Posted on 03/26/2009 4:37:02 AM PDT by Kaslin
Democracy: In a little-noted agency hearing, the CIA admitted that Venezuela's Hugo Chavez rigged his recall referendum in 2004. So why does he still merit global recognition as a democratically elected leader?
It now comes to light that the CIA cybersecurity experts know he fixed his 2004 recall referendum. Two weeks ago, at a field hearing before the U.S. Election Assistance Commission in Orlando, Fla., CIA's Steve Stigall cited Venezuela, along with Macedonia and Ukraine, as examples of the risks of electronic voting.
Chavez, he said, controlled most voting machines and may have provided the program used to "randomly" select them for audit during a recount, the Miami Herald reported.
The problem went beyond cheating. The referendum was then certified as free and fair by none other than ex-President Jimmy Carter and recognized by the hemisphere as democratic.
That extended Chavez's term in power at a time when the real sentiment of voters was to throw him out. That, in turn, undercut Venezuela's opposition parties as political forces, making it nearly impossible for them to gain ground.
It also made Chavez obnoxious in international forums, using his false democratic legitimacy to undermine the interests of democratic nations while no one said anything.
He's about to play this like a fiddle at the upcoming Summit of the Americas, promising to "get the artillery out" against U.S. President Barack Obama in reflexive anti-Americanism all about reinforcing his grip on power.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
But, But Jimmy said it was all good??? I dont understand...
Dream on. Al Gore will admit his global warming game is a fraud before the US repudiates the 2004 Venezuelan election as rigged.
It’s what Dennis Praeger’s article said: “Communists get a free pass by the world’s media - they can do no wrong. Fascists, though, are bad guys.”.
Hugo Chavez fixed the election?
I am stuned! This is hugh!
To anyone with half a brain, of course, this was as obvious as that big yellow thing that crosses the sky every day. Of course, it’s unlikely the MSM will pick this up. They are so much in love with the idea of totalitarianism that they bend over backwards to portray people choosing it as if throwing away freedom is everyone’s natural desire.
Why does someone installed as POTUS without meeting the eligibility requirements of the US Constitution merit recognition as a world leader?
“I’m shocked, shocked that vote rigging occurred under Hugo!”
Don’t expect The One to care. He would sleep with Fidel if he could.
You can't be series.
It's nice to know that evidence exists, though, even if it is just to prove how useless evidence is to the worldwide LIBERAL/MEDIA complex.
I’d be willing to bet that this also got posted on DU (I’m not going to look - weak stomach this AM), but with DRAMATICALLY different comments, to the effect of “So why couldn’t the CIA catch Bush’s cheating”, etc.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110005518
From the WSJ Opinion Archives
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Venezuela’s Voters Have Spoken
Hugo Chávez won fair and square.
by JIMMY CARTER
Tuesday, August 24, 2004 12:01 A.M. EDT
ACORN must have been down there.
Bush stole the election too! Twice! And at least Chavez didn't blow up his country's skyscrapers and put the Dixie Chicks in prison! < /du >
Obama has ACORN. There’s not a democracy left on the planet that doesn’t openly rig elections. We need to drop the idiotic pretense that anybody is ‘democraticly elected’. Period.
Wow, am I ever shocked....
*yawn* Is anyone really surprised?
Wait, Hugo Chavez was elected? I thought he took his position with blood and sweat like all other dictators. Er...
(or better perhaps; go and live in South America. Hear there are some great deals in Carracas.)
A good question!
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