In Obama’s Pursuit of Latinos, Race Plays Role

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT, pg1: In Obama’s Pursuit of Latinos, Race Plays Role
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JENNIFER STEINHAUER
Published: January 15, 2008

LAS VEGAS — ....As the Democratic candidates have moved from courting the overwhelmingly white voters of Iowa and New Hampshire to an expanse of 25 contests facing them in the next few weeks, they confront an electorate that is increasingly Hispanic, in Nevada, California and New York. Although the two candidates aggressively court those voters, who could be vital for Democrats this year and for years to come, the challenge is especially complex for Mr. Obama....Mr. Obama confronts a history of often uneasy and competitive relations between blacks and Hispanics, particularly as they have jockeyed for influence in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.

“Many Latinos are not ready for a person of color,” Natasha Carrillo, 20, of East Los Angeles, said. “I don’t think many Latinos will vote for Obama. There’s always been tension in the black and Latino communities. There’s still that strong ethnic division. I helped organize citizenship drives, and those who I’ve talked to support Clinton.” Javier Perez, 30, a former marine, said older Hispanics like his grandmother tended to resist more the notion of supporting an African-American, a trend that he said was changing with younger Hispanics....

In Chicago, Mr. Obama was successful in rallying Hispanics to his side and bridging differences with black voters. His success in repeating that is critical. In 2004, Hispanics accounted for 16 percent of the vote in the California primary; 11 percent in New York, 17 percent in Arizona and 9 percent in Florida. Should he win the presidential nomination, his success at overcoming the history between the two groups will be critical as the Democrats approach an election in which they are looking to lock up the Hispanic vote for decades to come....

***

Mr. Obama, some party officials and scholars suggested, may face additional difficulty if Hispanic women respond to Mrs. Clinton’s increasingly strong appeal for support based on sex. A rally here Saturday was packed with Hispanic women who shrieked at seeing Mrs. Clinton. “The Hispanic community is very family oriented, and we respect our mothers,” said Ruben Kihuen, an influential Democratic assemblyman from Las Vegas who supported Mrs. Clinton. “A lot of middle-aged women see her as a mother, a head of the household, and they can identify with this. Especially when they see her daughter, Chelsea, with her.”...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/us/politics/15hispanic.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1200441670-TwF%20Uf6NOWOI9bEZCiC1qA&pagewanted=all

[msongs]

1. uh oh, the motherist crowd is gonna chime in :-) nt

[ShortnFiery]

2. More race baiting. How lovely.

:eyes:

[angie_love]

4. Aren't latinos people of color?

I mean come on, to not vote for someone b/c hes a person of color is ridiculous when you are a person of color too.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jackson_dem]

3. According to the media "race plays a role" except regarding whites

More racism from the media. It doesn't play more of a role with Latinos than it does with whites or Asians.

[ShortnFiery]

5. Exactly! If you wish to be "really tacky" one could say HRC is "The Great White Hope."

But that would be WHITE ENTITLEMENT = RACIST ... but psst! ... come closer? ;)

Let's whisper? :puke:

I find it distasteful as a woman that those who wish to promote HRC use all sort of "flowery" language ON ONE AUDIENCE and "iron woman intimidator" on the hawks.

Hey DLC spin machine? You can't have "your girl" also be "an iron lady." :crazy:

You can't have it both ways so have HRC be a candidate NOT *all women* at the same time. :thumbsdown:

[jackson_dem]

6. I read a few days ago that Obama leads among Arab-Americans

So much for the BS idea that minorities are closet racists unlike whites!

[ShortnFiery]

9. Nice smarmy comment. We *all* have the potential to be racist - we all stereotype.

We don't wish to pit all the in between colors (ethnicities) against each other.

It. Is. Smarmy.

*Edited to discourage racism and sexism + most everything inconsequential inbetween.

[jackson_dem]

11. Are you drunk?

I am saying it is a BS, racist meme that minorities are anymore racist than whites. Obama has proven he can do well among minorities who are not black.

[ShortnFiery]

12. No, I'm sober. But I was seriously taken aback with - interpret - the "whites are bad" stereotype.

We may be often of the same bent. But any B.S. about any group only feeds the fire.

I realized who you were but you seemingly were typing like "someone else."

If I'm in error, then please accept my humble apology, i.e., I'm not a politician so I have no problem with admitting potential mistakes. :shrug:

[jackson_dem]

13. No problemo

I don't like the subtle racism the media has shown all year toward African-Americans (implying they "have" to vote for Obama) and now Latinos by pitting them against blacks.

[ShortnFiery]

14. Lo siento mucho.

:blush: I was blessed to have lived in the Republic of Panama. I can't speak Spanish worth a darn (Spanish classes with a Nebraska accent) but I can read "fair" and I love the latino culture.

Have a good one. :hi:

[jackson_dem]

15. Great, especially to see someone from a state like NE have such a cosmopolitan life experience!

[ShortnFiery]

16. Yes, many of us continue to enjoy "the mix" in the USA (experience, culture, ethnic background) ...

I'll quote the great Social Scientists known as The Grateful Dead: "What a long, strange trip it's been."

[calico1]

8. Actually, the article is correct in that

there have always been some tensions between the two groups. A competition of sorts. And yes, in the younger generation it is less so.

At the turn of the last century there was tension between Italian and Irish immigrants. Competition for the better jobs, political positions, etc. I think this is somewhat similar.

I am Hispanic, by the way.

[ShortnFiery]

10. If minorities and non-ruling class women banded together instead of fighting each other ...

we wouldn't have a plutocracy. :shrug:

[calico1]

20. I am not fighting anyone and never have.

However I have lived long enough and seen enough to know the article is correct on the tension issue between many Latinos and Blacks. I just thought I would offer that perspective. Ideally, you are correct that all minorities should band together and work together for the common good. In reality, that isn't what always happens and when it does it isn't always that smoothly.

[Cha]

17. Well that's a dirty rotten shame then,

that the Latinos won't vote for Barack because he's Black and will cast their vote for a warmongering vote suppressor, instead.

I'm confident that many many Latinos are above this fray and will cast their vote for the best candidate not the one based on FEAR.

[calico1]

19. Latinos are not monolithic and neither

are Blacks. And perhaps the ones who do choose another candidate will do so because they believe he or she is the better candidate and not because of FEAR. :eyes: I have never based any vote on any irrational fear. I educate myself on the issues and the candidates and vote for whom I think best represents my issues....... as I will this year.

[Cha]

21. That wouldn't be hillary then

because all she's projected is "fear fear fear".

[calico1]

22. Well, you are entitled to your opinion.

:hi:

[Cha]

24. My opinion based on 7 years of

observing and being disappointed by hillary the jr senator from New York..and now her campaign's dirty tricks because they're afraid of Senator Obama.

[FrenchieCat]

18. But, but, but....

I thought Hillary had already been there, done tha by having he pollster announce what Hispanics "do"! :eyes:

Clinton Hispanic Pollster Bendixen said Hispanic Voters Don' Like To Vote for Black Candidates!!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4046211

[Cha]

23. I'm betting Hispanic voters

won't be hypnotized by these words. :crazy: