"You don't come into my country, you don't come into my congressional district, and you don't condemn my president!"

--Rep. Charlie Rangel to the press after Hugo Chavez's speech today in Harlem.

From Rep Rangel's website:

I want to express my extreme displeasure with statements by the President of Venezuela attacking U.S. President George Bush in such a personal and disparaging way during his remarks at the United Nations General Assembly.

It should be clear to all heads of government that criticism of Bush Administration policies, either domestic or foreign, does not entitle them to attack the President personally.

George Bush is the President of the United States and represents the entire country. Any demeaning public attack against him is viewed by Republicans and Democrats, and all Americans, as an attack on all of us.

I feel that I must speak out now since the Venezuelan government has been instrumental in providing oil at discounted prices to people in low income communities who have suffered increases in rent as heating oil prices have risen sharply. By offering this benefit to people in need, Venezuela has won many friends in poor communities of New York and other states. I am surprised that American oil companies have not stepped up to provide that kind of assistance to the poor.

Venezuela's generosity to the poor, however, should not be interpreted as license to attack President Bush. Those who take issue with Bush Administration policies have no right to attack him personally. It was not helpful when President Bush referred to certain nations as an "axis of evil." Neither is it helpful for a head of state to use the sacred halls of the United Nations to insult President Bush.

Admittedly, my take on Rep Rangel's motives for saying all this is quite cynical. You can thank the hypocrisy of Democratic Party for that. But so far, only two Democrats have spoken out thus far against President Hugo Chavez and his remarks against the President of the United States.

Nancy Pelosi, and Charlie Rangel. My... What a crowd!

Oh! And why did it take twenty-four hours and two speeches for a democrat to speak out? Why didn't the condemnations come immediately after the first speech? Because the Democrats had to think about the impact of speaking out against the consequences of not speaking out-- they probably had to take a poll. It's all about regaining the House and Senate this Fall. Cynical as that may sound, I feel it's nonetheless true. Their chances of doing either is growing slimmer with each news cycle.


UPDATE: It would seem two democrats have come out in support of Chavez... Representative Bill Delahunt of the 10th congressional district of Massachusetts, and Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa.