Harry Belafonte in interview yesterday |
Following an appearance at a luncheon with Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., yesterday, entertainer Harry Belafonte defended his description of President Bush as the world's worst terrorist, insisting he only was being truthful and was prompting the press to cover a "side of the agenda" it ignores.
Sunday, Belafonte told Venezuela's communist-leaning President Hugo Chavez, "No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we're here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people ... support your revolution."
Yesterday, after the Children's Defense Fund luncheon, the legendary calypso singer told reporters his comments were an attempt to "stimulate curiosity that comes from particularly the press so that we may have some kind of public debate on issues that we very rarely hear from our side of the agenda."
Belafonte's comments were broadcast on the Fox News Channel, shown in this video clip provided by National Review's Media Blog
So when I make my remarks, they may stir up controversy," Belafonte continued, "but then it's time to talk about new definitions, new points of view."
The reporter then asked Belafonte, "Some (of your comments) are a little over the top, you must admit?"
"Over whose top?" he replied.
The reporter clarified that the comments were regarded as "pretty outrageous."
"Outrageous?" Belafonte exclaimed, adding, "of course" he was only being "truthful," not outrageous.
As WorldNetDaily reported, a black activist called Belafonte's meeting with Chavez and remarks about Bush treasonous.
Jesse Lee Peterson, founder of Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny, or BOND, said Belafonte's "hatred of President Bush is causing him to embrace America's enemies."
The Venezuelan leader's strengthening of ties with communist dictator Fidel Castro of Cuba has caused concern in the Bush administration.
Peterson called Chavez "a brutal, paranoid dictator with nuclear ambitions who wants nothing more than to destroy the U.S."
Related offer:
"Scam: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America"
Previous stories:
Author slams Belafonte for Holocaust comment
Belafonte, Glover trash U.S. in Cuba