Why does the U.S. hate Hugo Chavez?

Fox news needed another boogeyman, so they made one up.

Most Americans who don’t pay attention to right wing media don’t know who he is.

He’s considered a communist. He has nationalized many American owned companies in Venezuela. He is Castro’s best buddy and now the only standard bearer for socialism in the hemisphere. This does not make people happy about him.

I think BK is the nicest person, but I always know she is going to say I am totally wrong.

@Imadethisupwithnoforethought, I just had one comment about your comment. You said, “Most Americans who don’t pay attention to right wing media don’t know who he is.” Do you think that is good? I think the left wing media and people like Madonna’s ex, what’s his name, EDIT DON’T give the other side of the man and people should educate themselves about his policies and his country. I think you are a very nice person and very smart too and I sincerely appreciate your kind words.

I actually think people who watch MTV or comedians for their news think that he is given a black eye by news organizations like Fox and they don’t know what that is all about. I personally think not knowing is sometimes, not always, but sometimes not helpful.

Sean Penn. I just thought of his name.

@bkcunningham I agree, Americans should know more about the wider world. It upsets me the way media is able to shape things, because we don’t educate ourselves independently

I think you are totally correct, @Imadethisupwithnoforethought.

Lol, all I can think about is the Parks and Recreation episode where Venezuela diplomats came to Pawnee and Lesley refused to say Viva Chavez. Man, I know history, obviously.

I still don’t get why they hate Castro, so…

It’s probably that whole being a communist and oppressing the Cuban people thing.

“The devil came here yesterday,” Chavez said, referring to Bush, who addressed the world body during its annual meeting Tuesday. “And it smells of sulfur still today.”

link

Personally, I agree with him.

They hate him because he is less of a human rights violator than themselves.

@glacial, have you ever researched some of the evils that Castro has done. For instance, he forced all homosexuals into labor camps; he urged the USSR to launch a nuclear attack against the US; under Castro Cubans have limited access to the arts, Internet, literature etc.; people were not allowed to leave the country; people didn’t have a choice in elections-1 choice, Castro’s choice; read about the countries political prisoners if you are really interested and lastly look into Castro and his role with Mengistu regime in Africa.

I don’t answer broad generalized questions like this, it’s like saying why is everyone in Amsterdam a sexual deviant.

Because he has ceased bank accounts and property of some of the citizens of Venezuela. He is basically a communist in my opinion, he calls himself a socialist. Venezuelans keep coming to America to get away from him. We say they float over from Cuba, and fly over from Venezuela. Although it is getting tougher. A sister of a friend of mine has been accepted to a university here and she can’t get her Visa approved because the US has said that two sisters and her mom have already come to the states and never left.

Seized not ceased.

@KNOWITALL

I don’t see how my question is anything like saying that at all. Sure, it’s broad, but I wanted to get a sense of why there were so many negative comments from people. I am not saying everyone in the U.S. hates him, but I recognize that he is portrayed negatively in the media and the U.S. government is very critical of him. I just didn’t understand why.

America is called The Great Satan by some other countries, we’ve been attacked multiple times (people, embassies, govt) and a lot of our people jumped out of the Twin Towers holding hands while others chose to burn to death in 2001 – so to me generalizations about our country are very dangerous to encourage anywhere or for any reason.

We are a melting pot of all people’s with many different ethnic backgrounds, values, morals, religions, languages, etc…there is no one way of thinking in this country about anything, and I assume the same about other countries as well and would never generalize.

I simply expect the same from others that I have mature discussions with. Peace.

Because Chavez is a dictator no matter how benevolent.

His subjects do not need to be aware they’re enslaved for free Americans to sympathize with their plight.

It’s alarming to me that the OP needs to ask this.