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morningfog

(18,115 posts)
40. Just to add to this: Don't Believe the Report About Hugo Chávez's Death Just Yet (the Atlantic)
Wed Feb 27, 2013, 10:06 PM
Feb 2013

On Wednesday night, one of the more obscure outposts of the CNN empire reported that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez had died, citing a pretty sketchy Panamanian source named Guillermo Cochez. CNN Chile reported quite bluntly: "Hugo Chávez is dead." The news itself, if true, is not unbelievable. The once bombastic politician has been struggling with cancer for sometime now and has largely been out of the public eye for months. Chávez couldn't even make it to his own inauguration. Less than a week ago the Venezuelan government broke the bad news that Chávez was not improving. The 58-year-old has been having breathing problems after returning from Cuba, where he's been receiving medial treatment there, for the third time. Chavez is really sick, and everybody knows it.

But Guillermo Cochez is also arguably a conspiracy theorist. Earlier on Wednesday, Cochez — and only Chochez — reported that Chávez had been brain dead since December 30. Cochez said that Chávez was being kept on life support and later, citing sources within the Venezuelan government, added that his daughters had finally decided to pull the plug. Assuming the best for President Chávez's health, it sort of sounds like Cochez is just trolling the Venezuelans. "I challenge the Venezuelan government to prove me wrong, and to present President Chávez so that it's known whether what I say is the truth or a lie," Cochez told CNN Chile. (Forgive the choppy Spanish translation; it's been a while since college.) So do we believe the guy who's daring the Venezuelan government to prove him wrong?

This photo apparently showing Chávez reading a newspaper from February 13 would suggest otherwise. There's the Bolivarian leader lying in bed smiling with his two daughters at his side. Of course, it's not that hard to Photoshop a new newspaper onto an old photo of Chávez, and the Venezuelan government is not entirely unexperienced with propaganda. But again, that leads us into conspiracy theory territory. Furthermore, this is hardly the first time a rumor about Chávez's death has made its way around the web.

For now, the safest thing to assume is that Chávez is just really sick. It is, of course, possible that he's passed away, and the government is keeping it a secret, as Cochez suggests. It's also possible that Cochez is full of it. We'll take it as a serious clue that — as of this writing — none of the other CNN outlets around the world had picked up the story. Like this blogger, they're probably waiting for a second source to confirm the rumor.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/02/dont-believe-report-about-hugo-chavezs-death-just-yet/62606/#.US66hObfVY8.twitter

This message was self-deleted by its author [View all] Ruby the Liberal Feb 2013 OP
He was a good leader for the people madokie Feb 2013 #1
He done Good RobertEarl Feb 2013 #2
This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #3
Not just good to his people malaise Feb 2013 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #20
Not sure you read my post - We're on the same page malaise Feb 2013 #27
This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #67
Viva Chavez! morningfog Feb 2013 #4
Is that a real site? Renew Deal Feb 2013 #5
It's a real station; but this appears to be the claim of one Panamanian muriel_volestrangler Feb 2013 #17
Yes - it is CNN's Chile site Ruby the Liberal Feb 2013 #18
He was a good man to his people PuraVidaDreamin Feb 2013 #6
Why is this not on any of our major news networks? n/t RebelOne Feb 2013 #7
No official confirmation. nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #10
Looking at Latin media. This s why. (Graphic) nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #8
none of the news sites I have checked around the world is carrying this niyad Feb 2013 #12
I have not found anything either. You would think this would be big news. n/t RebelOne Feb 2013 #15
This is from a Saltillo paper nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #16
Chavez returned home malaise Feb 2013 #23
I know...the Latin papers are using the photo nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #29
photoshopped? malaise Feb 2013 #37
Gets better, here is Coches's staement nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #43
this fake photo has been "circulating" since January reorg Feb 2013 #25
For linking to the source of the current story nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #31
the article doesn't refer to the picture at all reorg Feb 2013 #47
The photo is circulating is social media feeding the rumors nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #48
some nitwit posts a fake in early January reorg Feb 2013 #52
What part of the news story is this is circulating in social media nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #54
well, if you had anything to contribute reorg Feb 2013 #57
My god, and you get more rude by the minute nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #63
I've done that, nadinbrzezinski. I'm tired of the rudeness here. Th1onein Feb 2013 #61
Please delete this disgusting fake n/t reorg Feb 2013 #22
This is circulating in social media across LatAm. nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #24
That is a picture of his head... SidDithers Feb 2013 #51
RIP President Chavez Marrah_G Feb 2013 #9
Today was the anniversary of the revolt in 1989 malaise Feb 2013 #11
REPORT HAS BEEN RESCINDED brooklynite Feb 2013 #14
Wow Cali_Democrat Feb 2013 #19
Does that remind you of anybody else? Occulus Feb 2013 #62
Who is this? Ruby the Liberal Feb 2013 #21
If true, apparently CNN sucks no matter where they are. n/t Cleita Feb 2013 #26
No - they reported what they learned... brooklynite Feb 2013 #30
This is a really long report and I'm still listening to it. Cleita Feb 2013 #33
Rumors of his death have been greatly exaggerated in the past. pa28 Feb 2013 #28
From your keyboard... Ruby the Liberal Feb 2013 #38
Editing in hope it's not true. nt. polly7 Feb 2013 #32
Looks like an unconfirmed article NT titaniumsalute Feb 2013 #34
cnnchile has reported the former Panamanian ambassador claims chavez has been dead since December. limpyhobbler Feb 2013 #35
My understanding, reading translations, is that the former ambassador morningfog Feb 2013 #36
OH ok thanks. I missed that. Please blame my high school Spanish teacher. limpyhobbler Feb 2013 #42
I cannot believe this. Is it reallly true? smirkymonkey Feb 2013 #39
Just to add to this: Don't Believe the Report About Hugo Chávez's Death Just Yet (the Atlantic) morningfog Feb 2013 #40
Dear Lord. Did I just post on DU from the Latin American version of Glenn Beck? Ruby the Liberal Feb 2013 #44
Before you rush nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #45
If Roger Noriega said it, it must be a lie. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2013 #49
Not with the amount of things and rumors nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #53
There may be partial truths in the report, or more. morningfog Feb 2013 #50
This is the source nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #41
Don't believe that report... SidDithers Feb 2013 #46
Well...never know whether to take you seriously or not.. KoKo Feb 2013 #55
Gee, "Koko", I was really worried about whether you take me seriously... SidDithers Feb 2013 #64
Sid... KoKo Feb 2013 #70
This seems like a "prove the negative" situation. Renew Deal Feb 2013 #56
If he is dead or brain dead and Venezuala is hiding it, that is destabilizing Venezuala. morningfog Feb 2013 #58
Sounds like some propaganda then...there have been many posts on DU KoKo Feb 2013 #60
Rumors of death go back to at least April of last year nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #65
Food for the grist...denials of death and dates nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #59
Reuters, nothing. CNN, nothing. Google news, nothing. Warren Stupidity Feb 2013 #66
This is clearly a hoax. I wish you'd self delete Violet_Crumble Feb 2013 #68
Rumors of brain death are all over, starting on January 9th nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #69
I don't trust this unconfirmed CNN report - so self deleting (original posted within) Ruby the Liberal Feb 2013 #71
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