Jenny U.'s Blog

United Farm Workers Endorses Obama

Jenny U. — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:19:11 EDT

United Farm Workers Endorses Sen. Obama

SALINAS – On Saturday, June 14, the United Farm Workers, its executive board and worker leadership from throughout the United States whole-heartedly threw its support behind Sen. Barack Obama in his quest to be the country’s next President.

Sen. Obama accepted the endorsement from the UFW during a rousing 12:00 noon call with the union, in which the union’s executive board and 100 elected worker leaders participated.

“Throughout his career, beginning as a community organizer to his present position as Senator, Barack Obama has shared the values of the United Farm Workers. He understands the tremendous role played by our country’s farm workers in helping to feed our nation. Sen. Obama stands firm in his conviction for comprehensive immigration reform. He has been a strong supporter of the UFW-sponsored AgJOBS – legislation that would help stabilize our nation’s agricultural workforce.

As President, he will continue to hold fast to his convictions by signing comprehensive immigration reform, increasing the minimum wage and making sure every American has affordable and quality health care. The United Farm Workers will do everything in our power to make sure Barack Obama reaches the White House this fall, because we know he will be a voice for all working Americans,” said UFW President Arturo Rodriguez.

The UFW, founded in 1962 by Cesar E. Chavez and Dolores Huerta, and often described as the conscience of the labor movement for its inspiring fight for low-wage working families, is the first successful farm labor union in the history of the United States. Throughout its 40 years history, the UFW has worked to organize farm workers, raise wages and improve working conditions for its member and all farm workers.

La Opinion: Immigration Reform Defines Candidates' Positions

Jenny U. — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:25:16 EDT

Immigration Reform Defines Candidates' Positions
La Opinión
Maribel Hastings, Posted: Jun 13, 2008
Editor's Note: Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain may appear to have similar stances on immigration, but in fact they have significant differences.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At first glance there don't seem to be significant differences between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama when it comes to immigration. Obama supports comprehensive reform that had been forcefully supported by McCain until the political climate led McCain to focus on security first.

If McCain and Obama – and their respective Republican and Democratic parties – share anything, it's their avoidance of the immigration issue altogether whenever possible: Although it is not at the top of the list of electoral priorities, it is a volatile issue.

What's odd is that it's an issue that some say would benefit McCain in the fight for the Latino vote. The Arizona senator was the co-author of the immigration reform bill with Democratic Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy.  

Although McCain now emphasizes a security-first approach, the Kennedy-McCain immigration bill still resonates for many Hispanics.
But everything is relative. Yesterday an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll concluded that 62 percent of Hispanic voters prefer Obama versus 28 percent for McCain.
In fact, when you look at the candidates' positions on specific topics, there are differences.

For example, McCain opposes the DREAM Act, which would benefit undocumented students, and Obama supports it; McCain opposes the idea of granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, but Obama supports it.

Both candidates, however, voted in favor of building a wall on the southern U.S. border.
"But the most important differences are less obvious and have to do with what type of reform they'll propose and try to pass," Cecilia Muñoz, vice president of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), told La Opinión. According to Muñoz, McCain's talk on immigration changes "depending on his audience."

"We had President (George W.) Bush's heart behind immigration reform and that wasn't enough. I think Senator McCain's heart is behind the legislation but we don't know if he'll want to or be able to really push through the type of reform he wants," she added.

"He (McCain) is not only trying to placate Latino voters, but also the anti-immigrant side of his party, and that will limit him in an important way," said Muñoz.

Jeff Sadosky, spokesperson for the McCain presidential campaign, told La Opinión that the senator thinks it is very important to express his positions with "clear and compassionate" language.

"John McCain thinks that we need to secure the border first, but at the same time he understands that we need to handle the immigration debate in a humane way, with the understanding that everyone must be treated with respect," Sadosky said.

The challenge for McCain is to attract Hispanics without alienating the conservative Republican base.
But Obama also faces challenges.

Certainly, the senator's positions are even more advanced than the official position of the Democrats who control Congress, such as Obama's support for granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

But not even the Democrats who control both houses of Congress have been able to advance comprehensive reform.

The Senate tried, but the House of Representatives seems more interested in holding hearings than producing concrete results.

There's a division between the most conservative Democrats in the House who favor measures focused on security – like the bill proposed by North Carolina Congressman Health Shuler -- and those like the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who support comprehensive reform.

It's not just the white working class that is suspicious of comprehensive reform. There's also a perception that there are sectors within the African-American community that oppose it.

Muñoz, however, pointed to polls that prove otherwise and the national African-American organizations, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), that actively support comprehensive reform.

But according to Munoz, the fact that Obama promises to advance immigration reform at the beginning of his administration is not just a message to the immigrant community but also to Congress.

"It's the type of difference (from John McCain's stance on immigration) that is less obvious but extremely important: the quality of the compromise," she concluded.

La Opinion: Barack Obama Ofrece Trabajar a Favor de los Hispanos

Jenny U. — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:12:33 EDT

La Opinion interviewed Senator Obama about his commitment to the Hispanic community, his record of working with Latinos since his days as a community organizer, and his consistent support and work in the U.S. Senate for comprehensive immigration reform.

Read the full article and listen to the interview below:

Obama ofrece trabajar a favor de los hispanos
Reitera que luchará por una reforma migratoria y por mejorar la educación
Róger Lindo
El senador Barack Obama, que se ha erigido en el virtual candidato del Partido Demócrata a la presidencia, manifestó ayer en entrevista exclusiva con este diario, vía telefónica, que su historial de trabajo con organizaciones comunitarias —en temas como la construcción de escuelas y sus esfuerzos para reducir la tasa de deserción escolar entre los latinos— son la muestra concreta de su compromiso con la comunidad hispana.
"Voten", dijo, "por la persona que ha trabajado con sus intereses en mira". El senador de Illinois aseguró que uno de sus planes es reformar las leyes de inmigración del país y facilitar una vía de legalización para los trabajadores sin papeles, pero con condiciones como aprender inglés, pagar una multa y estar al día con el pago de sus impuestos.
Ayer el político dio a conocer un comunicado en apoyo a la decisión de la Corte Suprema de Justicia sobre Guantánamo. "La decisión de la Corte es un rechazo al intento de la Administración Bush de crear un hoyo negro legal en Guantánamo", afirmó con respecto al plan del Presidente de crear un limbo legal para los acusados de terrorismo.
A continuación la entrevista que sostuvo con este diario:
¿Cuál va a ser su mensaje para los latinos que han apoyado a la senadora [Hillary] Clinton, y en general a todos los latinos de este país?
Mi mensaje sería: voten por la persona que ha trabajado por sus intereses en el pasado y que tiene el compromiso de defenderlos en el futuro, y si ese es el estándar, yo soy el candidato. La senadora Clinton y yo compartimos un compromiso con la comunidad hispana de Estados Unidos, ambos creemos en una reforma integral, yo he sido uno de los líderes en la búsqueda de esta reforma y, a diferencia de John McCain, no me he echado atrás en la búsqueda de una vía para la legalización.
Tengo un historial de trabajo con las propias bases, en cuestiones concretas sobre cómo recortar la tasa de deserción [escolar], impulsar la construcción de escuelas donde hay hacinamiento, crear programas de verano para los jóvenes en peligro; tengo una propuesta para un plan universal de atención médica —y los latinos tienen menos posibilidades de tener seguro de salud a pesar de trabajar muy duro.
Por eso tengo un plan específico para dar seguro a las personas que no lo tienen. Así que, tema tras tema, John McCain está ofreciendo los mismas políticas de George Bush que se sabe que no han funcionado para las familias trabajadoras.
Últimamente se ha enfocado mucho en la economía. Si es elegido, ¿qué hará para estimular la creación de empleos bien pagados y para impulsar el crecimiento de industrias fuera del ámbito de los servicios?
Hay pasos que necesitamos dar de inmediato. Lo primero sería un recorte fiscal para las clases medias, es decir, las personas que hacen 50 mil ó 60 mil, ó 30 mil ó 25 mil dólares al año. John McCain quiere dar un recorte a las personas pudientes. Yo propongo dar uno de mil dólares a todos los trabajadores de este país.
En segundo lugar, la crisis hipotecaria y la crisis inmobiliaria están afectando mucho a los hispanos; para ello he propuesto crear un fondo de prevención de embargos por 10,000 millones de dólares que permitiría que los propietarios puedan conservar sus casas. Si logramos estabilizar el mercado inmobiliario, eso ayudará a su vez a estabilizar la economía.
Quiero invertir en infraestructura, reconstruir nuestras carreteras y puentes, levantar escuelas. Eso crea trabajos y fortalece la economía. Al mismo tiempo quiero estimular otras formas de producir energía. Esto crearía millones de trabajos "verdes" [en el campo de las tecnologías que protegen el medio ambiente], en áreas como la energía solar y la eólica. Es algo en lo que la Administración Bush no ha invertido.
Tengo que recalcar que a menos que eduquemos a nuestros hijos, no podremos competir. Por eso tenemos que asegurarnos de que cada niño, ya sea que viva en un barrio de Los Ángeles o Chicago o en una reservación de nativoamericanos o una comunidad de los Apalaches tenga una buena educación y pueda asistir a la universidad. Este es un asunto muy importante, y por eso apoyo la aprobación de un crédito de cuatro mil dólares para jóvenes que no pueden pagar su colegiatura, así como la ley DREAM Act, de manera que todo joven que se crió aquí tenga la oportunidad de aprender.
Usted apoya una reforma de inmigración. ¿Qué se puede hacer para revertir el daño que han hecho leyes antiinmigrantes aprobadas en varios estados y ciudades?
El gobierno federal tiene jurisdicción sobre cuestiones de inmigración y si aprobamos una reforma integral, esta va a invalidar las normas aprobadas por esas localidades. La seguridad y la vigilancia en la frontera son ciertamente importantes, pero al mismo tiempo quiero que sea posible inmigrar a este país legalmente. En ese sentido, es necesario reformar el sistema de inmigración, de manera que la gente no tenga que esperar 10 años para llegar a este país.
Pero también tenemos que trabajar con México y los países centroamericanos para promover la creación de buenos empleos en esos países, que permitan a sus ciudadanos sostener a su familia. Tenemos que hacer algo para parar a aquellos patrones que activamente reclutan a trabajadores indocumentados para no tener que pagar salarios decentes a los trabajadores de este país, pero al mismo tiempo tenemos que proveer una fórmula de legalización para los que han estado aquí, y se encuentran establecidos. Van a tener que pagar una multa, van a tener que aprender inglés y pagar los impuestos que deben, y será necesario que se pongan en la cola, puesto que no sería justo que obtuvieran la ciudadanía antes que los que inmigraron legalmente. Pero en última instancia es importante que les demos la oportunidad de vivir el sueño americano.

LA Times: Obama leads in battle for Latino vote

Jenny U. — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:41:40 EDT

Los Angeles Times

Obama leads in battle for Latino vote

The latest polls show he has a surprising advantage over McCain and is favored by up to 62% of voters.
By Peter Wallsten
WASHINGTON — It was called "un mensaje personal a Puerto Rico," a television spot in which Barack Obama spoke to the camera in stilted but effective Spanish.
"I was born on an island," he said, "and I understand that food, gas, and everything costs more."
Obama got trounced in the Puerto Rico primary this week. But the advertisement, with the candidate's personalized appeal and willingness to try the language, is a sign of the unusual tactics that Obama's campaign is preparing to deploy on the mainland as it tries to win over a Latino electorate that voted overwhelmingly for his party rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in Democratic primaries.
Some Democrats have worried that Latinos view Obama warily and will be drawn to Republican nominee John McCain, who has been popular in that community and has campaigned in it aggressively -- already airing Spanish-language radio ads in the heavily Latino battlegrounds of New Mexico and Nevada.
But there are signs that Obama begins the general election battle for Latinos with significant advantages.
A new Gallup Poll summary of surveys taken in May shows Obama winning 62% of Latino registered voters nationwide, compared with just 29% for McCain. Others have found a wide gap as well. The pro-Democratic group Democracy Corps compiled surveys from March through May that showed Obama with a 19-point lead among Latinos. And a Times poll published last month showed Obama leading McCain among California Latinos by 14 points.
Republicans say McCain's numbers among Latinos at the moment are disappointing -- far below the goals set by a campaign that has long believed McCain could challenge the traditional Democratic dominance of the Latino electorate.
The numbers suggest that McCain's image has suffered after a competitive GOP primary in which he renounced some of the moderate views on immigration popular among many Latinos. For example, McCain, who was a chief sponsor of legislation creating a path to citizenship for most of the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, now says he believes the government must focus first on securing the U.S.-Mexico border before dealing with illegal workers.
The new position helped mollify some conservatives who viewed McCain as soft on illegal immigration. But it now leaves the senator forced to come from behind in an area that was supposed to be a strength. And McCain must weigh two competing needs: attracting Latinos in the Southwest and Florida turned off by the GOP's hard-line opposition to his legislation and mobilizing conservative whites who could prove crucial in Ohio and other battlegrounds.
"If the McCain people don't realize they need to beef up that operation, then clearly he's not going to be president," said Robert de Posada, a Republican consultant on Latino politics.
Obama's sizable lead has surprised Democratic strategists after a primary campaign that appeared to foreshadow Latinos as a major weakness.
The Gallup survey of Latinos found that Obama, despite his string of losses to Clinton, performed just as well as Clinton in a theoretical matchup against McCain.
Obama is "doing better than anyone imagined at this point," said Simon Rosenberg, head of the pro-Democratic group NDN, which specializes in Latino outreach. "But he does have room to grow."
The Obama campaign recently hired a press spokesman to work full time on Spanish-language media.
Helping with the planning is U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Federico Pena, a former secretary of both Energy and Transportation under Bill Clinton.
Also, on Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was a point person for Clinton on Latino outreach, said he would campaign vigorously for Obama, and called him "inspiring." In comments to reporters, though, Villaraigosa sounded nostalgic about Clinton, praising her "passion and persistence and intestinal fortitude."
Richardson said he was in Los Angeles on Tuesday recruiting local Latino actors and comics to serve as surrogates for Obama. It is part of an effort to paint the Illinois senator, who was born in Hawaii and had an African father, as someone who can relate to the immigrant experience. The personal approach is a departure from past Democrats who focused primarily on issue-based appeals.
It is similar in tone to the strategy used by President Bush, who highlighted his Texas links to Latino culture and Mexico -- and won more than 40% of the Latino vote.
"With Latinos, you stress that Obama's a minority like us," Richardson said. "You stress that he comes from a modest background."
Obama does not speak Spanish, but campaign aides said that the Puerto Rico ad showed that he could master pronunciation by studiously rehearsing the script.
Still, some say Obama is far from closing the sale with Latinos.
The Rev. Luis Cortes, a political independent who heads a Latino evangelical network, said Obama had yet to lay out a specific agenda for Latinos and remains very much a stranger compared to Clinton and McCain. Cortes is scheduled to meet with Obama next week in Chicago, and he said Obama has agreed to address a Latino prayer breakfast later this month.
"His campaign has been at 10,000 feet," Cortes said, "so the question is how do we get to him?"
Both campaigns view the fast-growing Latino vote as crucial to their national strategies. McCain has told some Republicans that he believes his popularity among Latinos might help him in California, for example, and both campaigns are planning to fight it out for Latino votes in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Florida -- states that could well decide the Electoral College.
Steve Schmidt, a McCain strategist, said the campaign was "confident" it would build support over the next five months.
"The reality is we have to do well and we think we can exceed what President Bush did in 2004," Schmidt said.
"We think we can top 40% of the Hispanic vote in this election."
The radio ads running in the Southwest promote McCain's "realistic" plan to "jump-start" the economy. And McCain is trying to show Latinos that, despite his hardened views on immigration, he still will push his party to change its often harsh rhetoric on the issue.
A Memorial Day ad online honored Latino green card holders serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The ad uses a clip from a Republican debate in New Hampshire where McCain called on his fellow party members to "remember that these are God's children" and said that while immigrants must come to the country legally, "they have enriched our culture and our nation as every generation of immigrants before them."

CONGRESSMEN COSTA AND CARDOZA ENDORSE BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT

Jenny U. — Mon, 26 May 2008 10:35:09 EDT

Last week, Congressmen Costa and Cardoza endorsed Senator Obama. Cardoza previously supported Clinton:

Chicago, IL – Today, United States Congressman Jim Costa (CA-20) and United States Congressman Dennis Cardoza (CA-18) endorsed Barack Obama for president. Congressman Cardoza previously supported Senator Hillary Clinton.

These endorsements mean that Senator Obama has been endorsed by 310.5 superdelegates. Obama is 59 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

Congressman Cardoza said, “This is the most important election of my lifetime. While I continue to greatly respect and admire Senator Clinton and feel she has made history with her campaign, I believe that Senator Obama will inevitably be our party’s nominee for President. He has proven himself to be a thoughtful, knowledgeable, and inspirational leader and will take America in a new direction, which we desperately need.

“The Bush Administration has been a huge disappointment. Mr. McCain, while certainly an American hero, represents more of the same failed Bush policies.

“I am deeply concerned about the contentious primary campaign and controversy surrounding the seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan – two states Democrats need to win in November. I will not support changing the rules in the fourth quarter of this contest through some convoluted DNC rules committee process. Yet, we must find a resolution to seat the Michigan and Florida delegates so these states’ voters are represented at the Convention. I believe we need to avoid this potentially divisive situation by uniting behind one nominee and bringing the party together immediately. Therefore, I have made the decision to support Senator Obama at the Democratic Convention in my role as a super delegate.”

Congressman Costa said, “It’s been a long presidential primary season, and now is time to bring it to a close. I have tremendous respect for Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton, and all the candidates who ran for the nomination. In my opinion, it is clear that Senator Obama will be the strongest presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.

“I did not come to this decision without careful consideration. Our nation is faced with serious challenges here at home and abroad. Because the next Administration and 111th Congress will face such difficult and divisive issues involving our energy needs, greater fiscal responsibility and international security, it is imperative that we have someone who truly has the skill to bring out nation together and close the partisan divide. I believe Senator Obama has the leadership skills to bridge the differences that exist today.

“In my conversations with Senator Obama, I explained to him that our San Joaquin Valley is the number one agricultural region in the country and in the world. Before the election in November, he needs to come to our Valley and understand the water challenges we face, the diversity of our farm crops, and the combination of the wonderful ethnic communities that make up Valley families, which is truly a reflection of our nation.”

Senator Obama said, “I am grateful for the support of Congressman Cardoza and Congressman Costa at this important time in our campaign. They are serving the people of California and speaking out on the issues that are critical to the people of the 18th and 20th districts – and to all Americans – like ending the war in Iraq, fighting for good jobs at home, and strengthening America’s family farmers and local agriculture. I am proud to have their support today.”

Michelle Obama in Puerto Rico

Jenny U. — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:12:17 EDT

Michelle Obama visited Puerto Rico this week in advance of the Puerto Rico primary on June 1st. Here's an interview she did with El Nuevo Dia, Puerto Rico's largest newspaper:

“El cambio surge de abajo”

¿Por qué los puertorriqueños deben votar en la primaria?
Queremos motivar a los residentes de la Isla a que sepan que cada voto cuenta. La participación en la primaria es crítica porque el líder de Estados Unidos va a establecer el rumbo de la Nación y de la Isla por los próximos cuatro u ocho años. Así que exhortamos a la gente a votar. Esa es una de las razones por las que estoy aquí.
¿Por qué los puertorriqueños deben votar por su esposo?
La dirección que hemos tomado en este país no ha sido la correcta. Y Barack entiende que vamos a resurgir o a sucumbir juntos, y necesitamos una política que refleje una nación unificada, no que sea una nación blanca y negra, mujeres y hombres o de diferentes religiones. Y creo que la gente siente que él es la persona que puede lograr esa unidad. Una de las cosas que quiero que la gente entienda sobre Barack es que esa visión es real.
¿Tiene su esposo una visión sobre el status de Puerto Rico?
Él cree en la importancia de la autodeterminación. Cree que está de parte de los ciudadanos de la Isla trabajar el asunto, y que nosotros respetaremos cualquier decisión que sea tomada. Él sabe que ese es un debate fuerte aquí, pero no podemos hablar de una fórmula como tal. Lo que sí sabe es que la decisión tiene que venir desde abajo, de la gente. Porque Barack cree que el cambio surge de abajo, desde la base. No puede ser dictado por alguien de afuera. Así que está en manos de los puertorriqueños decidir qué es lo que realmente quieren.
La campaña local ha resaltado que su esposo es multicultural, que nació en una isla (Hawai) y que puede relacionarse con los residentes de Puerto Rico. ¿Cómo le ayuda eso?
El mundo observa esta elección, y el mundo sabe lo que es ser multicultural, lo que es vivir fuera de Estados Unidos. Así que no se trata sólo de su crianza en una isla. El vivió en Indonesia y pasó parte de su vida en países del tercer mundo. Su padre es de Kenia, su abuela aún vive allí. La gente que experimenta ese estilo de vida multicultural entiende cómo eso afecta la visión del mundo, cómo uno piensa sobre otras naciones, la política exterior. Todo ello se afecta por la manera en que él fue criado. Y pienso que la gente de esta isla puede entender eso mejor que los que residen en el continente, que la crianza realmente afecta en la calidad de líder que vas a ser luego.
¿Cómo su esposo convencerá a los puertorriqueños, quienes tienen una larga relación con la familia Clinton?
Esa es una de las razones por las cuales estoy aquí. Para poder votar por un candidato hay que conocerlo. Honestamente, los Clinton han tenido décadas para conocer a este país. Pero creo que una vez la gente conozca a Barack, entenderá su visión para el País, sus valores, que están mayormente basados en un experiencia multicultural. Él ha visto las luchas que llevan las personas en muchas partes del mundo y parte de las razones por las que está en esto es que sabe que no podemos ir al próximo paso sin ser una nación unificada. Y es esa visión la que energiza y entusiasma a la gente, pero lo que une todo eso, y la gente lo debe saber, es un hombre joven centrado en el servicio. Él no llegó a la política desde una cuna de oro. Los dos crecimos en comunidades de trabajadores de clase media y ambos tuvimos la oportunidad de educarnos, porque éramos brillantes y nuestros padres tuvieron la visión de valorar la educación, algo muy parecido a como la gente de esta isla lo entiende: uno puede seguir adelante si se tiene apoyo sólido en el hogar.
Se ha resaltado que en Estados Unidos su esposo ha tenido problemas con el voto trabajador. ¿Que hará para poder atrapar a esos electores?
Si se mira los estados donde Barack ha ganado -Iowa, Missouri, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois- lo ha hecho con un amplio margen en lugares donde había pocos votos afroamericanos. Casi todos eran gente trabajadora. Barack ha estado surgiendo entre las comunidades trabajadoras con casi la misma fuerza que Bill Clinton lo hizo. Lo que diría es que al fin y al cabo esto es política, y lo que los oponentes han tenido que hacer es darle la vuelta para que luzca como que ha tenido problemas en áreas en las que no los ha tenido. Barack es uno de los senadores más populares en el estado de Illinois, Chicago es multirracial, pero el estado es de familias trabajadoras de cuello azul y de granjeros. Y cuando comparen sus políticas contra las de McCain, la gente realmente se va a dar cuenta de quién es el que va a estar luchando por sus valores.
¿Se reunirá con el Gobernador? ¿Recaudará fondos?
Nos vamos a reunir con el Gobernador en algún punto. Y va a haber algunas actividades privadas, pero la mayoría de mi tiempo estará dedicada a conocer electores. La verdadera razón por la que estoy aquí es para ayudar a los electores locales a entender quiénes somos y para yo poner oído en tierra, escuchar a la gente y pasarle la información a Barack sobre cómo la gente se siente, cuáles son sus batallas, qué está pasando. Esa es la verdadera razón por la cual estoy aquí, y tengo la impresión de que volveré.
¿No es desventaja para Obama en Puerto Rico tener el apoyo de un Gobernador acusado?
Estamos agradecidos de tener el apoyo del Gobernador. Realmente no estamos aquí para enfocarnos en sus asuntos. Respetamos tanto al Gobernador como al proceso judicial. Soy abogada y respeto eso. La justicia se encargará de esto.
¿Cree que el factor racial afecte a su esposo en su aspiración de convertirse en el primer presidente afroamericano de Estados Unidos?
El asunto racial sigue siendo un factor en este mundo. Aún juega un papel, pero lo que hemos visto durante la totalidad de la carrera política de Barack es que la visión, la pasión, el alma y el corazón trascienden las razas. Cuando la gente derriba esas barreras y tiene la oportunidad de conocerse los unos a los otros, la raza realmente no es un problema. Eso es lo que hemos visto durante toda la campaña. Lo que me da mucha esperanza es que yo puedo ir junto a Barack a cualquier comunidad, sea del color que sea, y cuando hablamos sobre nuestros hijos, lo que nos gusta, lo que comemos, es lo mismo. Tenemos políticos que han enfatizado en diferencias que no tienen sentido. Pero con Barack vamos a tener un líder que va a decir: “¿Saben qué? enfoquémonos en las cosas que nos unen, las cosas que tenemos en común, porque hay tantas cosas que trascienden todo esto”.

Obama Statement on the May 1 Immigration Marches

Jenny U. — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:59:37 EDT

Senator Obama put out this statement today on the immigration marches held in Chicago and in cities across the country:

"Two years ago, I came home to Chicago to witness the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of citizens and immigrants united in an effort to fix our immigration system. I spoke to the marchers that day, and Senator Kennedy spoke to those marching in Washington. They said to us, "today we march and tomorrow we vote." Two years later, our immigration problems remain unresolved, and those who want change will have to vote for change in November. So today, I encourage the thousands of people who are marching and calling for change to work hard registering voters in the months to come. Your vote is your voice.

Four-hundred thousand marchers were in Chicago that day and hundreds of thousands of others came out and stood up around the country. They were marching to put a human face on the idea of America as a country of immigrants: the notion that people can come here and pursue a better life for themselves and, most importantly, for their children, if they work hard and apply themselves.

Two years later, politicians remain polarized and the challenge is unresolved. On the anniversary of those marches, I again express my commitment to comprehensive immigration reform and will do everything I can to bring order and compassion to a system that is broken today. It is in our interest and true to our tradition to come together and solve this problem. And as President, I intend to lead us in that effort."

"Hace 2 años, vine a casa a Chicago para ser testigo de la mobilización de cientos de miles de ciudadanos e inmigrantes unidos en un esfuerzo para arreglar nuestro sistema de inmigración. Hablé a los marchantes ese día y el Senador Kennedy habló a aquellos que estaban marchando en Washington. Nos dijeron, “hoy marchamos y mañana votamos”. Dos años después, nuestro problema de inmigración sigue sin resolverse, y aquellos que quieran cambio tendrán que votar por cambio en Noviembre. Por eso hoy, yo invito a aquellos que marchan por cambio, a que trabajen registrando votos en los meses por venir. Su voto es su decisión.

Cuatrocientos mil marchantes estuvieron en Chicago ese día y cientos de miles de personas más salieron y se unieron alrededor del país. Ellos marchaban para ponerle una cara humana a la idea de América como un país de inmigrantes: la noción que la gente puede venir acá y buscar una vida mejor para sí mismos, y más importante, para sus hijos, si trabajan duro y se aplican.

Dos años después, los políticos siguen polarizados y el desafío sigue sin resolverse. En el aniversario de esas marchas, quiero otra vez expresar mi compromiso a la reforma de inmigración integral y que haré todo lo que pueda para traer orden y compasión a un sistema que hoy esta roto. Está en nuestro interés y es parte de nuestra tradición unirnos y resolver problemas. Como presidente, mi intención es guiarnos en ese camino."

The Charlotte Observer: Obama on Immigration

Jenny U. — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:14:14 EDT

Senator Obama's immigration op-ed ran today in the Charlotte Observer:

Obama: Enforce tighter border, employer verifications

One of my fundamental beliefs is that for too long we have had a politics of division and distraction in Washington that's stopped us from coming together to bring about real change. There are few better examples of how broken our politics has become than the immigration debate. Just last summer, we saw comprehensive reform fail in part because of bitter partisanship.
While I understand the passions -- and legitimate differences -- on both sides of this difficult issue, we must restore civility and reason to the conversation. The longer we go without comprehensive reform, the more pronounced this problem will become.
We must find common ground and take action on the two central issues that lie at the heart of this debate -- and we cannot effectively address one without addressing the other at the same time.
First, we must reinforce our borders to deter the more than 2,000 immigrants who cross them illegally each day. Most of these aspiring laborers risk death in the desert to come here illegally, and they are diverting our attention from those trying to enter to do us harm.
Strengthening the border requires equipping Customs and Border Protection agents with better technology and real-time intelligence, improving infrastructure, and making smart choices about where patrols should be deployed.
We also have to ensure that employers are hiring only legal workers. That's why I've worked with Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley and Democratic Sen. Max Baucus to make it significantly more difficult -- if not impossible -- for employers to hire workers who are here illegally, including the more than 40 percent who came legally and overstayed their visa.
This will require a mandatory electronic system that enables employers to verify the legal status of their employees within days of hiring them.
Second, we must require the 12 million undocumented immigrants who are already here, including more than 300,000 in North Carolina, to step out of the shadows and onto a path that includes the ability to earn citizenship by demonstrating a sound character, a commitment to America, and a strong work ethic.
We have to understand that many immigrants want to get right with the law. They work in their communities, pay taxes, and have become an integral part of our society.
While it's unrealistic to deport them, illegal entry cannot go unpunished. That's why we must require them to pay a fine, learn English, and get to the back of the line for citizenship behind those who came here legally.
We are a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants, and we must reconcile those traditions. It's time to move beyond our broken politics and achieve real progress on immigration reform, not just for the sake of passing a bill, and not as a favor to immigrants, but so that we can finally address the concerns of the American people, and make real the hopes of all those who want nothing more than a chance at the American Dream.

Obama for America Campaign Announces the Endorsement of Pedro Pierluisi

Jenny U. — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:25:59 EDT

The Obama for America campaign today announced that Pedro R. Pierluisi of Puerto Rico has endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President. Mr. Pierluisi is the New Progressive Party’s candidate for the office of Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico to the United States Congress in the upcoming November 2008 elections. Pierluisi previously served as the Secretary of Justice (Attorney General) in Puerto Rico and is a distinguished attorney with 23 years of experience.

“The role of Puerto Rico in American history cannot be underestimated,” Obama said. “Puerto Ricans have fought with distinction in every war since World War I, and both Congress and the President have an obligation to help Puerto Rico decide its future status. Working in conjunction with distinguished leaders like Pedro Pierluisi, I will work to give a voice to the 4 million U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico and enable them to determine the course of their political future. ”

“Senator Obama promises statehooders in Puerto Rico, indeed all Puerto Ricans, that he will honor his responsibility as President in assisting the people of Puerto Rico in resolving their status issue. Moreover, he vows to honor our people’s decision by supporting our preference for statehood, if that is what we choose,” Pierluisi added.

Obama Campaign Announces National Chair Of Latino and Hispanic Fundraising

Jenny U. — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:49:06 EDT

The Obama Campaign today announced the appointment of Francisco "Frank" Sánchez, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Transportation, as the National Chair of Latino and Hispanic Fundraising. Sánchez, is also an advisor on Latin American policy for the campaign. In his new capacity, Sanchez will Co-Chair along with Illinois Attorney, Manny Sanchez, the Obama Hispanic Leadership Council. This newly formed Council will work with the national finance team to increase the already growing enthusiasm and fundraising efforts for the Obama campaign in the Hispanic Community.

“Barack Obama is the candidate in the race who will deliver change we can believe in” said Sánchez. “During the course of this campaign, we have seen thousands of inspired Latinos turning out to do whatever it takes to spread Senator Obama’s message of bringing our country together. We need a president with the leadership and judgment to not only unite our country but specifically address the issues affecting Latinos; Senator Obama’s record has proven that he will be a strong advocate for Latinos nationwide.”

“I am proud to have the support of such an influential pioneer in the Latino community,” Senator Obama said. “Frank will play a key role in reaching out to Latinos about our campaign’s vision to unite our country and expand our growing enthusiasm in the Latino community.”

In 1999, Sánchez was the Special Assistant to the President of the United States working in the Office of the Special Envoy for the Americas. While in the White House, Sánchez worked with the National Security Council, the State Department and the U.S. Trade Representative on Western Hemisphere economic integration and the promotion of democracy. Under the Clinton administration, he served as the United States Assistant Secretary of Transportation where he oversaw international negotiations.

He graduated from Florida State University where he received his undergraduate and Law Degrees and holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Interview with Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila of Puerto Rico

Jenny U. — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:34:19 EDT

Katina, an Obama volunteer, had the chance to sit down with Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila of Puerto Rico recently and ask him about his endorsement of Senator Obama and why he believes Barack is the best candidate to be Commander in Chief. Puerto Rico holds its primary on June 1st.

Why did you endorse Barack Obama?

I truly believe Senator Obama is the best candidate for the U.S. in general and for Puerto Rico in particular. His agenda, his judgment, and his ability to unite, in matters of foreign and domestic policy, are exceptional and bode well for restoring the economic well-being of Americans and repairing the image and standing of the U.S. as a result of the Iraq war and other unwise policy decisions. In terms of Puerto Rico, Senator Obama has made commitments on issues of paramount importance to the people of Puerto Rico, including the political status issue, job creation, economic development, health care and the clean up of the island of Vieques, among others. Aside from the many reasons to support him, Senator Obama's historic commitments on Puerto Rico, and the understanding he has of Puerto Rican social, economic, political and cultural issues, led me to enthusiastically endorse his candidacy for President.

What would you do to work with Obama on issues important to Puerto Rico?

When Barack Obama is President, and I am re-elected Governor of Puerto Rico we will work together in a framework of shared values and mutual respect. Senator Obama has already demonstrated a deep understanding of Puerto Rico. As he has stated so accurately, "Puerto Rico is a vitally important part of our country and Puerto Ricans have made immeasurable contributions to the United States. As President of the United States, I will pay close attention to issues that have an impact on the well-being of the people of Puerto Rico." Senator Obama's commitment on social and economic issues concerning the Island, his policy of strict neutrality on Puerto Rican status matters, and his support for a deliberative, open and unbiased process to address the political status situation - such as a constitutional convention - demonstrate much-needed understanding and respect and provide an excellent foundation on which we both can accomplish great things for our people.

What are your thoughts on the relationship of Puerto Rico to the rest of the Caribbean and Latin America?

Puerto Ricans are proud of our distinctive heritage, our culture, our traditions, our customs and our language. Moreover, Senator Obama understands that Puerto Ricans on the island and Puerto Ricans in the U.S. are "un pueblo", we are one people. My Administration has placed great importance on strengthening the ties between Puerto Ricans on the island and in the U.S. We have seen how on issues such as the struggle for peace in the island of Vieques, for example, Puerto Ricans came together as one, and whether they live in Chicago or Cleveland, Orlando or San Juan, or wherever, we can achieve many things by coming together and by recognizing that we are "un pueblo" regardless of where we live. In terms of the elections in the U.S., I believe that the more Latinos in general and Puerto Ricans in particular get to know Barack Obama, what he stands for, and what he represents for the future, the more they will support him as the next President of the United States.

Comedian George Lopez Endorses Barack Obama

Jenny U. — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:00:58 EST

Last week, comedian George Lopez endorsed Barack Obama because he believes Obama is the best man to represent the interests of Hispanics.

George Lopez also attended this week's CNN/Univision debate to show his support for Barack and to emphasize why Hispanics play such a pivotal role in this election:

Austin American-Statesman

George Lopez Plays the Spin Room
By Juan Castillo
Among the interview subjects drawing some of the biggest media crowds in the spin room following Thursday night’s debate was comedian George Lopez.
Looking dapper in a dark pinstriped suit, Lopez was all business — mostly — as he mused on the race for the Democratic nomination and his support for Sen. Obama.
“I think there’s a hopelessness in America and (Obama) seems to be speaking to that,” Lopez said.
Latinos, said Lopez, must become political “because we’re under assault. We’re like rolled up in a ball and we shouldn’t be that way.”
Lopez said he had decided to support Obama after much consideration and that he believes he can be a great leader.
“You’d like to feel like the White House is your house. It belongs to the people,” Lopez said. After pausing and grinning ever so slightly, he added “Brown people too.”

Obama Campaign Airs "Como Padre" Ad

Jenny U. — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:05:03 EST

The Obama campaign unveiled a new Spanish-language television ad, to appear in Texas and Rhode Island, titled, "Come Padre":

Barack Obama: I will repair our relationship with Mexico

Jenny U. — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:26:25 EST

Check out Barack Obama's Op-Ed in the Dallas Morning News on his plan to repair the U.S.-Mexico relationship:

The Dallas Morning News

Under George W. Bush, the United States has not lived up to its historic role as a leader in the Western Hemisphere. As president, I will restore that leadership by working to advance the common prosperity and security of all of the people of the Americas. That work must begin with a renewed strategic partnership with Mexico.

Mr. Bush took office vowing to make the Americas a top priority. But over the last seven years, the administration's approach to this issue has been clumsy, disinterested and, above all, distracted by the war in Iraq. Indeed, relations have not fully recovered since Mexico refused to fall in line with President Bush's rush to war.

Mexico's President Felipe Calderon just traveled across the United States but didn't even go to Washington, which isn't that surprising given how little Mr. Bush has done to improve relations.

Starting my first year in office, I will convene annual meetings with Mr. Calderon and the prime minister of Canada. Unlike similar summits under President Bush, these will be conducted with a level of transparency that represents the close ties among our three countries. We will seek the active and open involvement of citizens, labor, the private sector and non-governmental organizations in setting the agenda and making progress.

With our neighbors to the south, that agenda must include securing our border. The hard work of comprehensive immigration reform must be done at home; we will be a nation of laws and immigrants. But we also have to work with Mexico to crack down on both illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations that threaten people on both sides of the border.

This will take new investments and new partnerships. Here's some of what we need to do:

•Increase technology and real-time intelligence-sharing to allow U.S. and Mexican authorities to track and dismantle drug-trafficking cartels.

•Invest in anti-drug education on both sides of the border to reduce demand for illicit narcotics.

•Make a concerted effort to disrupt arms smuggling and money laundering from the United States that supplies Mexican drug cartels with weapons and funds.

•Partner with Mexico to enhance the professionalism of its law enforcement and judiciary officials.

It's also time to develop a bilateral strategy for lifting up our border communities. Six and a half million Americans live in cities and towns next to the border, and 61 million Americans live in the four states that border Mexico. Too often we neglect the unique needs of these communities, which are integrated with their sister cities across the border. As president, I will work with state and local governments to enhance cross-border partnerships in transportation, law enforcement, environmental protection, health care and water usage.

At a national level, our diplomacy with Mexico must aim to amend NAFTA. I will seek enforceable labor and environment standards – not unenforceable side agreements that have done little to curb NAFTA's failures. To reduce illegal immigration, we also have to help Mexico develop its own economy, so that more Mexicans can live their dreams south of the border. That's why I'll increase foreign assistance, including expanded micro-financing for businesses in Mexico.

Finally, we have to recognize the connection between our rhetoric and our relations – both with Mexico and within our own borders. We can and should have a robust debate about immigration reform, but we should never demonize or scapegoat any ethnic group. Already, we have seen an unacceptable spike in hate crimes aimed at Latinos across America. This has proven divisive here at home, and it risks poisoning our relations with Latin America.

Our relationship with Mexico should serve as a bridge to greater security and prosperity in North America and to better relations with Latin America. But we cannot achieve this partnership unless we engage in sustained and focused diplomacy, and develop a more effective working relationship with our neighbor to the south.

LA OPINION ENDORSES OBAMA

Jenny U. — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:45:24 EST

La Opinion: The Democratic choice is Barack Obama

The Democratic Party arrives at the California primary with a historic choice between two extraordinary candidates. We believe that of the two, Senator Barack Obama represents fundamental change in a campaign in which "change" has become a central theme. Obama's approach to immigration and his inspiring vision are what the country need to break through the current feeling of political malaise.

There is no doubt that Senator Hillary Clinton would be an excellent president if elected. She is capable, competent, disciplined, and hard working. She has shown herself to be a talented legislator and is on the right side of the major issues. Her plan for universal health care is one example of the courageous initiatives she has proposed as a candidate. And it would be wonderful to elect the country&*#39;s first woman president.

She has garnered significant Latino support from such influential and high profile national leaders as Raúl Yzaguirre, Henry Cisneros and Antonio Villaraigosa. She has worked tirelessly over many years to represent the best interests of Latinos and her personal commitment has been well-documented throughout this campaign.

Yet, this is a historic moment and tremendous skills and experience are not enough to inspire a feeling of renewal in our country after eight long years of George W. Bush.

As well, we were disappointed with her calculated opposition to driver's licenses for the undocumented, which contrasts markedly from the forceful argument in support made by Obama. We understand that this is an extremely controversial issue but we believe there is only one right position and it is that of the senator from Illinois. And, while both senators support comprehensive immigration reform, only Obama has committed to bringing forward new legislation during his first year in office.

It is this commitment to the immigration issue which drove Obama to condemn the malicious lies made during the immigration debate, to understand the need for driver's licenses, and to defend the rights of undocumented students by co-authoring the DREAM Act. The senator has demonstrated character by maintaining his position despite the hostile political climate.

At the same time, there are not huge differences between the two Democractic candidates on most of the major issues. Thus, vision makes the difference! Obama offers an inclusive message of hope that addresses our country&*#39;s historic moment. He has a conciliatory style that can reverse the vicious cycle of rancor which has dominated Washington over these past decades and has paralyzed its ability to come together on major decisións.

We need a leader today that can inspire and unite America again around its greatest possibilities. Barack Obama is the right leader for the time. We know that he is not as well known among our community and while he has the support of Maria Elena Durazo, Senator Gil Cedillo and others he comes to the Latino community with less name recognition. Nevertheless, it is Obama who deserves our support.

By deciding between a woman or an African American as their presidencial nominee, the Democrats are making history. Barack Obama has the sensibilities of a man from humble beginnings raised in a multicultural home. He is the best option for a truly visionary change.

La opción demócrata es Barack Obama

El Partido Demócrata llega a la primaria de California con una oferta histórica entre dos candidatos extraordinarios. Creemos que entre ellos el senador Barack Obama representa realmente el cambio en una campaña en que "el cambio" es el tema central. Los puntos sobre inmigración del legislador de Illinois y su visión inspiradora es lo que necesita el país para salir del sentimiento actual de agotamiento político.

No hay duda de que la senadora Hillary Clinton sería una presidenta excelente si fuera electa. Es una mujer capaz, competente, disciplinada y trabajadora que ha demostrado talento como legisladora y que tiene la posición correcta en la mayoría de los temas. Su plan para un seguro de salud universal es un ejemplo de las valiosas iniciativas que ha propuesto la candidata. Sería grandioso poder elegir a la primera mujer presidente de esta nación.

La senadora ha obtenido un respaldo significativo de influyentes y reconocidos líderes nacionales latinos como Raúl Yzaguirre, Henry Cisneros y el alcalde Antonio Villaraigosa. Ella trabajó arduamente durante muchos años representando el mejor interés de los latinos y su compromiso personal esta documentado a lo largo de esta campaña.

Sin embargo, este es un momento histórico donde la gran capacidad y experiencia de la senadora es insuficiente para brindar al país el sentido de renovación que necesita después de ocho años de George W. Bush.

Nos ha desilusionado también la calculada oposición de Clinton a las licencias de conducir para los indocumentados, que contrasta con la contundencia de los argumentos de Obama a favor de las mismas. Sabemos que eso es muy controversial, pero hay una sola posición correcta y es la del legislador de Illinois. Ambos senadores respaldan una reforma integral de inmigración, pero Obama es el único que se comprometió a presentar de nuevo el proyecto de ley durante su primer año de gobierno.

Ese mismo compromiso con el tema migratorio llevó a Obama a condenar en un debate las mentiras que se dicen maliciosamente sobre ellos; a comprender la necesidad de las licencias y a defender a los estudiantes indocumentados con la coautoría del DREAM Act en la Legislatura. El senador ha mostrado carácter, manteniendo su línea pese al antagonismo del clima político.

Al mismo tiempo, no existe una gran diferencia entre los dos demócratas en la mayoría de los temas más importantes; por eso la visión marca la diferencia. Obama tiene un mensaje inclusivo y de esperanza, necesario para los momentos que vive el país. Él reúne las condiciones conciliadoras para revertir el círculo vicioso de rencor que desde hace décadas predomina en Washing-ton y paraliza las grandes decisiones necesarias.

Necesitamos un presidente que de nuevo inspire y una a los ciudadanos alrededor de las grandes posibilidades que nos brinda el futuro. Obama es el líder adecuado para este momento. Sabemos que no es muy conocido en nuestra comunidad y si bien tiene el respaldo de María Elena Durazo, del senador Gil Cedillo y de otros. No obstante, es quien hoy merece el respaldo de la comunidad latina.

Los demócratas ya están haciendo historia al tener que decidir su candidato a presidente entre una mujer y un afroamericano.

Barak Obama tiene la sensibilidad de un origen humilde, de un hogar multicultural y es la mejor opción para un cambio visionario.

Senator Ted Kennedy in East LA

Jenny U. — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:34:15 EST

Teddy in East L.A.

Politico.com

Kennedy addressed an Obama rally at East Los Angeles College this morning, introduced with a credential that the campaign hopes will appeal to Hispanic voters: Kennedy and Obama were the only two senators, the campaign says, to participate in the giant May 1, 2006 immigration marches.

"In the streets of Chicago it was our next president, Barack Obama, that marched, and in the streets of Washington, D.C., it was Sen. Edward Kennedy who marched," said Maria Elena Durazo, a key Los Angeles labor leader.

But the event, at a mostly Hispanic college in a Hispanic and Asian part of town, also served as a demonstration of the ground Obama has to make up here: The crowd seemed largely made up of Obama supporters from elsewhere in Los Angeles.

"I've never seen a lot of white people here before," said Edwin Morales, 25, who grew up in the neighborhood and now studies at Cal State Los Angeles but came back to see Obama.

Morales said he'd supported Edwards but switched to Obama because the two share an ideology: "They're for the poor, for the working class."

Kennedy spoke of Obama's "transformational" potential, and tried out his own Spanish.

"Un voto por Obama es un voto para la gente," he said, gamely, before offering his joking excuse.

"It's a Castillo accent — it's a Castilian accent," he said, to laughter.

Senator Ted Kennedy on Piolin

Jenny U. — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:58:36 EST

Obama's Piolín boost by kos Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 11:14:08 AM PST

Yesterday we noted that yes, Latinos will vote for black candidates despite arguments to the contrary from the Clinton campaign. Today, Reuters seizes on the pushback to that narrative. But the fact is, Hillary has done better amongst Latinos because she has actually done a far better job in wooing that vote.

Now the question is how much can Obama cut into that Latino disadvantage on Feb. 5.

Large numbers of Hispanic or Latino voters will head to the polls for "Super Tuesday" voting on February 5 in states such as California, New York, New Jersey, Arizona and New Mexico, where public opinion polls put Clinton ahead in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination.

And on that front, this is gold for Obama, with Ted Kennedy getting royal treatment on the El Piolín radio show today. This is significant for several major reasons. Hillary is leading Obama in southern California in huge part because of the Latino vote -- helped in large part by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's support and machine. Big city mayors are some of the best endorsements a candidate can get because they have a patronage machine they can activate on behalf of candidates they support. Yet down in southern California, El Pioín owns the market and is the largest radio show in the country. Yup, that's bigger than you-know-who.

Maids get out of bed and slip on their uniforms, landscapers load leaf blowers into rusty flatbed trucks before chugging up the freeway and cooks turn on restaurant stoves to make flapjacks. They, like other listeners, know [Eduardo] Sotelo as El Piolin, or Tweety Bird, and they regard him as a Mexican immigrant hero, someone like them, a role model. Twenty years ago, Sotelo sneaked across the Mexican border into California by hiding in the trunk of a car, and now his Spanish-language radio show, "El Piolin por la Mañana," has made him a rags-to-riches story, a DJ who beats Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh and Tom Joyner every weekday morning, according to Arbitron ratings.

Remember the big immigration protests last year? This was the guy who fueled them nationwide. So he's not just a fun D.J., he can move people. And to this crowd, Sen. Ted Kennedy is a HUGE hero -- the man who has been fighting to pass comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate.

And today, his show was one big love note to Obama, featuring none other than Kennedy.

The El Piolín radio show [...] gave a BIG buildup for Teddy at 7:40 a.m. California time with a three minute pre-produced bio calling him "the best senator in America" highlighting Kennedy family history and his leadership on education, health care and immigration reform.

Blogger Al Giordano blogged the radio appearance, and three particular points stand out:

Kennedy talks about the fight for immigration reform he waged "and at my side from the beginning was Barack Obama." [...]

Kennedy: "Only two senators marched for immigrant rights on May 1, 2006, one in Washington and the other in Chicago. I marched in Washington and Barack Obama marched in Chicago. He was not afraid to stand up when others wouldn't." [...]

"I'm committed to coming back on the immigration bill and Barack Obama will be with me. He is the one candidate who has said that he can do this in his first term. There's too many people that are living in the shadows. Men and women of dignity who love their families who love their faith. I'm on their side and Barack Obama is on their side."

This was worth millions in free advertising to the Obama campaign and can move real numbers. In a state were Obama is closing the gap fast according to the most recent polling, this could be game changing.

Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) Endorses Obama

Jenny U. — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:42:21 EST

SI SE PUEDE WITH OBAMA

In various previous bulletins we have pointed out numerous contradictions and challenges facing us during this presidential campaign. The aspirations for political change that conforms to the myriad social needs of Latinos, the working majorities of the U.S., and all people of color are huge. Fair and humane immigration reform, an end to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and the return of U.S. troops to their loved ones, universal and affordable healthcare, fair versus "free" trade policies and an end to the export of millions of jobs, immediate relief to working families devastated by the subprime housing crisis, equitable and progressive tax rates, a reduction of the budget deficit not on the backs of working people, a restoration and protection of privacy rights and an end to government spying and surveillance on its citizens and residents, protected right to organize a union and negotiate a collective bargaining unit, an end to the era of dependency on fossil fuels, the inviolability of women's right to choice and immediate access to health services – these and many more issues are moving millions of people into motion in search of relevant change in our country.

The real question before us is whether any of the current presidential candidates measures up to our expectations and aspirations for change within the context of a constrained political system dominated by two main political parties – Republican and Democratic, its various minor parties, but an ever growing and robust independent segment of the electorate?

The Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), the oldest political-civic organization of Mexican Americans and Latinos in the U.S., answers the question in the affirmative with some reservations. The task before us is enormous and we refuse to invest everything on one woman or man aspiring to assume the highest political office in the land, and expect that this will create the change we desire. This is only one element of the political equation. The majority of the responsibility for change is ours – our collective responsibility to create sweeping social movement and impose our political will as the majority producers of society. We do this by participating in political elections, mobilizations of masses of people, social protests, lobbying, sit-ins, petitions, recall of elected officials when necessary, and the use of many other tactics.

No political candidate is perfect, but which candidate comes closest to our ideal and speaks to our issues and interests, exudes confidence, demonstrates a track-record for integrity and speaking truth to power, and voting in favor of working peoples interests?

Our first choice was Congressman Dennis Kucinich. We firmly believe that his platform is our platform, and that his progressive trajectory as an elected official speaks for itself. However, for many reasons citizen Kucinich retired from the presidential primary race to pursue a re-election bid for his current seat. MAPA stood on principle to support the candidate who thoroughly stands for peace, fair trade, humane immigration reform, universal healthcare access, women's choice, worker's rights, and while his candidacy may have represented an impossible long-shot – we resolved that elections in and of themselves do not constitute the main measure of political change, and that our fight is a strategic one premised on deep-rooted organization of political conscious Latino workers and families in alliance with affinity constituencies.

However, something nasty in the national campaigns reared its head over the past two weeks, which motivated us to consider another endorsement for a presidential candidate of the Democratic Party primary elections. We have observed with utter disgust the use of racially divisive and polarizing tactics employed by the Clintons, both Hillary and Bill, against Senator Barack Obama, not the first presidential candidate of African American origin. This is something that we would have expected from Republican candidates, but instead it surfaced from the bowels of the center-right institutional currents of the Democratic Party. The tactics are absolutely deplorable and clearly demonstrate what the Clintons think of all people of color.

In other words, when they speak and refer to Senator Barack Obama in the racially disparaging manner in which they have, they are really referring to all of us people of color – African Americans, Latinos, Asian Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans. Perhaps worst yet, they think little of white members of the electorate wrongly believing that such tactics would move white voters away from Senator Obama - the scary specter of a black candidate with little experience and questionable credibility assuming the reins of power. The repeated claim by the Clintons' paid pollster, Sergio Bendixen that Latinos won't vote for a black man is one more example of the polarizing self-fulfilling prophecy injected into the campaign of late. Certainly they will deny such a charge, but then again, they are not people of color and have not been the victims of their own invective.

MAPA has historically supported candidates it believed were competent to represent the corresponding electorate irrespective of their national origin, race, gender or age. The content of their character is what mattered most to us.

The leadership and membership of MAPA have resolved to endorse Senator Barack Obama as the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, who also just happens to be African American.

We also observe with great pride growing numbers of young white voters enthusiastically embracing the message of Senator Obama, black voters turning out in greater percentages than previous elections exuding pride and hope, Latino culinary union members who see themselves in the candidacy of the young senator, and women who deposit their faith in the intelligence and oratorical imagery displayed by candidate Barack Obama. All of this bodes well for the future of America – seeing beyond race – capable of assimilating the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Senator Obama is the only remaining candidate who has declared in favor of issuing driver's licenses to immigrants (much before the current campaign) and the right of immigrant youth to higher education through the Dream Act, pursuing humane immigration reform his first year in office, returning all U.S. combat troops from Iraq, (one of the few federal legislators who originally opposed the war publicly), and pursuing universal healthcare reform (albeit retaining a role for private insurance companies) – these are a few of his down-payment commitments to the electorate he seeks to convince that now is the time to carve the change required due to the current maladies plaguing the country. It is our obligation to move this campaign and candidacy still closer to the wishes and pressing needs of the majorities.

Si Se Puede con Obama, Yes We Can with Obama, is the recurring chant that we now will also raise to oppose those candidates who live in the past, seek dynasty, angle to divide and polarize us, or propose continued neo-liberal directions for the nation-state.

Si Se Puede with Obama, and with and by and for the people.

Nativo V. Lopez
National President

Mi Voto Para Obama

Jenny U. — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:13:05 EST

El Diario

Mi voto para Obama
OPINIÓN - 01/30/2008
Por Yrthya Dinzey
Hace 14 años llegué a este país, y aunque es corto tiempo para desarrollar un desencanto total por la política electoral de esta nación, así es. Pero este año es para mi diferente y un candidato en particular ha motivado en mi un sentido de esperanza y entusiasmo, Barack Obama.
Yo me identifico con todos esos jóvenes que ven en Obama un candidato diferente, y al igual que los Kennedy, veo en él a un presidente capaz de cambiar nuestra historia, y la mía como mujer latina.
He leído en varios artículos entrevistas con alguno que otro latino que opina que nosotros como comunidad electoral no estamos listos para elegir a una persona de color al puesto presidencial. Otras personas han entendido que para los latinos la cuestión de raza será un factor decisivo en esta elección. Pero yo no creo, ni quiero pensar, que este será el caso. Como latinos, entendemos el valor de la diversidad ya que somos, después de todo, la categoría de electores de mayor diversidad. Además de esto, entendemos que en la unión está la fuerza y que es muy importante tener aliados en la lucha por nuestros derechos.
Obama ha demostrado ser el único candidato que ha corrido una campaña neutral, o sea, donde raza, género, etc., no son los elementos principales para animarnos a votar. También ha sabido crear una coalición sólida, real y duradera entre diversas comunidades. Esto es evidente no sólo en su campaña, sino también en Chicago, ciudad que hoy representa luego de lograr una fuerte unión entre las comunidades afro-americana y latina de esa ciudad. No debemos subestimar la importancia de un candidato que no necesitó la experiencia de perder una elección para entonces reconocer la gran importancia del voto latino y de la contribución tan importante de nuestra comunidad en el país. Cuando Obama nos ha dicho que reconoce la importancia de los latinos en este país, nos lo ha demostrado también con acciones.
En todo aspecto, Obama es representativo del tipo de nación que podríamos ser —una nación unida, con un espíritu de inclusión, con respeto por el resto de la humanidad, y una nación que valora la contribución de cada uno de sus miembros y que les permite realizar su potencial. Su carisma y honestidad nos obliga a escucharlo y sus planes de acción nos dan esperanza y nos inspiran a ser parte de algo nuevo, de un futuro mejor.
Aunque es cierto que Obama no tiene décadas de experiencia como gobernante, también es cierto que esta falta de experiencia le permite más fácilmente identificarse con el electorado y nuestra frustración con un gobierno que se vuelve cada día más paternalista y menos participativo. Además de esto, es importante notar que la experiencia en ausencia de buena razón vale poco. Obama en su corto tiempo como oficial electo ha sabido tomar muchas decisiones rectas y basadas en buen razonamiento y no solo en polos de opinión. Y esto es lo más importante de todo. A la hora de elegir yo daré mi voto por la persona que como yo, votaría con su conciencia. Por eso mi voto, es para Obama.
es residente de Nueva York.

Caroline Kennedy: A President Like My Father

Jenny U. — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:05:09 EST

Caroline Kennedy wrote an op-ed in the NYTimes today endorsing Senator Barack Obama. Please check out the Spanish version below as well.

Un presidente como mi padre

Por CAROLINE KENNEDY

A lo largo de los años, me han conmovido profundamente los que me han dicho que quisieran poder sentirse inspirados y esperanzados con respecto a América como las personas se sentían cuando mi padre era presidente. Es por eso que apoyo a un candidato presidencial en las primarias demócratas: Barack Obama.

Mis razones son patrióticas, políticas y personales, y las tres están entrelazadas. Toda mi vida, personas me han dicho que mi padre les cambió la vida, que se involucraron en el servicio público o la política porque mi padre les pidió que lo hicieran. Y la generación que él inspiró ha transmitido ese espíritu a sus hijos. Conozco jóvenes que nacieron mucho después que John F. Kennedy fuera presidente, pero sin embargo me preguntan cómo vivir sus ideales.

A veces tarda un rato reconocer que alguien tiene la habilidad especial de hacernos creer en nosotros mismos, vincular esa confianza con nuestros ideales más elevados e imaginar que juntos podemos hacer cosas excepcionales. En esos raros momentos, cuando una persona así aparece, tenemos que dejar a un lado nuestros planes y tratar de alcanzar lo que sabemos es posible.

Tenemos esa clase de oportunidad con el senador Obama. No es que los otros candidatos no tengan experiencia o conocimiento. Pero este año, puede que eso no sea suficiente. Necesitamos un cambio en el liderazgo de este país, igual que lo necesitamos en 1960.

La mayoría de nosotros preferiríamos basar nuestra decisión a la hora de votar en diferencias entre políticas. Sin embargo, los objetivos de los candidatos son similares. Todos han expuesto planes detallados acerca de todo, desde el fortalecimiento de nuestra clase media a la inversión en la educación de la primera infancia. De modo que las cualidades de liderazgo, carácter y juicio desempeñan un papel mayor que de costumbre.

El senador Obama ha demostrado estas cualidades durante más de dos décadas de servicio público, no sólo en el Senado de Estados Unidos sino en Illinois, donde ayudó a cambiar el rumbo de comunidades atribuladas, enseñó derecho constitucional y fue oficial electo estatal por ocho años. Y en la actualidad el senador Obama muestra las mismas cualidades. Ha construido un movimiento que está cambiando la fisonomía de la política en este país, y ha manifestado el don especial de inspirar a los jóvenes -conocidos por su disposición a ofrecerse de voluntarios pero aversión a la política- a involucrarse en el proceso político.

He pasado los últimos cinco años trabajando en las escuelas públicas de la ciudad de Nueva York y tengo tres hijos adolescentes. Hay una generación que llega a la mayoría de edad que es optimista, trabajadora, innovadora e imaginativa. Pero demasiados de ellos también se sienten desesperanzados, derrotados y desconectados. Como padres, tenemos la responsabilidad de ayudar a nuestros hijos a creer en sí mismos y en su capacidad de forjar su futuro. El senador Obama les infunde a mis hijos, los nietos de mis padres, ese sentido de posibilidad.

El senador Obama está llevando una campaña digna y honrada. Ha hablado elocuentemente sobre el papel de la fe en su vida y ha dejado ver su carácter en dos impactantes libros. Y en cuanto a su juicio, Barack Obama acertó respecto a la cuestión más importante de nuestro tiempo al oponerse a la guerra en Irak desde el principio.

Quiero un presidente que entienda que su responsabilidad es articular una visión y animar a otros a realizarla; que se atenga –y exija que se atengan los que los rodean- a los principios éticos más elevados, que apele a las esperanzas de los que todavía creen en el Sueño Americano, y a los que en todo el mundo todavía creen en el ideal americano; y que pueda levantarnos el ánimo, y hacernos creer de nuevo que nuestro país necesita que participemos todos y cada uno de nosotros.

Nunca he tenido un presidente que me inspirara de la manera que otros me dicen que mi padre los inspiraba. Pero por primera vez creo que he encontrado el hombre que pudiera convertirse en ese presidente, no sólo para mí, sino para una nueva generación de americanos.

Click here for the English version.

Barack Obama: Message of Reconciliation

Jenny U. — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:15:53 EST

Washington PostDispelling Anti-Latino Animosity Will Take Work
By Marcela Sanchez

WASHINGTON -- Some readers assume a few things about me, such as my stance on the divisive issue of immigration. And after making that assumption, some of them have suggested -- in less than kind terms -- that I "go back to Mexico," even if I never came from there.

The fact that people in this country are making assumptions about people like me because of our names or our looks is understandable. Most of us are wired to automatically place people in categories. But uncivil behavior or impulsive hatred is altogether different.

In a country such as Colombia, where I do come from, such intolerance has not only been pervasive but has had dire consequences, costing people their lives. That's rarely the case here. For immigrants like me -- not to mention those from countries such as Sudan, El Salvador, Guatemala or the former Yugoslavia -- this nation's ability to remain trustful, welcoming and compassionate despite a vast diversity of people and points of view defies the experiences of our homelands.

I have lived on the East Coast and in the Midwest for more than 18 years, and during that time I've come to deeply appreciate the great capacity and courage of Americans to talk about their problems and differences rather, needless to say, than shooting each other over them. But today, such conversations seem fewer and less civil than they once were.

Perhaps the reason why Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's message of reconciliation is getting some traction is because for many Americans, the divisiveness and intolerance of recent years have meant the erosion of a fundamental American value. In a speech commemorating Martin Luther King's birthday this week, Obama spoke about the urgency to close the "empathy deficit" in this country.

This effort, he said, is made more difficult by a politics that seeks to drive Americans apart: "We are told that those who differ from us on a few things are different from us on all things; that our problems are the fault of those who don't think like us or look like us or come from where we do. The welfare queen is taking our tax money. The immigrant is taking our jobs."

This not merely a rhetorical point -- for some segments of our population, things have been turning ugly. According to the FBI, there was a 3 percent increase in hate crimes nationwide between 2003 and 2006. FBI officials told me that this increase might simply reflect the number of law enforcement agencies reporting data. But it is difficult to miss the fact that in the same period, the number of Hispanics who were victims of a hate crime jumped by 34 percent.

According to Janet Murguia, "hate has found a new home." The head of the National Council of La Raza said this week that "this new strain of hate is open, ugly and demonizes all Hispanics in the emerging debate on immigration." Murguia, the first Hispanic to address the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast in Birmingham, Ala., is particularly concerned about the animosity that surfaces daily on the Internet and talk shows on radio and cable television.

She noted the case of CNN commentator Glenn Beck, who last summer featured on his radio show and his Web site a mock ad proposing a one-stop solution to the immigration and energy crises: a "giant refinery" that produces "Mexinol," a fuel made from the bodies of illegal immigrants coming here from Mexico.

Beck's "joke" was in poor taste and patently unfunny. And while it might be excused as an attempt at humor, the underlying sentiment is very similar to that expressed by others in broadcast media and on the Internet who have used the immigration crisis to justify uncivilized behavior.

It would be a mistake, however, to lay all incivility and hatred at the feet of the virulent few and then contend that if only they could be silenced, things would suddenly get better. As Stephan Thernstrom, history professor at Harvard University, put it in an interview this week, "If they all dropped dead tomorrow, it wouldn't change anything."

The return to a more congenial America won't happen overnight. "True unity cannot be so easily won. It starts with a change in attitudes -- a broadening of our minds, and a broadening of our hearts," Obama rightly said. The intolerant talking heads of today are mere messengers of a message that may be embraced by only a few. But it is too subtly condoned by not being condemned by the many.

Barack Obama Endorsed by 17 Prominent New Mexico Elected Officials and Leaders

Jenny U. — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:37:57 EST

The Obama campaign announced the endorsements from seventeen key elected officials and leaders today, representing broad geographic support across the state. The officials include James Lewis, State Treasurer, Patsy Trujillo, former State Representative, Fred Harris, former U.S. Senator, and House Majority Leader Ken Martinez.

"I admire Barack Obama because he doesn't just tell people what they want to hear but what they need to know even when it is not politically popular,” said State Treasurer, James Lewis. “I'm supporting Barack Obama because he has a compelling vision to change the way Washington works so that it finally addresses the problems Americans face," said Lewis.

"After Bill Richardson ended his bid for president I took a careful look at all of the candidates. But Barack Obama stands out because he has proven that he is the only candidate who can unify the country to bring change - and bring all Americans together regardless of race, party, or creed, and I am proud to support his campaign,” said former Representative Patsy Trujillo.

"Our economy is in peril and Barack Obama, months ago, laid out a plan to get the economy moving by helping the middle class families that really need it, combating the mortgage crisis and reinstating faith in our government," said State Representative Peter Wirth.

The campaign has opened new offices in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Those offices will be expanding their operations to accommodate the growing grassroots support all across the state.

Co-Chairs

The Honorable James Lewis, State Treasurer

The Honorable Fred Harris, former U.S. Senator

The Honorable Patsy Trujillo, former State Representative

Mr. John Pound, Civil Rights Attorney

Elected Officials

State Representative Al Park, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Albuquerque
State Representative Peter Wirth, Santa Fe
State Representative Joseph Cervantes, Las Cruces
State Representative W. Ken Martinez, House Majority Leader, Grants
State Representative Antonio Lujan, Las Cruces
State Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton, House Majority Whip, Albuquerque
State Representative Antonio “Moe” Maestas, Albuquerque
Mr. Robert Rosebrough, former Mayor of Gallup, New Mexico
Mr. Javier Gonzales, former Santa Fe County Commissioner
Mr. Max Coll, former State Representative, Santa Fe
Mr. Damon Ely, former Sandoval County Commissioner
Mr. Jim Baca, former Mayor of Albuquerque
Mr. Michael Cadigan, City Council Member of Albuquerque

Arizona Hispanic Leaders Annouce Support for Barack Obama

Jenny U. — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:44:53 EST

Today, several Arizona Hispanic leaders publicly endorsed Senator Obama. Read more coverage from the Arizona Republic:

Several Phoenix Latino political leaders publicly endorsed Barack Obama for president Tuesday.

The former members of the Arizona presidential steering committee for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, said Obama's political views on education, health care and immigration will best benefit Arizona's Latino community. Richardson dropped out of the race after the New Hampshire primary.

They made their announcement at Obama headquarters on the same day as Hillary Clinton was in the Valley speaking at a south Phoenix school. Other prominent Hispanic leaders have come out for Hillary Clinton including County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor.

John Laredo, former Arizona House Minority Leader, said Obama's work against racial profiling and other issues have benefited Latinos.

"His history as a civil rights attorney, in particular his focus on voting rights, his support of the Dream Act - those things are what matters to the Latino community here," he said. "We need someone that's not going to take our vote for granted."

State Rep. Steve Gallardo said Obama's experience addressing the needs of people of color is documented. "Look at what he's done for minorities and Latinos in Illinois," he told Latino voters. "When you look at education, health care, housing and particularly immigration, Obama has been at the forefront."

Former State Sen. Alfredo Gutierrez said because Obama's father was from Kenya, Obama can relate to many Latinos' desire for immigration reform.

"He's the son of an immigrant. There's a worldview - a whole world - captured in that statement that those of us who are immigrants and children of immigrants understand," Gutierrez said.

State Rep. David Lujan said no other candidate could support the Latino community better than Obama, regardless of how much experience they have. Arizona Latinos need someone with a fresh perspective in office, he said.

"It's one thing to have experience. It's another to be able to implement that change," Lujan said.

While Senator Hillary Clinton was victorious in Nevada, the leaders said they believe the outcome will be different in Arizona.

"I don't think Nevada reflects what's going to happen in this state or across the country," Guiterrez said.

Gutierrez said that he'd support Clinton if she won the Democratic nomination, but believes her history in Washington will prevent her from accomplishing what Obama can.

"This country's in gridlock. It's time for change. The people that have led us to gridlock are particularly good people," he said. "But I think those who want to see that gridlock change are going to be here (supporting Obama)."

Ruben Gallego, chief of staff for Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski, said Obama's position on the war best mirrors many of those presently enlisted.

"We have always looked up to Obama's principled stance on the war," said Gallego, who served as a Marine in Iraq. "He got it right the first time and stuck to that."

Gallego also said Obama is one of few candidates who have reached out to Latinos with Spanish literature, Spanish-speaking phone banks and going door-to-door in largely Latino neighborhoods.

Coalition of California Latino Leaders Announce Endorsements of Obama

Jenny U. — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:20:49 EST

Coalition of California Latino Leaders Announce Endorsements of Obama: Former Supporters of New Mexico Governor Richardson Now Backing Obama

A coalition of California Latino leaders announced their support of Barack Obama today in press conference held in the Obama for America Los Angeles Headquarters.

State Senator Gilbert Cedillo (D-22), Vice Chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus, has announced his support for Senator Barack Obama. He had previously backed New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. A longtime champion of social justice, Senator Cedillo cited Senator Obama's commitment to bringing about fundamental change in Washington, creating economic opportunity for all Americans, and push for comprehensive immigration reform. Senator Cedillo represents the communities of Los Angeles, Alhambra, Maywood, San Marino, South Pasadena, and Vernon.

"Senator Obama's message of change, hope, and unity is inspiring the people of California, many of whom have never before been involved in politics, to stand up and be counted," said Senator Cedillo. "I believe he is right for the Latino community on the issues, and I'm going to spend the coming weeks leading up to the vote on February 5th talking to the Latino community about why Barack Obama is the best candidate for us."

Former State Senator Martha Escutia also announced her support of Barack Obama today. She formerly supported Governor Richardson. Senator Escutia served 14 years in the state legislature. She was the first woman to serve as the chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus and served the 30th Assembly District, representing Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Maywood, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, South Gate, Whittier, and Vernon.

Also in attendance were State Senator Majority Leader Gloria Romero (D-24), the highest ranking female in the State Legislature and chair of California Latinos for Obama; State Senator Dean Florez (D-16), the only Democratic State Senator to represent the Central Valley; and Pomona Mayor Norma Torres of Pomona. Giselle Fernandez, community leader in Los Angeles and former journalist with CBS and NBC News, served as the Emcee.

The endorsements of the Latino leaders underscore the growing momentum in California for Barack Obama. Congressman Adam Schiff and George Miller announced their endorsements earlier in the week, and today the campaign also announced the opening of three additional California offices (Orange County, Inland Empire and Silicon Valley), expanding the reach of the Obama campaign throughout California and bringing the total number of offices to seven.

The Obama campaign has been conducting targeted outreach to the Latino community, holding Spanish language phone banks in its offices throughout the state and canvasses with Spanish speakers in Latino neighborhoods in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles.

Barack Obama is making history in California by launching the first truly targeted, grassroots, precinct level field operation in a presidential primary. The Obama campaign is organizing leadership teams encompassing each of California's congressional districts that will help turn out the vote and elect Barack Obama as the next President of the United States on February 5th, 2008.

Mundo Latino Endorses Senator Obama

Jenny U. — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 22:56:25 EST

Barack Obama got the endorsement of another Spanish-language newspaper in Iowa this week. Mundo Latino, Sioux City's only Hispanic weekly, endorsed Senator Obama -- the first-ever political endorsement from Mundo Latino -- because, they write, “We believe that Barack Obama most sympathizes with the perspectives and concerns of our readers and the Latino community as a whole. We believe he has the qualities needed to implement his ideas and truly bring about change.”

Read the full endorsement below:

The editorial board of Mundo Latino announces its endorsement of candidate Barack Obama for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination at the Iowa caucus on January 3, 2008.

We believe he is the best candidate for Latinos.

Being of immigrant and minority roots, he is, we feel, the candidate that most identifies with the Latino community.

His views on immigration reform are positive, feasible and realistic. His approach to education is the most Latino-friendly.

Barack Obama believes our educational system must be changed so that it meets the needs of an increasingly diverse population. Obama will work to prevent young people from dropping out of school and hold schools accountable for teaching children English. Obama supports the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM Act, which allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges.

Barack Obama believes legal immigrants who have served abroad in the U.S. military should enjoy a fast-track to citizenship.

Obama believes that our broken immigration system can only be fixed by putting politics aside and coming up with a solution that secures our borders, upholds our laws and reaffirms our heritage as a nation of immigrants.

Close to 14 million Latinos have no health insurance. Obama is committed to signing legislation by the end of his first term that ensures high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. His plan would expand access to health insurance, steer more Latinos to health careers and increase the cultural competence of health care workers.

Obama will raise the minimum wage, support low-income families, protect Social Security and work to enable more Latinos to own their homes. Obama supports funding job-training programs and loans for minority business owners. He will also work to provide immigrants with better access to banking services.

Barack Obama will strengthen our relationship with the more than 500 million people who live in Latin America.

The Democratic candidate opposed the Iraq war from the start and has introduced legislation that would begin the gradual withdrawal of our combat troops. His plan focuses on achieving a political solution in Iraq, protecting our interests in the region and ending the war.

We believe Barack Obama is the most sympathetic to the views and concerns of our readers and of the Latino community as a whole. We believe he possesses the skills needed to implement his ideas and bring about real change.

We must stress that despite all of Obama’s good ideas, nothing will change without your involvement in the election process and the exercise of your VOTE. Together, we can make a difference for ourselves and our children. Therefore, let us stand up for what we believe and make our voices heard on Jan. 3, 2008, by going to caucus.

We hope you caucus on Thursday, Jan. 3, at 6:30 p.m.

El Latino Endorses Barack Obama

Jenny U. — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:42:50 EST

Yesterday, El Latino newspaper, the Iowa weekly Spanish-language newspaper with 15,000 readers, endorsed Senator Obama. El Latino is the first Spanish-language newspaper in Iowa to ever endorse a presidential candidate. This historic endorsement comes as the Iowa caucus approaches on January 3rd.

Check out the endorsement editorial below:

To Elect Barack Obama is to Elect a Better Future for Everyone

El Latino Newspaper is proud to be the first Latino newspaper in Iowa to make public our opinion on the future of the US. Like many members of the Latino community in Iowa, we work very hard to secure a better future for our families, we pay taxes, and contribute--- economically, socially, and culturally to our communities. Our work and civil duty gives us the right to evaluate all the presidential candidates—Democrats as well as Republicans and determine who is the person who best represents the interest of the Latino community and has the character and leadership to unite the nation for progress.

After carefully studying the presidential candidates, the editorial team at the El Latino, has decided to endorse Senator Barack Obama. Since Obama’s father was an immigrant and Obama is a minority in the US, he not only understands the Latino community, he feels it—the good and the bad. We identify with Obama and are convinced that he understands the issues that directly impact Latino families: issues like immigration, education, the War in Iraq, civil rights, and small business development.

The most important thing is that these issues get implemented in Congress. No other presidential candidate, particularly divisive candidates, can unite Congress and secure the votes to finally pass comprehensive immigration reform. We believe that Obama is the only candidate with the capability to change the immigration laws to keep our families together and give everyone the opportunity to pursue the American Dream.

We are proud once again to take this historic position in the state of Iowa. We know very well that an endorsement of a candidate is something controversial and that many people may not agree with. Although we are living in difficult times, we are also living in a time of much opportunity and hope. We believe that Obama is the candidate of hope and the future. We make the decision to endorse with conviction, bravery, and the confidence that he bests represents a better future for our families and community. We ask with all our heart that all members of the Latino community in Iowa attend that caucus to vote for Barack Obama, January 3 at 6:30pm.

For more information about Senator Obama, his platform and to find out where your caucus location, please visit the following sites:

Spanish: www.barackobama.com/espanol/

Link to Caucus Center:

http://iowa.barackobama.com/caucus

Direct link to caucus locator:

http://iowa.barackobama.com/IACaucusLocator

Latinos Show Support for Obama in Sioux City, Iowa

Jenny U. — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:25:12 EST

A Sioux City rally on Monday night brought more than 1,000 people to the historic Orpheum Theatre. The crowd -- young and old, black and white, Latino and Native American -- epitomized the diversity we've come to expect from an Obama gathering.

In this photo from the next day's Sioux City Journal, a Siouxland-area Latino supporter shows her support for Barack Obama:

Credit: Sioux City Journal

Here are some more photos from this amazing night. Perla A. is Vice-President of Siouxland Unidad Latina, the area's oldest and largest Latino organization, which has most recently focused on scholarships for Hispanic youth. She became a U.S. citizen too late to caucus in 2004, so this will be her first go-around. She plans to stand for Barack.

Storm Lake City Councilmember Sara Monroy Huddleston Backs Barack Obama

Jenny U. — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:40:19 EST

Today, Barack Obama received a major endorsement from Storm Lake, Iowa, Councilmember Sara Monroy Huddleston. Here's what she had to say about Senator Obama and the entire press release:

Storm Lake City Councilmember Sara Monroy Huddleston today announced her support for Barack Obama’s campaign for President, citing Obama’s unique ability to unify Americans and bring about change we can believe in.

“Today more than ever, America needs a leader who will bring people together to reach for what we know is possible,” said Councilwoman Monroy Huddleston said. “Barack Obama, the one candidate who will bring new energy and respect to the Presidency, will work alongside all Americans to bring about change we can believe in.”

As City Councilmember for Storm Lake, Sara Monroy Huddleston is one of four Latino elected officials in Iowa. For the last decade, Monroy Huddleston has also worked as a victim advocate at Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault (CAASA), and served the community in a multitude of other roles, from a court interpreter to a Latino business organizer for the Storm Lake Chamber of Commerce. Monroy Huddleston came to the United States from Mexico in 1990 and became a U.S. citizen in 2000.

“A proven leader in Storm Lake and in the Latino community, Councilmember Monroy Huddleston will help ensure that our grassroots movement for change succeeds on caucus night,” said Senator Obama.

Obama Supporters at the Brown/Black Forum

Jenny U. — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:31:28 EST

Obama supporters from all across Iowa came out Saturday night for the Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum. Check out this short video and some pictures of our loyal supporters who came out in the cold to cheer on Obama, who came to discuss issues important to Latino and African-American communities.

The Washington Post wrote of Senator Obama's performance at the Brown/Black Forum:

Asked what he made of the fact that Clinton was leading him among black voters in national polling, Obama showed his improved ability to stay on message. He argued that African American voters were like any other voters in that until they get to know you and your track record they're going to be asking questions" before pivoting to the message at the heart of his campaign: "I believe I can bring the country together [and] overcome the special interests," he said.
Time and again, he touched on his unique ability to bring people together and break out of the political status quo -- closing his remarks at the debate by citing Martin Luther King Jr's declaration of "the fierce urgency of now."
...On Saturday he showed his growth as a candidate -- portraying himself effectively as a confident, empathetic agent of change.
If Iowa is Obama's proving ground, his performance here on Saturday showed he is on firm footing.

Interview with Tino Cuellar, Obama Advisor

Jenny U. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:59:50 EST

Tino Cuellar, Professor of Law and Deane F. Johnson Faculty Scholar at Stanford Law School, serves as an immigration advisor to the Obama campaign. We had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about why he supports Barack Obama and about the importance of immigration and the Latino vote in this election cycle.

Why did you decide to support Barack Obama?

People around the world face historic challenges. War and disease are devastating many parts of the developing world. Global warming remains a threat. And rampant poverty crushes the dreams of hundreds of millions across the planet. American leadership is central to forging solutions. Within our own country, we find a health care system that leaves tens of millions of people uninsured and satisfies few of those who are covered, a failing immigration system, vulnerable critical infrastructures at risk from disasters and terrorism, and growing economic insecurity. I support Barack Obama because these problems call for uncommon leadership that can transcend our existing political divisions. He can deliver this leadership. He has built a national movement founded on integrity, intellectual honesty, and decades-long experience working to achieve public policies that improve people's lives. Over the course of his career as a community organizer, a civil rights lawyer, a law professor, and a legislator, Barack Obama has consistently defied the odds, demonstrating a distinctive ability to speak with people across conventional social, racial, economic, and ideological divisions. His energy, his ability to transcend existing political battles, and his capacity for helping the public understand and find principled responses to complicated challenges can help us leave the country and the planet in better shape than we found it.

What do you think distinguishes Barack Obama's position on immigration from the rest of the field?

Although a number of Democratic candidates have demonstrated interest in immigration issues during this election cycle, Barack Obama stands out. First, as an Illinois State Senator and a U.S. Senator, Obama has led in seeking sensible, comprehensive immigration reform that would serve the interests of the American people and help immigrants become productive members of American society. He has also taken clear positions on key aspects of immigration policy that demonstrate his core principles in this area. For example, during the recent debate over immigration policy, he emphasized preserving family unity as a touchstone of our immigration policy. He has unambiguously supported state policies that provide access to driver's licenses because of public health and public safety imperatives. Furthermore, he has established a high-level working group within his campaign to analyze more complex issues in immigration policy, such as improving how the federal government is organized to implement effective migration policy, and combining improved training and education opportunities for U.S. workers with immigration reforms that attract skilled workers. In his policy proposals and public pronouncements, he has shown an uncommon recognition of the connections between immigration policy and other critical issues that our country faces, such as trust in government and security.

Why is immigration reform such a critical issue in this election cycle?

Our immigration policy has always been central in defining our country. But in recent years, it has become one of the nation's most pressing issues. We have over ten million nationals of other countries without visas. We have a system that fails to focus scarce resources on genuine security threats. Our existing policies also create massive backlogs, neglect the needs of local communities and businesses, and exacerbate humanitarian problems. Surveys indicate that the majority of Americans believe that fixing our existing system requires a number of key reforms, including the creation of a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who pay a fine, as well as strengthening security and managing the demand for migration. Our national conversation about immigration should be an example of how Americans can deliberate respectfully about a major challenge. But our failure to address existing concerns with sensible reforms means an ever larger population of undocumented immigrants living in the shadow, further polarizing opinion and creating divisions that may become far more difficult to bridge over time.

Can you point to specific issues that Obama has shown leadership on that demonstrate his commitment to Latinos?

Barack Obama has spent his career fighting to help people share in the American dream. He deeply understands, and is intensely committed to addressing, major policy challenges facing Latinos, including immigration, health care, criminal justice, and the role of the military. He was an architect of efforts in Illinois to better integrate new permanent residents and citizens into the web of communities and professional opportunities that can foster a productive role in society. To help immigrants attain their full measure of promise as educated citizens in a democratic society, he passed the Illinois version of the DREAM Act and has supported the DREAM Act in the U.S. Senate. He called national attention to an unacceptably high Latino dropout rate, and called on Congress and the American people to reconsider harsh mandatory minimum sentences of dubious value that often disproportionately impact African Americans and Latinos. And perhaps most important, he has focused attention on these issues during a campaign that might have otherwise neglected them.

Barack Obama at the JJ

Jenny U. — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:59:51 EST

In case you missed Barack Obama's speech at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, this Saturday, here is the text of the speech below and some great pictures of our Latino supporters at the pre-JJ rally and 4,000-person parade into Veterans Auditorium:

Thank you so much. To the great Governor of Iowa and Lieutenant. Governor of Iowa. To my dear friend Tom Harkin for the outstanding work that he does. To the congressional delegation of Iowa that is doing outstanding work and to Nancy Pelosi, Madam Speaker, thank you all for the wonderful welcome and the wonderful hospitality.

[Responding to Audience]I love you back.

A little less than one year from today, you will go into the voting booth and you will select the President of the United States of America.

Now, here’s the good news – the name George W. Bush will not be on the ballot. The name of my cousin Dick Cheney will not be on the ballot. We’ve been trying to hide that for a long time. Everybody has a black sheep in the family. The era of Scooter Libby justice, and Brownie incompetence, and Karl Rove politics will finally be over.

But the question you’re going to have to ask yourself when you caucus in January and you vote in November is, “What’s next for America?”

We are in a defining moment in our history. Our nation is at war. The planet is in peril. The dream that so many generations fought for feels as if it’s slowly slipping away. We are working harder for less. We’ve never paid more for health care or for college. It’s harder to save and it’s harder to retire. And most of all we’ve lost faith that our leaders can or will do anything about it.

We were promised compassionate conservatism and all we got was Katrina and wiretaps. We were promised a uniter, and we got a President who could not even lead the half of the country that voted for him. We were promised a more ethical and more efficient government, and instead we have a town called Washington that is more corrupt and more wasteful than it was before. And the only mission that was ever accomplished is to use fear and falsehood to take this country to a war that should have never been authorized and should have never been waged.

It is because of these failures that America is listening, intently, to what we say here today – not just Democrats, but Republicans and Independents who’ve lost trust in their government, but want to believe again.

And it is because of these failures that we not only have a moment of great challenge, but also a moment of great opportunity. We have a chance to bring the country together in a new majority – to finally tackle problems that George Bush made far worse, but that had festered long before George Bush ever took office - problems that we’ve talked about year after year after year after year.

And that is why the same old Washington textbook campaigns just won’t do in this election. That’s why not answering questions ‘cause we are afraid our answers won’t be popular just won’t do. That’s why telling the American people what we think they want to hear instead of telling the American people what they need to hear just won’t do. Triangulating and poll-driven positions because we’re worried about what Mitt or Rudy might say about us just won’t do. If we are really serious about wining this election Democrats, we can’t live in fear of losing it.

This party – the party of Jefferson and Jackson; of Roosevelt and Kennedy – has always made the biggest difference in the lives of the American people when we led, not by polls, but by principle; not by calculation, but by conviction; when we summoned the entire nation to a common purpose – a higher purpose. And I run for the Presidency of the United States of America because that’s the party America needs us to be right now.

A party that offers not just a difference in policies, but a difference in leadership.

A party that doesn’t just focus on how to win but why we should.

A party that doesn’t just offer change as a slogan, but real, meaningful change – change that America can believe in.

That’s why I’m in this race. That’s why I am running for the Presidency of the United States of America – to offer change that we can believe in.

I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of setting the agenda in Washington are over. I have done more than any other candidate in this race to take on lobbyists – and won. They have not funded my campaign, they will not get a job in my White House, and they will not drown out the voices of the American people when I am President.

I’m in this race to take those tax breaks away from companies that are moving jobs overseas and put them in the pockets of hard working Americans who deserve it. And I won’t raise the minimum wage every ten years –I will raise it to keep pace so that workers don’t’ fall behind.

That is why I am in it. To protect the American worker. To fight for the American worker.

I’m in this race because I want to stop talking about the outrage of 47 million Americans without health care and start actually doing something about it. I expanded health care in Illinois by bringing Democrats and Republicans together. By taking on the insurance industry. And that is how I will make certain that every single American in this country has health care they can count on and I won’t do it twenty years from now, I won’t do it ten years from now, I will do it by the end of my first term as President of the United States of America.

I run for president to make sure that every American child has the best education that we have to offer– from the day they are born to the day they graduate from college. And I won’t just talk about how great teachers are – as President I will reward them for their greatness – by raising salaries and giving them more support. That’s why I’m in this race.

I am running for President because I am sick and tired of democrats thinking that the only way to look tough on national security is by talking, and acting, and voting like George Bush Republicans.

When I am this party’s nominee, my opponent will not be able to say that I voted for the war in Iraq; or that I gave George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran; or that I supported Bush-Cheney policies of not talking to leaders that we don’t like. And he will not be able to say that I wavered on something as fundamental as whether or not it is ok for America to torture – because it is never ok. That’s why I am in it.

As President, I will end the war in Iraq. We will have our troops home in sixteen months. I will close Guantanamo. I will restore habeas corpus. I will finish the fight against Al Qaeda. And I will lead the world to combat the common threats of the 21st century – nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease. And I will send once more a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that says, “You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now.”

America, our moment is now.

Our moment is now.

I don’t want to spend the next year or the next four years re-fighting the same fights that we had in the 1990s.

I don’t want to pit Red America against Blue America, I want to be the President of the United States of America.

And if those Republicans come at me with the same fear-mongering and swift-boating that they usually do, then I will take them head on. Because I believe the American people are tired of fear and tired of distractions and tired of diversions. We can make this election not about fear, but about the future. And that won’t just be a Democratic victory; that will be an American victory.

And that is a victory America needs right now.

I am not in this race to fulfill some long-held ambitions or because I believe it’s somehow owed to me. I never expected to be here, I always knew this journey was improbable. I’ve never been on a journey that wasn’t.

I am running in this race because of what Dr. King called “the fierce urgency of now.” Because I believe that there’s such a thing as being too late. And that hour is almost upon us.

I don’t want to wake up four years from now and find out that millions of Americans still lack health care because we couldn’t take on the insurance industry.

I don’t want to see that the oceans have risen a few more inches. The planet has reached a point of no return because we couldn’t find a way to stop buying oil from dictators.

I don’t want to see more American lives put at risk because no one had the judgment or the courage to stand up against a misguided war before we sent our troops into fight.

I don’t want to see homeless veterans on the streets. I don’t want to send another generation of American children to failing schools. I don’t want that future for my daughters. I don’t want that future for your sons. I do not want that future for America.

I’m in this race for the same reason that I fought for jobs for the jobless and hope for the hopeless on the streets of Chicago; for the same reason I fought for justice and equality as a civil rights lawyer; for the same reason that I fought for Illinois families for over a decade.

Because I will never forget that the only reason that I’m standing here today is because somebody, somewhere stood up for me when it was risky. Stood up when it was hard. Stood up when it wasn’t popular. And because that somebody stood up, a few more stood up. And then a few thousand stood up. And then a few million stood up. And standing up, with courage and clear purpose, they somehow managed to change the world.

That’s why I’m running, Iowa – to give our children and grandchildren the same chances somebody gave me.

That’s why I’m running, Democrats – to keep the American Dream alive for those who still hunger for opportunity, who still thirst for equality.

That’s why I’m asking you to stand with me, that’s why I’m asking you to caucus for me, that’s why I am asking you to stop settling for what the cynics say we have to accept. In this election – in this moment – let us reach for what we know is possible. A nation healed. A world repaired. An America that believes again. Thank you very much everybody.

New Hispanic Voters in Iowa Push Democrats Into Balancing Act

Jenny U. — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:41:56 EDT

New York Times

"By most accounts, Hispanic leaders here say that among the Democrats the Obama campaign has been the most aggressive in reaching out to them.
“We are reaching out to nontraditional people,” said Joan Kato, head of Hispanic outreach for the Obama campaign. “We can’t expect the voters to come to us, so we are going to them and showing up at events to build trust.”
The Obama campaign has sent Ms. Kato and her crew to over 50 Latino events in the state, is lining up Spanish-speaking supporters to work on caucus night, has printed literature in Spanish and English explaining the caucus process and has a Latino steering committee in every region of the state.
“We’ve been heavily courted by Obama,” said Dawn Martinez Oropeza, an activist with the Iowa Allies for Immigration Reform. “Obama has been the only one there right from the beginning — we’ve gotten V.I.P. tickets to events, he’s been on conference calls with Latino leaders and they’ve always had booths at Latino events. He’s tried to make a more personal connection with the community. From the others, we’ve gotten no invitations to anything.”

Barack Obama Statement on Cuba

Jenny U. — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:49:52 EDT

President Bush gave an address at the State Department on Cuba today, his first major address on Cuban policy in four years. Bush gave a stern warning to Cuba that the United States will not accept a political transition in Cuba that fails to promote democracy and transfer power to the Cuban people.

Following President Bush’s speech, Barack Obama released a statement in response stating that, after more than a year of sitting on the sidelines, the President has finally recognized that this is a critical moment of great potential for Cuban freedom that won’t be advanced by counter-productive threats or conventional thinking.

Further, we need to give the Cuban people, the best ambassadors for freedom and democratic change in Cuba, more uncensored access to the outside world. That’s why Barack Obama will grant Cuban Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send remittances to the island.

You can also read Senator Obama's Op-Ed on Cuba below...

Barack Obama Statement on DREAM Act

Jenny U. — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:31:24 EDT

Today, the Senate voted against moving forward to consider the DREAM Act, which would allow undocumented children brought to the United States the opportunity to pursue higher education or serve in our military, and eventually become legalized citizens.

Senator Barack Obama believes that, instead of driving thousands of children who were on the right path into the shadows, we need to give those who play by the rules the opportunity to succeed. He helped pass the Illinois version of the DREAM Act as a state senator, has fought for it in the U.S. Senate, and will continue to fight for it and sign it into law as president.

Barack Obama released a statement today on the Senate’s missed opportunity to continue the debate on this legislation and to solve the immigration crisis once and for all. He reiterated his position on the need for comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. that promotes our national and economic security and creates a pathway to earned citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants already here. Additionally, the DREAM Act would give undocumented children who were brought to this country at a young age the opportunity to earn a degree or serve in the military instead of hiding in the shadows. The failure to pass the DREAM Act, Obama said, only worsens the immigration crisis by continuing to drive thousands of young people every year into hiding. Obama believes we need to do more to transcend the divisive politics in this country to provide solutions that help the most vulnerable members of our society.

Federico Pena Launches Nevada Latinos for Obama with Events in Reno and Las Vegas

Jenny U. — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 18:34:53 EDT

Las Vegas, NV -- Federico Peña, former Clinton administration Energy and Transportation Secretary, launched Nevada Latinos for Obama today. Secretary Peña joined with Latino supporters and volunteers in Reno and Las Vegas to expand the grassroots movement for Barack Obama within the Latino community in Nevada.

"I am excited about the enthusiasm we are seeing with Latinos in Nevada to support Barack Obama. With Obama, the Latino community sees someone committed to providing real solutions to improve our education system, comprehensively reform our immigration laws, and respond to the community's health care needs," said Peña.

"And most importantly, Latinos in Nevada and across the country see a candidate that can unite Americans and bring people together to address our country's challenges."

Latinos for Obama brings together Latinos from around Nevada to join the campaign's grassroots movement for change and participate in the Democratic caucuses on January 19.

"The Latino community in Nevada is ready for a new kind of leadership and Barack Obama is the only candidate who can change the broken system in Washington," said Rolando Cruz, a leader of Latinos for Obama in Las Vegas.

"In Nevada, the Latino community is growing and expanding," Peña said at the Las Vegas event. "Latinos will continue to have a strong voice in this campaign as they will in an Obama Administration. Su voto es su voz."

Barack Obama Campaign Launches Latinos For Obama Statewide with Events in Reno

Jenny U. — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:35:20 EDT

The Obama campaign announced today that it will be launching Latinos for Obama in Nevada with events in Reno and Las Vegas on Friday.

Latinos for Obama will engage Latinos across Nevada, talk with them about Obama’s commitment to changing Washington, and help organize Nevada’s Latino community for the January caucuses.

Former Energy and Transportation Secretary under the Clinton Administration and Obama National Campaign Co-Chair Federico Peña will attend the launch events on Friday, October 19th at Si Amigos Restaurant in Reno and Ricardo’s Mexican Restaurant in Las Vegas.

KOLO-TV Reno

Obama Urges Gov. Schwarzenegger to Sign the Dream Act Into Law

Jenny U. — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:30:14 EDT

U.S. Senator Barack Obama, who played an integral role in passing the Illinois version of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) while serving in the State Senate and is a cosponsor of the legislation in the U.S. Senate, yesterday released the following statement urging Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the DREAM Act into law:

“You know our immigration system is truly broken when we punish children who have learned English and worked hard to succeed in school so that they can become American citizens. Enforcement alone will not solve the immigration crisis we face. If Governor Schwarzenegger vetoes the DREAM Act a second time, he will compound the immigration crisis by driving thousands of children who were on the right path into the shadows. We teach our children that in America, you will thrive if you work hard and dream big. Governor Schwarzenegger now has the chance to demonstrate that instead of blaming one group for the challenges America faces, he can unite Californians and give children who play by the rules the opportunity to succeed.”

Federico Pena on Obama's Energy Plan

Jenny U. — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:11:44 EDT

Federico Pena, former Secretary of Energy, came out in full support of Barack Obama’s plan to make America a global energy leader:

“I support Barack Obama’s comprehensive, bold, and thoughtful strategy to address global warming and to put our country on the path to energy independence. It is time to stop talking and time to take bold and effective actions towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Our nation must become a leader in attacking global warming and Barack Obama is just the leader to do that.”

Today, Barack Obama announced a visionary plan to make America a global leader on energy. After years of broken promises and unfulfilled plans that have fallen victim to the Washington status quo, Obama will pledge to provide real leadership on the issue by challenging conventional thinking and loosening the grip of special interests. Obama’s plan lays out bold steps to combat global climate change, free America from the tyranny of oil, and create millions of new jobs and entire new industries here in America.

Senator Obama has been a proven leader on energy with a strong record of fighting to invest in renewable fuels and raise fuel economy standards. Obama has been honest in telling the defenders of the status quo that when he’s President, the same failures won’t do.

Senator Obama’s plan to make America a global leader on energy includes:

Implementing an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the level recommended by top scientists to avoid calamitous impacts

Investing $150 billion over the next ten years to develop and deploy climate friendly energy supplies, protect our existing manufacturing base and create millions of new jobs

Dramatically improving energy efficiency to reduce energy intensity of our economy by 50 percent by 2030

Reducing our dependence on foreign oil and reducing oil consumption overall by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels of oil, by 2030

Leading a new international global warming partnership

The plan can be viewed in full HERE

Welcome to Latinos for Obama!

Jenny U. — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:20:48 EDT

Welcome to Latinos for Obama! This webpage is part of Barack Obama’s commitment to making you part of this historic campaign for President.

It is an exciting time for Latinos, who will play a pivotal role in this election. We want to ensure that you have what you need to share your ideas and turn your enthusiasm for Barack into action in the early states and all across the country. .

We also wanted to update you on some exciting things happening this week.

Barack Obama unveiled a plan for a new beginning to Washington’s failed foreign policy on Tuesday at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Obama, who opposed the war in Iraq in 2002, then warned that the war could lead to “a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.” His 2002 remarks came just nine days before the U.S. Senate’s October 11 vote to give the President authorization to go to war in Iraq.

On Tuesday, Obama said, “There is a choice that has emerged in this campaign, one that the American people need to understand. They should ask themselves: who got the single most important foreign policy decision since the end of the Cold War right, and who got it wrong…This is not just a matter of debating the past. It’s about who has the best judgment to make the critical decisions of the future.”

As we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Barack Obama wants to recognize the profound service that Latinos have provided in this war. More than 128,000 Latino servicemen and women have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. As of March 24, 2007, 347 Latino American troops have died and more than 1,500 have been wounded in Iraq. Latinos have made a huge sacrifice for this nation, and Obama believes it is time that legal immigrants who have fought for us overseas have expedited procedures towards citizenship.

Barack Obama’s plan to end the war in Iraq makes clear that the American people weren’t just failed by President Bush, they were failed by the United States Congress. Conventional Washington thinking got us into the war in Iraq, and conventional Washington thinking is standing in the way of progress in Iraq and beyond.

Obama’s plan to challenge Washington’s conventional thinking to create a new beginning in U.S. foreign policy includes:

Ending the war in Iraq.

Ensuring there is no safe haven for Al Qaeda.

Securing loose nuclear material and renewing our efforts to work towards eliminating nuclear weapons to stop the threat of nuclear terrorism.

Talking directly to friend and foe and strengthening the State Department to make diplomacy a priority in our government.

Renewing our commitment to our values and reversing Washington’s reliance on secrecy by establishing a National Declassification Center and getting politics out of intelligence by making sure the Director of National Intelligence serves a fixed term.

Uniting America behind a non-partisan foreign policy.

You can read the full plan HERE.