Jersey City Tries to Help Poor - Hudson Republicans Scream in Protest

by: Thurman Hart

Fri Feb 10, 2006 at 09:07:57 AM EST

The Jersey City Housing Authority is considering entering into a deal with Citgo, the oil company owned by the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Citgo recently announced it would sell heating oil at low cost to U.S. cities for use by low-income residents. Several cities -- including Philadelphia and Boston -- are taking advantage of it.

But several conservative groups are calling on Americans to boycott Citgo products because of Chavez, a socialist and outspoken critic of the Bush administration.

Unless someone is saying they want to pay MORE taxes?

And, no, I'm not kidding:

Maria Maio, the JCHA's executive director, said prices, not politics, have her talking to Citgo. The agency has to provide heat to more than 2,500 units, but has a $3.1 million deficit in its operating budget.

Apparently, some people DO want to pay higher taxes:

"We have plenty sources of oil, and I don't think it's smart to do business with the enemies of the United States," Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango said.

First, Arango is just plain wrong.  Hugo Chavez doesn't hate the United States (why would he sell oil to us at a discount if he did?).  He hates George W. Bush.  Why?  Because the Bush Administration badly bungled an attempt to overthrow the popularly elected President.  Why does President Bush hate Chavez?  I don't know.  Maybe it's because Chavez gets a larger percentage of votes than Bush can manage.

Maybe it's because Chavez is willing to go so far as to help poor people in the name of politics.  From President Bush to Jose Arango, it seems Republicans are lined up in lock-step against that.