Reuters Writer Lauds Hugo Chavez Vulgarities in Vulgar Story

  • Bookmark and Share

If you heard the leader of a country cursing in public like a drunken sailor (or Randi Rhodes), you would think he is somewhat unbalanced. However, according to Reuters writer, Charlie Devereux, a foul mouth in a nation's leader is something to be lauded if that leader happens to be Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. In fact, Devereux even cites Chavez's foul mouth as a key to his success in a story that brings up topics and words in a bid to attain a level of crudity rarely  heard in a wire service article:

CARACAS (Reuters) - A head of state describing a mobile phone by using a crude term for male genitalia would spark outcry in most countries, but in Venezuela such language is a big part of President Hugo Chavez's popular appeal.

Chavez has made vulgar language and insults a trademark of his decade in power. He once told the country he would have sex with his wife when he got home that day, has called Americans "sh**s" and described former U.S. President George W. Bush as "the devil" and a "donkey."

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

Your humble correspondent added the asterisks in "sh**s." In the original story it is spelled out in all it all its "glory."

So it was no great surprise when he recently called the first cellphone to be made in Venezuela the "vergatario," a word derived from a popular slang term for penis.

"Thank you" for that information, my penile obsessed Reuters friend. Devereux then makes the case that such lewdness is the key to Hugo's popularity by claiming that he is only mirroring the lewdness of Venezuelans themselves.

Venezuelans use a particularly lewd version of Spanish packed with references to male and female reproductive organs, genital lice and sexual orientation, and Chavez -- apparently deliberately -- does not seek a more dignified presidential tone.

Last year, he launched into a lengthy description of his bowel functions during a televised address.

On the streets of Caracas, it is not uncommon to hear mothers refer to their children as "conitos" a diminutive that refers to female genitalia. Such words are now so commonplace that they have all but lost their original meaning and power to shock.

"Venezuelans love that florid and elaborate language full of jargon and slang words," says linguist Manuel Bermudez of the Venezuelan Academy of Language, adding that Chavez plays on it deliberately. "It's calculated; that kind of discourse reaches the people."

Gee, perhaps Barack Obama should start taking cursing lessons from Randi Rhodes. Of course, there do seem to be Venezuelans not exactly enamored with the foul language used by their chief:

"The way he talks is very crude and it makes me feel ashamed," said Maria Luisa Garcia, a 70-year-old social worker from the fashionable Los Palos Grandes neighborhood in Caracas. "A president needs to project a good image."

"In a country where the majority of people are young, the language he uses is an influence on everyone else. It's for that reason that everyone has become ruder."

Anyway, "congrats" to Reuters writer, Charlie Devereux, for managing to produce a wire service story that included both the words "penis" and "sh**s" without the asterisks. Oh, and bonus points for also including bowel functions.  

—P.J. Gladnick is a freelance writer and creator of the DUmmie FUnnies blog.


Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Hey, if our current

Hey, if our current President suddenly started giving speeches peppered with rap lyrics, the press would probably find it "refreshing."

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows.  -Bart Simpson

 

Can't wait for the protoge OAF to start swearing in public.

"it's fffing Bushes fault", etc.

Reagan VS Carter and 0bama

Nice to see that pirate and

Nice to see that pirate and his parrot are keeping up with the liberal lingo. 

www.theholyrosary.org

"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia

YARRRR!!!!!

Don't hate on me piratebird, matey...

What Would Biden Say?

So what if Chavez is a foul-mouthed loose cannon?

President Obama has one of the most foul-mouthed men in Washington as his Chief of Staff.  The Chosen one also has one of the most ineloquent speakers as His VP.  Both of these guys have been effectively muzzled and hidden from the press. 

At least talking with Biden would be entertaining.  The gaffe-a-minute Veep would be worth watching.  (  for a top ten things we'd think he'd say on current world issues, you can hit:  http://firstconservative.com/blog/political-humor/political-humor-what-would-biden-say  )

 

Have you noticed

How the state run media loves Hugo Chavez ... Just like Mussolini.

Hugo Chavez is ZERO's template.

Yet the SCM is in a tizzy

Yet the SCM is in a tizzy when former Vice President Cheney told Sen Pat Leahy to "Go f**k yourself". Love the good ole double standards there.

The Obama Administration: THE most fiscally irresponsible Administration EVER

Private Reply

That was a PRIVATE reply to Leahy. Not part of a public speech.

You stay classy, Hugo!

Amazing what you can get away with when you have guns pointing at everyone.  If this guy isn't the posterchild for fighting for the Second Amendment, nothing is!  To me, Obama is Chavez with a smile.  For now.  

Angry White Dude

www.angrywhitedude.c...

Chavez - A Good Democrat

Since Democrats are vulgar, inane, and quite stupid, I say he'd be a great one.  In fact, now that we have allowed an African to usurp the position, why not allow a Venezuelan?

 This black conservative sees no difference. Racism, socialism, elitism are hallmarks of the Democrats!  www.theblacksphere.n... The BIG Black Lie.  And http://theblackspher... for one of the best blogs on the internet!