I need some good info on Hugo Chavez to debunk some letters

[NewJeffCT]

I need some good sources of information on Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. I don’t think the man is perfect, but I thought charges of him having thousands murdered were over the top. And, I know a lot of his anti-Bush rhetoric comes from the fact that the Bush White House helped the leaders of the coup against him several years back.

Somebody had written into here a few weeks back praising Chavez for his oil/gas for the poor program... this week’s paper was flooded with anti-Chavez stuff.

These are what I am responding to.

>>>>
To the person who praised Hugo Chavez as generous and caring: Your letter confirmed for me my belief that the stupidity of the average American knows no boundary. Oil costs are out of control, no doubt, but do you really think Hugo Chavez initiated this program for anything other than political gain? Do you really believe that a man who murdered thousands of his own people who simply spoke out against his regime really gives one gosh darn about you or anyone else? Shame on Washington, yes, but also shame on you for being so ignorant and not recognizing that Chavez is counting on simple-minded people like you to promote his agenda.

>>
A response to “Foreign Care.” So you think that a Communist dictator from Venezuela is an okay guy for throwing us a bone by saving us a few cents on heating oil? Shame on Washington? Shame on you! You must have had your head in the sand! What generosity? Do you know that it cost them approximately $1.50 per barrel to produce oil and yet they charge us up to $70 for it? Citgo may be a few cents cheaper per gallon but they are still making a fortune. All they did was buy some cheap propaganda for fools like you to bad-mouth our country. If anyone deserves to be called generous, it is the USA.

(my comment – how can Venezuela produce oil for $1.50/barrel? Doesn’t that mean ExxonMobil is really soaking us on their US produced oil that does not have to be shipped nearly as far?)

>>>
A response to “Foreign Care.” I am happy you will be warm this winter. I do urge people to read what Hugo Chavez stands for. His playbook is exactly the same as Fidel Castro’s. He tells the Venezuelan poor their problems are the effect of the evil Americans. In the meantime, he steals companies and takes away the freedoms of the people. He has already silenced opposing views and is on the route to becoming a lifetime dictator. He has the same brand of Communism as Fidel. The shame isn’t with Washington D.C. That is our federal government. I think you need to look at the state and local level to get fuel assistance. Contrary to what some people say, we don’t want our senior citizens freezing and there is assistance. Remember, this country is founded on freedom. This also means we have a responsibility to take care of ourselves. I don’t want to bow to some greasy dictator just to get and keep a job. Look at the infinite choices we have. We can even be President! That doesn’t happen in Hugo’s country. You will go to a political prison if you try to oppose the dictator.

>>>>
A response to “Foreign Care.” This shortsighted senior citizen praises Joe Kennedy, Venezuela owned Citgo and Venezuela’s people for filling his oil tank. I say shame on you! You don’t represent the rest of us respectable senior citizens who deplore Venezuela’s dictator Hugo Chavez and his Communist ideology, a good friend of Iran’s mullahs, North Korea’s Kim Jong-il, Cuba’s Castro and that turncoat Joe Kennedy. Have you sold your soul to the Devil? What happened to self respect? You should be boycotting Citgo, not supporting them.

http://remindernewspapers.com/daily/Skins/Vernon/navigator.asp?skin=Vernon&BP=OK

[NewJeffCT]

1. no help on this?

any good links at least?

Thanks