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Chavez to Castro: Obama too far left
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Commentary: While President Obama is on his way to deliver a speech to millions of muslims, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has been joking with colleagues and on television that Obama may be leaning further left than even Castro and himself.
Reuters reports that in a live television broadcast, Chavez said this.
"Hey, Obama has just nationalized nothing more and nothing less than General Motors. Comrade Obama! Fidel, careful or we are going to end up to his right."
Chavez was speaking specifically about the recent government takeover of General Motors and how that company is no longer run by private entities. 60% of the new GM will be owned by taxpayers and 17.5% will be owned by the United Auto Workers Union, a move that has many conservatives questioning the motives of the US government that is dominated by the political left.
Venezuela has seen similar government takeovers in recent months as Chavez has nationalized the banks, electric companies, telecommunication companies, the steel industry, and several food processing plants. Chavez has relied heavily on high oil prices to push his social agenda while the country's economy has been struggling.
Minneapolis-based Cargill has had their share of problems with the Venezuelan president. In March, Chavez expropriated a rice mill. His justification for the expropriation order was based on price control set by the government.
Chavez has said that the government takeover or private business is only for the betterment of his countrymen and currently holds a 60% approval rating. One has to wonder if the approval rating is legitimate though since the government also has its thumb on the television and media outlets as well, punishing those who dissent.
