Video: Obama gets gift from new friend
posted at 3:58 pm on April 18, 2009 by Allahpundit
Another encounter between the most popular man in Venezuela and, er, Hugo Chavez. Silly me, I thought Evil Clown had slipped the book to him last night when they shook hands. Nope: He waited to do it in public, with cameras rolling, to put him on the spot and wring every last drop of propaganda goodness from his gambit. And no wonder, given the subject of the book. As one of our readers snarked in Headlines, considering Obama’s habit of apologizing for America, he probably already owns this one.
As he did last night, all The One could manage here was a stooge-like grin and a weak quip later about how he thought it was one of Chavez’s own master works. After you watch this, go watch Gingrich lay into him about what a “terrible signal” this buddy act is sending to South America.
Update: The book’s in Spanish, by the way. El Presidente couldn’t even be bothered to find a translation. Food for thought from Tapper: “Can you imagine the world outrage if a US President gave a book in English to a non-English speaking leader?”
Update: Mission accomplished.
Blowback
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Owns the book? President Obama probably wrote the forward.
Ordinary1 on April 18, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Of course he thought it was one of Chavez’ own works. After all, Obama gives his own speeches as gifts. Did he give Chavez a Region 1 DVD of the inauguration?
Wethal on April 18, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Can’t we force sock puppet to stay in Venezuela?
Please?
Spiritk9 on April 18, 2009 at 4:03 PM
clowns to the left of me jokers to the right
the_nile on April 18, 2009 at 4:03 PM
If I hear Obama blathering one more time about how he wants to “listen” and “reach out” to people, I’m going to stab myself with a pointy spork.
TheQuestion on April 18, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Obama has the worst foreign policy instincts of all time. Does he know that he represents America? And not the Obama perpetual campaign?
CarolynM on April 18, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Our President needed to have a copy of the Black Book of Communism or Darkness at Noon to hand back.
Federalist Papers? Something. Yeah, keep a small copy of the papers in your pocket.
Not being arrogant is one thing; to be a floor mat is another.
SteveMG on April 18, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Dumb A$$.
He is endangering the lives of millions of Americans here and abroad. Is it 2012 yet? I mean, even if we take back the house and senate in 2010, which I hope we do, he is still going to go around making a giant a$$ of himself. What a maroon!
HornetSting on April 18, 2009 at 4:04 PM
I knew Obama was an idiot, but something about having a POTUS as just another useful idiot sickens me even more.
reaganaut on April 18, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Message: Colombia beware.
elduende on April 18, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Dear Leader probably asked Chavez for advice on shutting down opposition media.
But what can you expect from a man who sat for twenty years listening to a preacher ask God to damn America.
rbj on April 18, 2009 at 4:05 PM
You better buy a first aid kit and a sewing machine, question.
HornetSting on April 18, 2009 at 4:05 PM
As I said earlier, Billy the Bomber writes for the Punk and he signs it.
thomasaur on April 18, 2009 at 4:07 PM
They are exchanging scores on the number of industries nationalized. Chavez is only -slightly- ahead at this point.
lorien1973 on April 18, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Aiding and abetting the enemy. Yep. That’s what The Precedent does.
Does anyone in the world think that The Precedent likes anything about the US other than our wealth and the fact that retarded AMericans gave him power over a lot of it?
I know how our Founding Fathers would have handled this POS. It would not have been pretty.
progressoverpeace on April 18, 2009 at 4:08 PM
“Open Veins of Latin America” is practically the bible of anti-Americanism south of the border. It was written by Ecuadorian marxist Eduardo Galeano.
It was a slap in the face of the United States for Chavez to hand this rubbish to the President. But like Allah said, Obama is probably happy to get a new copy as his own is probably dog-eared at this point.
Golden Boy on April 18, 2009 at 4:08 PM
And also advice on how to make his opponents… ahem… “disappear”…
The mayor of Maracaibo, a huge opponent of Chavez, is missing nowadays. Missing. Which probably means he’s being tortured, or maybe his head is being used as Chavez’s wine chalice.
newton on April 18, 2009 at 4:08 PM
The book was really Obama’s first subscription to Chavez’s newsletter.
lorien1973 on April 18, 2009 at 4:08 PM
People, Please!
This is a step forward for Dear Leader. A definite improvement in Statesmanship over the G-20 meetings. He didn’t bow when he received the book.
trubble on April 18, 2009 at 4:09 PM
I’ll bet Obambi agrees with everything written in Hugo’s manifesto of a book and probably asked for an autographed copy!
Liberty or Death on April 18, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Livin la vida loca!
Aristotle on April 18, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Yep, and the American people are stuck in the middle…God help us!
Liberty or Death on April 18, 2009 at 4:10 PM
La vida loca I can deal with, it’s la budget loca I have a problem with.
trubble on April 18, 2009 at 4:11 PM
No surprise. Instead of our country leading the way for democracy and capitalism, we are now taking our marching orders from the likes of Castro and Chavez. (To say nothing of Europe) Cannot believe how much this idiot has done to destroy all that so many have offered and given their lives for to defend our values/principles and way of life. Guess the O is getting his briefings on how else he can take our rights away and get to the type of country that they have destroyed.
hillbilly on April 18, 2009 at 4:13 PM
But hey , you don’t want to dictate and be arrogant against dictators.
the_nile on April 18, 2009 at 4:13 PM
He can set it right next to his copy of Rules for Radicals.
Daggett on April 18, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Excuse me Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)…but things have gotten too weird for me!
JoeySlippers on April 18, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Or Region 1 DVDs to a guy who lives in Region 2.
Yeah. Imagine the outrage.
lorien1973 on April 18, 2009 at 4:16 PM
‘Merci beaucoup’
pambi on April 18, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Just imagine Obama being President when Hitler was in power. He would have apologized for the US being critical of Germany’s abuse of the Jews.
William Amos on April 18, 2009 at 4:17 PM
No preconditions.
elduende on April 18, 2009 at 4:19 PM
I will bet anyone here that Chavez publicly insults Obama again within a week.
Daggett on April 18, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Chavez: “greetings, comrade Obama. I’m glad to see the “hopeandchange” rhetoric fooled the voters there just like it did for me in Venezuela in ’98.
Obama: “Man, it’s great to finally meet you, Billy Ayers has told me such wonderful things. Give my regards to Alfonso Cano. Speaking of, those FARC laptops were a real buzzkill, eh? Good thing for me I don’t have to worry about opposition from the media here like you do down there. Say, how’s about we hold the next Sao Paulo Forum meeting at Camp David?”
Golden Boy on April 18, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Let’s not go crazy, please.
Allahpundit on April 18, 2009 at 4:19 PM
About him owning the book, I think he referred to this comment I made there:
I just didn’t want to Chavez administration do foreign relations blunder, like when the Obama administration did when they gave the Queen an iPod and she already had one. :-)
JeffinSac on April 18, 2009 at 4:20 PM
That’s because his gift to Chavez was probably a signed copy of the The Audacity of
DHope.Christian Conservative on April 18, 2009 at 4:21 PM
I might laugh at some of the satire here, but unfortunately watching as the Nation is handed over to our enemies by this traitor is making me vomit.
Viper1 on April 18, 2009 at 4:22 PM
William Amos on April 18, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Actually FDR was no better than Obama he bent over backwards to avoid having to address that issue through WW2. He even dismissed the eyewitness reports of the Polish resistance. I know, one of my professors was Jan Karski.
elduende on April 18, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Normally Id agree Allah that it would be wrong to consider that. But there were americans who did speak out in favor of Hitler.
There are some evil leaders out there. I didnt say Obama would have supported hitler’s policys (That would be grossly untrue) but that he would certainly step lightly around any critisizm of a leader who has a history of abusing power.
William Amos on April 18, 2009 at 4:24 PM
This gesture was a complete insult to Obama and the United States and I don’t think Obama knows it. Or maybe he does and he thinks we deserve it. To hand him an Anti-American book in front of everyone and with the cameras rolling, Chavez just punked Obama in front of the world. And then Obama has to smile, shake his hand and accept it and then hold it up for the cameras. What a tool.
Put the shoe on the other foot. Imagine an American President handing another world leader a book that describes how horrible that leaders country had been? It would be described by our journalists as a tremendous insult. Well, that’s what this was but Obama just sits there with that big, stupid grin on his face. He should have handed it right back to Chavez and said, “don’t ever try that again.” Of course, Obama agrees that we’re the problem so don’t look to him to stand up for us.
And why would Chavez think he could do that to the President of the U.S.? Why would he be emboldened like that? Does he sense weakness? Seriously, do any world leaders have any respect for Obama? It seems to me they all think he can be rolled.
JohnInCA on April 18, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I wonder if Obama is embarrassed. Merci beaucoup!
Rae on April 18, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Well, Obama DID say he was embarrassed by mono-lingual Americans, didn’t he? Maybe Chavez was actually trying to be vaguely tactful while he…pissed in our collective face.
Cylor on April 18, 2009 at 4:26 PM
That Airwick commerical with the ANTS before the clip started just made several Gitmo prisoners wet their orange jumpers. And Andi Sullivan.
Cuffy Meigs on April 18, 2009 at 4:27 PM
I think this whole episode hurts Chavez more than Obama. It has been Chavez who has been spewing the fiery anti-American rhetoric all these years, not the other way around. And when given the chance to confront a president, one that he insulted quite recently, Chavez becomes a sycophant.
DarkKnight3565 on April 18, 2009 at 4:28 PM
There was nothing crazy about that.
progressoverpeace on April 18, 2009 at 4:29 PM
FDR never personally met with Hitler. Harry Hopkins did with Stalin as did FDR.
I think the greatest blunder FDR did was chosing the European war over the Pacific war. If we had let hitler hurt the Soveit Union a little more it would have collapsed and germany would have been too spent to be a threat.
William Amos on April 18, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Honestly, I’ve been confused by some of the reporting on this.
I THOUGHT I’d read that Obeywan gave that book TO El Creepo.
Now I read it’s the opposite.
No big deal, really.
But who can tell me what exactly DID Opey give the El Creepster ??
pambi on April 18, 2009 at 4:32 PM
When the going gets weird, the weird turns pro.
And we’re all pros now, thanks to Obama’s 2008 Self Immoliation World Tour.
And LOL, maybe Obama will have Bill Ayers read the book for him )))
Mister Ghost on April 18, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Anyone remember the left going nuts over this photo ?
Chavez is as dangerous as that guy was.
William Amos on April 18, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Today Sean Penn is the happiest man alive.
calgrammy on April 18, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Hugo’s popularity will now increase across the board among Obama supporters in the US public and press.
Mike D. on April 18, 2009 at 4:34 PM
How do you propose we would have won the Pacific War first considering what happened at Pearl and the relative power of naval and air units?
We could put boots on the ground in North Africa relatively quickly.
Spirit of 1776 on April 18, 2009 at 4:35 PM
I’m not sure they didn’t vote for Obama because of his Hugoesque qualities to begin with.
AUINSC on April 18, 2009 at 4:36 PM
William Amos on April 18, 2009 at 4:31 PM
agreed. the rationale for “Germany first” of course was that both England and the Soviets were on the ropes and the Japs had more ground to cover in order to win easily.
elduende on April 18, 2009 at 4:36 PM
And can someone advise Obama to knock it off with the Mick Jagger-ish face splitting grin every time there’s a photo op? It’s not appropriate when meeting with two bit dictators. And it’s undignified. He looks like a fool and it’s pretty evident that he’s being taken for one as well.
CarolynM on April 18, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Proving once again that Jake Tapper is about the only thing worth salvaging from the catastrophe of the MSM.
Purple Fury on April 18, 2009 at 4:40 PM
No doubt, even HST in a full on LSD trip would think things have gotten bizzaro!
Liberty or Death on April 18, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Yep, he’s gotten nothing but good news lately-first he was selected to play Larry Fine in the new 3 Stooges movie, and now this!
Del Dolemonte on April 18, 2009 at 4:41 PM
I bet obama bowed to chavez, he just made sure there were no cameras around!!
please comrade, forgive us ours sins, we are now comrades viva la revolutione!!! viva la raza!!
right4life on April 18, 2009 at 4:42 PM
thats an insult to the stooges!!!
right4life on April 18, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Although to give credit where credit is due one of these men is more honorable than the other. There is one man in that video/picture who has served his country by putting on a uniform and has not gone out to other countries to apologize for the arrogance of his nation pursuing its national interests…
elduende on April 18, 2009 at 4:43 PM
You know………
………. the more I see Mr. Pantywaist’s world tour, the more I am reminded of this.
Seven Percent Solution on April 18, 2009 at 4:44 PM
… Or incorrect region DVDs, an incorrectly translated “reset” button….
RightWinged on April 18, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Eh, no surprise to me about this…not that it makes me any less angry. It was only a questions of when…and it will get worse…much worse.
AUINSC on April 18, 2009 at 4:44 PM
somehow, somewhat, off on a tangent and… this:
no explanation, but we sure move in the right direction, don’t we.
albertpale on April 18, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Crazy is, as crazy does. Allahpundit, just how far are you willing to go to protect your arm chair pay check? Keeping us in check, so you won’t lose your pay check? Getting a ‘real’ job must scare the sh!t out of you. I’m assuming (a$$ out of you and me)… you own no ‘blue collars’?
JoeySlippers on April 18, 2009 at 4:48 PM
That’s an insult to ALL stooges.
thomasaur on April 18, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Garofalo was present to warn Omama of the racists he’s
chumming up to. . .
Texyank on April 18, 2009 at 4:50 PM
blatantblue on April 18, 2009 at 4:52 PM
D/D, I saw your post on the Monterey show, very cool. Last night elduende gave a little ditty in spanish and all I could think of was “don’t follow the balls when they make the street”. : – )
thomasaur on April 18, 2009 at 4:54 PM
White House: Obama never took book from Chavez
LibTired on April 18, 2009 at 4:55 PM
And he didn’t bow to the King of Saudia Arabia and he’s not trying to destroy our country.
thomasaur on April 18, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Is that anything like “I never had sex with that woman”?
Old Hippie Vet on April 18, 2009 at 5:02 PM
What next?
This is getting worse and worse. Umbama is such a spineless fool.
Urban Infidel on April 18, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Pretty hard to top “ignoramus”, but I’ll bet you’re right. The photo ops with the book was pretty insulting. Oh Lordy, what next? Off to Korea to apologize for the sanctions?
scalleywag on April 18, 2009 at 5:08 PM
After lengthy discussions and vigorous handshaking with Barack Obama (and only God knows what else), the fact that Chavez would assume an anti-American book would appeal to Mr. Obama’s sensibilities ought to frighten the hell out of all Americans.
sinsing on April 18, 2009 at 5:08 PM
whoa, that’s more than a little crazy there. I’d say it was totally uncalled for.
scalleywag on April 18, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Sad to say nowadays the Stooge legacy is no longer in the hands of the Howard or Fine heirs. Last time I knew, the heirs of the last “3rd Stooge”, Curley Joe DeRita, were controlling things. That’s pretty sad.
Del Dolemonte on April 18, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Lest we forget Chavez has been vocally anti Israel and Anti Semetism is on the rise in Venezuela.
William Amos on April 18, 2009 at 5:17 PM
We now literally are all Bozos on this bus.
Here’s the info from the Golden State Theatre re. next week’s show. They will be recording it for posterity, so expect a live album and DVD.
http://www.goldenstatetheatre.com/shows/042408_firesign/042408_firesign.html
Del Dolemonte on April 18, 2009 at 5:19 PM
No doubt it’s on Obooba’s nightstand now.
Akzed on April 18, 2009 at 5:25 PM
“Squeaze the wheeze.”
Akzed on April 18, 2009 at 5:26 PM
That part of the Gingritch video about the Tea Parties was very good.
Alana on April 18, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Oh my! Frik and Frak are together again. I think they should get a room and work out all that man love they have for each other.
Hawthorne on April 18, 2009 at 5:32 PM
“Scalleywag”…
I’ll accept criticism from Allahpundit…but not from you!
JoeySlippers on April 18, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Hugo knew Barry already had first editions of Das Capital and the Manifesto…
phreshone on April 18, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Thanks for the info but the snow is finally melting off of the pastures and time to get the irrigation going. When run-off starts I have to stay close to insure that the ponds don’t breach their dams.
thomasaur on April 18, 2009 at 5:45 PM
insure s/b ensure
thomasaur on April 18, 2009 at 5:46 PM
I may be wrong, but I think this was a deal where a lot of leaders were in attendance, and no one was expected to give anything to anyone else.
Alana on April 18, 2009 at 5:47 PM
BTW…”Scalleywag”…did you attend a “tea party” on the 15th? Or do you just “talk the talk?”
JoeySlippers on April 18, 2009 at 5:54 PM
So people are now buying this book in droves?
Wonderful.
Someone please wake me up from this nightmare.
capitalist piglet on April 18, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Good luck with that.
getalife on April 18, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Yeah, I’ve read it. It was part of a class requirement in college, it’s practically the bible of anti-Americanism north of the border too.
Disgusting that Obama would accept such a gift. I wonder when Chavez’ stay in the Lincoln Bedroom will be scheduled.
Gilda on April 18, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Probably in the trash can in his room.
getalife on April 18, 2009 at 6:14 PM
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