CNBC Anchor: Hugo Chávez is 'Funny,' 'Charming,' 'A Seductor,' but 'Dangerous'

Newsbusters ^ | October 7, 2010 | Jeff Poor

[Rufus2007]

What is it with Hollywood personalities going to Venezuela and being swept off their feet by the thuggish dictator Hugo Chávez. They come back with these stories claiming he is just misconstrued by the media and that he’s really a great guy.

On Oct. 7, at an appearance at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., CNBC “Power Lunch” co-host Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, in an appearance promoting her book “You Know I'm Right: More Prosperity, Less Government,” explained how this could happen. She told an audience that Chávez has a very charismatic, seductive personality.

“I was telling – my two most interesting interviews I think I’ve ever done are Milton Friedman, very influential on me, and also Hugo Chávez, because when I interviewed him I was struck by how much I like him,” she explained. “He’s very funny. He is so charming. He is smooth. He could be a stand-up comedian. He is a seductor, as I suspect most dictators are – that’s how they get to where they are.”

...more (w/audio)...

[Berlin_Freeper]

“He’s very funny. He is so charming. He is smooth. He could be a stand-up comedian. He is a seductor, as I suspect most dictators are – that’s how they get to where they are.”

[DanMiller]

My wife and I were in Venezuela when Chavez was elected and assumed office. I remember seeing a Chavez impersonator's night club act advertised on TV. The guy did a great job, down to the beret and the nervous tic. My initial reaction was that if Chavez didn't have him shot maybe he wasn't such a bad chap.

Having watched Venezuela from elsewhere, mainly Panama, since then, Chavez is disgusting and not the least funny; he can seem that way as can many narcissistic dictators. The Venezuelan economy is in the toilet headed for the septic tank. The recent elections, where the opposition got more votes but fewer national assembly seats than the Chavistas offers some hope but not much. With a four month "lame duck" national assembly, Chavez can do pretty much whatever he wishes, and it will not favor any species of democracy of which I am aware.

Chavez is funny in a demented sense, but that's about it.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Well, we know what her two best traits are...

And at the end of the interview, her new boss exclaimed, “They’re hired!”

[zipper]

Hugo Chávez is ‘Funny,’ ‘Charming,’ ‘A Seductor,’ but ‘Dangerous’

So was Ted Bundy

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Ay Caramba!

[Pharmboy]

That's a healthy girl.

Gotta love 'em...

[mjp]

I was struck by how much I like him,” she explained. “He’s very funny. He is so charming. He is smooth.

So are con artists

[PATRIOT1876]

They say Hitler was charismatic when speaking to a crowd and all those adjectives have described 0bama.

If the devil comes to talk you into something, he won't be wearing the red suit and the horns.
He'll probably speak softly and look like a kindly grandfather like the God-hating Richard Dawkins*.

My guess is that more people will spend an eternity in Hell because of Dawkins than because of Hitler.

[PATRIOT1876]

By the way, have Sean Penn and him set the wedding date yet?

;-)

[Bigg Red]

What the hell is a “seductor”?

&&&
One who seduces.

[A CA Guy]

I didn’t even know Chaves was a CNBC news anchor. :-)

[Bigg Red]

Exactly. She says, “He is a seductor, as I suspect most dictators are – that’s how they get to where they are.”

[Salman]

Stalin was very fatherly. Hitler had those sad puppy dog eyes that drive women wild.

etc.

[Egon]

One who seduces.

No... that's a 'seducer'.

Apparently, it's one who seducts.

[Bigg Red]

No... that’s a ‘seducer’.

&&&
OMW! That slipped right by me. I have been on muscle relaxants for the the past 2 days, and I just can’t think straight.

I suppose she was constructing her own word from “seductress”.