Mack Assails Glover's Movie Deal with Hugo Chavez

Press Release

Mack Assails Glover's Movie Deal with Hugo Chavez

Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) Tuesday blasted a "sweetheart" deal that American actor Danny Glover had cut with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

According to press reports, Glover recently accepted a two-picture movie deal that includes $18 million to direct a film on an 18th century slave revolt in Haiti.

"I am shocked and saddened that a prominent American like Danny Glover would cut a sweetheart movie deal with the likes of Hugo Chavez," Mack said. "To turn to an avowed enemy of the United States, and someone who in his own right has snuffed out dissent and free speech, for movie financing smacks of radicalism and opportunism run amok."

Glover has been a longtime supporter of Chavez. He has visited Venezuela several times and has also appeared on Chavez's television and radio talk show, "Hello, President." He serves on the board of Venezuela's "TeleSUR" news network, which the Venezuelan leader created two years ago to counter established networks like CNN.

Mack, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is a strong critic of Chavez and has expressed concerns that Chavez is seeking to use the media at his disposal to promote anti-American ideas in the Western Hemisphere.

"Danny Glover should refuse to accept Hugo Chavez's tainted movie deal and instead work with legitimate enterprises, investors and financiers who value freedom, treasure our nation and who won't climb into bed with renegade communist dictators," Mack said.

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