Evo Visits Comedy Central and the Daily Show
Some months ago I was invited to chat with a few staff at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz and one of them opened that conversation with an odd disclaimer, "Please understand, we aren't all Bush Republicans. I am a diehard Jon Stewart fan." Well, if the "Daily Show" fans at the U.S.'s highest embassy were watching last night, they saw an unexpected familiar face on the set in New York – Bolivia's President, Evo Morales.Visiting President's make their marks on the U.S. in different ways during the annual head-of-state extravaganza at the UN. Hugo Chavez, last year, made his famous "Bush is the devil and I still smell the sulfur speech." While the speech did boost books sales for Noam Chomsky, I don't think it helped Venezuela's cause a good deal. Earlier this week the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, made a much-publicized visit to Columbia University where he explained that Iran does not have any gay people. That would be except, one supposes, for the ones tortured or jailed by the government for being gay.
Morales is definitely getting and following better advice about U.S. public relations.
As someone who doesn't own a TV, I don't actually watch the Daily Show, except for snippets that come on in hotel rooms while on the road. Nevertheless, from a U.S. public relations point of view Evo couldn't do better. At a time when the President of the U.S. is a joke, and Presidents like Ahmadinejad wouldn't seem to know a joke, Evo has a chance to toss a few– as well as explain what he is up to – in front of millions of U.S. viewers.
"Evo the Likeable" – watch that make his opposition in Bolivia go nuts. Maybe when Ahmadinejad visits Bolivia on Thursday (a move that will make the U.S. go nuts) Evo can show him the tape and give him a few pointers on lightning up. Maybe he can invite some gay people over too.
I am told by a reader that, if you missed it on the tube, you can watch Evo's "Daily Show" appearance on the Comedy Central Web site, here.
We look forward to your reviews.
posted by The Democracy Center at 3:29 AM
271 Comments:
I actually felt sorry for Morales in this one. I think helooked as stiff as his haircut and was perplexed at Stewart's jokes. It made Morales appear more as an exotic curiosity than the president of a country.
Sure, not all of Stewart's sarcasm made it across the language barrier, but I think Evo came across to the viewers as genuine. With the way John Stewart painted Bolivian politics, I'm sure most viewers felt that leadership in the United States would do well to take notes from Morales.
I thought that Evo came across very well. I'm familiar with him and his policies but to viewers that do not really know who he is, I'm sure that he came across as a leader that is a lot more rational and worthy of respect than usually portrayed in the US media.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4420530653786576040&q=daily+show+evo+morales&total=1&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVjhNWmslKg
Mr. Morales should join the cast of Comedy Central permanently and let a real president be elected do the urgent things Bolivia needs to get out of the abyss in which it has fallen by the irresponsible actions of the not so funny fascists that are ruining the country.
He rEVOlutionized CC and the set was way beyond what they usually do. They placed BOLIVIA on the map and in the hearts of millions of US viewers last night and many more on the web today and the days to come.
ONLY 2 more Signing days to the Nobel Peace Prize campaign left, so pass on the info to ALL your contacts.
Please go to this url http://www.evonobel2007.org/ and on the right hand side you will see a button that says "ENVIAR FIRMAS" which means SEND SIGNATURES. At the “Materiales de campaña” "Campaign Materials" button you will be able to download material including a power point presentation about his life and work.
and goni wasn't a facist?? hhmmm.. funny how people's view changes when they find themselves displaced from power. must be a bummer.. maybe if you would have shared the wealth from natural resources with all bolivians, and adopted policies like interuculturalism which position indigenous culture and languages alongside a mestizo one, and not below it- you wouldn't find yourselves in the position you do today, desperately clinging to power at the departamental level, since at the national level you are pretty much done for. i can't decide if it is human nature to simply have no desire to share and then treat the people you don't share with like dogs. i think it must be- because it goes on everywhere. but at some point, humans on this earth are going to have to figure out that the status quo will not remain that way forever, and it is better to deal with issues that are festering below the surface before they blow up into something bigger.
Evo should've completed his agenda in the US paying a visit to H. Kissinger. He is the kind of Nobel Price winner he should get advise from. Or may be he already did because he did not get Mr. Mandela's lesson on "Peace". Mr. Kissinger had good lobbysts, some of Evo's advisors in DC know him well and keep Bolivia's Embasy busy.
Sure, Evo Morales put Bolivia on the map to millions of Americans, but simply as an exotic and folkloric curiosity from a strange faraway land and not as a charismatic and dignified head of state.
Obviously Stewart is a comedian and not a journalist, so he can be forgiven for his soft and paternalistic questions to Morales. When Morales wasn't as woody as his hairdo while being asked questions, he seemed extremely nervous and self conscious as he answered them.
Too bad Morales wasn't asked the question that if he is so against capitalism, why didn't he travel to the US by rowing a boat made out of "totora" instead of borrowing a plane by his boss Hugo Chavez.
Congrats, Bolivia! You were an unknown laughingstock before, now you're a known laughingstock.
What's a facist? I have yet to hear a definition.
Speaking of Morales' egomaniac quest for a Nobel Peace (gag) Prize, sure he deserves a prize. The proclamation should be like this:
"In truth and fairness we, the handful of participants in Jim Shultz's bolg, proclaim that Evo Morales is worthy and undisputed heir to the LEBON prize, which is given to those who do everything the opposite of rationality, intelligence, and relevance."
Ha, ha, ha!!!
Anon 1:40 Here you go..
often Fascism
A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
Oppressive, dictatorial control.
Fascism is an authoritarian political ideology (generally tied to a mass movement) that considers individual and other societal interests subordinate to the needs of the state. Fascists seek to forge a type of national unity, usually based on (but not limited to) ethnic, cultural, or racial attributes. Various scholars attribute different characteristics to fascism, but the following elements are usually seen as its integral parts: nationalism, authoritarianism, statism, militarism, totalitarianism, anti-communism, corporatism, populism, and opposition to economic and political liberalism.
Haha..."como voz" ("like you", voz is a very informal way of adressing a person). I don't agree with all of Morales thoughts, but he sure is a colorful president.
tnx anon 2:23. Seems that Evo fits the definition. Unless can someone tell me why MAS is not a facist party?
I'm a big Jon Stewart fan, but of course one can only go so deep in 6 minutes on a comedy show. A far smaller audience heard a much deeper interview on Amy Goodman's Democracy NOW! radio show: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/26/1442242
Also, Evo's actual UN speech is worth checking out: http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2007/09/lets-respect-our-mother-earth.html
Can someone find an original transcript? I only have time for a quick search, and haven't been able.
What an absolute disgrace.
Dan you can watch the speech at http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/62/ and I guess the transcript will be up some time today as well...
"Ex-President of Bolivia Faces Suit in U.S."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/25/AR2007092502252.html?hpid=sec-nation
"US Senate backs separating Iraq into 3 regions"
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-warvote27sep27,1,7035696.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
Some may say, what the heck does Iraq have to do with Bolivia. I say, both countries are experiencing ethnic conflict, centered on the distribution of natural resources, with autonomy claims resonating from all sides. Clearly, the civil war in Iraq is clearly well beyond the level of violence seen in Bolivia. But, both countries are essentially grappling with the same issues.
B-Doggie's definition of fascism: Anyone he disagrees with.
please refer to the 10 point criteria for fascism I posted in the thread a couple of posts ago.
all rants aside, though, I enjoyed watching Evo on the DS. Some things were funny, and his advisors scored big points for thinking of the idea.
as usual, my only dissapointment is with all our brothers and sisters that jump the gun to criticize our President and seems like even hoped for him to look bad.
I come from a bolivian family and I dont think this president is perfect but he's way better than the disasters Bolivia has had to endure. At least Morales is trying to vindicate indigenous people and give them back some of their rights and dignity. That alone makes think he's a change for the better, no matter what the right-wing and conservaties parties of the country say.
Anonymous said...
What an absolute disgrace.
12:03 AM
What pray-tell does this statement mean? If you cannot articulate better than that, please don't waste our time with your inane comments.
What an absolute moronic waste.
Better?
Anon 5:14 pm
"At least Morales is trying to vindicate indigenous people and give them back some of their rights and dignity"
Could you be specific naming exactly which rights did the indigenous people not have before Morales became the president?
Anon 9:33AM framed this issue:
". . .which rights did the indigenous people not have before Morales became the president?"
I respond after setting aside that is probably asked by one who either a) lives in a contextual vacuum as to Bolivia; b) operates in a state of denial as to Bolivia's socio-economic/political facts; or c) naively works at the US embassy, functioning as a socioeconomic/political ostrich who believes Bush and trusts Saddam's "weapons of mass destruction" will be found, just as O.J. Simpson will find the "real killers" of his wife and Ronald Goldman.
Where should I start? I'll start where our (US) forefathers did and restrict myself to that point, for brevity.
Before Morales, the indigenous people did not have the equivalent of our US 1st Amendment's right of freedom of speech, assembly or right to address grievances against their government.
Even post Evo's election, they are denied those rights by racist elites in Cochabamba and in the Santa Cruz regions (under the power of Croat-led ethnic cleansers who act in concert with Ambassador Goldberg, that ethnic cleanser-enabler who served a tour of duty balkanizing Eastern Europe).
Cross apply the cite by B-dogg above for this case in point: the US federal case addressing the massacre by Goni when indigenous people sought to express their right to free speech, assemble in protest and express their grievance against Goni selling out their natural resources in benefit of a few elites. As recent Washington Post articles inform us, the case against the denial of Bolivian indigenous people's human rights is so important that the US's greatest legal minds at Harvard Law School and NY's Center for Human Rights Abuse filed suits against Goni three days ago in a Maryland US District Court and yesterday against Sanchez Berzain in a Miami US District Court. The same may occur to Manfred after he leaves office for what he did in January through his goons and in concert with the Union Civica Juvenil Crucena (who are aided by clannish Croats and other Santa Cruz racist elites).
Since Evo became president, the above rights and the dignity in accord have been extended to the indigenous people as best as he has been able to do considering his context: weak central government besieged by powerful racist insurgencies composed of elites controlling almost all mass media. For context, consider the inane ad hominems and drive-by posted insults/blurbs that infect this blog every time Jim, his learned interns or an observer seeks reasoned discussion as to the merits of Evo's public policies. For visual evidence and context, go to you tube and use "autonomia carajo" for your keyword search. You will see recent footage of white racists clubbing, WHIPPING and beating indigenous people who did not adhere to the "paro" declared by non publicly elected Santa Cruz elites.
Sorry to burst your bubble Grindio, but you are so wrong. The CPE does have an equivalent to the US' 1st amemdment. I guess you are the one with your head in the sand: Please dust off you copy and check Titulo 1ro, Art.7,b
Secondly, Evo has done nothing for indigenous rights as relates to a a new CPE because there is no agreement on a single article in the CA.
Thirdly, Harvard does not have the most brilliant legal minds. Please everybody knows that these are located in Midtown Manhattan or K street in DC. Also, Stanford and Yale are far superior law schools. Finally, just because a couple of pot smoking hippies file a petition does not make it into a ruling.
Fourth, I'm surprised that such a well connected impresario (sic) such as yourself, would know that the vast mayority of the State Department is liberal, and after a couple of cocktails will confess their embarrassment of having Curious George as their commander in Cheif.
Finally, and I repeat, Evo has done absolutely nothing for the indigenous mayority in Bolivia. Why elso would CONAMAQ and other (non-cocalero) indigenous movements ask for his and Silvia Lazarte's resignation?
May be we should ask Jim to report on the schism that the MAS is suffering. I understand that there are currently three lines within the party. I would call them the Qollasuyo-Castro arm, the neo-left (or the "let's see if we can learn anything from the collapse of the USSR and a Bankrupt Cuba" intellectual crowd, and the "let's get rich" arm. Sadly, the "let's get rich" is ahead, with the neo-left lagging in last place. Evo is leaning towards this one...but still hasn't made up his mind. Blame Garcia Linera, I wonder if he agrees with Evo and Iranian President's views on homosexuality???
the right to self-governance in their communities, the right to hold land as a community, the right to appeal to community justice instead of the country's corrupt court system, the right to choose their own leaders in accordance with their own traditions, to name a few.
Congrats Anon 4:53
a far superior reply than Grindio's and far more succint to boot.
My only issue with those rights, is that they would not be universal, create gray areas in jurisdiction and a paralel legal system (forum shopping anyone?) among others.
Now a couple of questions: what assurances do you have the their system won't be corrupt? what about individual rights? and what if their traditions are an affront to OUR customs, like men and women being equal, or the fact that you can be PRESIDENT OF BOLIVIA and be single at the same time?
Lastly, these rights are still theoretical since nothing has been approved and I would lump these in the "nice to have" category, but not in the necessary for life bucket.
Grindio, I won’t even take any time to respond to your tedious, inconsistent, poorly written and mostly FALSE response to my request for clear examples. Anon 4:51 pm already did that very well and really busted your red bubble. Your usual rants are ridiculous and diminish the value of this blog as a way of finding viable political solutions to Bolivia’s uncertain future.
Anon 4:53 pm
the right to self-governance in their communities,
Wouldn’t you call this the right to AUTONOMY? Isn’t this what 6 out of 9 departments are fighting for in the CA and in every possible forum against the will of the MAS and Evo? Is autonomy good for some and bad for others?
the right to hold land as a community,
By taking it from privately owned productive agroindustrial and cattle farmers that have turned wild land into these productive units with huge investment and hard work?
the right to appeal to community justice instead of the country's corrupt court system,
No comments on this one! Just watch one of these savage and brutal acts of “community justice”
the right to choose their own leaders in accordance with their own traditions,
Yeah right, that is probably why Evo has been that leader of the cocaleros for years… He didn’t have the right to do so.. unbelievable :)
to name a few.
I wish indigenous people living in Bolivia posted to this blog. I am so sick of hearing only one side of the story all the time- "El Grindio," I have your back, brother.
It would seem to me that the "splits" occurring within MAS suggest that Evo may not be the "facist" some many people on this blog believe him to be. Obviously the indigenous far left has some pretty intense ideas, if Evo is sticking to the middle ground and alienating these groups then that would seem to suggest he is a bit more pragmatic then some people may suggest, and pragmatism is almost always a good thing. There are going to have to be changes in Bolivia, that much is for sure, but how extensive and far reaching these changes will be remains to be seen.
Anon 12:15pm
You wrote, "the right to hold land as a community,
By taking it from privately owned productive agroindustrial and cattle farmers that have turned wild land into these productive units with huge investment and hard work?"
Actually, I believe I have read most of this "land" you write about was given to these "cattle farmers" during the Banzer admininstrations.
Here is something else I read, which seems to go against your assertion that these "wild lands" are now "productive units."
"In Bolivia there is a regime enforced of medium and large country estates that monopolize 90% of the cultivatable land, while 10% of the land resides in the indigenous communities and the small producers. A group which reduces to families maintains under its control millions and millions of hectares. It is calculated that of the 16.4 million hectares with agricultural vocation, in the last four years, on average, only 2 million hectares have been put to use." (Miguel Lora quoted in Roca, 2005)
"En Bolivia sigue vigente un régimen de haciendas medianas y grandes, que monopolizan 90% de la tierra cultivable, mientras que el 10% restante recae en las comunidades campesinas y los pequeños productores… Un grupo reducido de familias mantiene bajo su poder millones de hectáreas. Se calcula que de 16.4 millones de hectáreas de tierra con vocación agrícola, en los últimos cuatro anos el promedio de explotación no supero los dos millones de hectáreas." (Miguel Lora quoted in Roca, 2005)
The campesinos don't need land.
What they need is education.
very well put Frank. However, MAS leadership does not agree. They want to give them land, let them have 12-16 children so that in 20yrs, we'll be back to square one: zurcofundios.
While our Pres is making the rounds at Comedy Central, I thought I bring you all up to date on the latest US Embassy sponsored plot to bring down this "proceso de cambio":
http://www.laprensa.com.bo/domingo/30-09-07/30_09_07_edicion2.php
Now keep in mind that indigenous bolivians would never ever do something like this. It is the US Embassy, under direct and explicit orders from Bush, that is behind these things. This is why Evo does not have to do anything about it.
The problem with "land reform" is that it assumes that the economy has infinite demand for farmers, as opposed to road construction workers, mechanics, etc. etc.
It also assumes that farmers will be productive. If you take away the diesel (gasolinazo?) subsidy, not even our agro-business is competitive. Altiplano/traditional farming is a loosing proposition. But what do I know, MAS believes everyone wants to be a potato farmer.
Of course we can be extremely productive farmers if grow coca-ina
Why isn't quechua, aymara (even Spanish!) used here? If Jim wants to connect with the "people of Bolivia" he says he fervently defends and respects so much, he should post his website in those languages.
Just using English makes us look like a bunch of condescending bored rich bureaucrats from an industrial nation wanting to implement our social experiments in an exotic faraway land. Yup -- like a bunch of (clears throat) "progressives."
I wouldn't mind this website being for "multiethnical" and "pluricultural" (or is it the other way around)?
The bolivian land reform took place in 1952. The land in the west of the country was taken away from its owners and given to the peasants. The land in the east of the country was not touched back then because there was NOTHING that was worth taking. What now wants to be taken away in the east is what small, medium and large farmers have made into productive land with great effor and investment.
What is your proposed final solution for the Croat problem, Gridiot? Your paranoid racial rantings sound like Josef Goebbels.
Pardon me for sidetracking a bit… I’ve been surprised that there has been no analysis of President Morales UN speech here. I’ve listened to it several times and find it very telling. His unapologetic racism comes through clearly, but his ideas are more interesting. Often he comes across as very naïve. Many of his ideas would work if people were ants in a colony or bees in a hive. Eradicate capitalism, abolish luxury, renounce war (to be officially renounced in the new CPE), declare energy a basic human right and establish it as a public service. At times, he reminded me of a freshman girl I met in college back in the early 80s calling for the US to disarm so that the Soviet Union would follow suit.
It’s easy to understand why certain sectors resist him. He is clearly for redistribution of wealth and abolishment of any form of personal wealth. He is strongly for state control of pretty much everything… well we all knew that anyway. Fascist, communist, I’m not sure, but wow.
A recurring theme in his speech was the recovery of natural resources to state control. He uses Bolivia as an example and advocates the same for all countries, by force (of the people) if necessary. He calls attention to the relatively low receipts from hydro-carbons before his election ($300 million in 2005) to the $2 billion expected this year. He does not mention that he and his social sectors undermined each attempt by his predecessors to increase hydro-carbon revenues. He spoke out against bio fuels, though I’m not sure why except that it would mean less revenue for Hugo and him if it works.
I found his discussion on Global Warming humorous. He basically blames capitalism and industrialization. That’s fine, everyone does, but in the meantime, for the last 4 weeks Bolivia as well as half of South America has sat under a blanket of smoke, as it does year after year at this time, from unchecked burning of fields in Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/Images/aqua_samerica_14sep04.jpg
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Sep2007/Bolivia_AMO_2007268_lrg.jpg
I’d be interested to hear what contribution that has to warming the planet.
He states that when the people organize to protest such things as global warming, they get interventionism, military bases, wars, satanization and accusations of terrorism. Really? When you protest global warming? I missed that in the news.
He spoke of decolonizing Bolivia internally and externally. He decried prior ownership of Bolivia by “Villa Rey???”, by certain religious groups, and the oligarchies and he states that foreign ambassadors no longer hand-pick ministers in the country. That one caught me off guard. He says that the US hand selected or changed Bolivian cabinet members. Does anyone have something to back the Pres up with on that???
The most amusing part of his speech when he got distracted while discussing global warming and starts complaining about visa troubles when his delegation came into the US. Apparently they ran into delays despite their diplomatic visas. Let’s see, the last time your party came to the states under parliamentary privilege, you illegally smuggled a contraband substance (coca) into the country to brandish in the UN, thumb you nose at the US and insult the President. And you say you had some trouble getting back in? I can’t imagine.
Overall though, he probably came across a good deal better than last year with his coca leaf.
A little detailed missed. The UN is international territory, you don't need a US visa to go there.
...and US Laws don't really apply.
Precisely anon 7:04, which is why we must applaud Evo's new campaign to move the UN to a more meaningful place.
Norman, como siempre me deja sin palabras. Tiene un traductor o vio el discurso de Evo en Fox News?
“Villa Rey???”
El Virrey, but I know you knew that one and were just being facetious.
That one caught me off guard. He says that the US hand selected or changed Bolivian cabinet members. Does anyone have something to back the Pres up with on that???
Yes, its called our collective memory, although clearly the people you associate with in Bolivia don't possess it, or it behooves you to not excercise it. Try googling Guillermo Capobianco for starters.
so because Evo is a liar, we must move the UN? I don't get it
Your post is very interesting and you bring up very important and revealing details which are typical of the leftists of the world. In my view it is quite contradictory to denounce that luxury is bad and express your concerns about global warming when you are travelling in a luxurious private jet which burns huge amounts of fuel! Be consistent for God sake!
Yes, I know, many will say.."but he is a head of state"..bla..bla..bla.. A couple of weeks ago, Alan Garcia, the president of Peru (a country with a GDP that is 12 times bigger than Bolivia's), travelled from Lima to Sydney to attend the annual meeting of APEC using a commercial flight. He and his ministers flew in coach (only Mr. Garcia was bumped up to first class by the airline as a courtesy). Interestingly enough, Peru's presidential airplane is a 737-500 which is now on sale. The proceeds will be used for improving the situation of several hospitals. Maybe Mr. Morales should learn a little from Mr. Garcia.
Norman,
Your post is very interesting and you bring up very important and revealing details which are typical of the leftists of the world. In my view it is quite contradictory to denounce that luxury is bad and express your concerns about global warming when you are travelling in a luxurious private jet which burns huge amounts of fuel! Be consistent for God sake!
Yes, I know, many will say.."but he is a head of state"..bla..bla..bla.. A couple of weeks ago, Alan Garcia, the president of Peru (a country with a GDP that is 12 times bigger than Bolivia's), travelled from Lima to Sydney to attend the annual meeting of APEC using a commercial flight. He and his ministers flew in coach (only Mr. Garcia was bumped up to first class by the airline as a courtesy). Interestingly enough, Peru's presidential airplane is a 737-500 which is now on sale. The proceeds will be used for improving the situation of several hospitals. Maybe Mr. Morales should learn a little from Mr. Garcia.
anyone wanna bet that the plane Chavez lends to Evo is bugged?
K-C,
Thanks for the lead on Mr. Capobianco. It was interesting reading, but I believe Mr. Morales' point was that his administration had made a difference. Debating an example from 16 years ago would be pointless. Do you happen to have something more recent?
As far as "Virrey", I'm afraid it just wasn't a term I was familiar with and the president's pronunciation sometimes leaves me guessing. (For a while I thought he was talking about "de-colorizing" Bolivia instead of "de-colonizing".) I'm not in a position to criticize for bad pronunciation though.
Consistency in a lefty?? uuummm... I don't think so...
Norman, you are free to do your own research I'm just trying to help by giving you a head start.
But Mr. Morales' point was that the Bolivian government no longer seeks implicit or explicit approval from the Empire in order to designate its authorities, something which is obvious just from looking at the Vice Minister for Social Defense (Drug War Czar) who is now a coca farmer.
I would only be worried if conservative Usamericans were actually voicing heartfelt approval for Evo, the fact that they/you are more and more confused by his apparently "zany antics" is truly a good sign.
This is an excerpt from an article found on CNN Money.com
For the whole article: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/IBD-0001-19988472.htm
These are very interesting comments about Bolivia's President on the Stewart show while he was in the US.....
----Let's also hope that viewers aren't putting too much stock in late-night fare. We couldn't believe they would, but then we caught Sept. 25's Jon Stewart show, when Bolivian President Evo Morales -- yes, communist tyrant Evo Morales -- was the guest.
To say the interview was disconcerting is putting it mildly. Reading from a note card that sounded like it was prepared by Morales' professional spin doctors, Stewart zeroed in on the dictator's accomplishments, so to speak:
"You promised to nationalize resources and help distribute some of the money to the poorer folk in Bolivia, to convene a constitutional assembly and to institute agrarian reform -- and you did this within eight months of your election," Stewart gushed.
At which point 20he studio audience burst into loud applause.
Let us provide a little perspective here: Morales sent in the Bolivian military and Venezuelan oilmen last year to seize foreign natural gas investments and has yet to pay the owners fair compensation. His energy grab has since driven foreign investment in exploration and production down 76%. The result is the usual one for a Marxist regime: A gas-rich country now suffers from gas shortages.
As for the constitutional referendum, Stewart neglected to mention that introducing a new constitution effectively will make Morales a dictator in the mold of his patron, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.
He also missed that Morales' constitutional assembly proposal is a faded Xerox (NYSE:XRX) copy of the one Chavez used to consolidate his dictatorship. The grim reality is that Morales with this measure has pushed his nation to the brink of civil war, one that may well begin this year.
As for the land reforms, these are nothing more than Zimbabwe-style confiscations of productive farmland from legitimate owners to Morales' cronies -- and they'll produce the same fallow wasteland. Morales told Stewart that he was just interested in achieving "unity in diversity" with this move, and Stewart swallowed that whole.
Stewart called Morales a humble farmer and painted him as a Bolivian Horatio Alger success story, completely ignorant of the depth of dynamite-hurling violence and mob intimidation Morales used to blockade Bolivia's cities in a bid to achieve power.
Last week, a former Bolivian official accused Morales of taking illegal cash from Hugo Chavez to pay mobs to overthrow Bolivia's pro-U.S. elected president, Gonzalo "Goni"Sanchez de Lozada, in 2003.
Unlike Goni, Morales won election in 2006 on a campaign platform promising to be America's "worst nightmare." He's done what he could to fulfill that promise, forging an alliance with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran that may involve Iranian exploration for Bolivian uranium. He's also increased coca production, undermining the Western Hemisphere's war on drugs.
All the while, he has denounced $143 million in U.S. aid as "imperialism" and hasn't voiced one word of gratitude for the help the U.S. gave during Bolivia's floods this year.
Morales must have been stunned by Stewart's ignorance and gullibility, and adjusted his expectations accordingly. With candidates like Obama showing the same naivete about Latin dictatorships such as Cuba, they no doubt see plenty of opportunities to roll these talk-show hosts.
The only people who lose are American voters who deserve a lot better than the political "coverage" the tube is providing.
Jon Stewart displays the condescending ignorance of first world elites towards leaders of third world countries. They ask soft questions that such leaders (in this case, Morales) are prepared to hear and provide answers that elites (in this case, Stewart) want to hear. I must point that Morales isn't the only leader of a third world country who does the same, though. The content of their speeches depend on the audience.
In the U.S., Evo Morales was simply viewed and romanticized as an exotic curiosity from a farafar away nobody knows about. His presence reinforced that view.
If Stewart would have dug a little deeper, he would have discovered the sinister racism and utter incompetence of the Morales government.
and previous bolivian governments were not racist and incompetent?? please people. when you make your stupid comments, please try to cite literature or something. has the election of evo morales caused you to to forget the last 500 years of bolivian history??
Sure, but they weren't on one hand promising the world an egalitarian, honest, and compassive government, while on the other hand they were implementing racist policies and promoting hatred and corruption.
"Bolivian history" starts in 1825. I suggest you go back and finish your history and grammar homework.
For you Evo lovers, this is UTTERLY riduculous:
From Los Tiempos...
Canciller dice Morales es esperanza para el mundo y defiende trabajo infantil
El canciller boliviano, David Choquehuanca, aseguró que su presidente, Evo Morales, es la esperanza para salvar el planeta, que las piedras tienen sexo, que el trabajo infantil es bueno y que los indígenas, tras 500 años de resistencia, ya pasaron a la acción.
Entrevistado por Efe en La Paz, también dijo que el desarrollo de Occidente produjo desigualdades y asimetrías, que su pueblo aimara no quiere "vivir mejor", sino solo "vivir bien", y que la inversión extranjera ha hecho más pobres a los bolivianos.
Según Choquehuanca, Bolivia "subvencionó" la industrialización del mundo desarrollado con materias primas como el estaño de Potosí, y ahora lo sigue haciendo al "producir aire limpio que no cobra".
"Hay mucha esperanza en el mundo hacia el presidente Morales, porque consideran que tiene mucho que aportar. Por eso el mundo nos está mirando. Morales no solo representa esperanzas para los bolivianos, sino también para el mundo", aseguró el ministro.
"Cuando voy a reuniones internacionales, les digo que el presidente Morales es esperanza para el mundo, que hay que cuidarlo", agregó.
Explicó que los aimaras -pueblo del altiplano andino al que pertenecen él y Morales- no se asustan "cuando los niños trabajan en la comunidad".
"Los niños tienen que trabajar, tienen sus responsabilidades desde temprana edad -prosiguió-. Occidente dice que los niños no tienen que trabajar. Nosotros no, porque el trabajo era felicidad, no era explotación".
Choquehuanca señalo que en la cosmovisión aimara el hombre no es el centro del universo: "Para nosotros lo más importante no es la plata. No estamos de acuerdo con el capitalismo. Para nosotros lo más importante tampoco es el hombre. Tenemos coincidencias con el socialismo y buscamos también satisfacer las necesidades materiales y espirituales del hombre. Pero para nosotros lo más importante es la vida, que va más allá del hombre".
Según el Canciller "el hombre está en el último lugar. Primero están las estrellas, las plantas, los animales, las piedras. Las piedras hasta sexo tienen para nosotros. Hasta edad tienen. Hay piedras abuelo y piedras niño".
"Somos todos criados por la madre Tierra, la madre naturaleza. Un animal se alimenta de la leche de la madre Tierra, que es el agua.
Una planta se alimenta de la leche de la madre Tierra, y nosotros también", dijo el ministro.
Aseguró que Bolivia, desde que llegaron al poder en 2006 Evo Morales y su Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), vive "un proceso de descolonización, de des-aculturación".
"No querían (las anteriores clases gobernantes) que los indígenas hablemos nuestro idioma, que practiquemos nuestras propias formas de organización, que mantengamos nuestra música. Nos han hecho sentir vergüenza -agrega-. Han llamado folclore a nuestra música. Nuestra música no es folclore, es música".
De manera enfática, dijo: "a nosotros nos han dicho: ustedes no tienen historia, lo de ustedes se llama etno-historia. Lo de ellos es música y lo nuestro folclore, lo que hacen ellos son grandes obras de arte y lo nuestro es simple artesanía".
"Antes queríamos parecernos a los occidentales -continua-. Muchos de nosotros hemos aprendido obligados el castellano. (...) Pero desde los años noventa, con la campaña "500 años de resistencia", hemos decidido volver a ser nuevamente camiri".
Choquehuanca explicó que "Camiri -término aimara- es una persona que vive bien. En quechua camiri es cápac. La palabra rico y la palabra pobre no existen en nuestra cultura. La palabra raza tampoco. Por eso recordamos el 12 de octubre como el Día de la Raza, porque un 12 de octubre de 1492 llegó el racismo a este continente".
Según el ministro, Bolivia vive un proceso de recuperación de sus recursos, su identidad y los saberes ancestrales, buscando "una vida armoniosa no solamente entre las personas sino entre el hombre y la naturaleza".
"Recién estamos apareciendo a la luz publica, después de 500 años en clandestinidad, sometidos, excluidos, marginados -añadió-.
Estamos destapando códigos como el de las tres dimensiones. Nosotros solo manejamos una dimensión, pero nuestros abuelos lograron entrar en otras dimensiones".
Aclaró que su cultura habla del "Pachacuti. Pacha es el espacio, equilibrio, y cuti es retorno. Pero no hablamos de volver atrás, sino de volver al camino del equilibrio. Hay energías que se están desatando en el planeta que influyen en el ser humano (...) Esto no se enseña todavía en los colegios. Estamos empezando apenas".
There's so many contradictions.
First of all, Evo is not a true indigenous aymara. He is more mestizo than aymara. Second if they were true to their traditions, neither most of them would not be in power, because only married men are considered members of society and the only ones who can be in a position of power. Thirdly, Pachacuti talks about balance between "andean" and "western" ideals, it does not call for the submission of one over the other.
Other statements are also a rehash of western concepts but with MAS nelogogisms. They are of course talking about carbon credits and how most neo-liberals free traders believe that child labor is a good thing.
The remaining are rambling statements that show a lack a depth by either the journalist or choquehuanca on the andean cosmovision.
Gentlemen, these are not true believers. They have simply hijacked a culture to their political gain.
I got the sense Morales was looking at Stewart like a insect, utterly stunned at how ignorant the fool was. How did Morales achieve power? Not through Horacio Alger pulling himself up by his bootstraps as the gringocentric moron imagined, but through hurled dynamite, medieval city blockades, extortion and Hugo's cold cash. How could he explain such a thing to Stewart. Better to humor the barbarian and let him think what he wants
que las piedras tienen sexo
What the heck is that about?
Does he mean that rocks engage in sexual activity, or merely that they are "male" or "female"?
my grandfather (an 80 year old farmer from S. Illinois) turned to me the other day and said, "what do you think of this joke?"
"What do you call a rock people have sex on?"
Me, "I don't know."
"A fuc**ng rock!"
Your post made me think of that joke, Frank.
Long live Grandpa Jr.
I don't exactly know what Choquehuanca meant, frank_ibc, but it appears that he's been too lonely too long.
;-)
I think he meant igneous vs. sedimentary rocks. Which would meand the former are male and the latter female
Check out famed Bolivian columnist Paulovich's latest humorous piece in Los Tiempos newspaper. Especially funny is him seeing Choquehuanca making out with a stone monolito.
Very funny!
Oh...I'm so dissappointed Jimbo;
I came in expecting to see Mickey driving a U-Haul with a caption reading "Villa Tunari or Bust"
So any bets on the Amb. Goldberg situation? Is he allowed to roam free, or has the Estado Mayor del Pueblo ordered the Ponchos Rojos to keep him in house arrest?
At this pace, I think we can kiss the Millenium funds good bye. But at least we can say that we can get away with insulting the US Secretary of State, but we won't a bureocrat make a joke at our expense.
what is the ambassador goldberg situation??
Apparently when the subject of Mr. Morales' proposal to move the seat of the UN came up, Mr. Goldberg stated that he wouldn't be surprised if the president also wanted to move the seat of Disneyworld. In other words, it was a pretty infantile thing for the President to say during his 20 minutes before the UN and not worth a serious reply from the ambassador. Next time stick to the script.
I think it was also a very infantile, or rather, unprofessional remark from Mr. Goldberg. I would have said something like "I hope Mr. Morales thinks things more throughly when making policy decisions affecting millions of Bolivians, than what he did in this case. What he asked for is impractical, unworkable, and unnecessary. I think he has enough in his plate with Bolivians wanting to move their own capital to try to take up on this issue, where frankly his opinion carries no weight."
What's comical is the reaction of Morales government. (http://www.lostiempos.com/noticias/05-10-07/nacional.php) Choquehuanca is calling it a racist comment. Why is it that any time you say something negative about a minority, it's racist? Why does Mr. Choquehuanca feel that any comment about Mr. Morales reflects on all people that share his ancestry? Who is really the racist here?
Apparently this isn’t the first time the ambassador has been called on the carpet either by the Morales government. Last month Mr. Goldberg had the temerity to state that because of Mr. Morales’ permissive policies, there has been an increase in coca cultivation and narco-trafficking during his term. Incredible, huh! Where does he get these wacky ideas?
That said, of course the ambassador ought to choose his words better, but I’m sure even he gets frustrated with Mr. Morales double standard. What the ambassador meant to say is “I find the president’s attitude disheartening. While we would regret his absence, we would understand perfectly if he were to choose not to come next year.” (Actually the above response is better than mine, but I'd already typed this, soo...
Unofficial translation of October 1, 2007 Bolivian Note:
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Government have adopted an abbreviated procedure that will be applied to the citizens of the United States of America for their entry to Bolivia as tourists, effective December 1, 2007.
Such procedure is as follows:
Any U.S. citizen will be able to request a visa to enter Bolivia as a tourist whether in person or via mail from the Diplomatic missions and Consular offices in the world, or at any border point (air or ground), by submitting the following documentation:
Visa application form (affidavit). The form can be requested from consulates or downloaded from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website ( www.rree.gov.bo)
Valid passport
Hotel reservation and/or invitation letter
Photocopy of roundtrip ticket and/or travel itinerary
Economic solvency attested by credit card or equivalent document, valid for the duration of travel
Photocopy of international certificate of yellow fever vaccination
Once the application is received by the Consul, Consular Agent, or immigration officer, the requirements will be verified; in case of compliance, he/she will issue the visa for a period of 90 days and will affix the corresponding visa. In case the application is denied, the officer will return the documents to the applicant. Any expense incurred for the issuance of the visa will be paid by the applicant.
The officers mentioned in the above paragraph may request, if needed, more information or rectification of the documents that were submitted by the applicant.
The procedures described above are reserved exclusively for U.S. citizens and is not applicable to other citizens from countries in Group III.
Pursuant to Bolivian constitutional principles, individuals born in Bolivia who have subsequently acquired U.S. citizenship will not be required to obtain a visa to enter Bolivia, provided that they present proof of their nationality of origin by means of appropriate documentation.
Finally, the cost of the visa will be US$100.00."
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Ambassador Goldberg really deserves praise and credit for not giving into the constant provocations of the Morales government. For example, when he was summoned to a meeting with Mr. Morales at 5:00 am in a frigid La Paz morning a couple of weeks ago. Anyone who has spent a night in this beautiful city knows that this is literally a torture. Once in the presidential palace, the Ambassdor had to sit under a picture of Che Guevara for the meeting with the President (who was wearing sneakers). These are Obvious atempts to create reactions from the US representative and part of a long known strategy designed by the cuban intelligence and master puppeter Fidel Castro. Speak against the US every chance you have and blame them for every wrong thing happening in your country and in the world will get you the allegiance of many useful idiots and the internal support of your people. The intelligent way that the US is handling these attempts must be making the cubans running the show in the bolivian foreign ministry nuts! Keep up the great work Ambassador!
Norman, fortunately Goldberg has apologized for his inappropriate comments and now the task of building a solidary and respectful relationship between the two nations can continue.
I thought this might interest you, since you seemed to be oblivious to Evo's reason for mentioning biofuels and ethanol at the UN:
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9790232-7.html?tag=nefd.blgs
Anonymous, he was wearing sneakers? Oh my god!! The nerve!! And how dare Evo get up early and work past midnight (as reported in numerous sources) almost every day?
What does the think he is doing, governing? By the way, your comment about Fidel being a puppeteer is also racist and insulting, if you can fathom that.
"By the way, your comment about Fidel being a puppeteer is also racist and insulting, if you can fathom that."
Why would this be? Why is it 'racist' if you make a joke or express an opinion toward a minority? If this were the case Bill Cosby is one of the most bigoted racists in the US.
Jokes like Mr. Goldbergs are only acceptable if spoken by the ruling party of MAS? Can anyone count the insults Mr Morales or Mr Choquehuanca have directed to the US?
Fidel Castro may not be the puppeteer but all (of us) who live in Bolivia understand Hugh Chavez to be. I recall more than once Mr Morales referring to him as "Mi Comendante". What does that mean?
Wow, "all of us" is a pretty strong statement for a (presumably) gringo posting in an English blog!!! I get the same or wildly different, depending on which neighborhood and group of friends I am in.
:P
The phrase "mi comandante" expresses admiration, respect, but not necessarily subservience.
Where you see one man pulling strings, I see a confluence of national interests and a tangible desire of the South American majorities to transcend the relationship of colonialism and clientelism for that of integration and solidarity amongst ourselves.
On Bill Cosby, many African Usamericans do see him as bigotted or at least elitist towards the poor black community.
But the problem with your and Goldberg's comments is that you are referring to the democratically elected President of Bolivia.
Though he is clearly and vocally opposed by a minority, Evo has yet to be found in violation of any laws or the Constitution and is by all accounts, actually doing his job day in and day out.
Therefore, to state that he receives orders from outside is insulting the Bolivian people, who would be idiots to leave in power someone who is not serving their interests.
It is also insulting to the majorities of people in Bolivia and all of our great South American nation, who support Evo and Hugo's policies of integration and solidarity.
Furthermore, there is a difference between Evo or Choquehuanca constantly speaking against Usamerica's imperialism, its criminal wars and bullying of third world nations, and an insult. I believe when it is true, we refer to this as criticism.
Kausachun Coca, the known fact that Mr. Morales receives orders from Hugo Chavez has nothing to do with the proud, independent and courageous people of Bolivia. It is his sole responsibility and he will have to respond accordingly for his shameful release of the contry's sovereignty to the venezuelan emperor and HIS comandante. Don't mix the bolivians into this regretful episode of the country.
Sucker, this thing of making every critic against the government into a racist episode is getting boring. Be more creative.
Mr. Cayetano Llobet has written an excellent article about Venezuela's and Cuba's role in the present bolivian administration.
http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2007/2007-10-07/vernotaopinion.php?id=071006211818
Whatever anonymous, if you say so, it must be true. I gave you specific reasons why Goldberg's statement and yours were racist, and it had nothing to do with criticizing the government. But don't worry, I didn't actually expect you to think. Clearly, it bores you.
I'm glad to hear that he apologized Sucker. While I empathize with him, as a career diplomat he should better choose his words when confronted with inane remarks. Honestly, I hope Evo goes full court press with his mission to move the UN. He won't though.
Nice article on bio-fuels. It just seems suspect that those who make their $$ off selling fossil fuels are the ones badmouthing bio-fuels. Interesting though, if the US were to tell Bolivia not to develop hydrocarbon resources, they would be accused of interfering in internal affairs. Personally, I would like nothing more than to see the US reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
As far as racism, give me a break! Evo insults the US on a daily basis and a small retort is taken as racism! Sorry but, that is just plain stupid and I expect that everyone, including Choqy, knows it. Could it be that the ambassador doesn't like people that despise the US? Maybe it has nothing to do with Mr. Morales' race and everything to do with his behaviour.
Norman, glad that you found the article nice :P
of course there is a legitimate scientific debate but there are also human rights, environmentalists and food security activists among others involved in the policy debate, all of whom have no stake in maintaining fossil fuels.
If you read spanish, you might enjoy the points of view of this gentleman:
http://bolpress.com/art.php?Cod=2007100901&PHPSESSID=2965d4b46deeadbfae560787d04a4b1c
who provides some good criticism of the Evo government in general and its rhetoric.
But he brought up a good point in that article that I didn't state clearly myself:
"Por qué no trasladamos también Disney World”. Eso indica que los gringos se sienten tan dueños de Naciones Unidas como de Disney World.
It was racist not only as a joke at the expense of the Bolivian people and our indigenous President. Also, as a full member nation of the UN, which has every right to propose policies and changes as the US or other so called "security" council members.
Disney is a Usamerican corporation on US soil, the UN is not.
K-C, debate sounds like a reasonable decription, although before Chavez, I'd never heard a word against bio-fuel; certainly not out of Mr. Morales. The article you referenced is interesting though and your quote ironically puts the spotlight right on the point... based on the comment of one man the author makes an assump