Update 14:16 | Matthew Sheffield. The level of excusing and tip-toeing around the truth about Castro is staggering. As of 2:13 ET when you do a Google News search for "Fidel Castro" you come up with 7,520 results. Add the word dictator after it and you come back with 1,417. That's 81 percent less.
Just a few headlines from major newspapers as Fidel Castro has called it quits as dictator:
- Castro resigns, ending era in Cuba (LATimes.com front page)
- Fidel Castro to step down as Cuba's leader (LATimes.com article)
- Fidel Castro will step down after 50 years at Cuba's helm (Miami Herald)
- Castro resigns presidency (BaltimoreSun.com front page)
- Fidel Castro resigns Cuban presidency (AP article at BaltimoreSun.com)
None of those articles directly referred to Castro as a dictator. Here's how AP's Anita Snow danced around the matter of Fidel's autocracy, conceding that "detractors called him a dictator" while throwing in the favored defense leftists often throw up for Castro (emphasis mine):
His ironclad rule ensured Cuba remained communist long after the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism across Eastern Europe.
Castro's supporters admired his ability to provide a high level of health care and education for citizens while remaining fully independent of the United States. His detractors called him a dictator whose totalitarian government systematically denied individual freedoms and civil liberties such as speech, movement and assembly.
Photo via The Raw Story.
Update 13:20 | Matthew Sheffield. More headlines:
- BBC: Castro bows out. The Cuban leader Fidel Castro has announced that he is stepping down after nearly half a century in power.
- Reuters: Castro exit augurs economic, not political change. Cuban leader Fidel Castro's retirement from politics after nearly 50 years in power could usher in gradual economic reform...
- U.S. News: Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president today after ruling the island nation for nearly a half century, which was the longest reign in the world for a head of government.
- Christian Science Monitor: Fidel Castro retires as president of Cuba. For the first time in nearly half a century, Fidel Castro has stepped down as president of Cuba.
- MTV.com: Fidel Castro steps down as Cuba's leader due to failing health
- Kudos to CBS for playing it straight: Ailing Cuban dictator Fidel Castro resigns overnight with a letter e-mailed to Cuba's state media.
- ABCNews.com: After almost half a century in power, Cuba's Fidel Castro is stepping down. He made the announcement overnight on the online edition of ...
- ABC's "Good Morning America:" The world's longest-serving political leader is leaving on his own terms, having survived efforts by ten different U.S. presidents to bring him down
- New York Times: Fidel Castro resigns as Cuba’s president. Fidel Castro stepped down Tuesday morning as the president of Cuba after a long illness.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Murderous Dictator
February 19, 2008 - 11:50 ET by iveseenitallI'm a "detractor"--Castro is a "murderous, anti-American, socialist dictator". I'm so sick of the double-speak coming out of the mouths of "liberals".
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Sickening
February 19, 2008 - 11:53 ET by iveseenitallOnly an ignorant "liberal", anti-American ass would deny what Castro is.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
BBC
February 19, 2008 - 11:57 ET by Tom BlumerNo forms of dictator, tyrant, or totalitarian appear in this BBC coverage, which is otherwise so despicable I can't stand to quote it.
Headline
February 19, 2008 - 12:54 ET by BarkerDemocrat Elder Statesman Fidel Castro Resigns
Btw, is Castro a Super-Delegate?
All a part of the MSM line,
February 19, 2008 - 13:02 ET by dscottAll a part of the MSM line, did you see the top 10 dictator list for 2008? El Jeffe didn't even make the top 20! Even Chavez is missing from the list. http://www.parade.com/dictators/2008/
Lord Sidious / Darth Vader 2008 Long Live the Empire! Come to the Dark Side, it is your Destiny.
His brother...
February 19, 2008 - 15:04 ET by mvfreemanRaul is listed at #18. Maybe because Fidel hasn't been seen in public for some time.
No end to an era till Fidel is hung for crimes against Humanity
February 19, 2008 - 13:39 ET by Lame CherryFidel Castro is guilty of mass murder, war against the American peoples, torture, crimes against humanity, drug traffic, forgery, money laundering, kidnap and the list goes on.
The Cuban people will not be free until this group of thugs is driven from power, tried and executed.
I long for the day when the wonderful Cuban American actor, Andy Garcia, can return to his Cuba and I hope run for President.
That is the day Cuba will be free and the shameful cartel era of globalist shill Castro will be over.
God hasten that day.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
"Dictator" is a reserved
February 19, 2008 - 13:48 ET by ThisnThat"Dictator" is a reserved word of liberals, only to be applied to the most heineous, vile, awful people. According to the Left, Castro is not among those people. Want to know who is?
President Bush, of course. In May 2006, CNN's Jack Cafferty said ``He [Senator Arlen Specter] might be all that's standing between us and a full-blown dictatorship in this country." In 2003, Michael Kinsley wrote in Slate that ``in terms of the power he now claims, without significant challenge, George W. Bush is now the closest thing in a long time to dictator of the world."
And, of course, we don't want to forget the comparison to Hitler.
The Left is dangerous. Watch out, everyone.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
I wonder what media outlet
February 19, 2008 - 14:52 ET by AJI wonder what media outlet will be the first to slip in some subliminal anti-Bush rant, given that this dictator voluntarily stepped down. I'm sure the rant will include something like calls for impeachment or some foolish attempt to make people think that Bush should "voluntarily" step down.
Fidels next job: Santa Claus! Hot coals for all Santa nonbelievers.
I see where you're going
February 19, 2008 - 15:15 ET by steviep831I see where you're going with this. How long do you think it'll be before a MSM-er says, "Well, now that Fidel Castro has stepped down as President, the only dictator left is George W. Bush." ???
I wonder what media outlet
February 19, 2008 - 14:53 ET by AJI wonder what media outlet will be the first to slip in some subliminal anti-Bush rant, given that this dictator voluntarily stepped down. I'm sure the rant will include something like calls for impeachment or some foolish attempt to make people think that Bush should "voluntarily" step down.
Fidels next job: Santa Claus! Hot coals for all Santa nonbelievers.
Edit: Sorry for the double post!
Dictator
February 19, 2008 - 14:57 ET by ammo johnWell, what do you expect? They (reporters) have to save the term 'dictator' to use when referring to President Bush. The world can't have more than one dictator at a time, you know!
Excellent point ammo
February 19, 2008 - 15:00 ET by bigtimerExcellent point ammo john...you said it all.
Libs love dictators
February 19, 2008 - 15:06 ET by greenfairieI saw Jonas Goldberg talk about his new book on Glenn Beck's show last night. He said that liberals are all for fascism so long as it is trying to force "good" on the public. Liberals see free health care and education as good things, so it doesn't matter to them one whit if Fidel Castro is a dictator who kept his people in utter poverty, quashed any opposition, threw any political critics and opponents into jail, etc.. Who cares about dumb things like liberty when you've got free health care???!!!1!!
So right Green
February 19, 2008 - 17:08 ET by exLibI was just on Cnn.com and they had a piece dedicated to readers commentary. The majority were people who started out by saying, of course Fidel was mean, nasty, etc, etc, etc. BUT make sure you also give him credit for Health Care and Education. I couldn't believe it. These people will be the first into re-education camps and will say "look Bush had "secret prisons" but we have "Free Education!!" The only liberty liberals seem to cry about is freedom to abort, have any kind of sex and cursing.
If we 'detractors' call him
February 19, 2008 - 15:09 ET by mattmIf we 'detractors' call him a dictator, what can we call those who won't call him a dictator - fans? adherents? supporters?
One evening in October, when I was one-third sober,
An' taking home a ‘load' with manly pride;
My poor feet began to stutter, so I lay down in the gutter,
And a pig came up an' lay down by my side;
Then we sang ‘It's all fair weather when good fellows get together,'
Till a lady passing by was heard to say:
‘You can tell a man who "boozes" by the company he chooses'
And the pig got up and slowly walked away.
- 1933 song by Benjamin Hapgood Burt
Amazing how these MSM-ers
February 19, 2008 - 15:12 ET by steviep831Amazing how these MSM-ers believe that being the world's longest reigning "head of government" is a good thing. Seems there's a double standard out there... oh wait, what was I thinking. This is the MSM we're talking about. Never mind. Nothing to see here. Move along people.
Slightly off topic...
February 19, 2008 - 15:21 ET by Prester John....but last week I saw the current issue of MAD magazine and the cover had the Che silhouette on a red background except that Che of course was Alfred E. Newman.
And the slogan underneath was, "Viva la Stupidity!"
Priceless.
And wouldn't it be great to see the Leftist reaction on campus to a bunch of college republicans wearing a shirt with this emblazoned across the front?
..sounds like a money-making
February 19, 2008 - 15:35 ET by mattm..sounds like a money-making opportunity to me... (sorry, it's hard to repress those capitalistic tendencies...)
Immoral and Moronic Leftists: a bi-product of ignorance
February 19, 2008 - 16:06 ET by PlaceboThe scum-sucking leftists, within the mass-media and others of their perfidious ilk, idolise and glorify all commie despots. Their present Commie icon, of choice, is Castro, a mass-murderer and more; this however, means naught to these pinheads whom loathe America and all for which it stands. This is a prime-indicator that the leftist Glitterati and others of this seditious milieu are, basically, immoral and moronic.
placebo...inspired joke
February 19, 2008 - 17:11 ET by LionKingI think it was Steven Wright that quipped:
So now that St. El Jeffe is
February 19, 2008 - 16:17 ET by dscottSo now that St. El Jeffe is retired, do we get to hear about his miracles? How about some of the more mundane ones:
http://www.canf.org/News/archived/020531newsb.htm
Mr. Rodriguez is one of about 100 independent journalists currently trying to ply their profession in Cuba, where President Fidel Castro, even after 43 years in power, has never loosened severe restrictions on the press. Denounced by the government as counterrevolutionaries and barred from covering official events, Mr. Rodriguez and his colleagues who work outside the government-controlled news outlets provide accounts of political prisoners and dissidents, while also reporting on the immense frustrations of daily life.
http://www.cpj.org/news/2008/americas/cuba15feb08na.html
New York, February 15, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes news of the impending release of two Cuban independent journalists. Both were imprisoned during a massive crackdown against Cuban dissidents and the independent press almost five years ago.
http://www.cpj.org/attacks01/americas01/cuba.html
In May 2001, for the seventh straight year, CPJ named President Fidel Castro Ruz to its annual list of the Ten Worst Enemies of the Press.
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/74763
Reporter jailed in Cuba after covering government evictions
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/1033/
Cuba - 12 FEB 2008
Student arrested after asking critical questions at public event
more…
Cuba - 18 JAN 2008
Journalist in Combinado del Sur prison on hunger strike; RSF alarmed at deteriorating health of several others
more…
Cuba - 19 NOV 2007
Journalists denied permission to emigrate
more…
Cuba - 24 AUG 2007
Imprisoned journalist Adolfo Fernández Sainz’s health deteriorates
more…
Cuba - 22 AUG 2007
Journalist released after 15 months in prison
Lord Sidious / Darth Vader 2008 Long Live the Empire! Come to the Dark Side, it is your Destiny.
" Castro's supporters
February 19, 2008 - 16:39 ET by rbosque" Castro's supporters admired his ability to provide a high level of health care and education for citizens while remaining fully independent of the United States."
Sounds like it's talking about Democrats.
Hope he drops dead soon
February 19, 2008 - 16:48 ET by planetrepublicanI hope this old bastard drops dead soon. When hell's fire is burning his testicles and some demons are sticking their pitchforks up his commie-pinko ass, then maybe he will realize what a murderous scumbag he really was. That mass murdering Che Guevara is already down there saving a place for him.
KEEP THE EMBARGO!
February 19, 2008 - 16:50 ET by the_red_stateThis changes nothing...not until that murderous SOB and his incompetent little brother are dead should we even think about changing our policy. KEEP THE EMBARGO!
It's the American news media, isn't it?
February 19, 2008 - 17:06 ET by rammingspeedThe mainstream American news media is sad today, having lost their western world icon of the last 50 years. There's no one to replace him, not the little brother, not Hugo Chavez - NOBODY!
Wait til you read the mainstream American news media's rejoicing when G.W.'s term expires.
G.W. - bad guy.
Fidel - good guy.
I vomited twice before I managed to finish this post.
There is no middle ground when it comes to Fidel Castro.
February 19, 2008 - 18:11 ET by R D HelmI interpret the MSM's (blind?) support for this murdering, low-life dictator from Hell to be nothing less than total, 100% support for communism itself, the most murderous form of government the world has yet seen.
In my judgment, Castro's MSM supporters (notice I did not say sympathizers) are every bit as guilty of his crimes as he himself is.