Free Heating Oil

You've probably seen the TV commercial with Joseph P. Kennedy. You really can get 100 gallons of free heating oil, if you qualify, by filling out a very simple form at citizensenergy.com They did accept online applications but apparently have disabled that feature.

Of course, you need to be ok with getting your free heating oil from CITGO, Inc., a company owned by the people (government) of Venezuela. A government run by hothead socialist Hugo Chavez.

But the oil is all refined in the USA and it's better than freezing if you can't afford to buy heating oil.

Columnist Mona Charen is willing to tell you why you shouldn't accept this free heating oil.

One can understand Mr. Kennedy's desire to help the poor heat their homes in the winter. But to shill for a figure like Mr. Chavez? There are other options, including federal programs. Doesn't Mr. Kennedy cringe when he reads accounts like this from CNN last May?

"Venezuela's most-watched television station — and outlet for the political opposition — went off the air after the government refused to renew its broadcast license. ... Police on Sunday used water cannons and what appeared to be tear gas to break up thousands of demonstrators protesting the government's decision to close the country's most-watched television station. ... Inside the studios of Radio Caracas Television, employees cried and chanted 'Freedom!' on camera."

Unfortunately, G.W. Bush vetoes bills containing funding for Federal home heating programs while demanding that tax money be sent for the reconstruction of Iraq. There is no defending the Chavez clamp-down on the media or demonstrations in Venezuela. But neither can you defend throwing a US citizen out of a political meeting or out of the National Archive building (where the US Constitution is on display) for wearing t shirts critical of Bush.