Chavez backs possible vote to close private TV stations

[ConservativeDemocrat]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez backed the possibility of holding a national referendum, if he's re-elected, on whether to shut down private television stations that he has accused of subversive activities.
...
Asked about the possibility that closing private TV stations likely would provoke an international backlash, the Venezuelan leader said that was what held his hand earlier but declared the days of a "permissive Chavez" were over. "I don't care what the world says. I care about what happens in Venezuela," he said. "The world can say, 'Oh, dear!' but this is my country; I'm responsible."
...
His government has passed a law restricting violence and sexual content over the airwaves, but critics call it a "gag law" that is deliberately vague so that the government can punish media outlets that oppose the administration. Chavez has denied taking excessive measures, arguing that he is not trying to stifle criticism but rather clamp down on those allegedly using journalistic activities as a front for illegal efforts to topple his government.
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Spoken like a true dictator.

Full Article Here

[htuttle]

1. Holding a national referendum to decide something is being a 'true dictator'?

:rofl:

That's silly, dude.

A "true dictator" would have shot the owners of those stations in the backs of their pointy little heads years ago.

[Missy M]

2. That or water boarded them and held them in prison for years...

with no counsel. My, my doesn't that sound familiar.

[Deep13]

3. uh-oh

The fact that trampling free speech is popular does not make it right. I hope this is not a harbinger of things to come.

[endarkenment]

4. Al Jazeera blocked from access to domestic us cable services.

Broadcast of Hezbollah news service deemed act of terrorism.

Pot kettle black.

First, Chavez has stated he might hold a referendum on the issue - hardly the act of a dictator. Second, every nation regulates broadcast media.

That said, I'd prefer that no nations, including ours and Venezuela engaged in censorship. However broadcast media is a bit of a special situation: there are a finite number of usable frequencies, they are generally considered a public good, and they have to be regulated in some fashion.

[Ian David]

5. I'm really starting to like Chavez less and less each day.

He's not cute anymore.

I'm not going to get my gas as Citgo anymore.

From now on, it's only Hess.

http://www.buyblue.org/node/197/view/summary

[Judi Lynn]

6. This article was published December 1st. Defintely NOT LBN.

Review the LBN rules, why not?

[ConservativeDemocrat]

7. You're right. I missed that. Oops.

Admins, lock if you will.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Robbien]

9. Not surprised you would want to repost and repost this

yes, the admin should combine this thread with all the others.

[Taverner]

8. Bad move....

If he shuts them down, he will lose a lot of the support he's had over the years.

Right now he's a Democratic Socialist. You may not like him, but everything he has done up to now has been 100% Democratic.

Once he does this, he crosses the line into Dictatorland.

Don't get me wrong, I like Chavez and have a lot of hope. But my support, like that of many leftists, will go out the window.

As much as we joke about shutting down Faux, I hope the day never comes when we start stamping out voices of dissent.

[skipos]

10. Yikes. nt

[Moderator]

11. Not Late Breaking News

Please double check the dates on an article before posting to make sure it is in compliance with LBN posting rules.

Thank you.