Say Anything Blog

Obama seems to have gone to South America fully expecting that, by dint of his not being George W. Bush, he’d be met with the sort of glowing adulation he’s come to know and love from the bubble of friendly media types and yes-men that surround him.  He met with South American tyrants like Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega.  He shook their hands and flashed that famous Obama smile.

And then they promptly went and trashed America for being at the center of everything that’s wrong in the world.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called the last U.S. president “the devil.” But this U.S. president wanted to meet him.

So Barack Obama walked across a hotel ballroom here Friday and introduced himself to Chavez. The two leaders smiled and shook hands, chatting briefly.  ...

Obama got an early taste Friday of how some in this region view the United States, as a nearby neighbor but hardly a friend. He can expect even more criticism Saturday, particularly on Cuba and the U.S. economic meltdown and more.

Obama tried a little handshake diplomacy with other U.S. rivals – including Bolivia’s Evo Morales and Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega, with Obama saying it was “gusto,” a pleasure, to meet Ortega.

But in a sign of just how tough this crowd might be for Obama, Ortega promptly walked out of the ballroom and tore into the United States over Cuba and the G-20 nations for dragging down the world’s economy.

Well, looks like trying to be their friend isn’t going to work Barry.

What’s next?  A box of DVD’s?  An iPod?

Update: Here’s Obama apologizing to Hugo Chavez of all people for America being to, uh, dictatorial to the South American region.

I know that promises of partnership have gone unfulfilled in the past, and that trust has to be earned over time.

While the United States has done much to promote peace and prosperity in the hemisphere, we have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms. But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. (Applause.)

There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations; there is simply engagement based on mutual respect and common interests and shared values. So I’m here to launch a new chapter of engagement that will be sustained throughout my administration.

Blame America first.