On A Les Adversaires Qu'on Mérite

[Taranne]

Venezuelan comedian's candidacy no joke

By JORGE RUEDA, Associated Press WriterMon Aug 21, 11:15 AM ET

The presidential campaign of comedian Benjamin Rausseo seemed like just another joke from a funnyman wildly popular for taking aim at everything from Venezuelans' sexual affairs and public drunkenness to gaffes by leading politicians.

But he has stayed the course, even as most contenders from mainstream politics have dropped out of the race to challenge populist President Hugo Chavez, and he plans to formally register his candidacy Wednesday.

Rausseo insists he's quite serious about trying to unseat Chavez.

"This is a country that makes fun of itself. I want to be a president that makes the people laugh," he told The Associated Press.

Many Venezuelans, however, aren't sure what to make of the campaign by a man better known by his stage name, the "Count of Guacharo" — a fast-talking, straw hat-wearing everyman who has long had audiences laughing with his quips.

Some Venezuelans theorize the comic could siphon off votes and hurt the opposition's long-shot campaign against Chavez in the December election. But others argue Rausseo has charisma and appeal in low-income Chavez strongholds that might just make him a real contender.

A "guacharo" is an obscure and mysterious Venezuelan cave-bird that emerges only at night, and it could be a metaphor for Rausseo's dark horse candidacy. Many Venezuelans are asking what is really driving Rausseo to run for president, and what powerful forces may be secretly backing him.

Some think it's just a publicity stunt to promote his businesses — after years as a TV comic, Rausseo now owns a theme park, several hotels and at least two bus lines. Others guess he's getting money from the government to discredit and divide the opposition, or from business leaders opposed to Chavez, or from Washington to present a popular rival — rumors denied by Chavez aides, the U.S. Embassy and Rausseo himself.

"If the United States is financing me, it should go ahead and make the deposit, man!" Rausseo said recently. "I haven't seen a single cent!"

He says his candidacy is no laughing matter, although he can't keep from his joking ways. For example, while Chavez has proposed spending billions of dollars to build a natural gas pipeline across South America, Rausseo says that money would be better spent on a "whiskey pipeline" from Scotland.

Why? Because if Venezuelans get drunk all the time, "they won't go on strike or hold protests; everyone would be happy."

While other politicians have held more traditional rallies, Rausseo kicked off his campaign at his theme park on Margarita Island.

Some Venezuelans say Rausseo, 45, has the personality and background that might win him votes. But a poll published over the weekend by the newspaper Ultimas Noticias put his support at just 6 percent, trailing Chavez with 57 percent and the leading opposition candidate, Manuel Rosales, at 19 percent. The paper did not list a sample size or error margin.

Rausseo grew up poor in the eastern hamlet of Musipan and left school at 11 to work as a shoeshine boy, street vendor and later a taxi driver before finding his fame as a comedian.

He has registered his one-man party — the Independent Party for Advanced Answers, or PIEDRA, meaning "rock." The party's Spanish slogan "Vota Piedra" is a pun meaning both vote for the party and, in slang, "get angry" — apparently at the situation in the country.

Most other opposition candidates have pulled out to support Manuel Rosales, the governor of western Zulia state, which has the most voters outside the capital of Caracas. But Rosales lags behind in recent polls, which predict Chavez will win easily in December.

And while Chavez has chuckled publicly about facing the "Count," the president's campaign manager, Francisco Ameliach, says Rausseo is his most serious opponent yet in some ways.

Rausseo says he might pull out if another candidate has a better shot at defeating Chavez. But for now he's trying to get serious, pledging for example to "exchange guns for books, tanks for schools, planes for hospitals," in a jab at Chavez's many arms purchases.

He's also ridiculed a proposal by Chavez — who is seeking another six-year term — to hold a referendum that could allow him to run again in 2012.

"I don't have anything personal against Chavez, but we hired him to be president of Venezuela … not to be president of Latin America and much less to be there for 10, 20 years, making jokes," Rausseo said. "That's what comedians are for."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060821/ap_on_…edian_candidate

[melodius]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060821/ap_on_…edian_candidate

La dernière phrase est frappée au coin du bon sens. Bonne chance à Raussea et à PIEDRA !