FBN Stuart Varney calls out Sean Penn's Chavez praise, wants to go on Maher's 'Real Time'

By April MacIntyre Mar 9, 2010, 17:10 GMT

FBN\'s Stuart Varney, courtesy of FOX

Fed up with actor Sean Penn's defense of President/Dictator Hugo Chavez, FOX Business news reporter Stuart Varney issue a plea this morning (March 9) to HBO "Real Time" star, filmmaker, author and social pundit, Bill Maher. 

"If you are listening, Mr. Maher, please have me on your show, I would love to discuss Hugo Chavez with you."

Last Friday's "Real Time With Bill Maher" saw table guests Arianna Huffington and Andrew Ross Sorkin weigh in on a variety of issues, and Oscar winning actor Sean Penn came and sat with Maher separately to speak about his efforts in Haiti and his friendly relationship with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Veteran business journalist Stuart Varney hosts a morning business show called "Varney & Co." where he hashes bullpen style over all topical news relatable to business and global financial markets.

Varney has contributed to the network's weekday and weekend business programming including: "Your World with Neil Cavuto," "Bulls & Bears," "Cavuto on Business" and "Cashin' In."  Varney helped launch CNN's business news team in 1980 and hosted many of their financial programs including, "Your Money," "Business Day" and "Business Asia." His reporting and analysis of the stock market crash of 1987 helped earn CNN a Peabody Award for excellence in journalism.

Considering the new "Real Time" season has been heavy with left of center guests, should Bill Maher book the feisty Brit ex-patriot to counter Sean Penn's pro Chavez remarks?

Talk back

Here in this video clip, Stuart Varney explains European political matters to FOX air personality Glenn Beck, who slammed Geert Wilders of the Netherlands on his show:

 Sean Penn talks Haiti and Chavez: