As Hugo enjoys visits from the creme-de-la-creme of Hollywood liberals (Sean Penn, Danny Glover, Naomi Campbell, etc.), thousands of students take to the street to protest the constitutional amendments his sock-puppet legislature passed through as well as his attempts to appointment himself President-for-life.

CARACAS, Venezuela — Soldiers used tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons to scatter tens of thousands who massed yesterday to protest constitutional reforms that would permit Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to run for re-election indefinitely.

Led by university students, protesters chanted “Freedom! Freedom!” and warned that 69 amendments drafted by the Chavista-dominated National Assembly would violate civil liberties and derail democracy.

If President Bush had done this, Sean Penn and the liberal elite would be apoplectic.  They’d be leading marches through the street and denouncing our “fascist” national leader.  Hugo Chavez does it, and the liberal elite in American (in the media especially) look the other way.

Because Hugo hates Bush and supports national health care, or something.