SubscribeShocker: Media Says Chavez Won Referendum
From his love-struck cheerleaders at Reuters:
Venezuelans to vote on Chavez for life
Sun Dec 2, 2007
By Hugh Bronstein
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelans voted in a tightly contested referendum on Sunday on whether to allow left-wing President Hugo Chavez to stay in power for as long as he keeps winning elections or hand him his first defeat at the polls.
The anti-Washington firebrand, who has easily won one election after another against a fragmented opposition, is in the hardest campaign of his life as he moves to deepen his self-styled revolution by reforming the constitution.
He predicts he will win by 10 percentage points but most polls show a neck-and-neck race between backers of the referendum, which Chavez says will usher in “21st century socialism,” and those who call it an assault on democracy.
Voters were awakened by a predawn state-ordered bugle call mixed with sirens and fake cannon fire to prompt them to head out to their polling stations.
With campaigning marred by violence, many Venezuelans fear political turbulence in the OPEC member nation if the losing side refuses to accept the results of Sunday’s vote. But early voting appeared to be orderly and under sunny skies.
Faced with concerns from even moderate supporters that the reforms will give Chavez too much power, he has tried to portray the vote as a plebiscite on his rule.
Government worker Yelitza Rodriguez, 37, told Reuters she voted for the referendum as a step toward creating a more equal society, despite her misgivings about indefinite reelection.
“Most of the reform favors the people,” she said…
It would clearly pain Reuters to describe Mr. Chavez as a psychotic Communist demagogue who is now reaching for total dictatorial power.
Instead, they call him an “anti-Washington firebrand.” They characterize this naked power grab as an attempt at “reforms” to help “the people.”
Update!
From a joyous Reuters:
Chavez wins referendum: govt sources
By Saul Hudson and Ana Isabel Martinez
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appeared headed for victory on Sunday in a referendum on allowing him to remain in power as long as he keeps winning elections, two government-linked sources said, citing exit polls.
Three exit polls showed Chavez won by between six and eight points in a vote where turnout was low, they said.
If confirmed, it would be by far the slimmest victory margin in the career of a man who wants to rule for life.
Most pre-vote opinion surveys predicted a close referendum on the raft of constitutional changes that the opposition and even some longtime former allies say is authoritarian.
But pollsters said a low turnout would favor Chavez, who activated a state-backed get-out-the-vote campaign against an underfunded, fragmented opposition…
Foreign investors worry that the loser could contest the result, sparking political turbulence after a campaign marred by violent street clashes.
Reuters couldn’t even wait until even the first ballot could be counted before trumpeting the glad tidings.
Not that there was ever any doubt. But the “closeness” is supposed to prove to us that it was all on the up and up, you see.
Foreign investors worry that the loser could contest the result, sparking political turbulence after a campaign marred by violent street clashes.
Oh, yeah, that is what foreign investors are worried about. Someone questioning this obviously fraudulent election.
Of course having a psychotic Communist declare himself dictator for life would give them no pause at all. — According to Reuters, anyway.
Update!
Thankfully, it turns out our watchdog media were a little too optimistic and Mr. Chavez’s “reforms” were actually defeated after all.
See the latest report here.
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10 Responses to “Shocker: Media Says Chavez Won Referendum”
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December 2nd, 2007 at 1:07 pm
This is gonna be an interesting set of events.
I think we know the out come of the voting, Its what comes afterwards that will really grab headlines.
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Chavez is going to win the election, that seems given. Its just a matter of guessing what combination of tactics he is going to use to “win”, ie. steal, the election. I’m guessing on somehow having his gangs of thugs know who voted so they can intimidate those people, declaring some of the vote invalid (the votes against him) for some reason that comes up in his crackpot mind, losing ballets that are 99% opposition, or stuffing the ballet box. And of course you know if he doesn’t get 100% in favor, its going to be some rant on TV about how the US and the west are trying to muscle in on him. Venezula is going to be the next Cuba, the only difference is it actually has oil, though how long that lasts with his cronies running everything, I’m not sure. Its definately going to be hard to get businesses to invest back into the country if the wackjob that is Chavez is ever tossed out of the country or killed by someone in his own party.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:08 am
Shockingly, Hugo’s conceded…
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:32 am
Yup, according to MSNBC (I know) it went down in flames 51-49%. Very surprising but I’ll wait to see what happens next.
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:11 am
Well, I think this is going to rank right up there with Hillary’s inevitable election outcome as POTUS! Laughing out loud pre-celebration style.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:36 am
I think Hugo should loose that red shirt. It looks a service station uniform anyway - not the look I think he’s goin for, but somewhat ironic given the set back, “Yeah, uh, fill ‘er up & check the oil would ya, buddy?”
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:20 am
As Splatter pointed out, Hugo has conceded that “his” sweeping reforms for a socialist dictatorship have failed at the ballot box. From Fox Newsand the AP;
So when will Jimmah show up and declare this election a sham?
Since Chavez can’t get his “reforms” by legal means, when can we expect his declaration of martial law and the suspension of the Venezuelan constitution?
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
“when can we expect his declaration of martial law and the suspension of the Venezuelan constitution?”
That was my first thought this morning as well Gila.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:11 pm
DEZ, I’m also pondering why Hugo hasn’t requested a ‘recount’ along the lines of the Goracle’s 2000 fiasco followed by endless court challenges, etc. Perhaps he has miss-placed his copy of the DNC playbook?
So far, he hasn’t blamed Bush for his reform defeat but you just know that zinger is coming shortly. ;o)
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Gila, One of my thoughts about why he hasn’t declared Marshal law, And I know I am out on a limb here.
But maybe he is a little more affraid of his countrymen than he would like to admit.