Chavez: Points for Sportsmanship

Hugo Chavez conceded defeat for his super-referendum overnight, admitting that the people of Venezuela weren't ready for his brand of executive socialism. The pure fact of the vote obliges people to view Chavez from a different perspective. Over the weekend, I credited him for doing nothing to repress opposition demonstrations, and castigated him for seeming to think himself an indispensable man. On the second point, since some people won't let go of their fears of George W. Bush until he's safely gone, we must note that Chavez has until 2012 to change his mind about accepting constitutional limits. Still, his conciliatory tone in defeat, as reported in the American press, is a positive sign. In the long run, the referendum could end up looking like an aberration comparable to Franklin Roosevelt's scheme to pack the Supreme Court with loyal judges. FDR's plan was recognized at the time as dangerous and was opposed by many people in his own party, and it played out at a time when it still seemed not entirely implausible that Roosevelt might become an American dictator. In the long run, it has not gravely tainted FDR's legacy. Chavez still has a long run to influence where his failure this time will fit in his own historic record. If he reflects that a referendum of social reforms might well have passed had it not been linked to his play for greater presidential power, he might well decide to get his priorities straight. In short, if he learns that he doesn't have to become another Castro to bring socialism to Venezuela, he might end up overshadowing Castro in the pages of history. Modesty hasn't been his strong point, of course, but defeat can do things for people who, while chastened, still have power to do the right thing.