The danger in Democrats' ethnic split, personal rift

[Herman Munster]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/348787_demsplitonline27.html

Hispanic voters are drawn to Clinton for many of the same reasons others are: Tey remember the 1990s fondly and warm to her message of hard work and responsibility. Many also admire her for holding together a family that includes a philandering husband.

Yet cruder notions may have influenced some. It would not be the first time that Hispanic voters had been put off by a rival candidate's race.

Because so many of them are young or illegal, Hispanics have much less power than their numbers would suggest. It was not until 2005 that Los Angeles, then almost half Latino, elected a Hispanic mayor. This is vexing enough. What sharpens Latino resentment and gives it a racial edge is that many live in areas where blacks hold power.

In California's 37th congressional district, for example, which includes parts of south-central Los Angeles, Latinos outnumber blacks almost two to one. Yet black politicians invariably carry the area.

Last year, in a special election, a Latina stood against two African-American candidates. If the black vote had split, she might have won. It did not, thanks in part to pleas for unity from black leaders, who made it clear that they did not want the seat to change colour.

Such slights are not soon forgotten, and may be returned in kind. In 2001 almost three-quarters of Houston's Hispanic voters rejected a black Democratic candidate for mayor in favor of a blue-eyed, conservative Republican who happened to be Cuban.

When Latinos do wield power over blacks, as in Miami and the Southern California city of Lynwood, they often do so unapologetically. After all, they feel no responsibility for slavery and segregation, or their lingering effects.

Obama has pointed out that Hispanics voted for him in Illinois. He fails to mention that his opponent in the 2004 Senate race was Alan Keyes, who is not only black but also claimed to be more so than Obama.

[skipos]

1. Interesting. The hispanic side of my family can't stand Hillary. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. (sigh) I have a question for you....

.. What will happen to the planet if your candidate does not become the nominee?

(I've already figured out what's going to happen to the planet if MY candidate doesn't become the nominee).

[Herman Munster]

3. We will have President McCain for 8 years

We will lose white male democrats in droves as they vote for McCain.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. I worry about the racism in this country too....

.... however, I worry about Hillary Clinton, because she's female. I'm female. I *KNOW* what sexism is in this country. Surely you were around back when Republicans were skewering her daily, year after year, weren't you?

[Lerkfish]

5. why constantly bringing up race in order to be divisive?

honestly, I hope SC demonstrated that this Clinton tactic is backfiring. Why continue it at all?

[jackson_dem]

6. Obama won 81% of the Latino vote in Illinois

Blaming his struggles among Latinos, among who he is tied with a white candidate, is a cop out.