Barack Obama is hailed by sycophantic media members as one of the brightest men to ever be President, and was supposed to improve America's standing around the world.
Yet, on Sunday, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez called Obama "a poor ignoramus" who "should read and study a little to understand reality."
Given how impressed news members are with our new President, and how they regularly disparaged the intellectual capacity of George W. Bush, it is going to be very interesting to see how Chavez's comments get covered in the coming days.
Here's how Reuters reported them about seven hours ago:
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama was at best an "ignoramus" for saying the socialist leader exported terrorism and obstructed progress in Latin America.
"He goes and accuses me of exporting terrorism: the least I can say is that he's a poor ignoramus; he should read and study a little to understand reality," said Chavez, who heads a group of left-wing Latin American leaders opposed to the U.S. influence in the region.
Chavez said Obama's comments had made him change his mind about sending a new ambassador to Washington, after he withdrew the previous envoy in a dispute last year with the Bush administration in which he also expelled the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela.
"When I saw Obama saying what he said, I put the decision back in the drawer; let's wait and see," Chavez said on his weekly television show, adding he had wanted to send a new ambassador to improve relations with the United States after the departure of George W. Bush as president.
The article stated that Chavez was responding to comments Obama made back in January during an interview with the Spanish language network Univision. As such, within months of his Inauguration, Obama has already hampered diplomatic relations with a despot that many media members revere.
As you can imagine, if Bush was still President, this would likely be front-page, headline news. Yet, so far this hasn't garnered a great deal of attention.
The Associated Press covered this a few hours ago, and it was picked up by NYTimes.com. But will it make the paper's print edition tomorrow, and, if so, where will it be placed?
And how will it play on broadcast television as well as the cable networks tomorrow?
Stay tuned.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.




















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Hugo is as he says 0 is
March 22, 2009 - 21:41 ET by kch50428Venezuela's Hugo Chavez called Obama "a poor ignoramus" who "should read and study a little to understand reality."
Physician, heal thyself. Or it takes an ignoramus to know an ignoramus.
Just poor?
March 22, 2009 - 21:48 ET by BarkerAccording to Hugo's leftist friends, Obama is an 'elegant' ignoramus as well.
Chavez calling ANYONE an
March 22, 2009 - 21:50 ET by GregEChavez calling ANYONE an ignoramous is nothing short of the pot calling the kettle black....
....or the Congress calling AIG execs incompetent.
Yet, on Sunday, Venezuela's
March 22, 2009 - 21:50 ET by MidAmericaYet, on Sunday, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez called Obama "a poor ignoramus" who "should read and study a little to understand reality."
Ol' Hugo better watch it. The American media can only be pushed so far. If he keeps up attacks against obama he will be redesignated as a Right-Wing Dictator removing him from the much higher status position as a Left-Wing Dictator.
When one Marxist call's
March 22, 2009 - 21:55 ET by BlazerWhen one Marxist call's another Marxist a poor ignamorus, you know you have truly arrived.
Here's where me and Hugo can actually agree on something.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
Remember how the media reported on the Iraqi shoe thrower?
March 22, 2009 - 21:56 ET by delmarHow it was so humiliating for President Bush. I wonder if they'll give this the same treatment.
delmar. Remember how the MSM reported..
March 22, 2009 - 22:06 ET by Gary Halldelmar. Remember how the MSM reported.. the news a couple of weeks back about the Iranian who threw a shoe at Ahmadinejad?
Yea. Well, I suspect the answer to the question is that it will hardly be reported. At the end of the day, the proof will be the fact that, by far, most people will not know of it, and few will be talking about it. And, in the future, it will never be revisted by the media. (;~/ gary
Muy interesante...
March 22, 2009 - 22:03 ET by dborschjr68While this comment will add nothing new to anyone's intellect, I cannot help but be slightly amused at Chavez's words here.
Will the MSM care to comment?
======================
To the MSM: It has been said that, "The pen is mightier than the sword". So I'll tell ya what- how's about you hold onto a pen and see if it stops me from slapping your face. I'm just sayin'...
Gee...
March 22, 2009 - 22:04 ET by mizflame98I never thought I'd agree with Chavez. Obama is "a poor ignoramus" who "should read and study a little to understand reality." I don't agree with Chavez's reasons for saying it but it doesn't make him any less wrong in his assertions on Obama.
"Not to be a republican at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head." - Francois Guisot
You betcha!
March 22, 2009 - 22:42 ET by waincroftWe had Thursday, Leno, tonight 60 Min, Tues The One is on prime time. Any narcissism going on here?
I'm sure he loves every mention!
RoundUpTheRINOs.com
Between Barack and a Hard Place
March 22, 2009 - 22:07 ET by metaphorsbwithuThat does put the MSM between Barack and a hard place - do they defend the President or simply pretend Hugo didn't say what he said? Or what?
They didn't take too kindly to Ayman al-Zawahiri taking a page out of Malcolm X's (and Harry Belafonte's) script in using a racial slur to taunt the then President Elect. I'm not sure that they'd relish being on yet another Bush adversary's enemies list though.
I say they report it but simply dismiss it with a, "Oh, that's just Hugo being Hugo."
metaphorsbwithu
Only because the.....
March 22, 2009 - 22:10 ET by connman....MSM so readily repeated all Hugo's ridiculous remarks he made about GWB over the last few years, they should report it. Otherwise I couldn't care less what this POS Old Burrito has to say about anything! Don't you just love all the warm and fuzzies we're feeling from around the world.
Credit
March 22, 2009 - 22:15 ET by slickwillie2001Let's give Hugo credit where credit is due, he may have stumbled upon the truth for once. Now that doesn't mean that I think any better of Hugo than I did yesterday.
I never thought I would
March 22, 2009 - 22:39 ET by Gat New YorkI never thought I would find myself agreeing with Hugo Chavez - - except for the "poor" part because Obama made all his money on those books he co-wrote.
After watching his less than stellar performance with that slo-pitcher Steve Croft on 60 Minutes I think we are watching an extremely immature 48 year old man who, as Croft said, "Has no executive experience of any kind."
It's probably just a
March 22, 2009 - 22:33 ET by snaggletoothieIt's probably just a bargaining tactic. He senses weakness so he's not going to send the envoy until he gets some concession he's convinced he can get. Liberals who tend to see everything in terms of power would just see the insult as a demand for groveling and a payoff.
My thought as well: What
March 22, 2009 - 23:03 ET by stratmanMy thought as well: What can Chavez get out of this?
First, it plays well to the folks back home. Chavez needs to play the strong, smart, but not silent type to the home crowd.
Second, this does not hurt his standing amoungst the other tinpot dictators he wants to preside over as chief bottle washer.
Third, Chavez, like the Arabs, Persians, ChiComs, European Socialists, and No. Koreans before him have realized - Obama is a cream puff who will give up the goods after a gentle squeeze. (Unless you are an ally like Great Britain or Canada - then you can expect derision and/or neglect)
One thing we might hope for is that the narcissist in Obama will be insulted enough to treat Chavez as the thug that he is.
What someone posted earlier
March 22, 2009 - 22:36 ET by ConservativeRexWhat someone posted earlier is closer to the truth in this instance then anyone imagines.
The media in this country is exactly what Stalin had in mind when he coined his "fellow travelers" as useful idiots. Stalin may have been crude and absolutely ruthless, but he recognized human nature.
Hitler was Stalins BFF until Hitler turned on him. Now, that they were both socialist made no difference to Stalin, with a historical slight of hand, and help from the American media, Stalin convinced everyone that Hitler's brand of fascisim was bad. When in fact Stalin was every bit as ruthless as Hitler in his type of fascism. They were both two peas in the same pod. Prior to that, there were a lot of media in this country clammering for FDR to become America's "dictator". One of liberaldom's heroes, Walter Lippmann, even asked FDR to become just that.
So will be the same with Chavez. Watch the American press write that Chavez is your typical bannana republic dictator along the lines of Peron, et al. He will be bansihed to the media's ash heap of history.
I believe I like it best when Leftists eat their own.
You notice that
March 22, 2009 - 22:47 ET by mizflame98You notice that those Hollywood idiots like Penn, Glover, Belafonte, et. al. hasn't been down to Venezuela since the Messiah became president.
"Not to be a republican at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head." - Francois Guisot
→ Sure Mizflame
March 22, 2009 - 22:55 ET by Cool ArrowCan't you see them singing Mary MacGregor
Torn between two lovers, feelin' like a fool
Lovin' both of you is breakin' all the rules
Torn between two lovers, feelin' like a fool
Lovin' you both is breakin' all the rules
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Who knows.....
March 22, 2009 - 22:54 ET by mbmonahanthe MSM might now finally refer to him as a *gasp*........................dictator.
Nahhhh.....
I can see it now.
March 22, 2009 - 23:27 ET by clubchamp6The press is probably on a recon mission right now.
Stephy, Chrissy, B Will, and A Mitch ( Like the A Team)
Going down to Venezuala with A Mitch ripping his heart out with her bare hands while Chrissy is stroking Hugo's hair and telling him" Shhh Hugo don't fight it this is what you get when you mess with my boyfriend"
Steph is on the phone to Rahm letting him no the job is done.
B Will is just sitting around picking his axx and primping his hair since he is just dead space anyways.
→ Ignoranus
March 22, 2009 - 23:29 ET by Cool ArrowI think they misspelled "ignoranus".
Hugo was talking about Present Obama, wasn't he?
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
you guys are forgetting
March 23, 2009 - 00:15 ET by candanceObama inherited five world wars, an alien attack, and the stock market at zero!! Bush made him say that stuff about Chavez!
When will this get reported?
March 23, 2009 - 00:58 ET by UnsaneThey will report Chavez's slam of His Majesty The Shahinshah right around the time they report this.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
The media have always
March 23, 2009 - 02:13 ET by mostlymoderateThe media have always embraced Chavez by making him look like a hero and by making G. Bush look like a dolt. Will they do the same with Obummer? I am sure we know the answer. But how will they make Obummer look good without criticizing their other hero Chavez? This should be interesting.
Strong stomachs
March 23, 2009 - 06:58 ET by jdlybrandI really do admire those of you who watched the other "O" on 60 Minutes. I can't take more than two or three minutes watching this self absorbed snob before I break out in hives and get a nauseous feeling. Sorta like listening to Al Franken(stein) or watching Keith Uberscum. Gotta go... I'm itching just thinking about it.
Danny Glover was right
March 23, 2009 - 07:43 ET by nadadhimmiI apologize Danny, you are a paragon of knowledge and judgement. Your man Hugo is right about Obama.
What's Really Important
March 23, 2009 - 08:15 ET by rightwingidiotWhile Hugo got it right, not for the reasons he stated, but just the fact that he figured out OBeyme is an ignoramus, and from so far away. The really important point has yet to be brought up.
Did he read it off a teleptompter?
Wow, Hugo finally says something I agree with.
March 23, 2009 - 08:51 ET by R D Helm-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
More half truths
March 23, 2009 - 08:52 ET by VonuObama isn't poor.
Chavez said this on his weekly TV show?
March 23, 2009 - 09:37 ET by SickofLibsMSNBC now will have to review Chavez's contract.
Hugo Chavez
April 20, 2009 - 03:36 ET by Nearly NobodyHugo Chavez is a tea bagging red neck racist... he just don't like a black man in office... this is racism straight up
"Nearly Nobody's News"