Who says Latinos aren't with Obama? Nonense! Some in Spanish television and hack political pols and their organizations may not be, true. But we'll see who the overwhelming majority of normal Latino voters are this fall. Here's a clue: He's real smart.
BTW: You are invited to visit American Taíno where I blog about politics from a pro-Obama and American Latino perspective. Please visit.
Si, Se Puede!
I just finished watching tonight's YouTube Democratic debate and here's my quick assessment:
The Format: A
The format worked. Having the people ask questions was so much more interesting and the questions more substantive than the tiresome panel of print and television journalists.
The Questions: B+
The questions were challenging and substantive. Incredibly, YouTube received 3,000 videos, of which 50 were picked, and 38 were asked. However, as in the Howard U. debate, the glaring omission of immigration and Latin American relations was unfortunate. There was a question on health care for undocumented workers, but nothing on immigration reform and nothing on Latin American relations.
The Moderator: A+
Excellent. Anderson Cooper was in control of the format the whole time and was able to move things along in a crisp and effective way. From my count Cooper was able to get 38 questions in along videos from each of the 8 candidates. Cooper's performance in this debate makes Tavis Smiley's performance at the PBS forum look amateurish.
Barack Obama: A
It seems to me that Obama won this debate. He's the closets thing to the unBush on the stage. He's articulate. He's knowledgeable. He shows passion with intelligence. And he doesn't equivocate--that is, you know where he stands on the issue.
Best moments: When he took the reparations questions and turned it into an opportunity to challenge the country to invest in quality education for the children attending rotten schools in what he called America's "corridors of shame."
Hillary Clinton: B+
This was a strong performance for Hillary. She also had smart answers and seemed confident. I also appreciate that she didn't feel the need to scream her responses like she did at Howard U.
Best moment: When she said that it was a problem when Bush was elected in 2000 in response to a question about Clinton and Bush political dynasties.
Joe Biden: B-
Biden did well in part because he stopped the outrageous need to talk down to people which marked his Howard U. performance. He seemed to have settled on the fact that he's in the 2nd tier for the duration and that what he needs to do is begin accentuating his foreign policy credentials in preparation for a role as VP or Cabinet Secretary to Clinton or Obama.
Best moment: When he mentioned that he would choose Republican Chuck Hagel as his running mate?
Edwards: C+
John Edwards had a decent showing with his anti-big business rants. However, the repetitiveness of his populist attacks got tiring real fast. Edwards just doesn't seem to offer much beyond wanting to get the rich--and that by itself is not much of a platform for gaining the nomination.
Best moment: When he spoke passionately for universal health coverage.
Kuscinich: C+
Kuscinich was effective in making the point that he's anti-war, pro-peace. His problem is that he didn't gain any ground and may have lost some because he offered nothing knew.
Best moment: When he called "global waring" the antithesis of addressing global warming.
Richardson: C-
Bill Richardson needed to stand out in this debate if he's to make a move into the top tier. I don't believe that he did so. His debate performance as undistinguished and he seemed to lack a message and passion.
Best moment: When he called for scrapping No Child Left Behind Act for not doing enough to address the needs of disabled and English language learners.
Dodd: C-
Chris Dodd was largely unforgettable. I can't remember one thing he said that stands out as interesting or memorable. Dodd has always seemed to me to be competing for VP, but today he was outpointed in that contest by Biden.
Best moment: When he stood up for No Child Left Behind and made the point that accountability is hugely important.
Gravel: I
Still not much to say about Gravel other than he's right that he's being shortchanged in terms of talking time. He did accuse the Clintons of selling out the Democratic party to the Wall streeters was unexpected.
Best moment: When he mentioned that it was his filibuster that led to canceling the draft in the early '70s.
Candidate Videos A
The videos were fun to watch--often added a dose of needed levity. My favorite video was Barack Obama's. It successfully captured the mood in his party and the country for change. It was positive and future-oriented. Edwards video with the "Hair" theme song was pretty good, too.
Television focus groups picked winners
<span style="font-size:130%;">CNN</span> ran two focus groups: one in Charleston and one in Nevada. The Charleston group picked Barack Obama as the winner, while the Nevada group declared it a tie between Hillary and Richardson.
<span style="font-size:130%;">Fox</span>'s focus group picked Barack Obama as the winner.
<span style="font-size:130%;">Drudge</span>'s online poll is currently showing Obama at 41% and Clinton at 14%. Kucinich comes in 3rd with 11%.
Click here and then again on the Obama/Clinton cartoon for the animation.
The animation is by Walt Handelsman, a Newsday nationally syndicated Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist.
I expect that news reports of today’s Obama and Clinton speeches in Selma, in honor of the 42nd anniversary of the Bloody Sunday, will focus on the political contest--and suggest some sort of parity between the Obama and Clinton.However, the real story, which will be missed by the MSM, is much more significant.First, Senator Barack Obama was invited last November to give today’s keynote address at the Brown Chapel AME Church—the church from which Dr. Martin Luther King launched the historic Selma march. John Lewis, the famous civil rights leader and now Atlanta congressman, was by Dr. King's side then--and today, he stood next to Senator Obama.In contrast, Senator Clinton’s campaign only recently ginned up an invitation to speak in Selma, too—albeit at another church.Second, Obama’s message was that the Moses generation (the generation of Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Joseph Lowery, et al) sacrificed and laid the groundwork for progress—a progress that rooted Obama's own rise, including his audacious run for presidency.
"If it hasn't been for Selma, I wouldn't be here. This is the site of my conception. I am the fruits of your labor. I am the offspring of the ovement. When people ask me if I've been to Selma before, I tell them I'm coming home."
Are Americans voters understanding that the U.S. really does exist within a larger global sphere, and is that new awareness beginning to influence their political choices?For example, while there are other reasons to explain the public's growing support for Rudy and Obama, they do seem to be defying the usual drag of American political gravity. Perhaps it's their 'immigrant' heritage that's giving them a lift?Obama is an American with both a foreign national father and personal experience as an immigrant in a foreign land--Indonesia. Also, Obama has represented Chicago--a leading immigrant center in America.Giuliani is the former mayor of what some in America refer to as the Republic of New York--a City that prides itself on being the capitol of the world and a leading immigrant mecca. And Giuliani's own grandparents were part of that great tide of Southern European immigrants that splashed onto U.S. shores in the early 1900's.American politicians often communicate either disinterest or extreme awkwardness in regards to dealing with international issues and leaders.But I get the sense that neither Rudy or Obama fear the outside world. They appear to have a better sense of the world, its peoples and its aspirations.Perhaps, that's why Rudy can easily engage leaders from across the globe and advise them on governance and public safety. This is also perhaps why Senator Barack Obama saw the mistake of the Iraq War and its consequences before he ever joined his colleagues in the U.S. Senate.While neither Obama or Rudy is technically an immigrant, they're both recent products of America's glorious immigrant story. They have the immigrant saga in their souls and they both sport its sensibility. Both see a world directly tied to America through the bonds of family and commerce.Both, I suspect, see a world waiting for an American leader that can lead America and the world.
Great news for Senator Barack Obama. The latest Zogby International survey of 1,078 likely voters (+/-3%) shows him besting Rudy, McCain and Romney in head-to-head match-ups.Obama 51% vs Romney 29%Obama 46% vs Giuliani 40%Obama 44% vs McCain 40%In other match ups, Rudy beats Clinton (+7pts) and Edwards (+6pts). McCain beats Clinton (+8pts) and Edwards (+12). Both Clinton (+7pts) and Edwards (+15pts) beat Romney.
No matter where you stand politically, there's no denying that there's something magical about Senator Barack Obama's run for the U.S. presidency.Of course, that so many people come out to get a glimpse of him is as much a statement about America as it is about Obama himself.Americans everywhere want a change and many see the young, articulate and handsome junior senator from Illinois as embodying the most exciting and hopeful change.To some observers, Obama's run appears to be generating the same type of enthusiams and crowds that Bobby Kennedy received in his all too short campaign.Anyone that's taken the time to read his books and to listen or read his speeches, knows that Obama is not your ordinary politician. Obama is a thinker--as well as a pretty good reader of the body politic--a rare and powerful combination.By comparison, while very smart--even Hillary's closest advisors admit that she's a bit tone death politically.Of course, this doesn't mean that Obamamania will continue unabated. If he's not the real deal, the public will likely figure it out. But so far he's having a pretty good run.Check out the numbers of people attending campaign events since he announced his candidacy just 2 weeks ago:
Michael Kinsley get's it right (Support the Troops: Bring Them Home, TIME 2-19-07.President Bush believed that Iraq was a major threat to the U.S. and that the best course of action was to strike first before the gathering storm. However, the intelligence was wrong, so the war is wrong.But under the circumstances, which position best exemplifies support for our troops: bring the troops home to their families, or keep them in Iraq and send in yet more of our bravest?"[President Bush's] intentions were noble, however naive and pigheaded. But the war was a horrible mistake. And as everyone comes to realize it was a mistake, continuing it becomes something much worse than a mistake.""There is something backward here. Congressional opponents of the Iraq war are "supporting the troops" in the best possible way: by trying to bring them home to safety and their families. It is those — those few, apart from President Bush — who want to send even more troops to Iraq who should feel defensive about their support for the troops. Some of those troops are on their third tour of duty in Iraq, and few of them are pleased to be there. Maybe, as Bush and his advisers no doubt sincerely believe, the drip drip drip of young American blood is worth it. Maybe the critics underestimate the peril of pulling out. Maybe the "surge" will turn out to be a huge success and vindicate Bush's strategy. But please — let's not pretend that staying the course is a favor to the troops."
In an unprecedented action, 1,000 active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. military have--under the protections of the 1995 Military Whistleblower Act--submitted a petition to the U.S. Congress expressing their opposition to the Iraq War.Several of them appear to explain their actions in a Lara Logan report to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday Feb. 25 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBSNews.
Navy Officer Jonathan Hutto, an Iraq War veteran, and Marine Sgt. Liam Madden initiated the petition. Both are Iraq War veterans.Here's part of what they told CBSNews Lara Logan:"I'm not anti-war. I'm not a pacifist. I'm not opposed to protecting our country and defending our principles. But at the same time, as citizens, it's our obligation to have a questioning attitude … about policy." Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto"Just because we volunteered for the military doesn't mean we volunteered to put our lives in unnecessary harm and to carry out missions that are illogical and immoral." Marine Sgt. Liam Madden
You knew it was bound to happen, but who knew it would be sparked by David Geffen of Dreamworks fame.Geffen, a Hollywood billionaire and Bill and Hillary Clinton money man, ignited the first firestorm between the Clinton and Obama camps.It happened when Geffen, speaking openly and strongly as is usually the case with super wealthy Hollywood types, told the NYTimes Columnist Maureen Dowd what he really thinks of the Clintons. The funny thing is that he didn't say anything that hasn't been said by people everywhere, which included: Bill & Hill tend to stretch the truth
In "Why are black lawmakers already jumping on Clinton bandwagon?" Susan Mitchell, a columnist with the Chicago-Sun Times, minces no words when she calls a number of short-sighted African Americans politicians for taking big money to do Clinton's bidding.
Here's the opening to her article:
Skepticism I understand. But when two black male legislators from the Deep South throw their hats in Hillary Clinton's ring at the start of a wide-open election, I want to slap them upside their heads.Why are these black men so eager to drive Miss Hillary to the White House when Illinois' U.S. Sen. Barack Obama is also a front-runner?
Skepticism I understand. But when two black male legislators from the Deep South throw their hats in Hillary Clinton's ring at the start of a wide-open election, I want to slap them upside their heads.
Why are these black men so eager to drive Miss Hillary to the White House when Illinois' U.S. Sen. Barack Obama is also a front-runner?
Robert Novack (Evans-Novack Report) writes today that supporters of Hillary Clinton are very concerned about Barack Obama. They're worried that he's "showing signs of being a genuine phenomenon who could sweep through the primaries and take the Democratic nomination."
Novack relays that the question for Clinton strategists is whether they should they attack Obama?
Perhaps, the people on this forum should answer that question.
Should the Clinton camp attack Barack Obama?
In “Welcome to the Meat Grinder!” The Politico’s Roger Simon makes the point that this year’s presidential front-runners are a vulnerable lot. While he state’s the obvious, what’s interesting is the comment posted by Mrs. Truth in response. Here’s are two excerpts:
"I'm actually happy that we have a woman, a [African America], a [M]ormon, a 72 year old and a pro-choice Republican all in the lead. It just goes to show you that our country in truly represented by all different types of people and our leaders should emulate that very image. We are not perfect. We may all have different religions, ethnicity, or genders but that has absolutely nothing to do with if we have the right idea for this country."
Mrs. Truth then quotes Barack Obama:
"[T]here's not a liberal America and a conservative America, there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America."
Mrs. Truth ends by saying this about Barack's words, "Good Point rather you like him or not..."
The end of a legitimate discussion of immigration policy and the full blown expression of bigotry and racism against newcomers seems to come very fast in America.
Much of what I read and hear these days on immigration sounds to my ears--and they're the ears of the son of a Latino migrant worker--to be plain old American racism.
Q: If much of the rhetoric surrounding immigration is not racist, then why is it that the Klu Klux Klan and other organized racist groups are feeding off of it?
This is what a new by the ADL documents: The Klan, and other white supremacist groups like skinheads and neo-Nazis, grew significantly more active in the past year, holding more rallies, distributing leaflets and increasing their presence on the Internet -- much of it focused on stirring anti-immigrant sentiment, according to the report.
Barack Obama warmed hearts and set imaginations souring as he made his historic quest for the presidency of the United States of America official in Springfield, Illinois.
Barack Obama, with his trademark eloquence and dazzling smile, inspired those present to think big and to believe that things can change for the better.
Echoing Lincoln, JFK and Martin, he said:
"I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness, a certain audacity, to this announcement. I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change.
Each and every time, a new generation has risen up and done what's needed to be done. Today we are called once more - and it is time for our generation to answer that call.
The life of a tall, gangly, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different future is possible. He tells us that there is power in words. He tells us that there is power in conviction. That beneath all the differences of race and region, faith and station, we are one people. He tells us that there is power in hope."
Barack Obama spoke about how previous generations have brought change, including beating the British colonizers, ending slavery, lifting the country after the Great Depression, welcoming immigrants, and landing a man on the moon. He spoke about the need for a new politics--one that rebuilds the America's credibility in the world, that recognizes the danger of unchecked global warming and delivers universal health care coverage and ends the Iraq War.
The crowd of thousands gathered in the frigid but sun-drenched square responded enthusiastically. People could be seen dancing and smiling as they stayed a while afterwards to enjoy the historic moment.
One young woman danced in the aisle with a "Barack the Vote!" sign.
Watching from the comfort of my home, I sensed that the people there knew that they were witnessing America take another step towards "The Dream." Hallelujah!!
