Juntos llegamos a la meta. Juntos le demostramos al país – y al resto del mundo – que el cambio es posible.Gracias a todos nuestros voluntarios por los kilómetros recorridos, las casas visitadas, los teléfonos marcados, las contribuciones de campaña y la pasión por este movimiento. Gracias por seguir con nosotros hasta el final, aún durante los días más difíciles. Gracias a todos aquellos que desmintieron a los cínicos y que nunca dejaron de creer que el cambio era posible. Gracias por todas las noches y madrugadas de trabajo. Por haber llevado el mensaje de esta campaña a miles de ciudades y comunidades por todo el país –a pesar del frío y el calor, a pesar de la ropa empapada y los zapatos llenos de lodo. Gracias a todos por su paciencia y perseverancia. Gracias a Brandi en Minneapolis por su historia conmovedora, y a todos aquellos que, durante las elecciones primarias, trabajaron toda la noche haciendo llamadas a Guam para que los votantes de la isla nos dieran la victoria. Gracias a todos los que han participado en la conversación de este blog, y a todos los que pertenecen a la comunidad myBO por sus comentarios, historias, sentido del humor y pasión por esta campaña. Gracias a todos aquellos que se unieron para que el cambio fuera posible.Gracias por las obras de arte, los correos electrónicos, las cartas, las fotos y los recorridos a pie por la campiña para llegar a un votante lejano. Gracias por el esfuerzo de miles y miles de voluntarios de todas las edades. Gracias al partidario que nos pidió que diéramos prioridad al votante Barney Smith y no a Smith Barney, la controvertida empresa de Wall Street. Gracias a todos los equipos y voluntarios latinos por su perseverancia y su fe en esta campaña.
Gracias también al talentoso José Conde por habernos enviado su magnífico video “Respóndele a Obama.” Con esa música se gana toda la Florida.
Gracias a los estudiantes del Bronx por demostrar que el proceso político es para todos y que las nuevas generaciones también quieren hacer frente a los problemas del país.Gracias a las miles de personas que llamaron desde su casa a votantes hispanos en Florida, Colorado, Nuevo México, Nevada y Carolina del Norte. Gracias a los que viajaron en caravana de California a Nevada para convencer a los votantes de Las Vegas que se unieran a la causa. Gracias a Elena y Elsa en el Este de Los Ángeles. Gracias a la señora que, con frecuencia, nos mandaba sus bendiciones desde el Brasil. Gracias a nuestros lectores y participantes de todo el mundo. Gracias a los voluntarios del bello Valle de Texas, allá por Las Milpas y San Juan, donde el Río Bravo se remansa y baña con sus aguas los campos de cultivo de esa tierra de promisión. Gracias a los voluntarios latinos en Phoenix, El Paso, Miami, Tampa, Los Ángeles, San Diego, Raleigh, Falls Church, Fairfax y todo esas ciudades y pueblos del Sureste con nombres de misioneros y aventureros españoles.
Gracias a todos nuestros voluntarios y partidarios...
El cambio es posible. Juntos lo hemos comprobado.
-Carta del Equipo New Media de la campaña.
Es con una gran tristeza que anunciamos que nuestra abuela, Madelyn Dunham, ha muerto pacíficamente luego de una batalla contra el cáncer. Ella fue la piedra angular de nuestra familia, y una mujer con logros extraordinarios, fortaleza y humildad. Ella fue la persona que nos dio ánimo y nos permitió tomar riesgos. Ella estaba orgullosa de sus nietos y biznietos y dejó este mundo con el conocimiento que el impacto que tuvo en todos nosotros fue significativo y duradero. Nuestra deuda con ella es incalculable.
Statement from Barack Obama and Maya Soetoro-Ng on the Death of Their Grandmother
It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure. Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer.
Federico A. de Jesús
312-343-8244
Este martes 4 de noviembre millones de estadounidenses tendrán la oportunidad de elegir no solo a sus representantes locales y estatales sino al próximo presidente y vicepresidente de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. Viste nuestro sitio de Internet VotaPorUnCambio.com y encuentre su lugar de votación junto con un mapa con indicaciones para llegar desde su casa u oficina. Si no sabe cómo navegar esta página siga los 5 pasos que aparecen a continuación: 1. En la página principal de VotaPorUnCambio.com (o VoteForChange.com) seleccione “español”:
Reform No Child Left Behind
Obama and Biden believe teachers should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests and he will improve the assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for college.
Invest in Early Childhood Education
The Obama-Biden comprehensive "Zero to Five" plan will provide critical support to young children and their parents. And they will help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school.
Make College Affordable to all Americans
Obama and Biden will create a new American Opportunity Tax Credit worth $4,000 in exchange for community service. It will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students.In this video, Senator Barack Obama talks about his plan for education, including reforming No Child Left Behind, supporting teachers and schools, giving tax incentives to college students, and demanding more accountability at all levels:
Fecha: viernes, 31 de octubre de 2008 CONTACTOS:
Federico A. de Jesús, 312-343-8244
Vince Casillas, 312-237-1673
Noerena Limón, 312-350-5646 *** MENSAJE DEMÓCRATA POR RADIO EN ESPAÑOL *** DEMOCRATAS PRESENTAN CASO FINAL A LOS LATINOS -- KIHUEN: OBAMA ES EL CAMBIO QUE TANTO NECESITAMOS Washington, D.C. – El Asambleísta Estatal Rubén Kihuen de Nevada, emitirá el Mensaje Demócrata por Radio en Español este sábado, 1ro de noviembre de 2008. Adjunto el texto en español y la traducción al inglés de su difusión.
El Asambleísta Kihuen le presentará el caso final a la comunidad latina, sobre por qué Barack Obama tiene el liderazgo y la visión necesaria para traernos el cambio que tanto necesitamos y merecemos. Él también hablará sobre el poder que tienen los latinos, a través de su voto, de realizar el cambio con soluciones reales para los problemas que nuestras familias están enfrentando. Después de ocho años de las políticas desastrosas de Bush y McCain que ocasionaron esta crisis, los latinos están listos para un nuevo camino. Por eso es que el Asambleísta Estatal Kihuen discutirá la promesa del plan de Obama para la clase media y el por qué durante este momento crucial en la historia de nuestra nación, los latinos necesitan votar para hacer que esta promesa se convierta en realidad.
El audio para la difusión del Asambleísta Estatal Kihuen puede ser obtenido a través de su afiliada local de Univisión Radio, Radio Fórmula, Radiovisa, Radio Bilingüe, Latino Broadcasting Corporation, BBC en Español, CNN en Español, W Radio, Radio Caracol u otras estaciones locales, luego de las 11:06 a.m. hora este el sábado, 1ro de noviembre de 2008.
El audio también puede ser obtenido a través de la siguiente página: http://www.democrats.org/page/-/audio/radio_addresses/110108_hispradio_RubenKihuen.mp3 en formato MP3. * * *
Date: Friday, October 31, 2008 CONTACT:
Noerena Limón, 312-350-5646 *** DEMOCRATIC HISPANIC RADIO ADDRESS *** DEMOCRATS DELIVER CLOSING ARGUMENT TO LATINOS -- KIHUEN: OBAMA IS THE CHANGE WE DESPERATELY NEED Washington, D.C. – Nevada State Assemblyman, Rubén Kihuen will deliver the Democratic Hispanic Radio Address this Saturday, November 1st, 2008. Below are the Spanish transcript and English translation of his address.
Assemblyman Kihuen will deliver a closing argument to the Latino community, on why Barack Obama has the leadership and vision to bring about the change we desperately need and deserve. He will also talk about the power Latinos hold, through their votes, to deliver change with real solutions to the current problems facing our families. After eight years of reckless Bush-McCain policies that have brought us into this crisis, Latinos are ready for a new direction. That is why State Assemblyman Kihuen will discuss the promise of Obama’s plan for the middle class and why during this pivotal time in our nation’s history Latinos need to vote to make it happen.
The sound of Assemblyman Kihuen’s address can be obtained through your local Univisión Radio affiliates, Radio Fórmula, Radiovisa, Radio Bilingüe, Latino Broadcasting Corporation affiliates, BBC en Español, CNN en Español, W Radio, Radio Caracol, or other local stations, after 11:06 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, November 1st, 2008.The sound can also be obtained at: http://www.democrats.org/page/-/audio/radio_addresses/110108_hispradio_RubenKihuen.mp3in MP3 format.(English transcript below original Spanish script) ***Mensaje Demócrata por RadioAsambleísta Rubén KihuenFecha de difusión: sábado, 1ro de noviembre de 2008 Buenos días. Les habla Rubén Kihuen, Asambleísta estatal de Nevada, de parte del Partido Demócrata. Cuando veo a la gente de mi distrito en Nevada, luchando para quedarse en sus hogares, o veo una madre obtener un segundo empleo porque han despedido a su esposo, o cuando veo la esperanza perdida en los ojos de un estudiante que no tiene el dinero para ir a la universidad, hay algo que me queda muy claro – nuestro país necesita un cambio desesperadamente, y no podemos quedarnos cruzados de brazos y permitir que otros decidan nuestro futuro. Barack Obama ofrece ese cambio y necesitamos salir y votar para hacer que esto ocurra. Y esta es la razón por la cual es tan urgente que salgamos a votar este 4 de noviembre. Hoy enfrentamos la peor crisis económica desde la Gran Depresión y los latinos han sufrido un impacto desproporcionado por esta crisis. Nuestra comunidad enfrenta una tasa de desempleo de casi ocho porciento y una de las tasas más altas de embargos de viviendas; con mi estado de Nevada teniendo una de las peores tasas en la nación. Nuestra gente está pagando las consecuencias de las políticas fracasadas de desreglamentación que recompensan a la avaricia y la corrupción por encima del trabajo duro y la perseverancia. Sin embargo, mientras los latinos luchan cada día para poder ganar lo suficiente para vivir, John McCain ha apoyado al Presidente Bush a cada paso del camino, votando el 90 por ciento de las veces por sus políticas. McCain votó a favor de los recortes contributivos de Bush para los ricos, a la vez que hizo llamados repetidos--veinte veces en este año solamente--para que se desreglamentaran las mismas corporaciones financieras que nos llevaron al desastre en el que estamos. Y después de todos estos meses de campaña, el Senador McCain todavía no le ha dicho al pueblo una sola cosa que haría para separar sus políticas económicas de las de George Bush. Ya hemos tratado las cosas a su manera. Este país no puede soportar cuatro años más de las mismas políticas fracasadas que nos dejaron en este apuro. Es hora de algo nuevo. Barack Obama ofrece un camino distinto. Su plan le recortará los impuestos al 95 por ciento de los trabajadores estadounidenses. Y, le eliminará por completo los impuestos sobre ingreso a las personas mayores que ganen menos de $50,000 dólares. Él le proveerá créditos de impuestos a los negocios por cada trabajo nuevo que generen aquí en casa y ayudará a los negocios pequeños a pagar por el seguro de salud de sus empleados. El Senador Obama y los demócratas también le darán un seguro médico a todos, incluyendo los 15 millones de latinos que no tienen seguro. Y él le pondrá un fin responsable a una guerra en Irak que nos está costando $10 mil millones de dólares al mes. También necesitamos un presidente que seguirá apoyando una reforma integral de inmigración porque es lo correcto, en vez de alguien como McCain que se echó hacia atrás cuando el asunto se convirtió difícil políticamente. Ese líder que necesitamos es sin lugar a dudas, Barack Obama. Lo que yo admiro más del Senador Obama es su liderazgo firme en momentos de crisis, que tiene el juicio correcto para tomar las decisiones difíciles y que ofrece las soluciones concretas para los problemas que enfrentamos. Él les ha traído la promesa de la esperanza a nuestras comunidades. Y para sembrar esas semillas de la esperanza, tenemos que empezar por nuestras escuelas. Nuestros niños enfrentan el nivel de abandono escolar más alto en el país. Necesitamos un presidente que haga que la educación sea una prioridad en su gobierno. El Senador Obama invertirá en la educación temprana y reclutará un ejército de maestros nuevos. Y, a cada estudiante que se comprometa a servirle a su comunidad o su país, le daremos una beca de $4,000 dólares para pagar la universidad. Este es un momento crucial en nuestra historia y para nuestra comunidad. Como latinos, tenemos más poder en nuestras manos que nunca antes. Tenemos una oportunidad para cambiar el rumbo de la historia de nuestra nación y mejorar la calidad de vida de nuestras familias. Y podemos hacer eso al ejercer el derecho por el que tantos han luchado, y algunos hasta han muerto por obtener – el derecho al voto. No podemos aguantar cuatro años más de estas políticas fracasadas de Bush y McCain. Por eso es que te invito a que te unas a mí, y votes por Barack Obama y los demócratas – por el cambio que necesitamos y nos merecemos. Para más información sobre cómo y dónde puedes ir a votar, visita www.votaporuncambio.com . Les habló Rubén Kihuen, departe del Partido Demócrata. Gracias por su atención. ***Democratic Hispanic Radio AddressState Assemblyman Rubén KihuenAir Date: Saturday, November 1, 2008 Good morning. This is Rubén Kihuen, State Assemblyman from Nevada, on behalf of the Democratic Party. When I see the people of my district in Nevada, struggling to keep their homes, or I see a mother take on another job because her husband just got laid off, or when I see that loss of hope in a student’s eyes who can’t afford to go to college, there is one thing that is clear to me – our country is in desperate need for change and we cannot sit back and let others decide our future for us. Barack Obama offers that change and we need to go out and vote to make it happen. And here’s why it’s so urgent we do get out to vote this November 4th. Today, we face the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and Latinos have been disproportionately impacted by this crisis. Our community faces an unemployment rate of close to 8% and faces one of the highest home foreclosure rates, with my state of Nevada having one of the worst rates in the nation. Our people are paying the consequences of the failed policies of deregulation, and that reward greed and corruption over hard work and perseverance. Yet, as Latinos are struggling every day to make ends meet, John McCain has stood with President Bush every step of the way – voting 90 percent of the time for his policies. McCain voted for the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, while calling twenty, times this year alone, for deregulating the same financial corporations that got us into this mess in the first place. And after all of these months of campaigning, Senator McCain has not been able to tell the American people one thing he’d do to separate his economic policies from George Bush’s. We’ve tried it their way. This country can’t take four more years of the same old politics and the same failed policies that got us into this mess. It is time to turn the page. Barack Obama has a different way. His plan would cut taxes for 95 percent of working Americans and he will completely eliminate incomes taxes for seniors earning under $50,000. He will provide businesses with tax credits for every new job they create here at home, and will help small businesses pay for the health insurance of their employees. Senator Obama and the Democrats will also provide affordable and quality health care to all, including the 15 million uninsured Latinos. And he would bring a responsible end to a war that is costing us $10 billion dollars a month. We also need a President who will support comprehensive immigration reform because it’s the right thing to do, and not someone who will back away when it becomes politically inconvenient. That leader is without a doubt, Barack Obama. What I admire most about Senator Obama is his steady leadership in moments of crisis, the right judgment to make tough decisions, and the concrete solutions that he offers to the problems we face. He has brought the promise of hope to our communities. And planting the seeds of hope starts in our schools. Our children face the highest school dropout rates in the country. We need a president who will make education a top priority in his administration. Senator Obama will invest in early childhood education and recruit an army of new teachers. And, every student who commits to serving their community or their country will receive a $4,000 scholarship to pay for college. This is a defining moment in history for our nation and our community. As Latinos, we hold more power in our hands than ever before. We have an opportunity to change the course of our nation’s history, and improve the quality of life of our families. And we can do that by exercising the right that so many have fought and some even died for – the right to vote. We cannot afford 4 more years of these failed Bush-McCain policies. That is why I ask you to join me and vote for Barack Obama and the Democrats – for the Change We Need and deserve. For more information on how and where you can vote, please visit www.votaporuncambio.com . This is Rubén Kihuen, on behalf of the Democratic Party. Thank you for listening. ###
En este video con subtítulos en español, el Senador Obama pone de relieve los aspectos principales del plan para la educación, incluyendo la reforma de la ley Que Ningún Niño Se Queda Atrás, la autonomía para las escuelas que dan buenos resultados, un crédito fiscal de $4,000 para los estudiantes universitarios y la rendición de cuentas para no malgastar las aportaciones del contribuyente:
Poder, a leading Hispanic magazine distributed in the United States, Mexico, Colombia and Chile, presents its analysis of the 2008 election in its latest number and gives a ringing endorsement of presidential candidate Barack Obama. Read the full endorsement:
Throughout his long career in the U.S. Senate, John McCain has been a friend and supporter of Latin America and the Hispanic community in the United States. Despite strong opposition from his party, he co-authored with Ted Kennedy a groundbreaking bill for comprehensive immigration reform that sought compromise, pragmatic solutions to this very complex and emotional issue. McCain has been a staunch free-trader and a consistent champion of deepening commerce and investment links in our hemisphere even as these notions became increasingly unpopular amongst the American electorate. Moreover, he has been a firm ally of democratic governments in the region in the fight against drug-traffickers and terrorist groups that threaten the very fiber of their institutions and societies. However, despite his admirable personal history and distinguished political service, this magazine believes that Barack Obama is the better choice for U.S. president on November 4th; for Latin America, for the Hispanic community, for the United States and for the world.For one thing, the McCain of today seems to have strayed widely from the McCain of old. Of course, electoral pressures have abetted this transformation. But his reversals and hard veers to the right on issues of crucial importance (and that seemed so close to his heart) as immigration and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are disquieting. The hustle and bustle of the campaign has also exposed facets of his character and temper that, while useful for, and even becoming of, a maverick senator, appear ill-suited for a commander-in-chief in a time of war, economic crisis and political polarization. What is more, his claim to the moral high-ground in campaign tactics (he was on the receiving end of a vile hatchet job by the Bush political machine in the 2000 primaries), has fallen by the wayside. But this magazine's endorsement of Obama is not predicated on McCain's shortcomings. Rather, it rests on three arguments: Obama's virtues for leadership, the symbolism of his presidency, and the benefits it could yield for the U.S. Hispanic community and our hemisphere.That Obama's intellect is first-class, no one can doubt. Few presidents in U.S. history can boast of being Editor of the Harvard Law Review and Professor of Law at the University of Chicago. His outlook is thoughtful, nuanced and open-minded, befitting of fast-paced, uncertain times and a reality that deals in shades of gray. The management of his campaign has been creative, nimble, forward-looking, and as close to flawless (despite its extraordinary length) as any in recent American political history. But what has shone through most in the last few months and the debates is that Obama appears to possess a first-class temperament as well. Obama's demeanor is collected and poised, and he reacts to even the most vitriolic criticism with a smile. In an age of rising fanaticism, his instinctive moderation is a breath of fresh air.The symbolic power of an Obama presidency cannot be underestimated. His election would provide, in a fashion, final closure on some of the darkest chapters in American history, the civil rights movement, and it would also open new horizons of aspiration and possibility for millions. The child of an African father and a white American mother, who spent a formative part of his life in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, Obama is a product of our post-Cold War, interdependent age. His immense popularity abroad (a recent poll by the Economist of 30,000 international readers reveals that 84% of them prefer him over McCain) is a testament to the fact that he is, in a sense, the world's candidate for U.S. president. The boost from his election to America's international stature and its dwindling reserve of soft-power, and thus to its ability to shape global affairs, could prove staggering.The last nationwide survey of Hispanic registered voters conducted by the Pew Center in June and July of this year, showed Obama beating McCain by a 66% to 23% margin. His stands on universal health-care, immigration reform and tax relief for households earning under $200,000 a year, as well as his condition as a minority American, have struck a chord among a group that, despite great strides, remains under-privileged. Today, with the financial crisis in full-force, his support is likely much higher. The countries where these people originally hail from also stand to benefit from an Obama presidency. On the one hand, a dark-skinned, half-African U.S. President would be profoundly unsettling, if not thoroughly destabilizing, for those regimes in the region which, to one extent or another, have reaped political capital from fomenting hatred of "an arrogant, supremacist Empire". One would hope this would help tilt them from irresponsible demagoguery and bluster, to more reasoned policies and action. Furthermore, few have realized that in a context of economic slowdown and even larger Democratic majorities in Congress, which now seems all but certain, only the prestige of a Democratic president can move U.S. policy in the direction of freer trade and greater engagement with Latin America.Admittedly, Obama's greatest drawback is his limited political experience. As the New Yorker's recent endorsement of the Senator from Illinois put it, "We, too, wish he had more of it". But, not to downplay his trackrecord as a lawyer and law-maker, experience can sometimes be a handicap, especially when tainted by a mindset that harks back to a different era. Besides, leadership in a wired, multi-polar era is much more about vision, judgment and the capacity to inspire, than about accumulated knowledge or bureaucratic ability. After all, the latter traits can be outsourced, the former can't. This fall, words from J.F.K.'s presidential nomination acceptance speech ring truer than ever, "It is a time ... for a new generation of leadership -- new men to cope with new problems and new opportunities."
Throughout his long career in the U.S. Senate, John McCain has been a friend and supporter of Latin America and the Hispanic community in the United States. Despite strong opposition from his party, he co-authored with Ted Kennedy a groundbreaking bill for comprehensive immigration reform that sought compromise, pragmatic solutions to this very complex and emotional issue. McCain has been a staunch free-trader and a consistent champion of deepening commerce and investment links in our hemisphere even as these notions became increasingly unpopular amongst the American electorate. Moreover, he has been a firm ally of democratic governments in the region in the fight against drug-traffickers and terrorist groups that threaten the very fiber of their institutions and societies. However, despite his admirable personal history and distinguished political service, this magazine believes that Barack Obama is the better choice for U.S. president on November 4th; for Latin America, for the Hispanic community, for the United States and for the world.
For one thing, the McCain of today seems to have strayed widely from the McCain of old. Of course, electoral pressures have abetted this transformation. But his reversals and hard veers to the right on issues of crucial importance (and that seemed so close to his heart) as immigration and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are disquieting. The hustle and bustle of the campaign has also exposed facets of his character and temper that, while useful for, and even becoming of, a maverick senator, appear ill-suited for a commander-in-chief in a time of war, economic crisis and political polarization. What is more, his claim to the moral high-ground in campaign tactics (he was on the receiving end of a vile hatchet job by the Bush political machine in the 2000 primaries), has fallen by the wayside. But this magazine's endorsement of Obama is not predicated on McCain's shortcomings. Rather, it rests on three arguments: Obama's virtues for leadership, the symbolism of his presidency, and the benefits it could yield for the U.S. Hispanic community and our hemisphere.
That Obama's intellect is first-class, no one can doubt. Few presidents in U.S. history can boast of being Editor of the Harvard Law Review and Professor of Law at the University of Chicago. His outlook is thoughtful, nuanced and open-minded, befitting of fast-paced, uncertain times and a reality that deals in shades of gray. The management of his campaign has been creative, nimble, forward-looking, and as close to flawless (despite its extraordinary length) as any in recent American political history. But what has shone through most in the last few months and the debates is that Obama appears to possess a first-class temperament as well. Obama's demeanor is collected and poised, and he reacts to even the most vitriolic criticism with a smile. In an age of rising fanaticism, his instinctive moderation is a breath of fresh air.
The symbolic power of an Obama presidency cannot be underestimated. His election would provide, in a fashion, final closure on some of the darkest chapters in American history, the civil rights movement, and it would also open new horizons of aspiration and possibility for millions. The child of an African father and a white American mother, who spent a formative part of his life in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, Obama is a product of our post-Cold War, interdependent age. His immense popularity abroad (a recent poll by the Economist of 30,000 international readers reveals that 84% of them prefer him over McCain) is a testament to the fact that he is, in a sense, the world's candidate for U.S. president. The boost from his election to America's international stature and its dwindling reserve of soft-power, and thus to its ability to shape global affairs, could prove staggering.
The last nationwide survey of Hispanic registered voters conducted by the Pew Center in June and July of this year, showed Obama beating McCain by a 66% to 23% margin. His stands on universal health-care, immigration reform and tax relief for households earning under $200,000 a year, as well as his condition as a minority American, have struck a chord among a group that, despite great strides, remains under-privileged. Today, with the financial crisis in full-force, his support is likely much higher. The countries where these people originally hail from also stand to benefit from an Obama presidency. On the one hand, a dark-skinned, half-African U.S. President would be profoundly unsettling, if not thoroughly destabilizing, for those regimes in the region which, to one extent or another, have reaped political capital from fomenting hatred of "an arrogant, supremacist Empire". One would hope this would help tilt them from irresponsible demagoguery and bluster, to more reasoned policies and action. Furthermore, few have realized that in a context of economic slowdown and even larger Democratic majorities in Congress, which now seems all but certain, only the prestige of a Democratic president can move U.S. policy in the direction of freer trade and greater engagement with Latin America.
Admittedly, Obama's greatest drawback is his limited political experience. As the New Yorker's recent endorsement of the Senator from Illinois put it, "We, too, wish he had more of it". But, not to downplay his trackrecord as a lawyer and law-maker, experience can sometimes be a handicap, especially when tainted by a mindset that harks back to a different era. Besides, leadership in a wired, multi-polar era is much more about vision, judgment and the capacity to inspire, than about accumulated knowledge or bureaucratic ability. After all, the latter traits can be outsourced, the former can't. This fall, words from J.F.K.'s presidential nomination acceptance speech ring truer than ever, "It is a time ... for a new generation of leadership -- new men to cope with new problems and new opportunities."
Senator Barack Obama has been actively involved with different constituencies throughout his career. As a state senator, he worked closely with Latino/Hispanic voters all over Illinois sponsoring important legislation to raise wages and improve living standards for working families. As a United States senator, Barack fought for sensible immigration reform to secure our borders and give priority to immigrant families instead of corporate interests. In this recently released video, Barack talks about the meaning of the American dream and what it means to hard-working immigrant families all over the country. And he does it in perfect Spanish… watch the video with English subtitles:
As part of our efforts to reach out to and engage as many of these voters as possible, our website now has an expanded Spanish-language section that includes a “get to know the candidates” section, an “issues” section, a blog that’s updated daily, and other tools for Spanish-speaking voters interested in learning more, volunteering, making a contribution, or registering to vote. If you know someone in your community who would benefit from this valuable Spanish-language resource – a friend, an uncle, or a neighbor – let them know about our Spanish site.
Desde que estaba en el Senado de Illinois, el Senador Barack Obama ha trabajado con la comunidad hispana para garantizar una mejor educación para nuestros hijos, un seguro médico de calidad, la igualdad de género es todas las esferas del trabajo y mejores salarios para las familias hispanas. Como senador por el estado de Illinois en Washington DC, Obama peleó por una reforma migratoria que diera prioridad a las familias trabajadoras y no a los intereses corporativos. Hace unos días Obama grabó un video en español que será lanzado al aire en Nuevo México, Nevada, Colorado, Florida y Virginia.
El video fue divulgado la semana pasada en el sitio de YouTube sin autorización de la campaña y a las pocas horas diversos medios españoles y mexicanos lo comentaban. Para el viernes en la tarde, el Senador Mel Martínez de Florida, partidario acérrimo de John McCain y George W. Bush, intentaba refutar, en inglés, el mensaje optimista del Senador Obama. Por último, hay que añadir que este video en español es único en la historia de las campañas presidenciales estadounidenses. Ningún candidato a la presidencia ha grabado un video tan largo en la lengua de Cervantes:
