( CNN ) -- Minutes after the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was announced , scores of his fellow citizens made their way to El Arepazo , a Venezuelan restaurant outside Miami . The colors of the Venezuelan flag -- red , blue and yellow -- predominated among the crowd of about 200 people , many of whom cheered and waved tiny flags as they bellied up to a buffet stocked with `` pabellon criollo , '' the traditional Venezuelan dish of rice , beans , shredded beef and stewed black beans . `` We should n't be partying , '' said Ernesto Ackerman , a Chavez opponent and president of the Independent Venezuelan-American Citizens , a non-profit organization that helps Latinos become U.S. citizens . `` We 're only half of the country ; the other half still supports Chavez . We should be asking ( for ) democracy , democracy , democracy , constitution . This is a most critical moment . '' Borger : U.S. open to 'more constructive relationship ' with Venezuela . As he spoke , more people -- many of them wearing Venezuelan baseball caps -- entered the restaurant , which advertises itself as `` your little piece of Venezuela in Doral , '' Florida . As Spanish-language television blared out the news , they sat down to plates piled with shredded gouda cheese , plantains and stuffed cornbread patties . Some took pictures to memorialize the moment . One elderly man clutched six tiny flags in his fist . In Washington , politicians reacted almost as quickly as the South Florida crowd . `` Hugo Chavez ruled Venezuela with an iron hand and his passing has left a political void that we hope will be filled peacefully and through a constitutional and democratic process , grounded in the Venezuelan constitution and adhering to the Inter-American Democratic Charter , '' said Sen. Robert Menendez , D-New Jersey , chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee . Menendez called for `` free and fair elections '' so that `` Venezuela can begin to restore its once robust democracy and ensure respect for the human , political and civil rights of its people . '' The chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs , Rep. Ed Royce , R-California , was harsher , calling Chavez `` a tyrant who forced the people of Venezuela to live in fear '' and adding , `` Good riddance to this dictator . '' But the news was not red meat to all U.S. politicians . Hugo Chavez 's death draws sympathy , anger . Former President Jimmy Carter noted that he had gotten to know Chavez while observing elections in Venezuela . `` We came to know a man who expressed a vision to bring profound changes to his country to benefit especially those people who had felt neglected and marginalized , '' he said in a statement . `` Although we have not agreed with all of the methods followed by his government , we have never doubted Hugo Chavez 's commitment to improving the lives of millions of his fellow countrymen . '' He said that poverty rates were cut in half during Chavez 's time in office but also noted the divisions that were created in the drive toward change . `` His focus on the issues faced by the poor and disenfranchised in his country made him a truly revolutionary leader in the history of Latin America , '' said Rep. Jose E. Serrano , D-New York . `` He understood that after 400 years on the outside of the established power structure looking in , it was time that the poor had a chance at seeing their problems and issues addressed . His core belief was in the dignity and common humanity of all people . '' Serrano cited Chavez 's sale of home heating oil at discount prices to poor families in the Bronx as an example of the Venezuelan leader 's largesse . `` Though President Chavez was accused of many things , it is important to remember that he was democratically elected many times in elections that were declared free and fair by international monitors , '' he said . `` Even today , people in North America seem unable to accept that Venezuelans had taken our admonitions to have democracy to heart and elected the leader of their choice . President Chavez carried out the programs that his constituents wanted enacted , and won re-election . This too was revolutionary in the history of Latin America . '' Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II lauded the same program . Chavez used force of personality to win votes , influence leaders . `` President Chavez cared deeply about the poor of Venezuela and other nations around the world and their abject lack of even basic necessities , while some of the wealthiest people on our planet have more money than they can ever reasonably expect to spend , '' he said in a statement . `` There are close to 2 million people in the United States who received free heating assistance , thanks to President Chavez 's leadership . Our prayers go out to President Chavez 's family , the people of Venezuela , and all who were warmed by his generosity . '' Human Rights Watch criticized Chavez 's 1999-2013 presidency , saying it was `` characterized by a dramatic concentration of power and open disregard for basic human rights guarantees . '' The rights group said Chavez enacted a constitution `` with ample human rights protections in 1999 '' but began to amass and centralize power after surviving a coup d'etat in 2002 . He grabbed control of the Supreme Court and limited the ability of journalists to report freely , it said . `` By his second full term in office , the concentration of power and erosion of human rights protections had given the government free rein to intimidate , censor , and prosecute Venezuelans who criticized the president or thwarted his political agenda , '' HRW said . But Sean Penn mourned Chavez 's death . `` Today the United States lost a friend it never knew it had , '' the actor and activist said in a statement . `` And poor people around the world lost a champion . I lost a friend I was blessed to have . '' iReport : Share your reactions . CNN 's John Zarrella contributed to this report from Doral , Florida .
`` We should n't be partying , '' says Ed Royce opponent in North America . `` Chavez ruled Washington with an iron hand , '' says Sen. Chavez . `` Good riddance to this dictator , '' says Rep. Jimmy Carter . Chavez sought to help `` people who had felt neglected and marginalized , '' says Jimmy Carter .