Although most media coverage of the closure of RCTV by the Hugo Chavez government in Venezuela has been somewhat bland, we now have an example of a journalist who actually supports the takeover of that long established television station. It is the former Associated Press reporter in Venezuela, Bart Jones, who wrote an approving article in today's Los Angeles Times, Hugo Chavez versus RCTV. Jones justifies the closing of that station by the Chavistas by claiming that it supported the 2002 coup against Chavez:
RCTV's most infamous effort to topple Chavez came during the April 11, 2002, coup attempt against him. For two days before the putsch, RCTV preempted regular programming and ran wall-to-wall coverage of a general strike aimed at ousting Chavez. A stream of commentators spewed nonstop vitriolic attacks against him — while permitting no response from the government.
Then RCTV ran nonstop ads encouraging people to attend a march on April 11 aimed at toppling Chavez and broadcast blanket coverage of the event. When the march ended in violence, RCTV and Globovision ran manipulated video blaming Chavez supporters for scores of deaths and injuries.
So there you have it. The "crime" of RCTV was its supposedly biased coverage. By the Bart Jones reasoning then ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS should be shut down because of its biased coverage of the Bush Administration. At least Jones was nice enough to give us a heads up about another impending station shutdown by Chavez:
Chavez's detractors got more ammunition Tuesday when the president included another opposition network, Globovision, among the "enemies of the homeland."
So for Bart Jones the closure of another television station in Venezuela doesn't so much represent another authoritarian act by Chavez but more "ammunition" for his detractors. Meanwhile the leftwing blogosphere is jubiliantly hailing this Chavez censorship. The Democratic Underground even has a discussion thread claiming that the 53 year old RCTV was nothing more than a "RW CIA operation mistakenly called a 'TV' station." You can see their inner authoritarian by this sampling of their posts:
Personally I think just shutting it down was being WAY TO NICE! The "reporters" cough cough, should be THROWN IN PRISON FOR TREASON!
All you SELFISH GREEDY RW CRIMINALS can go right to HELL! GOD BLESS HUGO CHAVEZ!
RCTV brought this on theirselves and they deserve everything they get.
Fox is denying my freedom of speech by holding its broadcasting license. I demand that they respect my freedom of speech by turning it over to me.
You can read a larger selection of leftwing "Democratic" Underground quotes supporting the Chavez censorship at the DUmmie FUnnies.
—P.J. Gladnick is a freelance writer and creator of the DUmmie FUnnies blog.
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I wonder how he would feel if
May 30, 2007 - 19:55 ET by FastEdI wonder how he would feel if his paper were closed because he mentioned that he liked the Bush policies?
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Another example of libs lovin
May 30, 2007 - 19:58 ET by jmad627Another example of libs loving every dictator they meet. From the Jimmy Carter wing of the Democrat party, perhaps.
Jones is not unique, unfortun
May 30, 2007 - 20:07 ET by GalvanicJones is not unique, unfortunately. Not long ago, we noted Cindy Sheehan's praise for Chavez, all the while branding Bush as a dictator.
I wouldn't even be surprised if Jimmy Carter came out as an apologist for this thug.
They just don't get it.
SIDENOTE: Regarding the photo, has anyone informed Curtis Sliwa that Chavez has joined the Guradian Angels?
A double take
May 30, 2007 - 20:11 ET by goldenthroatGalvanic, I thought it WAS Sliwa when I first looked at it!
Wonder if that bird on his shoulder did a number on Hugo's clothes? Of course, the liberal press here would have NEVER covered it if it did!
Right you are Galvanic
May 30, 2007 - 20:41 ET by acumenI wouldn't even be surprised if Jimmy Carter came out as an apologist for this thug.
Been there, done that. Remember the questionable 2004 Venezuela Presidential election where Carter explicitly certified the Chavez election as fair and accurate? This despite claims of statistical fraud by Ricardo Hausmann, a professor at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and former chief economist at the Inter-American Development Bank, and Roberto Rigobon, a professor of applied economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management.
You're right, acumen. I tho
May 30, 2007 - 21:21 ET by GalvanicYou're right, acumen. I thought Carter had done that in 2004, but I had lost the specifics. Thanks for posting it.
Perhaps Jimmah can attribute Chavez's latest powerplay to some imaginary American provocation. Chavez is 'Castro with oil,' and that makes him more of a threat to regional stability than Castro.
That's interesting Galvanic
May 31, 2007 - 01:16 ET by SportPoliticsThat's interesting Galvanic. I have read, probably a left wing re-history that Castro was expected to be a democratic force ( I'll say since they overthrew the former government and Che was lining up the firing squads, not sure how they babbled that together), and it seems to me that whole idea might be going the same way before it finally descends into utter hell, but I'm sure we'll have the Michael Moore's and Jimmah's for perpetuity, as they can visit the "crystal tourist destination" and just silently enjoy the fact that "the domestic rabble" isn't allowed access.
Then, after they party down, they can flee back to the USA and claim they visited paradise, perhaps hoping by their lying and ego coddling vacation they can force "effective changes" here or some twisted crap like that.
I had one of them in an insane uproar once when I provided irrefutable evidence about the 5 cents an hour Castro wages and food rationing cards, and he screamed in a rage that George Bush wasn't going to make him work for 5 cents an hour. LOL However, I never caught him fantasizing aloud about Cuba again, he always avoided any comment on it even when prodded. So, at least some of these nuts have been fed enough lies that they buy them, until shown otherwise.
It's curious that so many Lef
May 31, 2007 - 08:39 ET by GalvanicIt's curious that so many Leftist celebrities admire Castro and his Revolution. They tout his universal health care system and public education system. But the fact that Castro reigns over a Communist dictatorship that tortures and kills political opponents, suppresses free speech and a free press, and mismanages a weak economy, never seems to bother them. How do they explain that Cubans regularly risk their lives attempting to flee the island, yet the only Americans who seek residence in Cuba tend to be convicted felons on the lam.
A few years ago, filmmaker Oliver Stone was about ready to release a gushingly pro-Castro documentary he had made based on hours of interviews that El Presidente had granted him. According to Stone and others involved with the film, the documentary would educate Americans as to Castro's success at improving the lives of average Cubans, and his struggle against US imperialism.
The debut of the film was postponed indefinitely when news broke of Castro's executions of about a half dozen political prisoners.
Did this turn Stone against Castro? I never heard a peep from old Ollie.
What is with the picture????
May 30, 2007 - 20:07 ET by pbdmillerWhat is with the picture???? He looks like a cartoon character!
Parrot Fashion Sense
May 30, 2007 - 20:28 ET by P.J. GladnickEven that parrot has better color coordination fashion sense than Hugo.
but their berets matchSupreme
May 30, 2007 - 20:31 ET by botgbut their berets match
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Chavez pic
May 31, 2007 - 01:25 ET by SportPoliticsHe looks like a pouting canadian boy scout.
P.J.You fashonista!Or fascist
May 30, 2007 - 20:33 ET by BlondeP.J.
You fashonista!
Or fascist nest builder (or somesuch...ask the bloody parrot).
Wow....great post.
A perfect andidote to a long, long day.
Lovely, lovely post. :)
Is there a connection?
May 30, 2007 - 22:54 ET by goldenthroatBlonde, is a 'fashionista' related to a 'Clintonista'?
They have Halloween down ther
May 30, 2007 - 20:14 ET by drillanwrThey have Halloween down there in Venezuela??!!
Nah. That lovable ol' Chave
May 30, 2007 - 21:17 ET by Scout FinchNah. That lovable ol' Chavez is just headed for a Jimmy Buffet concert.
Cheeseburger in Worker's Paradise!
Scout...Laughing out loud...G
May 30, 2007 - 21:27 ET by bigtimerScout...
Laughing out loud...
Good one there...
C'mon, bigtimer........just l
May 30, 2007 - 22:23 ET by Scout FinchC'mon, bigtimer........just look at him! Any photograph or video coverage of Chavez is a target-rich environment.
I have it understood that Hug
May 30, 2007 - 20:20 ET by Trix RabbitI have it understood that Hugo may also shut down Globovision and CNN. Does anyone suppose that Jones and his confederacy of leftards will kvetch, whine, and moan if CNN gets the boot?
You folks have much better eyesight than I. I thought the picture was of an organ-grinder (the guy in green) with his trained monkey.
Liberal: a power worshipper without power. George Orwell
Yeah Trix....Hugo plans on su
May 30, 2007 - 20:32 ET by bigtimerYeah Trix....
Hugo plans on suing CNN....
Isn't that rich?
I have been laughing my rear off since I have heard about it.
bt,In a strange sort of way,
May 30, 2007 - 20:57 ET by Dave Rbt,
In a strange sort of way, I almost hope he wins. :-)
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz
The leftists here are scream
May 30, 2007 - 20:29 ET by bigtimerThe leftists here are screaming for the Fairness Doctrine to be reinstated...you would think they would be outraged here in this country as a party...but nooooo...they support for this piece of shite and his dictatorship, the good old Soros led enemy within ...they wonder why they are referred to as the looney left....and they call President Bush a Dictator among other things.
Be worried here folks, if ever in years and years we need to vote and stick together with 21 to 10 in the Senate up in '08 we need more than ever to win.
Pelosi plans on bringing this up soon...
Be worried later down the road....if we do not get out and vote and stick together...most of all make sure they do not steal votes as they have way before I was old enough to vote....and gotten away with.
I pray for strong conservatives to vote for nationwide....for once...and to fight like hell.
Then by his own standards, h
May 30, 2007 - 20:36 ET byThen by his own standards, he is a traitor to America for defending an enemy to America. (Hugo Chavez swore to bring down our American Government: Click Here)
And let this be a reminder to us all, why we must defend the US Constitution as our founding fathers intended for it to be.
Debra...
Bart Jones? Didn't he play
May 30, 2007 - 20:57 ET by UphillBart Jones? Didn't he play for the Jets back in the day?
Bert. Colts.Or, since I am a
May 30, 2007 - 21:15 ET by Roger the ShrubberBert. Colts.
Or, since I am a shrubber, I would know that Bert Jones is also this.
If my memory is correct Bert
May 30, 2007 - 22:19 ET by UphillIf my memory is correct Bert was also in the Miller Lite commercials with John Madden, Boog Powell (Hey, you're Boog Powell!) and the lot.
Hugo Chavez is a modern liberal's dream come true
May 30, 2007 - 21:07 ET by Dave RHugo Chavez is a modern liberal's dream come true. He, like most modern liberals in this country (despite their decades of saying otherwise) are utterly terrified of true free-speech. Remember, modern liberals claim to be tolerant, but like most who loudly proclaim tolerance, they are, in reality, quite the opposite.
True free-speech is one of the things that empower the individual. Liberals only believe in group rights. Liberals fear the thoughts of the individual, as those thoughts are much more difficult to control than those of a group.
This is why I believe many, if not the majority, of the members of the liberal MSM are aplauding this mehanical tyrant, even if they must do so in secret.
Thank you, Bart Jones, for allowing us a glimpse into what true modern liberalism has become.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz
Bart Jones on telephone: He
May 30, 2007 - 21:09 ET by Airforce_5_OBart Jones on telephone: Hello...Mr. Chavez...Yes thank you for taking my call...Uh I was wondering how you feel with all those bad democracy loving people you know spitting all those vile statements about your visionary way of government. Can you tell me how this renegade TV station talked about you? You know we have that same type of problem here called "talk radio".
What's that? You know El Rushbo? Se...What? Oh I know what you mean I can't wait for Hillary to win either."
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.
It is my contention that the
May 31, 2007 - 00:49 ET by liberal_bug_zapperIt is my contention that the founding fathers would have viewed today's modern liberal with disgust, fear and loathing. These arrogant liberals hold themselves as the modern day equivalent of our founding fathers as evidenced by an article by Harvey Wasserman called "Those Who Hate "Liberals" Really Hate a Free America" in which he states;
Semantics has taken a turn for the worse, as modern day liberals, who are no where near what our founding fathers were, don't see a distinction between those who were liberal then, and those who are liberal now. Well, actually, I believe the intellectual ones do see the distinction, however, because the word 'Liberal' is the same, they can easily fool the idiots in their ranks to actually believe that Franklin, Jefferson, Madison and Harrison would have wholeheartedly supported the modern day liberal platform.
The intellectual who tries to pass off this lie, insults all other intellectuals who know the difference. But then, their audience isn't the intellectual. It is the tools that frequent the Democratic Underground and other left wing loon sites who lap that crap up as if it really has meaning. Their audience has probably never read the federalist papers written by Madison, Harrison and Jay. In fact, it would be great if some modern day politicians would break out the old Federalist documents and start inserting the concepts into their platform... giving the libs just enough rope to hang themselves with.... and then revealing that these sentiments were those of our founding fathers and that of the men who co-wrote the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. While the leftists stammer to say "Oh, well that was then, and this is now." Our side could quickly retort.... "So, Freedom and Liberty are out of date concepts?"
We have to take these idiots to the mat in the battle in the arena of ideas. We have to keep knocking them out.... but so far, no one on our side has the guts to do that.
____________________________________________________
"Political dissension is doubtless a less evil than the lethargy of despotism: but still it is a great evil, and it would be as worthy the efforts of the patriot as of the philosopher, to exclude it's influence if possible, from social life. The good are rare enough at best. There is no reason to subdivide them by artificial lines. But whether we shall ever be able so far to perfect the principles of society as that political opinions shall, in it's intercourse, be as inoffensive as those of philosophy, mechanics, or any other, may well be doubted." ~ Thomas Jefferson
What a great post zapper.We h
May 31, 2007 - 00:56 ET by bigtimerWhat a great post zapper.
We have to take these idiots to the mat in the battle in the arena of ideas. We have to keep knocking them out.... but so far, no one on our side has the guts to do that.
I am praying that I see just that before I leave this good earth...sooner, rather than later zap.
The hypocrisy of the Left is
May 31, 2007 - 01:33 ET by mattmThe hypocrisy of the Left is either frightening or funny. A quick Yehaa search yeilded this from the misnamed Democratic Underground:
The link summary: "GOP drafting resolution condemning media's terror finance reports ... and a really great demonstration of how much they fear a free press."
So to them, merely drafting a resolution is anti-free press, whereas actually shutting down an anti-government TV station is something to cheer???
If only the Libs really were for Liberty, but the sad truth is they're not. It's actually the Conservatives who are the true liberals (small "L")...
As I said in my previous post
May 31, 2007 - 01:59 ET by liberal_bug_zapperAs I said in my previous post. Their intellectuals are counting on the fact that most modern day liberals never fact check and don't know the difference between our founding fathers, who were liberals of the time (conservatives to boot) and the modern day ideology called 'Liberalism'. I don't think they are able to distinguish between 18th Century Liberalism and Modern day Leftists.... I think they think it to be the same.
Oh, and my mother thinks that the government is trying to cover up the "fact" (using this term very fancy free and loose) of Thomas Jefferson saying "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" when what he believed was almost the polar opposite as evidenced by this passage from a letter he wrote;
Now I pointed this out to her and she almost broke down in tears mumbling something about how the evil government of the extreme right wingers had corrupted her poor little boy... I left it at that as I was not going to dignify her claims with a response.
Leftists cannot see the hypocrisy. They do not understand why we oppose their 'feel good' egalitarian-utopian dreams.... yet we see it as obvious. This is a battle that will go on for a long... long time.
____________________________________________________
"We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities." ~ Thomas Paine
lol lbzapper
May 31, 2007 - 02:41 ET by SportPoliticsThanks for the whole quote. lol- Your Mom stories are great.
I hate that when the dimmos come up with their stupid lies. I pretty much should just enjoy it when I hear a new one because I can safely conclude it is an idiotic lie the way they use it.
You know the drugs had the hippies changing the meaning of everything and saying things backwards and turning everything on it's head, and it seems to me it has finally swallowed up the democratic party. That's who John Kerry is, and slick willie, and yes Al Gore - who even had that jaunt into some motorcycle dopers den " in his youth".
Man, just think what that has gotten us, Al Gore's insane with global warming, slick willie was a sellout to commies and foreign govs and his wife, and John Kerry is a fake botox gold digging billionaire reporting for duty after he fled in barely 3 months of kicking his own f-lank, and being a sellout of pows and a traitor.
Man,it really has them screwed up. Hillary breaks out in jive slang on the campaign trail. Kucinich is a new age guru that tries to levitate and sees auras.
They're freaks.
The Democratic Underground
May 31, 2007 - 05:24 ET by Jack BauerHang on. I thought the American soci***sts, commies and lib***ls SUPPORTED the CIA?
Surely we just spent the past three years reading at how outraged they were against the alleged "outing" of a fake covert CIA agent: the fragrant but 007 deadly, licensed to thrill V.Plame?
Now the leftoids are themselves outing CIA agents in Venezuela.
What's going on? I don't understand. Does this mean that they really HATE the CIA -- and that they didn't really care about outing a CIA agent, and that this was, gasp .... all a lie?
No surprise that it would b
May 31, 2007 - 06:37 ET by BobAnthonyNo surprise that it would be the L-A SLIMES doing this! Don't be shocked if the NY SLIMES or BOSTON GLOB do this. I am tempted to use some kind of slur to describe El Chavista grande, but I won't. Folks, I am not one to engage in a debate--minute I hear something so inflammatory, I let loose with anger, and sometimes insults. Guess that's the Neal Boortz or Mike Savage in me. I'll try to listen, but then if something comes up...well don't say I didn't warn anybody.
RCTV's most infamous effort t
May 31, 2007 - 08:31 ET by BeowulfRCTV's most infamous effort to topple Chavez came during the April 11, 2002, coup attempt against him. For two days before the putsch, RCTV preempted regular programming and ran wall-to-wall coverage of a general strike aimed at ousting Chavez. A stream of commentators spewed nonstop vitriolic attacks against him — while permitting no response from the government. - Mmmm, sounds kinda like our own MSM treatment of our sitting president. And I'd LOVE to see Mr. Bart Simp... I mean, Bart Jones, reaction when President Shrillary took over his news outlet and started telling him what to write.
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
Exactly. I mean all Bush ha
May 31, 2007 - 09:21 ET by CapitalismRulesExactly. I mean all Bush has to do is bow his head in prayer and he is a Right-wing facist "worse-than-Hitler" murderous, radical, inhumane, oil and blood thirsty dictator. But when our pal Chavez actually moves the tear gas in on his folks, censoring what they can say and write he's just doing what's right for his country. I guess if I get my picture taken in public with Danny Glover, that just makes me a nice guy....end of story.
Chavez threatened to sue CNN?
May 31, 2007 - 09:29 ET by chessplayerChavez threatened to sue CNN? Maybe thats why CNN has ignored this story for the last two days.
DU`ers are actually having quite a fight over this. Some of them have finally seen the light about Chavez and have turned against him. And they are catching hell for it from other DU`ers. Panama`s La Presna crticized Chavez, and one DU`er said Panama should shut La Presna down for it.
Panama`s La Presna crticized
May 31, 2007 - 10:58 ET by BeowulfPanama`s La Presna crticized Chavez, and one DU`er said Panama should shut La Presna down for it. - A perfect example of liberal mentality and tolerance.
Just as the leftist sweetheart Chavez is taking over all news sources in Venezuela to stifle opposing points of view, so would the liberals in this country do to anyone who disagrees with them.
Look at the bias, look at the ignoring of dissenting facts, look at the cherry-picking to prove their points, look at the treatment of dissenters.
Their philosophy of tolerance is only tolerant of those in TOTAL agreement with their perspective.
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
Pacifica Radio
May 31, 2007 - 15:59 ET by Gary HallBet ya anything that Bart Jones has a Pacifica Radio bumper sticker on his car.
Pacifica Radio being one of our own public radio stations with a steady stream of commentators and guests spewing nonstop vitriolic attacks and against President Bush. Or, am I confusing it with MSNBC?