Chavez becomes an issue of the US presidential campaign

Saturday, July 14th 2012 - 00:46 UTC

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Romney said Obama’s attitude towards Chavez “showed a pattern of weakness”

President Hugo Chavez denied on Friday that Venezuela was a threat to anyone, after US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney criticized Barack Obama for playing down the risk posed by the socialist leader.

Obama told a Spanish-language television station in an interview screened this week that Chavez's actions over recent years had not had a serious national security impact on the United States.

Romney said Obama's comments were “stunning and shocking” and showed a pattern of weakness in the Democratic president's foreign policy.

In an interview with a local Venezuelan television station on Friday, Chavez dismissed the allegations he posed any danger. “The Venezuela of today is no threat to anyone,” he said.

Whenever there were efforts to improve relations between Washington and Caracas, Chavez added, they were criticized by powerful “snipers” who issued threats in the US media.

Chavez also cited his friendship with Juan Manuel Santos, the conservative leader of neighbouring Colombia.

“The president of Colombia has said it, twice: Chavez is a factor of stability for the region.”

Obama's campaign team has accused Romney, the likely Republican nominee in the Nov. 6 election, of playing into Chavez's hands by giving him the international attention that he wanted.

Chavez frequently lauds Fidel Castro's family led regime in Cuba, and Romney's comments could cheer Cuban-American voters in Florida, where many oppose Castro and Chavez.

There was a window to improve ties between Caracas and Washington after Obama took office in 2009 and promised more engagement with foes. Chavez toned down his tirades against the “Yankee Empire” and shook hands with Obama at a summit.

But within months, Chavez said the US leader was disillusioning the world by following his predecessor George W. Bush's foreign policies, and he cranked up his rhetoric again.

Categories: Politics, Latin America, United States.

Tags: Cuban-American voters, Hugo Chávez, Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama, USA General Elections.

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British_Kirchnerist
Its sad and scary how much trouble Obama gets into whenever he (probably by accident) tells the truth. If he had been a more assertive President and improved relations with Chavez from the start the irony is he'd probably be stronger by now, but he's been on the backffot ever since, as Chavez said, he dissapointed the world by continuing to follow Bush policies. Also would like to point out that Cuba is not “family run”!
Jul 14th, 2012 - 08:36 am 0
Conqueror
And yet Chavez has, personally, threatened both the Falkland Islands and Britain. How does that work? “Of course I made threats but I didn't mean them.” That would be a disappointment for CFK. “Yes, I made threats but it's inconvenient to remember them right now.” Wouldn't that be the equivalent of 'all mouth and no trousers'? Fact is that Chavez is a posturing clown.
Jul 14th, 2012 - 11:56 am 0
Britworker
Romney knows who his allies are and has no qualms whatsoever in voicing his support for those allies. Fernandez and Chaves have been allowed to carry on like they own South America whilst Obama has been in power. The Republicans know that Obama has done considerable damage to relations with the UK. I have no doubts at all that Romney will be putting that situation right as a priority if he gets in power. I don't think he will, I think Obama will probably hold on to power unfortunately.
Jul 14th, 2012 - 12:31 pm 0

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