

[MarianJack]

6. Some Ass Hat Radio D.J Up Here...

...was complaining that this made bush look bad!

Screw the poor, just don't humiliate the shit head in chief!

[quispquake]

13. I heard that this morning!!!

I was at my workout place and almost dropped my weights in anger...what a STUPID statement...

[IndianaGreen]

8. This is against US interests

US interests are to fuck the poor in this country and abroad. US interests are what Chicago did, turn down Chavez's offer and charge more for heating fuel. US interests are to send our military to kill peasants and workers in those countries that don't want to play ball with Wall Street.

US interests are to fuck YOU until you find yourself one paycheck away from becoming homeless.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Oil in tank, politics in driveway (oil to Maine)

Friday, January 13, 2006

Oil in tank, politics in driveway
By TOM BELL, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
E-mail this story to a friend

WINDHAM — Maine's governor, a foreign oil executive and a horde of officials and journalists descended Thursday on the front lawn of Mary and Malcolm Lyons. The elderly couple's driveway served as a stage for Gov. John Baldacci and Citgo Petroleum CEO Felix Rodriguez as they signed an agreement that allows Citgo to give Maine's poor families at least $100 worth of free heating oil this winter.

The Venezuelan government owns Citgo. For the international press, Citgo's charitable donation is all about the geopolitical contest between President Bush and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Chavez has lambasted American-style capitalism and has accused Bush of plotting to kill him. The Bush administration sees Chavez as a dangerous, leftist demagogue. Chavez's critics say he's offering oil deals to Maine and other states in the Northeast to embarrass Bush.

For the Lyonses, though, it was all about the oil.

After the officials signed the documents, a shiny tank truck with a Citgo logo emblazoned on its side filled the tank at their home on Windham Center Road.
(snip)

In Maine, the company is also donating 120,000 gallons of oil to 40 homeless shelters and providing discounted oil to households of four Indian tribes. Rodriguez traveled to Old Town on Thursday afternoon to sign agreements with tribal leaders.
(snip/...)

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/local/060113oil.shtml

[1932]

10. I guess that answers the Q above, 'how does it get to the poor?'

A: The Citgo truck drives up to your house and fills your tank with discounted home heating oil.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Absolutamente! Even George Bush could grasp this!

[kineneb]

14. you will be judged by your works, not your beliefs

My thanks go to Pres. Chavez for doing good, not just talking about it. I will not get any of his assistance, since we are in CA and use propane, but if what he has done has kept one family from freezing, then BushCo can go strangle on their meanspirited rhetoric.

[bamacrat]

15. THOSE BASTARD CHAVEZ

He's helping poor people, and worse yet hes giving them hope. But dont worry B*sh will yank it right back.

[NorthernSpy]

16. the critics should put up or shut up

"This helps Chavez portray America as fundamentally weak," said Bruce Everett, a former executive with the Exxon Mobil Corp who teaches petroleum economics at the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

(...)

Everett at Tufts' Fletcher School said the public needs to question Chavez's motives and consider his weak human rights record in a country where the poor suffer from malnutrition.

Actually the lot of Venezuela's poor has improved with Chavez in office. Which is probably why they like him and vote for him. As I'm sure this clown already knows. And I don't think an apologist for the Bush regime ought to be making any accusations regarding human rights.

My question is why won't Everett and those who agree with him replace this "tainted" aid by putting up an equal amount of their own wealth?

What I see is people who are warm and comfortable attempting -- for political reasons -- to send back a gift meant for those who are cold and struggling.

[Chemical Bill]

17. I finally found a CITGO station close by to fill up at.

Hugo gets my cash from now on.

Bill