Jackson steps into
U.S.-Venezuela breach

By Don Terry

Tribune staff reporter
Published August 29, 2005

CARACAS, Venezuela -- The host of one of this country's most-watched television programs hurried from behind his desk Sunday to greet his special guest, Rev. Jesse Jackson.

The two men embraced in the middle of a makeshift outdoor television studio and then the host, Hugo Chavez, who spends most of his time as the president of Venezuela, went back to his seat.

He was probably trying to conserve his energy. The public affairs show usually runs five hours, sometimes six, depending on how the president feels.

'Rev. Jackson, it is an honor to have you here,' he said.

Chavez had sent a private jet the day before to Chicago to bring Jackson to Venezuela. The trip had been planned for weeks and might have passed relatively unnoticed outside of Caracas had Pat Robertson, the host of a popular television show of his own, not advocated last week that the United States 'take out' Chavez. Robertson later apologized.

'It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war,' Robertson said on his show, 'The 700 Club.'

The administration of President Bush has been at odds with the left-leaning Chavez for years. Yet Chavez, who won a 2004 recall referendum with 59 percent of the vote, remains a popular figure here, especially among the nation's masses of poor people.

In an interview with the Tribune, Jackson said he planned to focus his attention during his trip on 'tearing down walls and building bridges' between Venezuela and the United States.

But after Robertson's remarks, he said he has had to put out the fire first.

'We must reject the politics of assassination, threats and hostility,' Jackson said on Chavez's show, 'Alo Presidente,' which means 'Hello president.' 'Be very clear, the position taken by Pat Robertson last week was not legal or moral.

'The Christian ministry must heal, not kill.'

Chavez thanked Jackson for his 'kind words.'

'You defended the Christian truth,' Chavez said, calling Robertson's remarks 'sad' and 'terrorism.'

Their exchange on the show, which is broadcast from various locations, was the first time Jackson and Chavez had met. They were scheduled to have an official meeting Monday where Jackson said he intends to talk to Chavez about lowering 'the tension and hostile rhetoric on both sides.'

Sunday was a busy day in Caracas for Jackson and his party, which included his daughter Jackie, son Jonathan, University of Maryland political scientist Ronald Waters and a state senator from Texas, Rodney Ellis, who is on the board of Jackson's national Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

In the morning, Jackson met with a delegation from the country's Commission on the Prevention and Elimination of Racial Discrimination. At least 25 percent of the population in Venezuela is of African descent.

'The Africans and Indians have been the most excluded in this country,' Noheli Pocaterra, a member of the National Assembly, told him. 'We have been waiting for your visit.'

Later, Jackson addressed the National Assembly, called into a special session by Chavez for the occasion and to mark the 42nd anniversary of Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech.

He said that if in our lifetime the Berlin Wall can come tumbling down and Nelson Mandela can walk out of prison after 27 years, then 'One day we can look forward to President Chavez and America's president to exchange visits. The people deserve it. Leaders with the most courage and vision take the most initiative.'