Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez is "attractive to any journalist" because he's "the epitome of the populist leader" with "plain tastes" and "overwhelming charisma," CNN en español senior anchor Patricia Janiot told journalist Cristian Savio in a recent interview conducted in Spanish.
Blogger and friend of NewsBusters Fausta Wertz has an English translation up at her blog.
Below is an excerpt:
CS: What political leader impressed you the most?
PJ: Beyond his political position - I believe that a politician, the more he shows himself as a person and further away from the gods of Olympus, the better - there’s no doubt that Hugo Chávez os “the character.” He’s the epitome of the populist leader, with plain tastes, overwhelming charisma and the ability to involve himself in his sorroundings [sic] since he has a point of reference that also interests you. He’s a combination comedian, military, President and religious leader: a very appealing combination, even more so than his oratorial ability. He’s very attractive to any journalist.[...]
CS: What are your thoughts on the turn to the left in Latin American politics?
PJ: It strikes me as a natural swing after the neoliberal decade that left so many of us in ruins. It’s a natural process in any country: when something doesn’t work, we look for the opposite. But nowadays the difference between the Left and the Right is how distanced they are from the United States. Even the governments on the Right are closer to fighting inequality and poverty, so the difference is the degree of alienation from the US.
Photo of Janiot via her profile page at CNN.com.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Sheriff Joe
March 13, 2009 - 10:19 ET by iveseenitallAnd Sheriff Joe in Arizona is under investigation by our Justice Department for possible illegal treatment of illegal aliens. Pushed by Acorn and the Democrats in congress, and Janet Napalitano of Homeland Security, the American government is invesigating those who are protecting ourborders. This is what America is up against--- facists,socialists,and communists suppoted by the the left-wing media and all the enemies within, including The One himself.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Sheriff Joe is always under investigation
March 13, 2009 - 10:40 ET by CarlosSex-Gov Nappy was gunnin' for Sheriff Joe for a long, long time. Never succeeded in the past. He keeps himself and his sheriffs pretty clean. I have every confidence he'll beat this one back, too.
This is just a parting shot from Nappy as she rides off into oblivion.
What's Next with Janice N.
March 13, 2009 - 10:43 ET by allanfIs Jancie Napitano going to be tough on the border. Or will ICE agents become "immigation counselors" and "tourist guides"?
"Populist" .....the new
March 13, 2009 - 10:17 ET by motherbelt"Populist" .....the new euphemism for "Communist."
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Idiot Woman
March 13, 2009 - 10:21 ET by slickwillie2001'Plain tastes and charisma'? I saw him last night on the TV box with a group of children and he appeared so slovenly obese that he can barely walk. He waddles.
So judging by the caliber of
March 13, 2009 - 10:29 ET by rbosqueSo judging by the caliber of journalists today, are they only admitting communists into journalism school these days?
Sure...Chavez is a great guy.
March 13, 2009 - 10:52 ET by ConservativeFLHe is murdering, homo-phobic, corrupt, paranoid socialist dictator. Just ask anyone who now lives in the U.S. who used to live in Venezuela such as my mother or Maria Chonchita Alonzo.Just because scum like Sean Penn and Danny Glover or this inept reporter from CNN think he is a "great" guy, doesn't make it true.
"Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15." Ronald Reagan
CNN - THE MOST BUSTED NAME IN NEWS
March 13, 2009 - 11:06 ET by SgthulkaYou've gotta hand it to these bed-wetters. They really know how to pick Latin american correspondents.
My favorite was the odeous LUCIA NEWMAN who never missed an opportunity to tout a bannana dicator.
An Observation...
March 13, 2009 - 11:20 ET by Snede7711This is an interesting statement by Patricia because she could be describing Chavez or Obama and their relationship with the media. So if one is a socialist then....
Evil is Good and Good is Evil
March 13, 2009 - 11:55 ET by deerjerkydaveWe live in a day it seems where evil is good, and good is evil.
Centralized authority has NEVER worked out in mankind's favor. Too much authority in too few hands almost always leads to oppression. Communism was the biggest murderer of the 20th century with over 100 million people dead. It is NOT a "populist" movement.
Flirting with communism, like CNN is doing, is like flirting with a crocodile. Good luck with that.
Uhh....Patricia, mija....how
March 13, 2009 - 12:03 ET by CaligulaUhh....Patricia, mija....how you say in english "loco en la cabesa"?
Daddy substitutes....
March 13, 2009 - 14:09 ET by wizardjrWhat is it with all these news mumbler chicks and women on shows like Oprah and The View? They all seem to be looking for Daddy substites to hang onto while professing to detest men.
While flying their feminazi flags at every turn, they then go praise some dictator type who would disappear them should they make the slightest 'wrong' reference in public. Perhaps they're all masochistic wanna be incestuous daughters. "Beat me daddy. I'm a bad girl."
What a bunch of morons.
I'll be her Daddy
March 14, 2009 - 02:06 ET by PopularTechLatin anchors are hot.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution
Broken windows in the the largest building is very appealing!
March 13, 2009 - 14:51 ET by upcountrywaterThe truth about Venezuela..
It’s a natural process in any country: when something doesn’t work, we look for the opposite.
OH i get it, TRASH AMERICA..Cute lunaChick
P.R.I.N.T. Money 30 sec YT
I DON'T GET IT...
March 13, 2009 - 17:45 ET by danybhoyThe standard of living south of our border, & go all the way through South America, should be much better then it is. Most of these nations have plenty of natural resources, & the people there will bust their @$$ to make a living. So what's the problem? Too often, these nations are run(ruined) by so called "populist" leaders who run things from the top down & steal the wealth of the nation for themslves. These nations should be happy, wealthy nations, & they are not because of liberal-leftist politics.
Tools like Chavez, the Castro brothers, & that tool Morales in Bolivia, they are men of the people, but yet the people have nothing. The people are deprived of the fruits of their labor, see no hope, & they try to flee. Where do they come? To big, bad, America, & many want to change America into what they fled. Sounds like libs here, ruin a state like California with your lib policies, move to Oregon, Washington, & Colorado. Then ruin those states wth the same policies that ruined the state you are escaping.
The bottom line, libs are libs, no matter where they come from, & no matter what they have ruined, it's their right to move somewhere else & ruin that place as well.
"The Fairness Doctrine = Jim Crow laws for Conservatives". Jim Quinn from "Quinn & Rose"
She said "...Even the
March 13, 2009 - 18:04 ET by alamojbShe said "...Even the governments on the Right are closer to fighting inequality and poverty." So if we can't end poverty can we at least make everyone equally miserable*? Is that what these leftist want? It is what they end up causing. See what is happening in Venezuela:
"...Chavez tightens State control of food amid rocketting inflation and food shortages"
"Government price controls on basic goods have been in place, in various forms, since 2003. But the restrictions have forced Venezuela to become increasingly reliant on imports of these products as local farmers will not supply the selected food staples at government prices."
See article here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/4938993/Venezuelas-Hugo-Chavez-tightens-state-control-of-food-amid-rocketing-inflation-and-food-shortages.html
* I think there is a Churchhill quote in there somewhere.
Chavez is a blood thirsty
March 14, 2009 - 01:04 ET by jdhawkChavez is a blood thirsty communist thug that is sucking the life blood from the Venezulean people as Castro is still busy doing in Cuba. They are the stink from the same stool. They both ought to be charged before the World Court with crimes against humanity.
Screw the both of them. Assuming room temperature for the both of them can't come soon enough in my opinion.
And the above is the sugar coated version . . .
Is this chick contemplating
March 14, 2009 - 17:11 ET by RR GOPIs this chick contemplating on running on a Communist ticket in some Banana Republic as well?
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
→ Don't know RR
March 14, 2009 - 17:19 ET by Cool ArrowBut in a Hank Williams sort of way, if she's got the Republic, . . .
Obama is succeeding and it hurts