Hillary ahead among Puerto Ricans in NY (On Obama and Hispanics)

[Colobo]

I hate to post this, but I do it so that I can illustrate the point I was making in terms of the problem Barack Obama has with Latinos, and because racial and ethnic relations are one of my topics of interest in my literary studies. This comes from El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico's most important newspaper, who has just published the results of a poll they made among Puerto Ricans in New York, apart of some reports on the topic. It will come out tomorrow (Sunday) in the Island. I have translated some fragments of the report:

"El Barrio" stands with Hillary
by José A. Delgado for El Nuevo Día

New York- A significant majority of Puerto Ricans in New York will strongly support Hillary Clinton's presidential bid on Tuesday because they consider she has the right experience and they see her as an "ally".

In a campaign that has relied for the most part on the media, Barack Obama still seems to be an unknown for many Puerto Rican voters. A poll by the Hispanic Federation, along with several interviews with people on the streets of "El Barrio" confirm that the zone is "Clinton Territory".

The poll, which interviewed 280 Puerto Rican voters in the city, reflected that 63% of them support Clinton, while only 17% support Obama.

From 30 interviews done yesterday by El Nuevo Día, two voters rejected the idea of voting for Clinton. Only one stands with Obama. Most of them only have good things to say about the former First Lady and NY senator and consider she has much more experience than her rival Obama.

<...>

"I like 'Hilaria' Clinton a lot. People over here love her" said Emilio "Tito" Ruiz, who works at the Cuchifritos restaurant, in the heart of Manhattan's Latin neighborhood.

<...>

Obama, senator from Illinois, has ties with Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics from his state, but he is not know by Puerto Ricans in NYC. "I don't know much about that man" said Edgar Santiago, a barber from the Bronx.

His co-worker, Marisol Sánchez, thinks that "Hillary, as a former First Lady, knows the White House, she has walked on those shoes". Sánchez is one of the few interviewed Puerto Ricans who hinted at the racial tensions between Puerto Ricans and African-Americans. "Blacks think they own the streets, I can't imagine them if they have a black president", she said.

"I don't vote for blacks. With me being black it's enough" said Tita Dalmau, who at age 82 runs her daughter's store, Maria's Place, in El Barrio's "La Marketa". Dalmau said she always votes Democrat and that she will vote for Clinton on Tuesday because she is "a hardcore Democrat".

http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/noticia/portada/noticias/el_barrio_esta_con_hillary/356788

More stuff there, if you read Spanish. Racism among Hispanics is worse than what you think... I tell you from experience; I'm a black Puerto Rican myself. I know how it is... it's something Obama has to deal with.

[Thrill]

1. Wow.........I don;t even take the time to read that ignorance

My guess is those aren't very successful people who were interviewed.

[jackson_dem]

2. Anyone who votes against Obama is a racist!!!

Here are the facts: 81% of Latinos in Illinois voted for Obama, only 10% less than the percentage of blacks who voted for him. There weren't enough Latinos in South Carolina to be counted in the exit poll but pre-vote polling had Obama leading among Latinos in SC. Can Obama win Latinos? Yes he can!

[knowledgeispwr]

7. I don't see anyone in this thread saying that all those who vote against Obama are racist

the OP is merely translating part of an article that highlights something s/he's been discussing for months.

I read foreign Spanish media (from Spain, Venezuela and Argentina) and I've seen some scary racist stuff in comments with regards to Obama.

[geek tragedy]

3. Everyone's kinda racist in NYC.

But, we manage to get along anyways.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Isn't she also leading among white Democrats in NY state?

She represents NY in the US Senate.

[arewenotdemo]

5. Hopefully in November they won't vote for the white male that

the Repukes are contractually obligated to nominate.

[Tatiana]

6. Boricua checking in....

And thanks for a fascinating article.

“No voto por negros. Para negra, yo”, dijo Tita Dalmau, quien a sus 82 años administra la tienda de su hija, Maria’s Place, en La Marketa del barrio hispano. Dalmau indicó que siempre sale a votar, que lo hará este martes a favor de Clinton y que es una demócrata “a brazo partido”.

Guess Tita isn't in Charlie Rangel's district, eh? Racism is alive and well, even in our community. Did we leave la isla or not? She reminds me of my dearly departed abuelita's distrust of African-Americans. She never quite realized that as much as she protested her lineage was European Spaniard, there was African and Taino blood running through her veins as well.

“Obama trae algo nuevo. Si Hillary gana, Bill Clinton se va convertir otra vez en el presidente”, indicó David James, nacido en El Bronx, cuyos padres son naturales de Puerto Rico con orígenes en St. Thomas (Islas Vírgenes). James cree que para Estados Unidos el verdadero cambio sería elegir a un afroamericano como el próximo presidente.

I would be interested in studying the disconnect between Tita's opinion and David's. Is David more informed? Does he follow politics more? He obviously believes that Obama's message is truly one of change, while Hillary's candidacy is more of the same (putting Bill Clinton back in the White House). He also doesn't seem to view Obama's ethnic background negatively.

In my opinion, Obama needs to tackle this issue head on. He's going to have to go out to those communities and spread his message. "Sí, se puede" isn't going to cut it.