Venezuela tells CNN journalists to 'get out'

[Bacchus4.0]

Source: CNN


February 21, 2014 -- Updated 1916 GMT (0316 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
CNN journalists are denied credentials to report in Venezuela
President Nicolas Maduro calls the network's coverage "war propaganda"
Tensions are running high amid anti-government protests
(CNN) -- Venezuela has revoked or denied press credentials for CNN journalists in the country, following the president's announcement he would expel CNN if it did not "rectify" its coverage of anti-government protests.

"They want to show the world that there is a civil war in Venezuela," President Nicolas Maduro said Thursday in a televised speech.

Anti-government protests have become a daily occurrence in the country, and clashes with security forces or pro-government supporters have resulted in at least eight deaths, officials said.

What CNN is not showing, Maduro said, is "the people working, studying, building the homeland."

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Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/21/world/americas/venezuela-cnn-journalists-expelled/

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We certainly wouldn't want the people to know that there is a civil war in Venezuela as he calls it.

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. "rectify" its coverage? Hmmmm. What could he possibly mean by that? Where's the ACLU?

[TygrBright]

4. I think it's a reference to "the Rectification of the Voldraanii." Or a large and moving Slor... n/t

[Common Sense Party]

2. It doesn't LOOK civil. nt

[Submariner]

3. Maybe putting Venezuela in the hands of a Bus Driver

was not a good idea.

[COLGATE4]

7. K&R This ^^^

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. !!!

[Comrade Grumpy]

9. Yeah, that's a job for 1%er.

[geek tragedy]

10. or at least someone who doesn't act like King Canute

when it comes to economics.

"I hereby make inflation illegal and criminal" is pretty much all he's got. His approach to economic policy always has one solution--threaten to throw people in jail.

Someone from the left needs to get this clown off the stage.

[Zorra]

57. Much better to put it in the hands of a 1% former oil company executive, right?

Like Lopez?

[SoapBox]

5. I still would like to tell CNN to "get out" of America.

...starting with Blitzer and working from there.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

62. CNN would still say "Too Close to Call."

[hrmjustin]

6. Disgraceful!

[pragmatic_dem]

11. Because we all know that the US in Central and South America is neutral

just like it is in other oil/resource/strategically important regions, like Argentina, Peru, Nicaragua, Honduras, etc

And CNN is clearly neutral and objective in its reporting whenever and wherever we crush the infidel enemies of the mighty corporate interests of the USA.

[hrmjustin]

12. Do you think they were right to throw out CNN?

[pragmatic_dem]

13. Are we right to bomb Al Jezera or ban it from cable networks?

Or are we right to spy on our own people? Or private citizens of other countries?

Right or wrong, it's their country and they are defending themselves from a well documented history of American interference in Central and South America.

I don't judge them on the basis of how well they treat CNN. CNN is a bullshit news organization that worries far more about BP and Exxon ad revenue than accuracy and fairness in reporting.

The game has changed. You do what you have to. No one has the high ground.

If the US doesn't like it, they don't have to buy their oil.

[hrmjustin]

15. Well I see it different.

If they have to throw out CNN they have something to hide.

[pragmatic_dem]

16. so what, who cares?

We are approaching third world levels of poverty and income disparity in US. My corp. health plan went up $1200 this year while my earnings go down. India is reading xrays from hospitals for $10-$25 dollars and your shitty HMO is charging you $200 for the privilege.

Let's see CNN report on that. The US history of meddling south of border is tragic with estimates of millions dead in various genocides.

Where was CNN and news media as women and children slaughtered across Central and South America?

We have our own problems to deal with. Last thing we need is CNN stepping in a big pile of shit in South America and then try to rub it off by smearing it around.

CNN is big hair and big breasts on TV dishing out comfort stories for rich people. Wolf Blitzer isn't exactly Edward f'ing Murrow.

What next - complain because staff of Redbook Magazine is banned from Dubai?

[hrmjustin]

17. So by that logic we should tell all our media to abandon all other nations and only

report on American stories.

I am sorry but if a government needs to throw out thd press then they are up to something.

[pragmatic_dem]

20. it doesn't matter if "they" are up to something....

because right here in America, in the US of A - there is more than enough shit right here to report on.

I don't give a rat's ass about anything else at the moment. And most people shouldn't, either.

If you don't like Venezuela - then don't buy their oil.

As for press access? How many of foreign members of foreign press are allowed to cover our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan and where ever? Our own press isn't even allowed to cover our own scandals in an objective manner.

Journalism as a profession is dead in US. Even NY Times cheerleaded the way into Iraq war.

I don't know if "they" have something to hide or not. I do know CNN is incapable of helping me decide and history repeats itself.

Millions of dead men, women and children in Central and South America over last 120 years or so paid for and sponsored by the US proves I am right.

[hrmjustin]

21. Countries that don't let the press in are not well thought of.

I do not claim to know every detail of this story but if Maduro starts banning American press then it will be hard to get the story.

Maduro is coming off as a bully.

[tatum37]

22. CNN is not "the press." N/T

[hrmjustin]

23. Cnn is press. They were banned and that is not a good sign when press organizations are banned.

[gopiscrap]

44. Welcome to DU

[pragmatic_dem]

24. CNN is to Venezula govt. like Al Jazzera to the US govt.

We need to stop pretending our values are better than others. When we clean our own house we can tell other people to clean theirs.

If you are not comfortable with Venezuela, don't buy their oil.

[hrmjustin]

26. Pepole have the right to their opinions and I think it was wrong to ban Cnn.

[pragmatic_dem]

27. And I have no problem with CNN being kicked out.

It's also wrong for US to spy on its own reporters, and many democrats think Obama and Holder are right to do that.

The US can't preach fairness and cheat at same time.

[hrmjustin]

30. When you say the US do you mean the government or the people?

Seems tp me ee have the right to our opinions.

[pragmatic_dem]

33. I think we've both made our opinions clear, don't you?

[hrmjustin]

35. Yes. If you wish to end it then we can leave it be.

Welcome to DU and enjoy the site my friend.

[muriel_volestrangler]

43. "CNN is to Venezula govt. like Al Jazzera to the US govt.", and you have no problem with the ban?

Wow - so you're saying you'd have no problem with the US govt kicking Al Jazeera out?

[uppityperson]

28. Ignore every other country's problems until the USA is perfect?

[leftynyc]

45. Has our government thrown out Al Jazzera?

I hadn't heard about that.

[reddread]

55. Record number of journalists killed during Iraq "War" (INVASION)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/19/iraq-war-killed-journalists_n_2907550.html


"In Syria, and to a lesser extent Afghanistan, combat-related crossfire has accounted for a large proportion of deaths. But in Iraq, at least 92 journalists, or nearly two out of every three killed, did not die in airstrikes, checkpoint shootings, suicide bombings, sniper fire, or the detonation of improvised explosive devices. They were instead murdered in targeted assassinations in direct reprisal for their reporting. Many were targeted because of their affiliations with U.S. or Western news organizations, or their connections to news outlets seen as having sectarian connections."

[uppityperson]

29. Most people should not care about anything except the USA? Huh.

[pragmatic_dem]

31. I don't think there is any thing wrong with reporting on corruption and injustice in USA, do you?

[uppityperson]

34. "I don't give a rat's ass about anything else at the moment. And most people shouldn't, either."

You didn't answer my question of " Most people should not care about anything except the USA?" but instead try and deflect with a different one.

[pragmatic_dem]

36. I have decided that your microscopic nit picking isn't worth arguing about.

[uppityperson]

37. I quote you, ask for clarification and you call it "microscopic nit picking"? ROFL

[pragmatic_dem]

38. You never asked for clarification before jumping to conclusions - like CNN...

You decided I said this:
Ignore every other country's problems until the USA is perfect?
But I didn't say that.

Then you decided I said this:
Most people should not care about anything except the USA? Huh.
But I didn't say that.

I said this:
because right here in America, in the US of A - there is more than enough shit right here to report on.

I don't give a rat's ass about anything else at the moment. And most people shouldn't, either.

If you don't like Venezuela - then don't buy their oil.

As for press access? How many of foreign members of foreign press are allowed to cover our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan and where ever? Our own press isn't even allowed to cover our own scandals in an objective manner.

Journalism as a profession is dead in US. Even NY Times cheerleaded the way into Iraq war.

I don't know if "they" have something to hide or not. I do know CNN is incapable of helping me decide and history repeats itself.

Millions of dead men, women and children in Central and South America over last 120 years or so paid for and sponsored by the US proves I am right.

[uppityperson]

40. I will rephrase my question so you understand it as a question.

Last edited Sat Feb 22, 2014, 12:52 AM - Edit history (1)

To first explain, your quote I copy/ pasted is "I don't give a rat's ass about anything else at the moment. And most people shouldn't, either." I asked if you meant "Most people should not care about anything except the USA?" as that seemed what you were saying. The question marks I used and which you copy pasted with my questions were meant to indicate the questions were questions. I do not end statements with question marks, only questions. That is why they are called "question mark"s. The presence of one indicates a question. My apologies for not making my questions ending in question marks obvious enough for you to take as questions.

Let me rephrase my question for you.

Do you mean most people should not care about anything but except the USA because there is a lot of shit here to report on? It seems that is what you are saying with these sentences and I'd like to make sure I understand you so would you please clarify? "right here in America, in the US of A - there is more than enough shit right here to report on. I don't give a rat's ass about anything else at the moment. And most people shouldn't, either."

[pragmatic_dem]

41. that is a good question, happy to answer

I believe the fact that CNN was booted out is hardly evidence of a superior American value system. And I don't believe that somehow CNN is entitled to anything in a foreign country.

Recall that China recently put draconian measures against CNN and most foreign press in China last year and we still send about 400,000 high tech jobs a year there. Not a peep from anyone.

I also believe that the US likes to "gang up" on small, oil rich nations as if we are somehow more superior, even though we have 40,000,000 people or more living at or below the poverty level and approaching 3rd world levels of infant mortality and teen pregnancy.

I don't give a rat's ass about this CNN issue because the US is famous for telling other countries how to live while every measure of quality of life for the average American has been in steady decline over last 40 years. And I don't think other people should care about this CNN BS either. It is pointless.

The only measure of improvement for last 40 years comes from 5-10% who CNN represents and is very careful not to make uncomfortable.

CNN isn't going to watch our back as Washington festers in corruption. Therefore, I couldn't give a rat's ass about their problems in Venezuela. And for the record, I am also less interested in Venezuela's problems than the mounting US problems.

When CNN proves to be a champion for justice and investigative journalism in the USA, I'll reconsider kissing their boo-boos in Venezuela.

[hrmjustin]

32. Still scratching my head on that one.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

49. They don't have something to hide, they have something to throw out - the U.S. provocation of a coup

Period.

[brooklynite]

42. Please explain who has "banned" Al Jazeera...

I have it on my big, ugly, corporatist cable system.

[Whisp]

18. I told CNN to get out months ago - I Cut The Cable.

happy happy

[Whisp]

19. whatever CNN is claiming is probably a lie. We all know what they are. n/t

[Pterodactyl]

25. Maduro is an ass.

[SolutionisSolidarity]

39. If CNN is going to do the same bang up job they did in 2002, good riddance.

Watch this to know why CNN isn't worth listening to:
[link:

|

[leftynyc]

46. I can't believe the crap I'm reading on this thread

If the US government threw out Al Jazzera, there would be calls to burn Washington down. The hypocrisy is absolutely stunning when it's a supposed "leftist" doing the censorship. Maduro is an asshole - crime is out of control and inflation is at a level we would be protesting also. And those who continue to blame the US for these problems sound like fools.

[springchick]

47. Hypocrisy knows no bounds with certain segments.

[reddread]

48. Al_Jazeera_bombing_memo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera_bombing_memo

Previous US bombings of Al Jazeera-
Al Jazeera's offices have previously been hit by United States weaponry. On 13 November 2001 a U.S. missile hit Al Jazeera's office in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the U.S. invasion of that country. Although no Al Jazeera staff were hurt in the attack, the building was destroyed and some employees' homes were damaged. At the time, Mohammed Jasim al-Ali, managing editor, said that the coordinates of the office were well known to everyone including the Americans.[12]
When former British Home Secretary David Blunkett published his memoirs in late 2006, it was revealed he had advised Prime Minister Tony Blair in late March 2003 to bomb the Al Jazeera television transmitter in Baghdad. "There wasn't a worry from me because I believed that this was a war and in a war you wouldn't allow the broadcast to continue taking place", Blunkett said.[3][4][5]
On 8 April 2003 a U.S. missile hit an electricity generator at Al Jazeera's office in Baghdad. The resulting fire killed reporter Tareq Ayyoub and wounded another staff member.[13] On 24 February, Mohammed Jasim al-Ali had sent a letter with the coordinates of the offices to Victoria Clarke, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs[14] (the location had not been officially requested by the U.S. government). This incident, which occurred during the U.S. assault on Baghdad and after criticism of Al Jazeera's coverage from those supportive of the war aims of the United States forces, gave rise to suspicions that the network had been targeted.
Frank Gaffney published an opinion piece on 29 September 2003 calling for Al Jazeera to be "taken down" "one way or another" because it constitutes "enemy media"

[Judi Lynn]

52. Some of us most clearly remember that time. Absolutely evil and no one could stop them.

It should have sobered up a whole lot of people, about where our government has gone, but apparently we have some among us sick enough to have enjoyed it.

[leftynyc]

54. And now it's on most cable

line ups in the US so I have no idea what your ridiculous point is bringing up something over a decade old. Personally, I haven't even bothered to find it in my lineup - Euronews and BBC are fine for me.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

50. Oh really. And of course, you're oblivious to the entire history of Latin America too.

I think you know very well what's going on, but are pretending not to because you side with the fascists. And the U.S. has been doing regime-change in Latin America from its inception. So please stop whatever it is you're trying to pretend.

[leftynyc]

53. I don't know who you think you are

but just because I disagree with you doesn't mean I'm a fucking fascist and I'm sick to death of posters like you attributing whatever bullshit comes to your brain to people who think differently. You do no good for your cause and your hair on fire routine about evil Americans is nothing but tiresome bullshit. And for the record, I couldn't possibly care less about the opinions of people like you. You're a caricature of a Democrat.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

56. How dare you. I'm a Latin, which you're not. I'm far more knowledgeable than you about the damage

done to Latin America for centuries and I have lived it in my own SKIN, which you have not. You don't give a damn what happens to Latin America, and your point of view is therefore completely divorced emotionally from the constant coups the U.S. has financed and arranged for the benefit of corporations and exploitative capitalism. It's easy to see how removed you are, which is why you can desire hell on countries you have absolutely ZERO connection to, which is why you don't give a damn how many times the U.S. uses fascist protests and fascist tactics to overthrow an elected government and put a fascist in its place

[leftynyc]

58. Spare me

How dare I? You called me a fucking fascist with absolutely no cause whatsoever because I disagree with you. I'm well aware of US history so I don't need some nobody on the internet to educate me. Maduro has done NOTHING to combat rampant inflation, food shortages, toilet paper shortages, and an exploding crime rate. If you want to throw a fucking parade for this incompetent boob, knock yourself out.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

59. Really. And the U.S. has no problems, right? I think you should stick to fixing your own country

and stop commenting about countries you know little or nothing about.

[leftynyc]

60. Yawn

Putting words into someone's mouth is not something adults do and I'll comment about whatever the fuck I want to. Anything other orders you expect me to obey?

[EX500rider]

68. "I think you should stick to fixing your own country and stop commenting about countries you....

.....know little or nothing about."

Are you from Venezuela?

If not does the same advice apply to you or just other people?

[reddread]

61. "toilet paper shortages"

i dont care how many times you say something so damn silly.
i still have to laugh at your idea of outrageous injustice.
Gong show politics.

[leftynyc]

63. Let me know how unimportant it

is when you have a stomach virus. And I only mentioned tp once so I have no idea what you're babbling about. Are you another who thinks Maduro has been good for Venezuela? Or just someone who can't stand the truth?

[EX500rider]

64. "I'm a Latin, which you're not. I'm far more knowledgeable than you"

Oh well, you were born there, enough said you must know it all and always be right....lol

[Sarah Ibarruri]

65. No, but it matters a great deal more to me because I lived it. nt

[EX500rider]

66. I find on the internet best not to guess where..

......everybody is from 'cause you'd be wrong a lot.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

67. ??? I'm just a tad confused. lol nt

[EX500rider]

70. "I'm a Latin, which you're not."

Is there a master list of who is Latino on DU the rest of us can see too?

[EX500rider]

69. "matters a great deal more to me" is not quite the same..

....thing as "I am more knowledgeable then you" which I doubt you could be too sure of without knowing someones background on the subject, which i doubt you do.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

71. Someone speaking from far away, never having lived it, not being from any of those countries,

and you're going to give more of a damn than someone from there? LOL! Oh please. You're joking, right?

[EX500rider]

72. Cool, a DU psychic...

...so what countries was i and everyone else on this thread born in then, oh wise one?

And are you from and in Venezuela now or are you "far away" too? And how may countries away can one be and still give a damn?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

73. Don't bother me right now. I'm busy reading other threads where you previously posted. nt

[EX500rider]

74. Ah, pretty much the definition of too much time on your hands. n/t

[EX500rider]

75. And anyway i already outed myself in the other thread:

"Agent 007a @
US/Mobil Oil division of fascist coup plotters-BBS poster Dept.-sub Dept. DU Venz. squad" Saved you some time there!

[mwrguy]

51. Fuck CNN

Lying corporate shills