State Dept Comes to the Defense of Golf
EmailMy ABC News colleague covering the State Department, Kirit Radia, has this sporty report from today's daily press briefing in Foggy Bottom:
President Obama plays golf most weekends. Venezuelan President (and perennial thorn in Washington's side) Hugo Chavez clearly does not.
On his television program last month Chavez blasted the sport as "bourgeois" and since then, according to the New York Times, his supporters have moved to shut down some of the country's more popular links.
Today, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs PJ Crowley decided enough is enough, anointing himself "Ambassador-at-Large for Golf" and defending the game both he and Obama love.
In unsolicited remarks at the top of today's press briefing, Crowley protested "the unwarranted attack by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on the game of golf."
Crowley was just getting warmed up.
"You know, considering that the hemisphere celebrated the victory of former caddie and son of Argentina in the Masters, over a good old boy who built a public course in his hometown in Kentucky, and we cheered as a relative unknown from South Carolina won the people's open, on the country's finest public course at Bethpage Black; you know, we were in awe as a 59-year-old man held off the greatest golfers of the world for 71 holes, on links land in Scotland, where the game of golf was created, and now we are on the even of the season's final major, where the favorite to win is arguably the greatest golfer of all time and whose heritage literally spans continents," he continued.
"So the suggestion by Mr. Chavez — that golf, a truly global sport, is bourgeois — is a mulligan. And once again Mr. Chavez, one of the hemisphere's most divisive figures, finds himself out of bounds," Crowley concluded.
Fore!
- Kirit Radia
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With all that is going on today, this is what you chose to report on?? Don’t get me wrong, I love golf too, but, I ask again, this is what you reported on??
Posted by: J Allen | August 12, 2009, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
Quick giving that idiot Chavez air time.
Posted by: LEE | August 12, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
john McCain asked on the floor of the Senate why give cash for clunkers, why not cash for old golf clubs. Cash for clunkers helps middle and lower class people, who are the only ones who own clunkers, and reduces gas consumption. Cash for golf clubs only benefits those who are well off and we have no less an expert than Hugo Chavez to prove golf is a tool for keeping the poor down! (A little sarcasm here)
Posted by: GreggW | August 12, 2009, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
Ironic that today Obama gave Sidney P. a Medal of freedom. one of Hollywoods biggest Lefty dictator lovers and Chavez supporter would not know freedom if it kicked him in his liberal pants!
Posted by: J allen | August 12, 2009, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
what a joke. THIS is the only objection Obama has to Chavez. That is very telling. Chavez can nationalize industries, “redistribute” private property, shut down media outlets, and tell people to riot in the streets and Chavez’s objection to GOLF is the only problem that Obama, or his State Dept, sees with Chavez! Obama is just lucky that DC clubs are no longer exclusive or he would find himself in TOTAL solidarity with Chavez- instead of disagreement over one small point in the socialist agenda.
Posted by: Ed | August 12, 2009, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm
Golf is the bomb, it is a sin though when people get paid millions to play a game. The god of Abraham and Isaac will show those folks there mistake of acting so pompous and believing they have a right to so much money while others are in so much need. They like most other “professionals” have a gift given to them by god but those that turn it around and act like they have a right to that kind of money are going to pay dearly in the end. The last shall be first and the first shall be last. Hallleluiah!
Posted by: brian shortridge | August 12, 2009, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm