Hugo Chavez says he doesn’t want to be a dictator.

Chavez, who is pushing a constitutional amendment to extend his presidency, claims that if he wanted to be a dictator, he would not let the people vote.

 ”They say my personal goal is to perpetuate myself in power; nothing could be further from the truth.”

“What we have here is a national independence project that still needs more work to consolidate. It’s not consolidated yet.”

“When does a tyrant appeal to the people? When does a tyrant consult the people?”

“Nothing can be more legitimate and right than calling on the people … what the people decide will be carried out. It’s the will of the people that will be imposed for certain.”

Chavez narrowly lost a similar vote on a constitutional change last year. Now he is back with a new one. Yet he says he is not trying to perpetuate his power. Uh-huh.