Democracy Venezualan Style (Conclusion)

And we have this from NewsMax.com on Hugo Chavez's seizure of all independent media:

Marxist Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez today became even more like his idol, Cuban tyrant Fidel Castro, by seizing control of all broadcast media.

Even though Chavez is the one acting like a dictator, here's what he said during a speech late last night: "We can say that the Venezuelan people have begun to free themselves from ... the dictatorship of the private media."

But this must be the will of the Venezuelan people because none other than Jimmy Carter declared the elections to be free and fair. (On the other hand, he called for UN observers for elections in the US.) There are those who differ with our most feeble former fool president:

In the face of exit polls that showed 58 percent of voters favored ousting Venezuelan president and Fidel Castro stooge Hugo Chavez while only 41 percent wanted him retained, election officials blandly reported that 58 percent of the voters wanted him retained and only 41 percent wanted him out.

The most widely heralded outside observer of the election, former president Jimmy Carter, ignoring demands that the recall results be investigated, said that he was shown the computer vote tally by supporters of Chavez's regime and that everything seemed in order. He then skipped town, heading back to the U.S to celebrate his wife's birthday and leaving in the lurch the opposition groups that had naively relied on him to make sure the election was on the up and up.

Read the full text of "The Price of Dissent in Venezuela" by Thor L. Halvorssen here. Read Mary Anastasia O'Grady's report here, at the close of which she observes:

There is some speculation that Messrs. Carter and Gaviria threw a veil over a gross deception on the grounds that it will prevent further violence. But Americans have a right to expect a sterner approach from the administration of George W. Bush. State's endorsement of this referendum without a fair audit is a sorry betrayal of not only the Venezuelan people but American ideals. It is tantamount to yielding to terrorism. Observing Washington's supine reaction, Chávez will not hesitate to escalate his efforts to restore authoritarianism on the South American continent.

President Carter closed his rebuttal (as linked above) of Ms. O'Grady with this:

Our responsibilities do not end when votes are counted. We seek acceptance of the results by all sides, and reconciliation if distrust or disharmony is deep. We have already begun efforts to establish a dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the still-antagonistic opposition leaders.

When local citizens or foreigners disapprove of a political decision made in free and fair elections, the only legitimate recourse is to honor the decision, cooperate whenever possible, and promote future leadership changes through democratic means.

It would appear that, once again, former President Carter is in agreement with the Marxists. Mr. Chavez is forcing acceptance of the results, doing away with distrust(ers), establishing a (one way) dialogue, eliminating the possibility of non-cooperation and promoting his future leadership. Ms. O'Grady saw more clearly than Mr. Carter and, one day, Mr. Carter will awaken from his dogmatic slumbers in shocked disbelief, as he did after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. And then he will promptly lay down for another nap.

Technorati Search on Hugo Chavez

AP Story: "Boosted by Vote, Chavez Eyes More Reform"

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