You won't believe MSNBC's Question of the Day

[Poiuyt]

Is the American media giving a pass to dictators like Hugo Chavez?

Yes. They shouldn't get the level of media coverage they currently do.
No. Americans should know what these guys are about.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3080261/

Excuse me, but I thought that Chavez was legally elected

[lonestarnot]

1. Damn straight he was elected! Only devils lie about stuff like that!

[Cha]

31. Devils and The Prince of

Lies!

[w13rd0]

2. Yeah...

...that is definately a poll with a blatant bias...

[ellenfl]

3. excuse me but the question should really be . . .

does the american media give a pass to the bfee too often?

ellen fl

[LostinVA]

4. Whether you like him or not, Chavez is NOT a dictator

Good grief.

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. Sent them an email

telling them what idiots they are.

[mmonk]

6. A negative poll with a lie.

[babylonsister]

7. Shhh! Let's not discuss torture! They've received their orders, I see. nt

[treestar]

8. What do they mean, that they should control the news?

And that they should decide whether or not we even know about other countries' leaders' opinions of us, the government, or Shrubbie?

Give what pass? All they had to do was report his speech. We can decide what to think about it for ourselves.

What control freaks.

[baldguy]

9. "Tell Us What You Think About Today's Question"

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3695302

[alstephenson]

21. Thanks for the link.....eom

[Jacobin]

10. Orwell must be laughing his ass off in his grave

[Straight Shooter]

11. Is the American media the Great Satan?

Take my question and put it wherever it feels best, MSNBC. :eyes:

[TexasLawyer]

12. Meanwhile Pervez Musharraf,

who took over Pakistan in a military coup, is constantly refered to as "President" and gets lots of face time with Georgie-boy.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/22/AR2006092200699.html

[EmmitFitzhume]

15. Good 'ol MSNBC journalism

Yeah, the whole "strategic partner" in the war on terror thing can magically transform the leader of a military coup into a "president." If Chavez wants a title change all he has to do is claim Al Qaeda is operating in Venezuela.

Another reason I can't watch MSNBC, they should just fold it into NBC and get this long, painful process over with.

[Melinda]

13. My response (and I don't participate often):

"Is the American media giving a pass to dictators like Hugo Chavez?"

Once again you've abrogated your duty as journalists by positing such an obviously biased question - Hugo Chavez, like him or not, is the democratically elected President of Venezuela, the head of the executive branch of government, and not a dictator. Within Venezula there exist two other co-branches of government: the legislative and judicial. Venezuela like the USA, is a Republic and not a dictatorship; (see Iraq under Saddam Hussein)

If your assertion is to be believed then both Hugo Chavez and George W. Bush are dictators and the obvious answer to your question is yes - you, the media, give dictators like Bush and Chavez a pass.

A better question would be: Are the American media the water bearers of propaganda?

[watercolors]

14. BRAVO. BRAVO!

great response. hope it is read on air.

[malaise]

26. You might have added that no less a person

than Jimmy Carter and his Center certified those elections. I swear we're listening to a compelte inversion of reality.

[progressisvirtue]

16. he is a dictator

Main Entry: dic·ta·tor
Pronunciation: 'dik-"tA-t&r, dik-'
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, from dictare
1 a : a person granted absolute emergency power; especially : one appointed by the senate of ancient Rome b : one holding complete autocratic control c : one ruling absolutely and often oppressively

where does it say they cant be elected?


maybe the connotation is unfair... but the usage is valid

[Melinda]

18. Look at that again - He does not have absolute power, nor was he appointed

Chavez is President within a Republic and does not possess aotocratic control.

[progressisvirtue]

20. alot of people would say he does have autocratic power

i think his seizing of the petrol industry illustrated that, and the the definition does not say he has to be appointed, thats just one of the several defintions, the point was a dictator is one who wields autocratic power, and chavez pretty much does that

[tabasco]

23. "A lot of people would say" LMAO.

That's a good source. Watch much Fox News? That's their best source: "some people say."

Please provide examples of Chavez exceeding his powers unde the Venez. constitution or STFU.

"Some people say" or A lot of people say" is not a recognized source here at DU. Maybe it is at some of the other sites you frequent.

Are you a brave culture warrior fighting at your keyboard. LMAO. Pathetic.

Here's a link for you:


www.goarmy.com

[progressisvirtue]

24. funny. unfortunately

i have the facts to back it up

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/monitoring/media_reports/1926176.stm
"venezuela press codemns 'autocrat' chavez"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1713761.stm
"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has threatened to nationalise banks which resist controversial financial and legal reforms introduced last month."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1940672.stm
nationalizes the oil industry

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2529905.stm
dissenting generals fired


you stfu.

[tabasco]

25. Same ones being debunked here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2198492#2200054

Do you trolls share the same information? Where is the BS from? Newsmax or somewhere?

The Venezuelan oil industry was nationalized in 1976. What did Chavez have to do with that? Since then, Chavez has seized oil assets from a French company that was not complying with Venezuelan law. Something about sovereignty you got a problem with?

Once again, why are you fighting the culture war here? Shouldn't you be in Iraq, or are you too cowardly? I did my time in combat.

[malaise]

28. Note carefully that one of your links

states that the Venezuelan press says "venezuela press codemns 'autocrat' chavez"(that's condemns). Looks liek Venezuela has a free press contrary to the view of the spinners.

The Carter Center certified those elections and at least he didn't win office via the Supreme Court or Diebold machines.

[malaise]

27. Was your government autocratic when they seized the steel

industry during World War 2. Read some history.

[LisaM]

19. You're talking about Shrubbie, right?

He is very oppressive, I agree.

[progressisvirtue]

22. *... yeah i guess

he could be considered a dictator, since he really faces no political opposition... but in terms of real power chavez has him beat by far

[Keepontruking]

17. msnbc THUG

Thug Dictator  I thought it was a poll on Bush at first...then
I realized they must have made an error in their print
job.......Circus Girl

[StraightDope]

29. Looks like they changed it...

Do you think the U.N. is effective at resolving global issues?

Yes. Even in the midst of controversy, it is still an effective force behind positive change.
No. The U.N. either needs major reform or should be dismantled altogether.

I'm not sure.

[Cha]

30. The American corporate media pushing

a LIE like "Chavez is a dictator"?!!!! !Shocked! I tell you.. SHOCKED!! :wow: