Joseph P Kennedy III defended his father’s company’s relationship with Venezuela while campaigning at a Boston supermarket. Kennedy vocalized that his father’s relationship with Venezuela, who coincidentally has close ties with Iran, has done little to no harm.
The Boston Herald reports that Kennedy said “There’s about $30 billion or so a year of oil that comes out of Venezuela into the United States. It’s the nation’s fifth-largest supplier of oil. To single out my father’s company, Citizens Energy, because they receive a tiny fraction of that and give that away to the poor, and completely ignore the huge multibillion-dollar national and international companies that make huge profits off the oil is hypocritical and irresponsible.”
Citizens Energy receives oil from Citgo, whose parent company is the Venezuelan state-run Petroleos de Venezuela SA.
Kennedy, who recently returned from a week long trip to Israel, is back on the congressional campaign trail in his home state of Massachusetts.
Not surprisingly, any interaction with Venezuela is open to criticism here the United States. “Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, joined Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in mocking U.S. concern over Iran’s nukes, with the two heads of state joking that they had “a big atomic bomb” fueled by their mutual admiration,” writes The Boston Herald.
Just last month, Iran was placed under stricter economic sanctions by the US in the wake of rumors that the Middle Eastern country is becoming a nuclear force.
Despite his vocal support for his father’s decision to remain involved with Venezuela, Kennedy believes the pressure should be kept on its ally Iran.
Kennedy said “There’s certainly no way the U.S. nor the globe can tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. We certainly can’t take options off the table. There’s just been some of the strongest sanctions ever put into effect on Iran. Evidence, intelligence, indicates they are having some effect. We should give it some time to see how effective those can be. Certainly the threat of force should not be taken off the table.”
Here’s Joe K3 with his comments on the situation:
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.peterson | Mar 14, 2012, 03:06 PM EDT
I thought that the U.S. drill their own oil ?? They reportedly have huge oil reserves in their northern states and Alaska !!
GeorgeDillon | Mar 13, 2012, 05:05 AM EDT
Amazing how Irish this guy looks, even though he must be about five or six generations removed. The time is coming quickly when the Irish-Americans will be the only "Irish-looking" people left. The "Irish" in Ireland will look like folks in Bosnia or Bangla Desh. I'm only a couple of generations removed, but people say I don't look Irish--I'm too good-looking to be Irish.
GeorgeDillon | Mar 13, 2012, 05:01 AM EDT
hybernia " Murph46 When did Iran vow to attack Israel?" You're dead right. Iran has attacked no country in the past two centuries, to the best of my knowledge. I wish we in the US could say the same!
alisaann | Mar 12, 2012, 06:34 PM EDT
WHY is having to defend his father, when his father is NOT the one running for office?....it should be about WHAT he can DO, not about what his family has done in the PAST. alisa
TheOldPerfessor | Mar 12, 2012, 05:04 PM EDT
Hi Murph46, Iran's Imanutjob knows that if he attacks Israel it's a suicide mission. There are ICBMs with hydrogen warheads aimed at a few sites that would make Iran one for the history books. It's all talk and bluster - something I'm sure you have more than a passing familiarity with.
hybernia | Mar 12, 2012, 02:57 PM EDT
Murph46 When did Iran vow to attack Israel? I think you have the wrong end of the stick, it's Israel who has threatened to attack Iran.Iran has not attacked anyone in the last 200 years, it is Israel who attacked all its neighbours.
TheOldPerfessor | Mar 12, 2012, 01:46 PM EDT
Looks like Rupert's Rangers are out in force today. I sympathize with them because I know how distasteful it is for them to see politicians lifting a finger to improve the lives of regular working people. Take heart and go watch Fox some more. They're give you some new hate lines from the spin room. You're are a bit flea infested.
OleSarge | Mar 12, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT
He is following in the socialist footsteps of his family. Don't the people of Massachusetts deserve better? He won't help our oil production, but will support the commie dictator.
pilib04 | Mar 12, 2012, 11:56 AM EDT
I have long supported importing Venezuelan oil into the U.S. The poor of Boston have benefited over the years from the importing of this heavy crude. Hugo Chavez is willing to shop his oil to any country in the world. Sounds like American Capitalism to me. He's willing to sell his oil in the Belly of the Beast, why should we object. It only brings our prices down at the pump. The younger Joe Kennedy sounds like a fine young man and will make a fine member of Congress.
francisquinn | Mar 12, 2012, 10:08 AM EDT
I hope he can drive a car better Or great uncle) than his uncle....His father was also good at cheating on his wife...this poor guy had great models to follow....