Hugo Chavez is the man

By Chase Miller
Collegian Staff
September 27, 2006

In your life, have you ever seen a president so embarrassed on his own home turf than Bush was just the other day? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, kindly remove yourself from that rock you’ve set up residence under and listen up.

Hugo Chavez, the controversial El Presidente of Venezuela, lived up to his infamy during a speech in front of the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 20. “The devil came here yesterday,” he invectively and somewhat comically remarked about Bush. “And it smells of sulfur still today!” he adds, dramatically crossing himself right before he throws a sly smile in the mix. Well, he’s charismatic, you’ve got to give him that – but really, who is Hugo Chavez, and on what basis does he make these remarks?

After serving a lifetime in the military and being firsthand witness to the corrupt democracy of the old regime, this formerly skinny, shy boy from Sabaneta, Barinas sent a shockwave up the spine of Venezuela when he coordinated a military coup d’etat in 1992. Although the overthrow attempt failed and Chavez was imprisoned, his mark was made upon the voting Venezuelan public. In the years to come, following a presidential pardon from incarceration, Chavez begun his campaign for the presidency. His platform was seemingly simple, a potent mixture of nationalism and a palpable regard for the poor. In 1999, he was elected by an impressive margin, and trouble with United States almost immediately ensued.

Chavez is known to have a passionate commitment to the impoverished of the world, apparently knowing no boundaries. According to the New York Daily News, in 2005, Chavez commissioned a deal with poor areas of the United States, including all New York boroughs except Manhattan, to provide heating fuel to low-income families for about 40 percent off market price. In the New York area alone, 200,000 residents benefited from this deal lasting the entire winter season.

This concern for the poor has gotten him into some trouble, however, at least with the United States. Among some of his actions we find reprehensible is his ever-deepening relationships with Fidel Castro, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the underlying socialistic tenor in the new constitution Venezuela recently approved by national referendum and, of course, his calling Bush Satan doesn’t help.

So what should we do about this charming nationalist championing the call for a unified Venezuela? Will he be another Ho Chi Min, slipping through the cracks of diplomatic relations forever? It’s starting to seem that way. In 2002, a failed military coup occurred; when the smoke cleared, blame was put on the United States for being the catalyst in a Bay of Pigs-like intervention. Maybe America was involved because Venezuela has been making friends with all the wrong people lately, or maybe because Venezuela itself is fifth on the list of top oil exporters, with Iran just ahead of them. The two are indeed a tag team with formidable potential.

So as Hugo Chavez gains influence, whether it is during his weekly “Alo Presidente” broadcasts in Venezuela (reminiscent of FDR’s fireside chats), his standing ovation at a speech to a crowd of Americans in Harlem, the warm reception his “devil” comments received at the United Nations or his growing inner circle of anti-American friends, the United States best take heed. Like Chavez, more and more people in the world are waking up and smelling the sulfur.

millerc10@lasalle.edu