Joe Gets Suckered

IBD Editorials ^ | January 6, 2009

[Kaslin]

Oil: Joe Kennedy was an easy mark for Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who promised cheap oil in exchange for Joe's endorsement. But after a first $100 million, the well went dry Monday. How's it feel to be had, Joe?

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It seemed like easy money at the time. To get cheap oil for the poor, raise his power profile and get his Citizens Energy Corp. set for life, Kennedy made a deal with the brutal dictator in Caracas in 2005 to distribute cheap heating oil to the poor.

In exchange for Venezuelan oil at a 40% discount, Kennedy would enhance Hugo Chavez's reputation and shame private oil companies for not getting involved.

And that he did. Joe blanketed television stations across the U.S. for over three years as Chavez's pitchman, urging the poor to sign up for Chavez's cheap oil. Call 1-877-Joe4Oil, he said, begging them to take it. Kennedy said he fueled 400,000 households in first 16 and then finally 23 states, praising Chavez's "generosity."

But behind the pretty image was an odious dictatorship that's devastated democracy in Venezuela, multiplied poverty and forged military ties with America's enemies. That's why having a shill or two in the U.S. to praise Chavez as a "humanitarian" is always useful, at least while the money lasts.

But it didn't. On Monday, a distraught Kennedy announced he had been cut off by Chavez with no warning, leaving him with 90% less fuel to give away this winter. He had to lay off 20 employees.

[kalee]

Bingo.

[kalee]

lol I should have read all the comeents then I could have just dittoed yours.

[Kaslin]

I think you got him pegged just right

[maggief]

GMTA!

:)

[Vigilanteman]

. . . he faced angry recipients from Alaska to Maine who'd been counting on him for all that cheap oil. Chavez wasn't on the hook for that — Joe was.

Here's an idea: Maybe he can have ACORN organize them to vote in a more benevolent dictator in Venezuela. < / sarcasm >

[steve8714]

These homes don’t cook with oil. Find an alternative, Gas or Electric.
Alaska is a different matter, but I’ll bet folks there know how to survive winter without Joe.

[Ghengis]

This is what will happen to dependent persons (i.e. Government Serfs) in a snapshot.

These poor people are expecting their fuel oil as the height of the winter months are coming upon us. Now that those who have promised the fuel oil say, "Sorry! We can't deliver!" what can the dependent persons do? They are on their own with no Plan-B. And those super-smart, kind-hearted people who promised them the fuel oil have no Plan-B.

Is this not the best advertisement that we could have for striving for independence and self reliance? Just wait until they ration out our health care to us!

[Bookem_Danno]

“He had to lay off 20 employees.”

The employees should refuse to leave the office building until they receive severance pay and health insurance for a good period of time. O will support them - I am certain. </s>

[Carley]

Kennedy didn’t get conned. He got rich.

[KingNo155]

True

[dearolddad]

Has any good come from that family at all, ever?

In a word NO!!!