Chavez Accuses US of Meddling in Venezuelan Recall ($2M)

[Nambe]

Voice of America

.. In the final hours before the referendum vote that could result in his removal from office, President Chavez continues to express optimism. He describes his opponents as a minority of disgruntled oligarchs who want to re- establish the corrupt rule of past governments. In this, he says, they are aided by the Bush administration in Washington.

He says attempts to remove him from power by force as well as sabotage attacks on the nation's petroleum industry have been planned and financed in Washington. The Venezuelan leader says the Bush administration has encouraged the opposition to his government, but that there are many U-S citizens, including union members and environmentalists, who support him.

Chavez supporters in the United States recently obtained documents through the U.S. Freedom of Information Act showing that the National Endowment for Democracy, which is partially supported by U.S. government funds, gave about $2 million to opposition political groups in Venezuela. Endowment spokesmen say the funds were to support political dialogue and programs to strengthen democracy. ..


Very Good Voter’s Guide

[MasonJar]

1. Bush versus Chavez. Which side will Jesus join?

[LauraK]

2. "National Endowment for Democracy" NeoCon central in SA

That's papa bush's little democracy killer. If a politician supports the poor, a union, or even freedom of speech; NED has them killed or poors in money to have them defeated.

Nothing new here.

[DaveSZ]

3. More here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x67830

Attempts to oust Venezuela's leader show 'expanding democracy' is just rhetoric

snip

Whatever objections U.S. officials might have to the Venezuelan president's policies, it is clear the attempts to push Chavez from power have nothing to do with the charge that he is an authoritarian president (or "quasi-authoritarian," as one U.S. newspaper described him in an editorial, or perhaps a "quasi-editorial"). Since his 1998 election, Chavez's real "crimes" have been not just consistently speaking out against the unjust distribution of resources in his country but taking tangible steps to help the poor, such as literacy programs and community-based health clinics.

Unlike so many U.S.-backed leaders in Latin America over the years, Chavez has respected freedom of speech and an open political process. Most of the private media outlets, in fact, are rabidly anti-Chavez, representing the interests of the Venezuelan elite. Those television stations remain on the air. Chavez has consistently stated he would abide by the results of the referendum, which the opposition leadership refuses to do. The fact is that Chavez has acted in a less repressive manner than any prior Venezuelan president.

And for all this, Chavez has been demonized by the Bush administration, a strategy that John Kerry seems determined to mimic. This suggests that the current fashionable rhetoric among U.S. policymakers about supporting democracy around the world is — as it was during the Cold War — empty rhetoric. If democratic elections put into power leaders willing to back U.S. policy, then all is well. If people around the world reject U.S.-backed "leaders," then those people are likely to get some timely instruction in democracy — Washington style.

[goforit]

5. Bush and the National Endowment for Democracy =

Imperialism for profit through tyrrannical tactics

DEMOCRACY is their smoke screen for their
truest intention to maintain poverty through all third world nations.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Thanks for linking to your article from the Austin newspaper.

It's RARE seeing anything actually addressing the truth appearing in our media, concerning Venezuela. It was a true breath of fresh air seeing this one actually got published!

The vehicle for this meddling in Venezuela is the National Endowment for Democracy, which calls itself "a private, nonprofit organization" but is funded by U.S. taxpayers. Its self-described mission is "to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts."

In the case of Venezuela, "strengthening democratic institutions" has meant financing groups that helped carry out the failed coup attempt against Chavez in April 2002. Coup leaders representing the traditional oligarchy in Venezuela, and their supporters in the U.S. government, saw a "problem": Chavez is genuinely interested in a fairer distribution of wealth and refuses to subordinate his country to U.S. policy. Their "solution" was a coup that lasted for 48 hours, during which an illegal decree installed a businessman as president and dissolved the National Assembly and the Supreme Court. The United States quickly backed the coup, until loyal officers and civilian groups restored Chavez to office.

In the continued quest to promote "democracy," the NED kept funding some of those same opposition figures as they shifted to a strategy of work stoppages and lockouts aimed at crippling the country's vital oil industry. When that failed to dislodge Chavez, they finally took up a legal route, the recall election. Documents regarding NED funding obtained through the Freedom of Information Act are available online at www.venezuelafoia.info.

Whatever objections U.S. officials might have to the Venezuelan president's policies, it is clear the attempts to push Chavez from power have nothing to do with the charge that he is an authoritarian president (or "quasi-authoritarian," as one U.S. newspaper described him in an editorial, or perhaps a "quasi-editorial"). Since his 1998 election, Chavez's real "crimes" have been not just consistently speaking out against the unjust distribution of resources in his country but taking tangible steps to help the poor, such as literacy programs and community-based health clinics.
(snip)

Very impressive. Thanks a lot.

[madrchsod]

4. what does kerry think about chavez?

better not ask, it`s impolite to question

[Algomas]

6. Our hero is on record threatening Chavez. Money uber alles baby!

[DaveSZ]

7. I hope Kerry is only posturing

If he continues Bush's central American policies I'd regret ever having voted for him.

But then there's still the issue of a potential Chief Justice Clarence Thomas - enemy to all free people - hanging over the US like a cloud.

It would be nice if we had a real democracy in our own country.

[loudsue]

8. Bingo! I don't understand Kerry's stance on this. Kool-aid anyone?

Whose kool-aid has Kerry been drinking about Chavez??

I'll give this much: Chavez is not perfect. For that matter, neither is Kerry! But anyone can see that Chavez has been trying to be a populist president in a country that has been a macho profiling mess for .... well, forever... and for sale to the highest bidder.

When I look at Chavez, I HAVE to ask... "ok...so who do you think could do it BETTER?? An (American-blessed) right-wing plant??" Because that is just about the only other option.

We either find leaders who AT LEAST SPEW the populist rhetoric, while trying to do a little bit of good, or we find leaders who LIE THEIR ASSES OFF about how big business trickle-down will help them, and then proceed to take all the resources (human and natural) and sell them off.

I wish Kerry could see what he's doing on this one.

:kick::kick::kick:

[Devils Advocate NZ]

9. Kerry knows EXACTLY what he is doing...

Whether it's what we would want him to be doing is another matter...

[struggle4progress]

11. kick

:kick: