[Peace-discuss] CNN political hack, I mean, Connie Mack

[Phil Stinard]

I just received this from the Venezuela Information Office.  It seems that 
Florida Congressman Connie Mack is hysterical that the Spanish language US 
propaganda machine called CNN en Espanol will have some competition from a 
real news organization in South America...

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PROPAGANDA WARS

South America's ambitious new Television network, Telesur, begins it
continent-wide broadcast this Sunday.  A joint project between the 
governments
of Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba and Brazil, it is billed as the first
South American network to be owned and operated by South Americans.
http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/telesur.html

While many Latin American viewers eagerly await this new network option, the
reaction in Washington has bordered on hysterical.  Ignoring the 
multi-national
ownership structure, Florida Republican Connie Mack referred to the network
launch as a part of President Chavez's "ever-growing crackdown on freedom 
and
his rapidly increasing domination of the Venezuelan airwaves."

Mack has introduced an amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act 
to
beam US-produced anti-Chavez programming to Venezuela, a tactic used in
countries where television networks are 100% state controlled.  Listening to
Congressman Mack, one gets the impression that there are few broadcast 
options
in Venezuela.  The truth is quite the opposite:

*  Venezuela has 48 "open" channels that can be accessed without a cable
subscription or a satellite dish.

*  Several of these open channels have national coverage, so that any family
with a television has access to a minimum of seven channels.

*  Of these, two are run by the state.

*  Cable subscribers have access to more than 120 international channels; 
half
of these are broadcast directly from the United States.

There is no censorship on Venezuelan television, save restrictions on 
excessive
sex and violence during daytime hours.  Indeed, independently-owned 
television
stations have been frequently criticized by international watchdogs for 
their
open hostility to the county's democratically elected leaders.
http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/MediaOpposition.htm

So one more anti-government channel sent to Venezuela would appear to be a 
major
waste of US tax dollars.

The truth is that Congress is not likely to ever spend money on a "Radio 
Free
Venezuela" network.  Instead, this debate may be interpreted to be its own 
form
of propaganda, enabling Florida Republicans to paint Venezuela, 
disingenuously,
as a country without press freedoms.

Congressman Mack earned a lot of free coverage this week, with loaded claims
that his amendment sends a "message that [America] we will not turn a blind 
eye
as Hugo Chavez continues to snuff out freedom and hijack Venezuela from its
citizens."

In the last two weeks, Mack has also publicly stated that  "There is no 
freedom
of speech, no freedom of dissent, and no freedom to stand in opposition to 
the
Chavez regime," and that Venezuela has "no free press--just state controlled
anti-American propaganda."

Oh really?  Take a look at a complete listing of Venezuelan television
programming today:
http://www.directv.com.ve/directvven/programacion.aspx

If you would like to help set the record straight, Representative Mack may 
be
reached at 202-225-2536, or http://www.house.gov/writerep/


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Venezuela Information Office

733 15th Street NW
Suite 932
Washington, District of Columbia 20005
United States