Naivety

Newspapers

The sympathy towards the “poor” and “oppressed” Venezuelans is seen greatest when discussing their support for Chavez and naivety in their understanding of his control. When the media interviews his supporters during elections or referendums, the quotes are surrounded by an aura of doubt. Their statements of support are written off by qualifying the speaker as poor – supporting him solely because they receive social welfare, or unaware – explaining his “corruption” or “militarization.” These quotes not only paint the Venezuelans as uneducated and innocent but also strips away their agency of supporting a candidate in their own country for multifaceted reasons. This depiction emphasizes the narrative that Chavez is influencing his citizens through a “propaganda machine,” his charisma, or his populist, fiery, and rambling speeches. There is no acknowledgment that his supporters are reelecting him because of his capacity as president, but inherently due to his ability to manipulate the pitied, naive Venezuelans.