Maybe THIS is why Chavez won, not fraud!

[ButterflyBlood]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4929682.html

Buoyed by soaring oil prices, Chavez in the past year has invested millions in new social programs, opening clinics and schools and providing housing for thousands of poor families. His supporters are fiercely loyal, saying he is the first leader in Venezuela's history to pay attention to the nearly 50 percent of the population who live in poverty.

"I have no doubt he will win," said Otto Jose Lobo, 47, a merchant ."He is a man of the poor."

http://www.startribune.com/stories/709/4931641.html

Chavez is seen as a hero by Venezuela's majority poor, despite an economic recession and 15 percent unemployment in the oil-rich nation of 24 million. Critics, particularly among the wealthy and business sector, accuse him of fueling class tensions and authoritarian tendencies.

Cuba's Communist Party daily Granma devoted most of its front page to the results, topped by a bold red headline: "Chavez's resounding victory."

Cuban President Fidel Castro, a close ally of Chavez, has sent thousands of doctors, dentists and nurses to work in Venezuela's marginalized neighborhoods - a move observers say helped increased Chavez's support among the country's majority poor.

"I think the presence of Cuban doctors certainly played a very important role," allowing some poor Venezuelans to receive medical attention for the first time in their lives, said Larry Birns, director of the Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs.

God bless you Chavez!

[Kanary]

1. That's *Exactly* why! Wish my own country had the guts, and morals

to do the same!

but, what I keep hearing is "we're not ready....."

:cry:

Kanary

[ButterflyBlood]

3. don't you know? helping the poor is communism!

</sarcasm>

[jeff30997]

2. Helping the poors? What a crazy idea. No wonder that...

The CIA wants him out(and because of the oil of course). Remember Salvador Allende?

[T Bone]

4. Cuba poor as it is sends doctors, Bush and Ashcroft sent CHOICEPOINT

that about says it all. Ashcroft and the Justice Dept has a project to contract from Choicepoint (purveyor of Florida voter roll cleansing) the names of all voters in many Latin America countries including Venezuela. ChoicePoint's work and list in Venezuela ended up in the possession of the opposition. It cost US taxpayers $67 million. There was another thread here on DU about it, maybe someone can link to it in this thread.

Anyway to summarize, Cuba sends Doctors. Bush sends Choicepoint.
Venezuela wins. That's good. USA under Bush loses more prestige in the world community.

[MrPrax]

5. USA under Bush?

Lest We Forget...

"With the future of the democratic process at a critical juncture in Venezuela, we should work to bring all possible international pressure to bear on President Chavez to allow the referendum to proceed..."
<snip>
"Throughout his time in office, President Chavez has repeatedly undermined democratic institutions by using extra-legal means, including politically motivated incarcerations, to consolidate power. In fact, his close relationship with Fidel Castro has raised serious questions about his commitment to leading a truly democratic government.

Moreover, President Chavez’s policies have been detrimental to our interests and those of his neighbors. He has compromised efforts to eradicate drug cultivation by allowing Venezuela to become a haven for narco-terrorists, and sowed instability in the region by supporting anti-government insurgents in Colombia."

etc...

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0319d.html