Sarah Palin this week mistakenly called a democratically-elected president of a foreign state a dictator. In response, Hugo Chavez, who was in 2006 re-elected by a convincing 60% of voters, evoked Jesus, remarking, “Forgive her, for she knows not what she says.”.
So now you know the story: Chavez is not a dictator, he’s the popularly-elected leader of Venezuala. Palin didn’t know even this most basic fact about Venezuala, and yet felt qualified to threaten that country with sanctions.
The Associated Press’ version of this story does not once point out that Venezuala is a democracy. Without this significant piece of context, Palin’s innacurate assertion that Chavez is a dictator goes unchallenged.
The gaffe of Palin’s may be unclear to many readers, and the dismissive nature of Chavez’ comments may seem unfairly condecending and out of line without any clarifying statements.
Here’s the story, as it appears at this moment, (archived in full for purposes of criticism/critique):
Venezuela’s Chavez: Palin a pitiful ‘beauty queen’
By RACHEL JONES
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin a “poor thing” who didn’t know what she was saying when she called him a dictator.
Friday’s verbal attack was the latest in long history of creative insults by Chavez — but was not unprovoked.
In an interview with the U.S. Spanish-language network Univision aired Tuesday, Palin remarked that “through negotiations or sanctions, if necessary, we can pressure dictators like Hugo Chavez to make it clear that they cannot mess with the United States whenever they feel like it.”
Speaking at an event to inaugurate a thermoelectric plant, Chavez said he had heard of Palin’s remarks.
“The poor thing, you have to feel sorry for her,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. Palin, he said, is “a beauty queen that they’ve put in the role of a figurine.”
Chavez said one must do as Christ did: “Forgive her, for she knows not what she says.”
Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s choice of Palin as his running mate surprised the nation and prompted questions about her qualifications to serve as vice president. The McCain campaign had no comment on Chavez’ comment.
Palin, the governor of Alaska, says she would take the lead as vice president in energy policy, overall government reform and working with families who have special-needs children.
This article will almost certainly be syndicated by hundreds, if not thousands of news organisations around the world.
If such careless journalism had occured on a blog or other social media, an early commentor would almost certainly point out the complete lack of context.
Unfortunately, the Associated Press’ traditional publishing model leaves time-consuming details like accuracy or clarification at the door. Readers are not provided with so much as an email address to offer comments or express concern.
The article will be read unchallenged and unedited by thousands around the world.
Participatory Media: 1
Centralised Media: 0
Let’s hope your post gets picked up and splashed around the world. Unfortunately, by the time that happens, Palin will have made another gaffe that will have overshadowed this one 😉
I’ve submitted this to Digg – so click that link, log in and digg it ^_^
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Palin_calls_elected_leader_a_dictator_AP_ignores_error
If one defines ‘popularly-elected’ as mutually exclusive to a leader being a dictator, then fine, Palin was in error. Sorry, I don’t.
Last time I checked all you needed to be VP was to be born in the US.
Unqualified or not, my friends just received the biggest dividend check from the State of Alaska, ever. 3200 dollars pp. For Palin’s family that is near 20k. Pretty dumb huh? She re-negotiated the states cut with the oil majors. The people got paid. She will be around power, for a long, long time, if she can roll the oil companies from their money.
Sorry, over 20k, and closer to 23k. Even Trig gets his 3200 bucks. Where there is smoke there is fire, if Palin weren’t effective as a leader, nobody would be attacking her from the left.
Being a “democracy” has no bearing on dictatorship, we all know that Germany elected their dictator back in the 30’s.
Ah Palin.
Why do people keep saying american attacks on independent foreign leaders are mistakes or gaffes? We all know the US and its power elite hate Chavez, and aer prepared to use the Big Lie technique to condition the public. The media has the essential role of acting as conduit for these lise.
These are not ‘mistakes’. They are deliberat and reflect both the decline of any sort of american moral conscience, and the desperate need to attack a succeful leader.
She reveals her own shortcomings everytime she speaks on issues ie Chavez was democratically elected- Bush was not in either 2000 or 2004- do the math on your dictactor allegations Palin.lol
Btw- didn’t Bush say this(Iraq/Afghan war) would be “alot easier if this was a dictatorship as long as he the was the dictator”?
Michelle Obama is better qualified than Palin and can speak on her own accord on issues as she has done when going on shows like- The View, Larry King Live(I would love to see Palin on) and so forth.
Republican women = C McCain who is a documented homewrecker who stoles narcotics using a children’s charity as cover- do the math. Morality? Character? Integrity?
S Palin- Trig is not your son- recognize we all know the truth.lol I have seen both the Alaska Government & hospital web pages before the photos/info was taken down and you weren’t listed as have given birth on said date to Trig nor did you look remotely pregnant at what would have been your 7th month.
AIP(Alaska Independence Party)? You know me!!lol
I’ve posted this to quite a few sites as well, and emailed it to journalists Stateside – hopefully this gets picked up!