Venezuela gov't lawmaker hurls gay slurs at foes

[Zorro]

Venomous political attacks have become the norm in Venezuela, and now a governing party legislator has unleashed a tirade in the country's legislature using gay slurs in trying to discredit the opposition.

The lawmaker displayed photos in the National Assembly on Tuesday showing a top aide to opposition leader Henrique Capriles dressed, along with other men, in women's clothing, apparently at a party. He suggested, without elaboration, that the photos proved the aide's involvement with drug traffickers and male and female prostitution.

Legislator Pedro Carreno, a member of the movement built by the late President Hugo Chavez, didn't say where he got the photos, although the aide's apartment was searched last week by military agents.

The aide, Oscar Lopez, is in hiding. The government said it was investigating him on unspecified corruption charges, which the opposition calls part of a new wave of political repression.

http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-govt-lawmaker-hurls-gay-slurs-foes-020017219.html

[joshcryer]

1. Vile piece of work.

No defense for this guy though I'm sure (with the recent bannings of DUs closet homophobes.)

[Socialistlemur]

2. The interesting issue is how they use the National Assembly as an inquisition chamber

I suppose they should be issued black robes

[joshcryer]

3. I just saw the video of the speech.

I cannot comprehend how this is actually happening without a strong condemnation and an impeachment of those involved. It is beyond anything I can imagine. It's not veiled like it is with Maduro it is openly insulting and degrading and downright disgusting. Maduro makes a quip, apologizes later, but this is a full on assault on LGBT in Venezuela.

[Marksman_91]

4. I think it's a sign that the boligarchs are getting desperate

They're making their battle against the opposition increasingly more personal, as they don't have any logical explanation to defend themselves, hence resorting to ad hominem attacks.

The PSUV is losing more and more control every day. Since their candidates for the december elections were chosen, thousands have resigned in protest of their dissatisfaction with them since they were all hand picked by the central government itself and not though primaries, and many have decided to abstain from voting for them, which could cost them dearly in the December municipal elections. Things are looking real bad right now for the illegitimate president's party.

[joshcryer]

5. It seems like it but I think it's really their flexing an impunity.

I think many in opposition circles are divining that they're scared of the opposition and that they are getting desperate and trying to malign the opposition as, they called it, a bunch of f****ts. Trying to usher in support from chavista's deep rooted homophobia. That's wishful thinking.

In reality it's more as though no fucks are given and they just want to show off how utterly vile they can be without any recrimination or punishment. Maduro's meager bullshit "play nice" doesn't even fit the narrative. He himself is an avowed homophobic bigot, so what he says is irrelevant.

And, I'm sure, that hardcore chavista LGBT will somehow manage to delude themselves that their side is just striking out at rich elites and their sexual parties, like they did insinuate with Capriles. (To the tune of "Capriles is rich, he can be gay, and it doesn't affect him.&quot

I'll wait to see what happens to the illegitimate homophobic bigot Maduro.

[Bacchus4.0]

7. they want to arrest Capriles but don't have the huevos

so they are now going after those around him.

[joshcryer]

8. Yeah, but sticking it to them, as it were.

I don't think it's out of fear, it's petty revenge.

[Bacchus4.0]

6. interesting, thanks

when all else fails, call someone a maricon. Lots of die hard chavistas on this forum still.

[Marksman_91]

9. Now they are REALLY scraping the bottom of the barrel

http://www.noticias24.com/venezuela/noticia/187087/maduro-habla-sobre-la-sesion-de-la-an-hay-videdos-impublicables-de-orgias/

Maduro is now accusing Primero Justicia of running a prostitution ring of gays and transvestites, that there are supposed videos of "orgies" which he deems too graphic to show in public (ergo, they're never gonna show them because they're just a bunch of bullcrap). I'd really like to know how the chavistas in this site are willing to defend this festival of fools.

[Bacchus4.0]

10. they are mindless fools and will forever adore the failed government and

their inept leader. Its a cult.

[joshcryer]

11. They are beyond the pale.

Simply disgusting. And so many supporters lurk about. It's amazing.

[Peace Patriot]

12. The OP is not properly attributed. It is an Associated Pukes (AP) job...

...with a by-line by Jorge Rueda, and further attribution at the bottom, "Associated Press writer Frank Bajak in Lima, Peru, contributed to this report."

I don't call AP the "Associated Pukes" for nothing. They have repeatedly misreported events in Venezuela with extreme bias against Chavez, the Chavez-Maduro government and the Bolivarian Revolution--i.e., the leftist democracy movement started by the people of Venezuela that has sparked a political revolution all over the region. AP has committed every journalistic trick in the books to slander this New Deal-like movement and to contribute to the rightwing/corporate campaign to destroy it, including reporting ONLY negative 'news' stories--especially as to Venezuela--NEVER reporting ANY of the significant achievements of the Chavez-Maduro government, and extreme bias across the board, in EVERY 'news' story, and including outright lying. Frank Bajak is one the worst AP scribblers, in this respect.

This vile anti-Chavez media campaign has included falsely portraying Chavez as anti-Semitic, falsely portraying Chavez as a "dictator," falsely portraying Venezuela's election system as rigged (an election system that Jimmy Carter has called "the best in the world" and that is provably one of the best in the world on objective criteria), falsely portraying the Chavez-Maduro government as anti-free speech (and ignoring the fascist activity of corporate media moguls in Venezuela, including their active participation in the 2002 rightwing coup attempt, and including banning all Chavez government members from the public airwaves during that coup attempt), and innumerable other falsehoods, misrepresentations and black-holes where information should be.

I urge all thoughtful people to take Associated Pukes (AP) so-called 'news' stories about Venezuela with a grain of salt, and to question every statement they make, including every alleged quotation by a leftist. AP's monopoly over the 'news' makes it extremely difficult to verify or debunk their notoriously unreliable, so-called reporting. One of their chief propaganda methods is to create IMPRESSIONS on hot-button issues (such as anti-Semitism and "free speech&quot and, by the time the facts catch up with these impressions, the damage is done, the lie has gone worldwide and there is no way for reasonable people with the facts to correct it. This is REAL tyranny--the tyranny of corporate 'news' monopoly.

We've seen this phenomenon time and again, about Venezuela--those of us who are paying attention. AP is one of the worst offenders. And the importance to AP, and to those whom they serve, of smearing the Bolivarian Revolution as anti-gay can be gaged, here at DU, by all of DU LatAm forum's rightwing posters chiming in, in this thread, to say how much they hate and revile the Maduro government.

Believe me, the real issue is MONEY--and who gets it and who doesn't. That is ALL that matters to rightwing/1%er/corporate propagandists, and they will use ANYTHING to ensure that the rich get richer and the poor get kicked off the island--including scurrilous use of social justice/democracy issues to destroy social justice and democracy.

[Oele]

13. OK, so you don't trust AP.

Here's a video of what happened in the National Assembly.

Do you still think that it was all made up by AP?

[Peace Patriot]

15. Didn't say it was "all made up." Said AP is notorious for distortion, bias,

incomplete reporting, and SOMETIMES outright lying, and is ALWAYS negative against the Venezuelan Left. ALWAYS. Never varies. NEVER report ANYTHING positive, including major achievements acknowledged by entities like the UN Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean (Venezuela "THE most equal country in Latin America&quot . ONLY report negative stories.

Didn't say this was true or not true. Said, "Beware!"

[Marksman_91]

14. It's not just AP, every news media in Venezuela is reporting it

There's video evidence and everything. Hell, if you followed any of the Chavista leaders on Twitter, they all very much acknowledge that Carreño has dun goof'd up. Stop trying to change the subject into somehing about AP's credibility, because that's not what this thread is clearly about.

Even Aporrea.com, the most pro-Chávez website on the Internet, has written several articles about the incident, such as this one: http://www.aporrea.org/movil/ideologia/a171794.html

The headline, in case you're wondering, says "Pedro Carreño and his homophobic speech"

[Peace Patriot]

16. Noted. The left opposes gay-bashing. Thanks for the info. nt

[Marksman_91]

17. Don't try to shift this towards a political ideology debate

There are outright assholes and homophobes both in the left and the right. To say that the left does this and that as if everybody in it has the exact same opinions and ideas is an dumb viewpoint to have. Carreño himself is considered part of this "leftist" party that you so avidly admire, and is one of the most outspoken deputies of the PSUV. As you apparently can't seem to fathom, being a decent human being and respecting LGBT rights has abso-fucking-lutely nothing to do with sociopolitical ideologies. There are people who consider themselves "rightists" who feel that the LGBT community should enjoy the same rights as heterosexuals, just like there are people who consider themselves "leftists" who thing that homosexuality is an abomination. Sure, it might seem now that the gay bashing comes mostly from the right because most of their leadership is very religious and conservative, but hey, now look at good ol' Russia with their new anti-gay legislation that they've been getting a LOT of crap for, and they are such GREAT pals of the Venezuelan regime, and Maduro doesn't even seem to acknowledge this new legislation now, does he? Please do try to act more mature, you're making yourself look more and more foolish with each post you put up.

[Peace Patriot]

19. I'll shift it any way I damn please. And I don't mind being called a "fool" by the likes of you. nt

[Marksman_91]

20. You shifted it in a very poor manner, and that's a fact

The topic was regarding the homophobic slurs from a PSUV representative which has video evidence that Chavistas themselves admit is an embarrassment to their party. And then you decide to talk about AP and how we shouldn't believe everything they say even though:
1) There are numerous other sources that talked about the same incident, including Chavista sites
2) There is video evidence which clearly demonstrates that what the AP article was saying is true
There is absolutely NO valid reason for you to talk about something else other than to detract attention from the incredibly offensive and despicable slurs that a very outspoken member of the Venezuelan government has, with evidence, said in front of a National Assembly, which in itself is an attitude that I think most people would frown upon coming from a public servant. All this does is simply make you look like you're trying to defend the disgusting statements made by this man.

[Peace Patriot]

21. Where, in this Associated Pukes' article, does it say that the Left opposes gay-bashing?

Where does it cite "evidence that Chavistas themselves admit is an embarrassment to their party" (as you put it)? (You have proven my point about AP!) Where does it seek out a party member to disavow these comments (as I'm sure most would do)? Where is that quotation? Where is their effort to get a quote from Maduro or one of his aides or cabinet members?

Instead, the Associated Pukes chooses to SMEAR guilt for the remarks onto Maduro and his government and his party, as follows:

Analyst Luis Vicente Leon, director of the Datanalisis polling firm, called the increasingly personalized attacks by government officials a sign of Maduro's weakening position in the face of worsening inflation, rampant violent crime and foreign currency, food and medicine shortages.--from the OP

Where is "analyst Luis Vicente Leon"'s EVIDENCE--polls, data, studies--that anything that AP summarizes him as saying here, is true? Where are the quotation marks around his alleged statements? Indeed, he sounds like he's just aping rightwing/AP "talking points"! Did he really say this?

This is shit journalism.

The Associated Pukes commit journalism crimes by OMISSION as well as commission--by LEAVING OUT party opposition to, embarrassment about, and any comment whatsoever about, this incident. Nothing! A black hole where information should be.

They further commit journalism crimes by NEVER EVER EVER reporting ANYTHING positive about the Maduro government or the Chavez government of which he was an important part. For instance, Chavez and his party lost an important national vote on 69 amendments to the constitution likely because they dared to propose an amendment protecting women's rights (opposed by the rightwing Venezuelan Catholic prelates). They risked the entire package of amendments for women's rights. NEVER REPORTED by the Associated Pukes or other corporate media monopolies. For instance, the Chavez-Maduro government has done more for the rights of African-Venezuelan citizens than anybody in their history. For instance, according to the UN Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean, Venezuela, under the Chavez-Maduro government, has become "THE most equal country in Latin America" on income distribution. NEVER REPORTED!

But they come out with THIS! That is egregious bias--to ONLY report negative stories, when many positive things have occurred, evident to anyone who bothers to seek out alternative sources.

The techniques of shit journalism are many. They include not seeking quotes from appropriate people when such quotes would contradict AP's bias, smearing people in sneaky ways (like the Datanalysis paragraph above--sliding into an unquoted, unsupported attack on Maduro, with NO Maduro, government or party quotes anywhere in the article, on any of the smeared-together subjects of the paragraph and the article), ONLY publishing NEGATIVE stories so long as Venezuela has a socialist government (which AP is bent on overthrowing!), and more. They are generally not stupid enough to outright lie but what they do generally, as here, is absolutely a form of LYING.

The IMPLICATION--the IMPRESSION they are trying to give--is that the socialist party in Venezuela is anti-gay. But they don't give anybody in that party a chance to say that they are not, or to condemn the remarks of this one legislator. There is no effort at all to be fair to other members of the party or to the government. It is a hit piece against all these OTHER people!

My advice to thoughtful people: Beware, beware, beware of the Associated Pukes!

[Socialistlemur]

22. Luis Vicente Leon is a highly respected pollster and analyst

Mr Leon is considered an authority, and therefore he is quoted because he has the credibility to make his opinions known and published. He has a wealth of poll data which he sells privately, and one of his main clients is the Venezuelan government. Mr Leon has predicted election outcomes very accurately, and has an uncanny take on the popular pulse.

I've met him in person and listened to his briefings, and he is a consummate professional. If you want to become more sophisticated as an observer of the Venezuelan scene, it would pay you to listen to what he has to say.

The government of Venezuela isn't really socialist right now. It's undergoing a deep transformation. What Maduro inherited was a very corrupt regime, full of officials who had joined the PSUV for monetary gain. These bands of thieves have cleaned out the treasury, becoming hyperactive when Chavez was nearly dead from cancer and Maduro was nominally in charge. The amount of money stolen has been incredible.

And this is the reason why Maduro is asking to be given the ability to rule by decree. Decrees he would pass to try to control corruption but also to intensify repression against the opposition. Thus Maduro, who is guided by Cubans, is in a huge bind. He is trying to get the ability to rule like Chavez did, but he can't get it passed legally by the National Assembly (it requires a supermajority vote they lack). If he insists it'll be a sign he is headed for a self coup like Fujimori, a shut down of the parliament like Hitler did, and well on his way to be a dictator.

The homophobic rant by this thug was allowed to go on by National Assembly president Cabello. This means they are indeed nervous and scared, and acting at odds. Cabello versus Maduro is a reality, and those two and their respective bands lack discipline. The Cubans of course want them to tone it down, but there are too many in high positions with sick personalities, no real training as statesmen, and a huge streak of venality. It's absurd, but that's Venezuela today.

[MADem]

26. It's a Boligarchy. A corrupt mess.

I wouldn't be surprised if Maduro is overthrown--not from the right, but by Chavez's old bestie buddy, Diosdado Cabello.

This completely imagined scenario ensures that the Commandante's Legacy remains intact, Cuba stays happy, and someone with a brain--and perhaps a bit more pragmatism-- would be running the corrupt show; perhaps reining in the worst of the corruption with the Army as an enforcement tool.

Diosdado can wear the uniform, too--Maduro can't. And Diosdado has lots of pictures of himself with Chavez, when they were both younger, more vital coup plotters. That always goes over well with the washed and unwashed masses.

It could happen.....!

[Marksman_91]

23. I'd like to show you all the sources outside of AP

But they're in fact so many that it'd take way too long for me to post up, and frankly I don't feel like wasting cellphone data at the moment to do so. You seem like an intelligent enough adult, I'm sure you can look up the articles in Aporrea or look through Google and the official twitter accounts of many prominent chavistas, the reactions to this whole incident are all there. Like I said, this has gone beyond AP reporting it, so I suggest you drop the subject regarding their credibility, because many others are already on the topic of Pedro Carreño and the hidden homophobia within Chavista ranks.

[Socialistlemur]

24. Sometimes when the indefensible happens we see odd responses

I think we are witnessing very simple techniques to counter information. This involves focusing on attacking the source, or pointing out the same type of events happen elsewhere. I've also found them asking how come there's no criticism of such and such event which took place in the far past, and the winner: one isn't worthy because one is "right wing", "left wing", "black", "whitey", "Christian", "Muslim", "gay" and so on. I take this cheap sushi I see dished out and wipe it off my foot after I step on it.

[Marksman_91]

25. They're just taking cues from the corrupt figures they so avidly worship

Distract your listeners/readers from the topic at hand, be it by shifting it completely or adding personal attacks, and hope that they forget about it. It's a classic move used by anyone who can't defend something indefensible. What's funny is that they claim that the opposition are the ones who control the media, when it just so happens that Globovisión, which was the only public channel left that openly criticized the government, was bought off by a middle-man of the government to ensure that they would never do that again. Just yesterday Leopoldo Castillo, one of the most outspoken critics of the government in the channel, stepped down from his daily talk show yesterday because the new Globovisión directory has put up new policies restricting the content that could be talked about in the channel. Now pretty much all journalists of the channel have quit in protest this past week, and to conserve their dignity. A person's conscience can be bought only to a certain extent, and the old Globovisión crew wouldn't have it. And yet the Chavistas in this website have the gall to still claim that the government isn't the one that controls most of the media in the country.

[Socialistlemur]

27. I thought the protest move to air Hitlers biography was great

When they took the news off the air and put on Hitlers biography they were spot on. I expect the regime to maneuver to finish the gutting of the National Assembly, which will surround its powers to the new Fueherer.

[Bacchus4.0]

28. how does it feel to be one of the last three remaining supporters of the Ven. administration? n/t

s

[Socialistlemur]

18. Chávez is dead and the guy is homophobic

I think it's time to get real here. Chavez is dead. This isn't about Chavez.

The question is whether you support ( or not ) homophobic attacks of this nature in Venezuela's National Assembly. The rest of your diatribe is a diversion tactic. And you ought to know Maduro is apologizing all over for this guys' comments. Try to keep up, Diosdado Cabello is the National Assembly president. He's a fascist, Maduro's enemy. This opens another breach between Maduro and Cabello. Eventually they will come to blows.