In May '05 Hugo Chavez's Approval Rating was 70.5%

[true_notes]

Article- http://www.alia2.net/article5032.html

Looks like the "Robin Hood of Latin America" has something precious our president doesn't---Public support.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. Laughing here! This is great! :)

[wli]

2. it's probably 90% after the Robertson fiasco n/t

[Selatius]

3. His support, naturally, is strongest with the poorest

Something like 2/3rds of the country lived below the poverty line in that country. Appalling for a nation rich in oil. Saudi Arabia, ruled by an authoritarian oligarchy, has done far better of providing for its citizens than those before Chavez.

They've been neglected and manipulated for so long. The wealth generated by the oil was going to the top 1%, and the small middle class has been bombarded by corporate news propaganda from day one, which is why his support among middle class voters is weaker in comparison. The rest, too poor to gain access to television and radio, have not been affected.

His message of socialism, of the democratic administration of the resources everybody needs to survive, has resonated resoundingly in that country and perhaps most of South America. Regardless of my disagreements with him over how those resources should be administered, I would stand with him in a heart beat.