Barbara Walters interview with Hugo coming up next on 20/20

[Sydnie]

The teaser showed her asking him about the names he has called blivet**. That, alone, should be worthy of a look.

[UTUSN]

1. Ooooo, Bahbwah loves her Latin strongman once every decade!!1 n/t

[EFerrari]

2. I don't think I can take this much action in one day.

lol

Maybe some kind person will post highlights. :)

[ret5hd]

3. He came of hella good!

[Sydnie]

6. I agree

He did come off good.

[scarletwoman]

9. I know you're hoping for a "kind" person, but I'll give it a shot anyway.

;-)

It was really quite decent, but too short, imho. I really wished that segment had been given more time.

President Chavez largely came off as warm, thoughtful and intelligent. I have to say I was impressed with Ms. Walters, too. She didn't try any cutesy "gotcha" questions and gave him plenty of opportunity to counter the negative propaganda about him.

In one part of the interview she asked about his "friends" while the screen flashed photos of Chavez with Castro, Saddam and Libya's Qaddafi. Chavez said yes, but they never show the photos of him meeting with Pope John Paul II (twice) and President Clinton, for example -- and those photos were also flashed on the screen.

It seemed like a remarkable even-handed report for a U.S. corporate media show. I was pleasantly surprised.

Other points covered in the segment:

~ There were some shots of a wealthy Caracas neighborhood with huge mansions set behind high walls topped with razor wire, and short bit where she sat with 3 well-off men who expressed their dislike of Chavez. One of whom said he may leave the country.

~ Walters and crew also went into the barrio and a young woman took Walters into her ("spare, but scrupulously clean" -- Walters' voiceover) apartment and spoke about how wonderful it was to finally have running water. Walters also mentioned the newly paved streets and how safe it was for them to be in that neighborhood -- "at least in daylight".

~ Walters: "Crime IS a problem but Chavez says that it's due to poverty, which he is dedicated to eradicating." (loose paraphrase)

~ She also covered the Citgo program of providing discounted heating oil to poor people in the U.S., along with clips of a Citgo ad promoting the heating oil program that included a couple of the recipients saying "thanks, Venezuela."

There was more, but rather than trying to recap the entire piece, I'm hoping that a transcript will be available at some point. It HAS been a long, jam-packed day and I'm running out of steam.

Anyway, it was nicely done -- better than I had hoped for. Sorry you didn't get to see it. Hope this helps a little bit.

sw

[EFerrari]

10. You are an angel, scarletwoman. Thank you so very much.

:loveya:

:hug:

[scarletwoman]

11. Aw shucks. You're very welcome!

:hug:

[gorbal]

4. I can't get over the reporters face.

When she tells him about the coffee he goes "That explains, a LOT" LOL!

[madeline_con]

5. Babawawa is hugh! n/t

[LSK]

7. 20/20 doing news??? since when??????

[Sydnie]

8. Hanson is on vacation

or out in a "yard" somewhere. ;)

[WinkyDink]

12. And his hero is the Rev. MLK, Jr. Chavez sees his mission as helping the poor.

That is his only cause.

I admire HC greatly.