Letters to the Editor: Chavez's generosity

Washington Times ^ | February 18, 2008 | Joe Kennedy

[3AngelaD]

The Op-Ed "Shills for Chavez" condemned the nonprofit Citizens Energy Corp. for accepting a charitable donation of oil to provide much-needed heating assistance to poor, elderly and American Indian families in 23 states — the same kind of help we have provided to poor families..to help ease the burden felt by consumers depending on this commodity to survive....For three years, we have worked with Citgo Petroleum and Venezuela because they were the only company...to respond. We acknowledge their generosity as we would recognize any...that answers our calls to help the poor.

Unfortunately, some find it more appropriate to direct their anger toward President Hugo Chavez by denouncing our work rather than providing some constructive alternative to help about 200,000 low-income households make it through the winter.

If there's something wrong with poor Americans receiving less than one-half of 1 percent of the 500 million barrels of Venezuelan oil that is imported into the United States each year, then isn't there something also wrong with American businesses and households consuming the other 99.5 percent?

We do not condone Chavez's actions...While Citizens Energy is called upon to answer for Chavez, no one asked ExxonMobil's CEO to justify Exxon's extensive dealings with Saudi Arabia after its judiciary sentenced a gang rape victim to 200 lashes.

If we are truly concerned about moral purity, energy companies that pay to do business in oil-producing countries that do not share America's views should be held to a higher standard...America shouldn't import oil from such countries....Those who claim to be truly concerned about morality should join us in asking Big Oil to share some of its bounty and calling on our government to fully fund the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program....

JOSEPH P. KENNEDY II, President, CEO and founder, Citizens Energy Corp., Washington

[3AngelaD]

JOSEPH P. KENNEDY II, pander and shill for Hugo Chavez. And on Chavez' payroll. That is, Kennedy trust-funder Joe Kennedy is the only one who profits from the non-profit Citizens Energy Corp.

[CastleMan95]

1-800-JOE4OIL

Always thought it was an interesting telephone number to advertise...call it and the savior Joe Kennedy will help you get thought the winter. His face is seen in every one of the commericials. I think Joe really needs to try harder to work at the self-promotion (sarcasm off).

[pnh102]

Disgusting traitors. Can we at least expect "American" welfare bums to be loyal to the same country that gives them so many freebies?

Anyone who takes oil from Chavez ought to be stripped of their citizenship and deported. Let them get their bum checks in Caracas.

[chrisser]

Those who claim to be truly concerned about morality should join us in asking Big Oil to share some of its bounty

Considering the $30Billion in income taxes Exxon Mobil paid last year, I'd say Big Oil "shares" plenty of its bounty, Joe.

That its squandered by Washington isn't Big Oil's fault.

But if you really feel Big Oil needs to pay more, I suggest you go see your friend, Al Gore, and talk to him about the revenues he receives from his Occidental Petroleum holdings. Wouldn't donating those revenues to charity be exactly the same as if Big Oil had "shared its bounty". Since you two are chums, I'm sure Al would gladly hand over the proceeds - especially if it would save just one child.

And maybe you ought to contact your family's trust managers. I'm sure there's petroleum holdings in there. You and your clan really ought to "share that bounty", Joe.

[econjack]

If there's something wrong with poor Americans receiving less than one-half of 1 percent of the 500 million barrels of Venezuelan oil that is imported into the United States each year, then isn't there something also wrong with American businesses and households consuming the other 99.5 percent?

If this guy really has to ask this question, he needs a basic lesson in economics. My position is that there's nothing wrong with consumers buying 100% of the oil. Indeed, why should the poor get a break? What did they do to deserve it other than be unproductive members of society that suck down resources while returning nothing to society? The liberal belief that being poor means you deserve something is so misguided. Being poor means you don't contribute and that's your problem, not mine, so quit making me pay for it.

[OPS4]

Chavez is a commie holding our carrot sticks to try and win over converts, to the Commie party. He is a disrutive force that will be seen in a favorable light by Hillary and Obama!

Chavez and Soros using the cash to bas AMEICA, any chance they get.

[massgopguy]

Pinkham: Embarrass the Kennedy Family? That’s not Possible.

Haven’t heard the ads on WRKO lately

[wtc911]

What did they do to deserve it other than be unproductive members of society that suck down resources while returning nothing to society?

______________________________________

Nice broad brush you have there jack. There are numerous elderly poor in our country whose only crime was to outlive their money or who, after decades of work, cannot live in 2008 on a pension that started paying out twenty or thirty years ago. There are numerous elderly widows who stayed home in the forties, fifties and sixties to raise the kids and now have to get along on Social Security survivor benefits. There are numerous elderly who worked for decades only to see their pensions disappear with the company for whom they worked or through fraud.

There are numerous families in our country who are poor due to illness and who have to rely on a Social Security disability check.

There are thousands and thousands of poor families who, in your words, 'don't contribute' because they can't.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

That is, Kennedy trust-funder Joe Kennedy is the only one who profits from the non-profit Citizens Energy Corp

While it is true that joseph founded CEC, paying himself $40k/year, he did a terrible job of running it and turned over operations to his brother Michael when he ran for Congress. Michael turned it into a multimillion dollar moneymaker and paid himself a handsome salary. Of course, being a typical Kennedy he also had an affair with his 14-year old babysitter then got killed by hitting a tree during a ski football game after the snow patrol had warned him (he told them to piss off in the usual "Do You Know Who I Am?" fashion). Joe left Congress to return to CEC (and its much higher salary), complaining that even Kennedys have to earn a living and he couldn't get by on a Congressman's salary.

[3AngelaD]

Joe Kennedy II now pays himself $400,000 through the CEC payroll. Thanks, Hugo!

[econjack]

Sorry, but I still don’t think it’s my problem. My position is that those who truly cannot work should be helped by private charities and the church like it used to be before the New Deal. For those who must squeak by on SS, they didn’t plan well enough. They didn’t save enough while they were productive, had a higher standard of living at that time, but didn’t put enough away to sustain that standard of living. I’ve had to lower my present standard of living in order to maintain it when I retire.

Anyone who thinks SS is supposed to support you in retirement is just plain stupid. That was never the intent of the Social Security program. The fact that someone did not plan well is their problem, not mine. If someone is trying to raise a family on survivor benefits, that simply tells me that the worker did not plan well in terms of life insurance to take care of his responsibilities. I am sick and tired of people dodging their responsibilities and people trying to shove it back on me. I didn't tell him not to buy life insurance, but somehow I'm now responsible and supposed to pay for it. Again, they didn't buy it because they preferred to buy something else. Bad choice...live with it.

I do feel for those people who were the victims of fraud, since that is beyond their control. I'm not sure what the answer is for those victims. My solution is to sell whatever assets the company has, fully fund the pension obligations and, if there is anything left after that, only then do the stockholders get any relief.

Personally, I think it's time for people to fund their own lives and responsibilities and I really don't see why those who don't somehow become my responsibility.

[thackney]

$30Billion in income taxes Exxon Mobil paid last year

Just a piece of the pie.

Income Taxes - $29,864
Sales Based Taxes - $31,728
All Other Taxes - $44,091
Total Taxes - $105,683

http://www.exxonmobil.com/corporate/files/corporate/news_release_earnings4q07.pdf

More than $100 Billion in taxes, simply amazing.