Obama the next Chavez?

Do You Want Your OTV?
Jake Tapper
ABC News May 20, 2009 5:56 PM

Obama White House officials decided to do their own media report on the visit, complete with cuts, interviews, and chyrons identifying who's speaking.

Also, just like a network, they have their own little logo!

Do Obama White House officials think their media coverage isn't flattering enough?

Is the goal to ultimately replace the pesky photographers who film what they want to and not what they're told to (not to mention the annoying reporters who ask uncomfortable questions about, say, detainee policy and bank bailouts)?

Do you want your OTV? (I'll bet there are a few takers out there.)

How long before it turns to this....?

Last anti-Chavez TV station faces probe, shutdown
May 16 11:29 AM US/Eastern
By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER
Associated Press Writer

There is little neutral ground left in polarized Venezuela, and the media reflect this—either championing the government or touting the opposition.

What Chavez intends to do with the TV station remains unclear. But he seems to be building to a confrontation, demanding sanctions against Globovision again on Thursday in a speech in which he labeled TV executives "white-collar terrorists."

Earlier this week, he threatened severe measures against any media inciting unrest: "You are playing with fire, manipulating, inciting hatred and much more. All of you: television networks, radio stations, newspapers."

Many newspapers and radio stations that remain fiercely critical of the government. But television is a different matter. Two formerly critical stations, Venevision and Televen, have held their tongues to avoid sanctions since they were accused of supporting a 2002 coup attempt. Another anti-Chavez channel, RCTV, was booted off the airwaves in 2007 and now draws a much smaller audience of paid viewers on cable. About a fifth of Venezuelans subscribe to cable.

Hmmmmm......