Barack Obama, while attending the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad, was photographed shaking the hand of Venezuela’s anti-American dictator Hugo Chavez. Some are calling the handshake historic while others are calling it nauseating. Read more about it below, see photos and watch a video.
Barack Obama, Hugo Chavez
The handshake with Hugo ‘el diablo’ Chavez, a long time ‘friend’ of Cuba, came following The One’s announcement that he was seeking a ‘new beginning’ with Cuba. Obama has said he is willing to work with it’s government - the dictator Castro boys - on issues ranging from human rights to immigration and the economy.
The handshake wasn’t during a formal meeting, but rather a side meeting, with of course with many, many cameras. The photo was then quickly sent out to media outlets across the globe. However, we at Right Pundits, aren’t going to hold our breath for our photo from the Dictator Chavez and his new friend, The One.
You may remember it was just a couple of weeks ago, at an international conference in Doha, that the dictator said this about the United States and our policies:
“It’s a policy of permanent aggression, of war, of terrorism by the US empire. That’s the great guilty one, the great Satan.”
The normalizing of relationships with Cuba has long been a sticking point between the U.S. and Dictator Chavez. In fact, it was just this week at the Summit, that Chavez vowed to cause an international stink by vetoing the draft declaration of the summit over U.S. policy towards Cuba.
Even though he continues to bash ‘imperialist Americans’ with every breath, Chavez has also spoken of his ‘willingness’ to talks and an improvement in relations with The One’s administration. While Obama has spoken of his desire to reach out to a region neglected during eight years of ‘U.S. preoccupation’ with the War on Terror.
Comrades, you can go here to see the photo of the Obama Chavez handshake at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad. The only other thing I can say is we can be relieved that The One didn’t bow.
Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez Photos
Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez Video
April 18th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Had this at least been a conventional handshake it could have at least appeared to be a polite, civil, act. However, the picture shows this as a ‘brother’ shake, something some consider the black community’s way of rejecting the traditional handshake as to ‘white’.
What a shame. I really need President Obabma to suceed but I fear he’s falling into the same mold as far too many other blacks. For example take a look at New Orleans mayor Nagin and his desire for a ‘chocolate city’.
April 18th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Since Maggie won’t let us comment on the Jean Garafolo appearance this week on Olbermann on msnbc, I will here. She is pretty edgy but that doesn’t mean she is right just because she is edgy. She is mostly a Hollywood Personality from the lower tiers of the B list I believe and in righteous over-revved mode. I have noticed the observation she is making well before this weeks appearance, though I wouldn’t write off all obama dissent to that, but it is an unspoken factor among some that no one will admit, but not allways the case. I wish Maggie would respect us enough to be able to comment intelligently on that piece because blocking us says volumes that it is a big issue.
April 18th, 2009 at 9:56 am
[...] Brian at 8:19 am (2) Read [...]
April 18th, 2009 at 10:39 am
What a ignorant person is Cathryn Friar. Chavez is not a dictator.. Think and analyze your report before publishing it.
April 18th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Even chavez knows he is a politician posturing for “things” and he is willing to deal if it looks good. There was a good special on him on pbs that showed him basically a player with both capitalist and communist and “national family” tendencies who is a bit mecurial singing to people in a small village to hanging his head low in embarrassment to chewing out beaurcrats at one of his “mandatory” village meetings. I don’t think he is some communist ideologue, or even has a record of regieme violence of the worst kind, more he embarrasses the heck out of people, shames them nationally, and he just adopted parts of the program that suited his goals which I don’t think he even has a clear idea of what they are other than the magic of “success”. He is part frat boy and the hand shake with obama reveals that things can get silly too. I think obama is right to try and talk with him if he’s going to be sincere. In the end, countries would rather have US support than not, but at what price? I think if people understand south american history better they would see some openings here. we tend to look at castro and chavez as like they were stalin when they see themselves as the “fathers” of their households who must have a firm hand but its all for the people(their idea). People forget that the hotels and casinos and rich interests were corrupting the government there and in part it was a who is going to run this country revolution? The locals or the Yankees?
April 18th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
What’s this with Chavez being a “dictator”? I know there’s a lot of insulty-sounding words thrown around by the right where clearly they don’t know what the word means (see “f4cism”, “s0cialism”, etc.) But chavez has been a popular elected leader in Venezuela, despite coup attempts by foreign governments.
What? You haven’t heard of the near-successful attempt to overthrow his government? Check out the as-it-happened documentary made by Irish filmmakers. The first five minutes are a little boring, but it gets pretty exciting pretty fast.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5832390545689805144
April 18th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
[...] Chavez At least he didn’t bow How noble! How wonderful! Change!… Dear Leader Greets Dear Leader Obama Chavez Handshake, with Chavez’s speech at Doha. Via Larwyn, Friend of Dictators, Associate of Evil Obama warmly [...]
April 19th, 2009 at 6:17 am
Bush had shoes thrown at him. Instead Obama receives books as a gift. BIG DIFFERENCE!
April 19th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Just because someone is elected in a democratic process doesnt exclude them from being a dictator. Chavez operates the electoral process much like Castro or any other dictator has in that he suppresses and intimidates the votes that he doesnt want. First sign of this is when you go about shutting down television stations that air material thats unfavorable to you so you can move on to do away with term limits.
That in the future would totally eliminate the opportunity for any form of democratic electorate. Once that happens Chavez is free to carry about in any manner he chooses without the fear of losing his power.
Where I come from thats called a dictator.
Then you also have to ask yourself why hes only close with other dictators and just maybe some of you nay sayers might begin to have a clue.
April 19th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
First sign of this is when you go about shutting down television stations that air material thats unfavorable to you so you can move on to do away with term limits.
I’m 100% for a free press, but his shutting down stations might make more sense after you watch the documentary linked above.
April 19th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Chairman Zero and Red Hugo have a lot in common- both are arrogant narcissists with a racial victimhood complex… and habitual liars.
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Both displayed contempt for democracy/opposition once elected- and are absolutely clueless re. economic manners. And both are out to serve a far-left agenda while dragging a bountiful nation into the abyss.
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So these two have plenty to yap about-
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Actually, I think I respect Chavez more- he might be a misguided socialist twit, but at least he’s honest about it.
April 19th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Your really projecting your own stuff and really talking about republicans pushing their won far out right agenda. People want their country back from mindless republican rule and our demographics have radically shifted in “the people’s” favor. This country is not just about you and your narcissistic needs. Its about our freedoms and need to have a morally sane government for a change. Yes there is a lot of finanical damage done from your watch being transferred to the new watch commander. But at the least we can have our freedom and dignity back.
May 15th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
[...] least he didn’t bow How noble! How wonderful! Change!… Dear Leader Greets Dear Leader Obama Chavez Handshake, with Chavez’s speech at Doha. Via Larwyn, Friend of Dictators, Associate of Evil Obama [...]
June 28th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
[...] if his reaction didn’t come thanks to pressure from a Socialist leader whose very handshake seems anathema to a big chunk of the U.S. voting population, still Chavez has here created the illusion that the [...]