reporter: hugo chavez was first elected venezuela s president in 1998 and became a polarizing figure on the world stage. he was loved and hated at home, respected and ridiculed abroad. born to a family of teachers in 1954, chavez joined the venezuelan airplane, where he came to despise the ruling elite. in 1989 when a bad economy led to riots and hundreds were killed, chavez was appalled by orders from then president carlos andres perez to shoot civilians. in 1992, chavez, now a lieutenant colonel, led 12,000 troops in a failed coup against perez. chavez was jailed, but pardoned two years later. by then a champion to the left and the poor. he was hardly a democratic ruler, using his power to silence opponents and journalists and to nationalize private companies while championing the poor by building
first elected venezuela s president in 1998 and became a polarizing figure on the world stage. he was loved and hated at home, respected and ridiculed abroad. born to a family of teachers in 1954, chavez joined the venezuelan airplane, where he came to despise the ruling elite. in 1989 when a bad economy led to riots and hundreds were killed, chavez was appalled by orders from then president carlos andres perez to shoot civilians. in 1992, chavez, now a lieutenant colonel, led 12,000 troops in a failed coup against perez. chavez was jailed, but pardoned two years later. by then a champion to the left and the poor. he was hardly a democratic ruler, using his power to silence opponents and journalists and to nationalize private companies while
exercise independent authority. this makes sense. both legally as a matter of constitutional interpretation and practically as a matter of sound public policy. reporter: witnesses today include the author of the law, former arizona state senate president russell peers, a republican and author of a measure to repeal it, democratic senator state senator, steve gallardo. weak economy led to decrease of illegal immigration from mexico. the obama administration deported estimated 800,000 people. john, jenna, james rosen in washington. thank you. jenna: former aide on the stand today on in the john edwards trial. the former presidential candidate accused of using campaign money to cover up an affair. we have that ahead. jon: the new york saints facing new trouble. bombshell details and possible legal fallout for the organization after the so-called bounty-gate
everything that president obama says he wants to change, democratic change essentially a better trickle down economy led in a better economic fashion that benefits all of the people. of course, saudi arabia is hugely rich but not a democratic country. the future for the region there, president obama s talking about and perhaps by the fact he didn t mention them by name, perhaps may help him try to sort of build and mend fences. arwa, the president said he would be on the side of the reformer and yet although he called for mubarak to step down, he stopped short when it comes to syria, holding out perhaps some last hope that president assad would get the message. from everything you have seen on the ground, wishful thinking, is it not? the syrians appear to be fairly confident in the seps
speech or impact or lack of impact in the hot spots of the middle east and north africa. dominique strauss-kahn is out on bail and under indictment now on charges he tried to rape a new york hotel maid. the relationship, well, frosty to begin with and the president struck a new nerve it seemwise this assessment near the end of thinks big middle east speech. we believe the borders of ace rail israel and palestinian should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swats so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states. mr. netanyahu called that a bad idea. his blunt language was a surprise. the viability of a palestinian state cannot come at the expense of the viblt of the one and only jewish state, a statement from the prime minister s office read and went on to say, that is why prime minister netanyahu expects to hear a reaffi a firaffirmati commits in 2004, among other things, those commitments relate to israel not having a withdraw. it i