Moonage Political Webdream

Foxnews is running this headline:

Chavez Mulls Asking to Extradite Robertson

And then, about ten paragraphs into the story, actually mentions the extradition.

Chavez also said Venezuela would "exercise its rights" under the law in response to Robertson’s remarks calling for his assassination. He has said his government could ask the United States to extradite Robertson.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Monday that Venezuela does not appear to have a sound legal basis for seeking Robertson’s extradition.

That’s it.

There are 643 words in that article.55 words are related to the front page headline.  92% of the article is about other things besides the headline.  What other things you ask?  Well, let’s look and see, shall we?

The Rev. Jesse Jackson met with President Hugo Chavez in hopes of reducing tensions between the United States and Venezuela after a religious broadcaster called for the leftist president’s assassination.

There are two paragraphs that mention the headline teaser.  There are seven paragraphs that mention Jesse Jackson by name.

Why didn’t Fox just give the teaser the name it was, "Jesse Jackson seeks to extradite Pat Robertson to Venezuela?".

To be serious, there are three major points that need to be realized here:

1. Being as Robertson does not represent the US government in any way, there is nothing Chavez can do about his right to say what he wants in the US.  It was tasteless, it was inappropriate.  But all it was was Robertson shooting his mouth off.  That’s a basic right in the US.  If it were in Venezuela, Chavez wouldn’t be in the boat he’s in now with Bush.
2. As much as a lot of the US would like to, we can not make Robertson go to Venezuela.  Jackson is dangling no carrot to Chavez that a good part of the US was not already contemplating.  This is not the first time Robertson has said something inane and offensive.  And it won’t be the last.  But, alas, this is the US.  We have to suffer his ridiculous opinions.  We can not ship him off to Venezuela.  And honestly, I think Chavez’s extradition "thoughts" were just yanking Robertson’s chain.  I seriously doubt he wants Robertson in Venezuela.
3. Jesse Jackson does not represent the United States government in any capacity and once again has shown he has no class by "negotiating" on behalf of MY country.  I didn’t ask Jesse Jackson to deal with Chavez.  I didn’t tell my representatives to send Jackson to deal on my behalf.  I don’t know what Jackson has committed to Chavez.  I do know that the US is not obligated by any stretch of the imagination to honor anything Jackson might have promised Chavez and that does nothing but put Bush in a bad light if he also refuses to acknowledge Jackson’s negotiations.
4. If Jackson does something like this again, he needs to answer in court what his intent is for subverting the US government.

I’m really getting sick and tired of all these unofficial diplomats running around subverting the US government’s foreign policies ( Jackson’s not the only one doing it lately ).  Can anyone name one single good thing that has resulted from these people doing that? ( Promises don’t count. )

Technorati Tags: International Issues

Tags: International Issues

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