Bashing Venezuelan Democracy

In November/December 2006, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting's (FAIR) Steve Rendall explained that "Hugo Chavez never had a chance with the US press." It's been a constant since his December 1998 election, and hasn't let up to this day, with language all too familiar:

-- a "would-be-dictator;

-- an autocratic demagogue;

-- a modern caudillo;

-- a divisive and demagogic leader;

-- a communist;

-- (his) increasingly authoritarian tilt;

-- (his) militariz(ing) the government;

-- (his) terrible human rights record;

-- (his) consolidated one-party rule;

-- emasculat(ing) the country's courts;

-- intimidat(ing) the media;

-- hollow(ing) out Venezuela's once-democratic institutions;

-- erod(ing) confidence in (its) economy;" and

-- the latest accusations in the run-up to a constitutional referendum to let presidents, National Assembly representatives, governors, mayors, and state legislators run indefinitely for re-election.

Under Article 230 of Venezuela's Constitution: "The presidential term is six years. The President of the Republic can be re-elected, immediately and only once, to an additional term." Currently, Chavez can't run again when his term expires in 2012. More