Mugabe (Asshat - Zimbabwe) Gives Olympic Gold Medalist $100,000

[Rage for Order]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080829/sp_nm/olympics_zimbabwe_coventry_dc_2

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Friday handed the country's only Olympic medalist in Beijing a $100,000 cash reward for her performance at the games.

Swimmer Kirsty Coventry smashed the world record to win gold in the women's 200 meters backstroke. She also captured three silver medals.

Mugabe handed the U.S-based swimmer the cash at a ceremony in Harare carried live on state television.

"Our national spirit must exude joy and pleasure and say you have done well, daughter of Zimbabwe. We are proud of you, we wish you well. She's our golden girl ... take care of her," he said at the ceremony.

little bit more at the link

Fortunately for the people of Zimbabwe, nobody is going hungry in that country and their dear leader can afford to hand out briefcases with $100,000 to an Olympian. :sarcasm: Bravo to Ms. Coventry for her achievements, but Mugabe should have used that money to buy food for the people in Zimbabwe who are starving instead.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Blood money. I hope she can figure out some way to use it without it

eating at her. :(

[Rage for Order]

3. I agree

$100,000 is a lot of money and would be very difficult to turn down, but wouldn't it be sweet if she turned right around and gave it to Mugabe's opposition, or an orphanage in Zimbabwe, or something similar? All on state television :)

[TwilightZone]

2. On the bright side, Kirsty seems deserving.

She seems like a good person, at least from the media reports about her.

That doesn't change your underlying premise, of course, which is valid.

[Fumesucker]

4. Lots of Olympian gold medal winners will make far more than 100k

Particularly the American ones.

And they'll make it selling us crap that we really don't need.

Mugabe may be an asshat but I don't see anything all that wrong with what he did.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

6. there is nothing wrong with a $100,000 gift from a starving nation

to a well-off expatriate?

[Rage for Order]

7. I have nothing against the olympic athlete

Certainly she deserves to be recognized for her tremendous achievements, and if she makes hundreds of thousands or even millions because of it then more power to her. However, for Mugabe to be giving away money like that, given the economic reality in Zimbabwe, is completely uncalled for. IMHO

[Fumesucker]

8. Mugabe probably spends that much on cigars..

A hundred K sounds like a lot but in terms of a national budget of even a crapheap like Mugabe runs, it's not really that big a deal.

At least it won't be going to kill and torture opponents of Mugabe.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

5. where is the Robert Mugabe fan club now?

When I pointed out that Mugabe had a "special relationship" with the privileged Rhodesians I was called all sorts of horrible things because it undermined their view of Mugabe as the post-colonial superhero, a modern day Che, running the evil whiteman out of his homeland.