Brazil Hits Back at New York Times Article

The Brazilian Government has snapped back at the alcoholism claims made against Lula:

One source for the article was Leonel Brizola, a former Rio de Janeiro governor who was Silva's vice-presidential running mate in 1998. He said the president drank heavily during that unsuccessful campaign and still does.

Since that race, however, Brizola has not hidden his dislike for Silva, and even opposition politicians rallied to the president's defense.

"Some of (Silva's) remarks, especially the ones he improvises, are inadequate, but it would be imprudent to say that was the effect of his drinking," said Rep. Jose Carlos Aleluia, who leads the opposition in the lower house.

I smelled a bit of a rat when Brizola was quoted. Broken friendships in politics in Brazil can get very ugly. There is no better example of that in recent years than the split between Itamar Franco and Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The article's writer, Larry Rohter, did not serve himself well by referencing Brizola. Maybe the Times will get a new Rio bureau chief.

Comments

[seann]

I've got to tell you Randy, I think you've got a great site. After a taking a break from college for a few years, I recently began taking classes again. And what was one of my first classes? Latin American history. So it's good to have learned the history of the region you blog about.

[Randy Paul]

Thanks for the kind words, Sean. It's much appreciated.

[VK]

I don´t think it´s the most effective response, but he sure deserved it. For the bad journalism, of course ;)
But then, it seems to be the new standard for NYT...

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Ministério da Justiça cancela visto do correspondente do New York Times

O Ministério da Justiça determinou o cancelamento do visto temporário do jornalista americano William Larry Rohter Junior, no New York Times. Rother escreveu uma matéria sobre suposto envolvimento do presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva com bebidas.

http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/useg/brasil/artigo/0,,1609117,00.html