Political Prisoners in Venezuela? From Venezuelaanalysis.com

[naaman fletcher]

Those defending Alvarez Paz shield themselves behind concepts of freedom of expression. But are citizens free to go on live national television and accuse the president of a nation of drug trafficking and terrorism without presenting any evidence? Would that happen in any other country without consequence? Imagine a former governor in the United States going live on NBC news and accusing President Barack Obama of terrorism and drug trafficking with no evidence to back such dangerous claims. The individual would be immediately arrested by Secret Service and prosecuted to the full extent of the law for not only spreading false information, but also for endangering the life and image of the US presidency.

http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5261

Does anyone here actually believe that? Didn't citizens accuse the Clintons of being a part of the drug smuggling being run out of Mena, Ark? Don't lots of people accuse the Bushs of being a part of drug smuggling out of Central America to finance the Contras and others?

[ChangoLoa]

1. Pseudo-leftist conservatism..

Pretty useful in case of electoral competition.

All in all there have been like 60 banned candidates since last december.

[protocol rv]

2. It's typical baloney

I have two points to make:

I really don't give a hell what the Americans do. They have torture chambers in Guantanamo, and I don't think we should be torturing Arabs in Venezuelan jails even if the Americans do it. So every time these clowns bring up the argument "well, in the US they do this", I get really pissed off. What's the matter with these gringos, they think they pee perfume or what? Venezuelanalysis is written by a bunch of American communists, and even if they're left wing they reek of American imperialist thought and arrogance.

Second, the point they make is sheer bullshit. I watch US television, and in the US not only do they insult the president, they even insult the president's family, daughter, mother, you name it. It's really gross, but it's their law, and when I see what happens in Venezuela, where they use the law to silence the opposition, i say this is one case where the Americans have it right. So the point these turkeys in venezuelanalysis are making is a bunch of baloney.

[Meshuga]

4. I agree, the argument is lame but used quite often

It is a way to justify a wrong. If democracy is broken in America then why is it okay to have the equivalent happening in Latin America?

The insults and smear campaign is part of the political process in the US. According to some groups (not to mainstream politicians since they don't want to be mocked), for example, we should never vote for the Clintons because they supposedly murdered Vince Foster and others. I mean, it is ridiculous but it is part of the process.

[Meshuga]

3. The comparison with the US is a way to rationalize the situation

It provides something for the followers to bullshit themselves and say this is merely part of a democracy.

Oswaldo Alvarez Paz could be a douche bag and all but the worst he would get in the States would be a civil suit. And I doubt this would even happen. Politicians and groups in the US have no problems with their smear campaigns and wild accusations.