The Chavez fairness doctrine against foreigners

BBC:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has vowed to expel foreigners who publicly criticise him or his government.

"No foreigner can come here to attack us. Anyone who does must be removed from this country," he said during his weekly TV and radio programme.

Mr Chavez also ordered officials to monitor statements made by international figures in Venezuela.

His comments came shortly after a senior Mexican politician publicly criticised the Venezuelan government.

"How long are we going to allow a person - from any country in the world - to come to our own house to say there's a dictatorship here, that the president is a tyrant, and nobody does anything about it?" Mr Chavez said during his "Hello, President" broadcast on Sunday.

"It cannot be allowed - it is a question of national dignity," he said.

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H'mmm. I think Chavez just proved that he is a dictator, even though that is not what the guy said. While the Democrats claim that they do not want to stop critical remarks, that will be the effect of of their "fairness doctrine" as applied because it will make radio too boring to listen to. Their real goal is the same as Chavez's. They want to stifle all dissent. It is not enough to have all but one network toe their line. They do not want people who disagree with them to be able to hear anything that challenges their positions unless it is through their filter.

The Belmont Club discusses the importance of controlling the narrative.