Once news of the death of Hugo Chavez broke, we knew we’d be hearing from former President Jimmy Carter before long. The only question was just how effusive Carter would be in his praise of the Venezuelan dictator, and the answer is: pretty effusive.
https://twitter.com/jeffemanuel/status/309092236669362176
https://twitter.com/jeffemanuel/status/309092703252140032
They're called "survivors" –> RT @amandacarpenter Jimmy Carter hopes people will remember Hugo Chavez's "positive legacies"
— Jon Henke (@JonHenke) March 6, 2013
https://twitter.com/robprather/status/309096890610380801
@AlgoSlayer @amandacarpenter He's never met a despot he doesn't like. Sickening. #jimmycarter
— Reinman_MT (@reinman_mt) March 6, 2013
Assclown —-> Jimmy Carter: "We have never doubted Hugo #Chavez's commitment to improving the lives of millions of his fellow countrymen"
— Toucan Sam LV (@ToucanSamLV) March 6, 2013
Is there any more sanctimonious, yet morally bankrupt public personality in the United States than Jimmy Carter?
— Glen Asbury (@glenasbury) March 6, 2013
Carter did have some reserved criticism for the more, um, dictatorial side of Chavez.
At the same time, we recognize the divisions created in the drive towards change in Venezuela and the need for national healing. We hope that as Venezuelans mourn the passing of President Chávez and recall his positive legacies — especially the gains made for the poor and vulnerable — the political leaders will move the country forward by building a new consensus that ensures equal opportunities for all Venezuelans to participate in every aspect of national life.
Oh good grief…shut the f**k up Jimmy Carter! http://t.co/1h4hQA1ktK
— Patti (@MomSense) March 6, 2013
As we solemnly remember the positive legacies of Chavez — wow, that didn’t take long —we can enjoy another good laugh as well. Progressives like English singer/songwriter Billy Bragg would like remind us that Carter’s observation of elections in Venezuela proves that Chavez wasn’t a dictator, so stop calling him that.
Chavez won 13 elections deemed to be free by people such as Jimmy Carter. That's Jimmy Carter, you right wing nut-jobs
— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) March 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/DPL_WORLD/status/309100380162236416
Jimmy Carter: "of the 92 elections we've monitored, I would say the election process in Venezuela is the best in the world." #chavez
— Nick Dearden (@nickdearden75) March 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/Awate91/status/309063156498563073
Related:
Appalling: Media swoon over crooner Hugo Chavez; Just a ‘firebrand,’ ‘hero to Venezuela’s poor’
Sic semper tyrannis: Hugo Chavez dead?; Update: Hell has a new resident
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