My last post will be on the article about what the future may hold for the Latino Bloc. In an article I found about a book called Magical Urbanism- Latinos reinvent the U.S. city, the author talks about the Latino Americans and their status in the 21st century. He talks about the possiblities of California being the center for change for the country of Mexico and other Latin American countries, and also suggests that they might be at the heart of the U.S. Labor movement for all peoples. He refers to Latino voters in the U.S. as the sleeping giant of U.S. politics. This all is just being tested with the upcoming election of our new president who hopefully will be a democrat. So what are all of your thoughts and views on the Latino Bloc's future sucess in the 21st century?
site: http://www.versobooks.com/books/cdef/d-titles/davis_m_magical_urbanism.shtml
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Democratic Music
I found an interesting article on the songs that Clinton and Obama made to try and capture the Latino vote. I used the titles of the songs and searched them on youtube to listen to them. They were all pretty corny to me, but in the article a Latino critic analyzes the songs and says they all suck except for one of Obamas. I think that it is very funny that they are trying to make catchy music to appeal to the Latino Bloc. This just reinforces the idea that the Latino Vote is vital to the Democratic outcome. Along with the idea of music here is a quote from an article, "Mrs Clinton’s best chance is to overtake Mr Obama in the popular vote. On most counts, she trails Mr Obama currently by more than 700,000. This lead is shortened significantly if Florida and Michigan are included. The gap could be closed all together if she can hang on until the “second-class citizens” of Puerto Rico – who are barred from voting in the general election – have their Democratic primary. Over a million are expected to turn out in a contest where her advantages among Latino voters and role representing hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans as New York senator should give her a handsome victory." I found this interesting because of the fact that Clinton should have an even better chance of getting the Puerto Rican vote due to the fact that she is the senator for the city where most Puerto Ricans reside.
Sites: http://media.www.pittnews.com/media/storage/paper879/news/2008/04/18/Opinion/Winning.The.Latino.Vote-3334385.shtml
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3671773.ece
Sites: http://media.www.pittnews.com/media/storage/paper879/news/2008/04/18/Opinion/Winning.The.Latino.Vote-3334385.shtml
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3671773.ece
Dual Citizenship
With the obvious problems of dual citizenship all around the world, a question that I have been wondering is wether it will still be allowed under the future presidency. I then came upon this article about Senator Barack Obama about how he himself has dual citizenship. He shares his American nationality with that of Kenya. So for sure Obama will be a symbol of support for the idea of Dual Citizenship. Do you guys think that it is a good thing that a possible leader of the free world would have dual citizenship? You see the effects of dual citizenship might be much more evident if it is displayed on such a macro scale as the presidency.
Check out the link: http://www.politicalgateway.com/main/columns/read.html?col=731
Check out the link: http://www.politicalgateway.com/main/columns/read.html?col=731
Friday, April 4, 2008
LA COMMERCIAL DEL OBAMA
HAHAHAH just thought that this was a funny clip of how the Obama has made commercials to appeal to the Latinos. Leave comments about anything you want.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Boricua vote
Sen. Hillary Clinton's Bill Would 'Buy' Puerto Rican Votes with Tax Refunds
In what critics could likely call a "vote-buying” move, Hillary Clinton has proposed a bill that would provide some Puerto Rico residents with child-credit refunds on their Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Puerto Ricans pay no federal income tax.
The bill – sponsored solely by Clinton – could pay out more than $50 million over the next 10 years.
Political insiders say Clinton’s motive is obvious, the New York Post reports: "Puerto Rican support is crucial to her re-election – and a potential White House run in 2008. Puerto Ricans are born American citizens, ready-made voters when they move to the United States.”
In what critics could likely call a "vote-buying” move, Hillary Clinton has proposed a bill that would provide some Puerto Rico residents with child-credit refunds on their Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Puerto Ricans pay no federal income tax.
The bill – sponsored solely by Clinton – could pay out more than $50 million over the next 10 years.
Political insiders say Clinton’s motive is obvious, the New York Post reports: "Puerto Rican support is crucial to her re-election – and a potential White House run in 2008. Puerto Ricans are born American citizens, ready-made voters when they move to the United States.”
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Puerto Rico Gov. to back Obama
February 13, 2008 12:12 PMJennifer Parker-->
ABC News has learned that the governor of Puerto Rico, AnÃbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá, will endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, later today.
Puerto Rico has 55 pledged delegates and eight super-delegates (Acevedo is one of them). Its contest will take place in a state convention on June 7 -- the very last contest of the Democratic primary calendar.
This comes minutes after the news that former President Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign manager David Wilhelm will also back Obama, as first reported by the AP.
-- jpt
UPDATE: Wilhelm, it should be noted, was an adviser to the erstwhile presidential campaign of Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del, having managed Biden's 1988 run before he truly fell into the Clinton universe.
February 13, 2008 Permalink User Comments (29)
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Bill Clinton was the second president in the US history to be impeached. He lied to all of us, he cheated his family. Why in the world would anybody support Hillary ? Its a disgrace. As far as PR. we need to fix our own problems. Drugs, teen pregnancy and laziness. No President is going to fix that you fools !
Posted by: Carlos R Mar 6, 2008 7:52:42 PM
Im Puerto Rican from both Island and Chicago and let me tell you something about the governor of Puerto Rico. All Puerto Rican governor's at one point or another have been considered the worst. Who cares, as far the the issues and concerns of Puerto Ricans living in Puerto Rico (the island not NY,Chitown, or anywhere else), Obama has made comments that address them which is more then we can say for Clinton, McCain or any presidental hopeful in a long time. As far as status, im for Idenpendence but I do want Puerto Ricans to make the right choice base on truth, commitment and progress for all on the islands. I dont agree with asking the islanders to vote for status just yet. Puerto Rico was invaded and forcefully pursuded by the the US of A. Now they dont know what to do with us. All I see in PR today is a gentrification process of Gringos and Europeans moving in and Puerto Ricans moving out. That has to do with the lack of US policies and commitment. Puerto Rico is the poorest of all 50 states + 4 other properties of the US of A but the 24th pricest places to live. And dont get me started on lack of resources.... lol Boricuas (non-island born) Wake up!!!! Puerto Rico will no longer belong to us and other history will never be acknowlege if we dont vote to a president that care and will commit to the problems. Vote Obama!!!!
Posted by: Jose Mar 3, 2008 5:33:58 AM
Whether Puerto Rico votes Obama or not,he's gone and all gone far away ahead of Clinton.She won't catch him at all.Watch out how Texas and Ohio shall throw their weights behind the black dude!Clinton was for 8 good years the First Lady and she didn't use this chance embezzle people's thoughts.Why today?Listen and watch the guy speak,a Commander-in-Chief to be soon.Did you watch the debate in San Antonio,Texas?Come on n*gga pliz.He's the hottest aspirant in the US history.I just love his policies.And again,he's loved in Asia,Africa and even Latin America.Xtians and muslims both adore him too..meaning he's got the key to unite the world.We're 800 voters in our club..we lastly voted Clinton in Arizona,but we've changed our minds and thoughts in a democratic freedom society.We're waiting to vote him in the general elections.YES WE CAN!
February 13, 2008 12:12 PMJennifer Parker-->
ABC News has learned that the governor of Puerto Rico, AnÃbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá, will endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, later today.
Puerto Rico has 55 pledged delegates and eight super-delegates (Acevedo is one of them). Its contest will take place in a state convention on June 7 -- the very last contest of the Democratic primary calendar.
This comes minutes after the news that former President Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign manager David Wilhelm will also back Obama, as first reported by the AP.
-- jpt
UPDATE: Wilhelm, it should be noted, was an adviser to the erstwhile presidential campaign of Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del, having managed Biden's 1988 run before he truly fell into the Clinton universe.
February 13, 2008 Permalink User Comments (29)
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/433071/26093116
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Puerto Rico Gov. to back Obama:
User Comments
Bill Clinton was the second president in the US history to be impeached. He lied to all of us, he cheated his family. Why in the world would anybody support Hillary ? Its a disgrace. As far as PR. we need to fix our own problems. Drugs, teen pregnancy and laziness. No President is going to fix that you fools !
Posted by: Carlos R Mar 6, 2008 7:52:42 PM
Im Puerto Rican from both Island and Chicago and let me tell you something about the governor of Puerto Rico. All Puerto Rican governor's at one point or another have been considered the worst. Who cares, as far the the issues and concerns of Puerto Ricans living in Puerto Rico (the island not NY,Chitown, or anywhere else), Obama has made comments that address them which is more then we can say for Clinton, McCain or any presidental hopeful in a long time. As far as status, im for Idenpendence but I do want Puerto Ricans to make the right choice base on truth, commitment and progress for all on the islands. I dont agree with asking the islanders to vote for status just yet. Puerto Rico was invaded and forcefully pursuded by the the US of A. Now they dont know what to do with us. All I see in PR today is a gentrification process of Gringos and Europeans moving in and Puerto Ricans moving out. That has to do with the lack of US policies and commitment. Puerto Rico is the poorest of all 50 states + 4 other properties of the US of A but the 24th pricest places to live. And dont get me started on lack of resources.... lol Boricuas (non-island born) Wake up!!!! Puerto Rico will no longer belong to us and other history will never be acknowlege if we dont vote to a president that care and will commit to the problems. Vote Obama!!!!
Posted by: Jose Mar 3, 2008 5:33:58 AM
Whether Puerto Rico votes Obama or not,he's gone and all gone far away ahead of Clinton.She won't catch him at all.Watch out how Texas and Ohio shall throw their weights behind the black dude!Clinton was for 8 good years the First Lady and she didn't use this chance embezzle people's thoughts.Why today?Listen and watch the guy speak,a Commander-in-Chief to be soon.Did you watch the debate in San Antonio,Texas?Come on n*gga pliz.He's the hottest aspirant in the US history.I just love his policies.And again,he's loved in Asia,Africa and even Latin America.Xtians and muslims both adore him too..meaning he's got the key to unite the world.We're 800 voters in our club..we lastly voted Clinton in Arizona,but we've changed our minds and thoughts in a democratic freedom society.We're waiting to vote him in the general elections.YES WE CAN!
Obama making leway?
Kennedy praises Obama on immigration
Posted: Friday, February 01, 2008 3:56 PM by Mark MurrayFiled Under: 2008, Obama
From NBC/NJ's Mike MemoliMONTEREY PARK, CA -- Sen. Ted Kennedy spoke Spanish. It wasn't pretty, but it got the message across.
"Un voto por Obama es un voto para la gente!" the senior Massachusetts senator told a crowd on the campus of East Los Angeles College.
Kennedy spoke of Obama as a transformational leader, and made a direct appeal to Hispanic voters by highlighting his work on labor and immigration issues in the Senate. He also attempted to bridge the Hispanic and African American divide by linking the debate over immigration reform with the fight for civil rights.
"There are those [voices] in the floor of the United States Senate that were similar to the voices that I heard in the 1960s -- the voices of discrimination and bigotry and prejudice," Kennedy said. Obama, he added, has stood with him throughout the effort. "If you watched him last night, you saw a man of empathy, you saw a man of heart, you saw a man of soul, and I can give you this assurance, that Barack and I are going to stand on the floor of the United States Senate until we get a comprehensive bill."
Kennedy never mentioned Hillary Clinton, saying only at one point that the candidates "are not greatly different" on the issues. "But there is a very vital and important difference," he said. "And that is the kind of spirit and the kind of enthusiasm that Barack Obama has been able to bring to this campaign."
He noted the divisions in the Senate over not just immigration but a host of issues. "We need a leader that is going to be able to lead and break down the barriers and get things done for the American people!"
Posted: Friday, February 01, 2008 3:56 PM by Mark MurrayFiled Under: 2008, Obama
From NBC/NJ's Mike MemoliMONTEREY PARK, CA -- Sen. Ted Kennedy spoke Spanish. It wasn't pretty, but it got the message across.
"Un voto por Obama es un voto para la gente!" the senior Massachusetts senator told a crowd on the campus of East Los Angeles College.
Kennedy spoke of Obama as a transformational leader, and made a direct appeal to Hispanic voters by highlighting his work on labor and immigration issues in the Senate. He also attempted to bridge the Hispanic and African American divide by linking the debate over immigration reform with the fight for civil rights.
"There are those [voices] in the floor of the United States Senate that were similar to the voices that I heard in the 1960s -- the voices of discrimination and bigotry and prejudice," Kennedy said. Obama, he added, has stood with him throughout the effort. "If you watched him last night, you saw a man of empathy, you saw a man of heart, you saw a man of soul, and I can give you this assurance, that Barack and I are going to stand on the floor of the United States Senate until we get a comprehensive bill."
Kennedy never mentioned Hillary Clinton, saying only at one point that the candidates "are not greatly different" on the issues. "But there is a very vital and important difference," he said. "And that is the kind of spirit and the kind of enthusiasm that Barack Obama has been able to bring to this campaign."
He noted the divisions in the Senate over not just immigration but a host of issues. "We need a leader that is going to be able to lead and break down the barriers and get things done for the American people!"
Friday, February 29, 2008
Election 2008
Clinton Overwhelmingly Wins Latino Vote
by Nancy Cook
David McNew
Voters go to the polls for Super Tuesday primaries in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles. Getty Images
David McNew
Voters mark their ballots, near Spanish-language sample ballots in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles. Getty Images
NPR.org, February 6, 2008 · New York Sen. Hillary Clinton won the Latino vote on Super Tuesday by a 2-to-1 margin in key states such as New York, California and New Jersey. That gave her a decisive win with the fastest-growing demographic in the country, possibly setting the stage for the general election when Latinos could make a huge difference in swing states.
Latinos have traditionally voted about two-to-one for Democrats. While George W. Bush made inroads with Latinos in the 2004 election (he won 40 percent of the Latino vote), those gains seem to have eroded as Republicans have increasingly spoken out against illegal immigration.
Clinton focused on winning over Latino voters in recent vigorous campaigning in California and Arizona. She benefited from high-profile endorsements from Latino leaders such as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union.
While Illinois Sen. Barack Obama did not win the Latino vote in California, he managed to attract younger Latino voters. Clinton culled her support — as she did in other states — from older voters.
The wave of Latino support for Clinton began during the Nevada caucuses, when she won the Latino vote two-to-one.
The issues Latino voters have valued this primary season were similar to the concerns of voters nationwide, and included the economy, education and the war. But Latino voters also have expressed concern with immigration legislation, workplace raids and relations with Mexico and Central America.
After Super Tuesday, political scientists say Latino voters will press candidates for more details on immigration reform and related concerns, which certainly could help Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican front-runner. He co-authored an immigration overhaul bill that ultimately died in Congress.
But not everyone in the Republican Party may feel so inclined to court Hispanic voters. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has made immigration one of his central campaign tenets and has spoken out against illegal border crossings.
If candidates do chose to campaign for the Latino votes, they will have to do so seriously.
"Candidates are now forced to talk to the issues that matter to Latinos," says Jaime Regalado, director of the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University. "In past years, they used to just go to East L.A. and eat a taco."
Related NPR Stories
Clinton Overwhelmingly Wins Latino Vote
by Nancy Cook
David McNew
Voters go to the polls for Super Tuesday primaries in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles. Getty Images
David McNew
Voters mark their ballots, near Spanish-language sample ballots in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles. Getty Images
NPR.org, February 6, 2008 · New York Sen. Hillary Clinton won the Latino vote on Super Tuesday by a 2-to-1 margin in key states such as New York, California and New Jersey. That gave her a decisive win with the fastest-growing demographic in the country, possibly setting the stage for the general election when Latinos could make a huge difference in swing states.
Latinos have traditionally voted about two-to-one for Democrats. While George W. Bush made inroads with Latinos in the 2004 election (he won 40 percent of the Latino vote), those gains seem to have eroded as Republicans have increasingly spoken out against illegal immigration.
Clinton focused on winning over Latino voters in recent vigorous campaigning in California and Arizona. She benefited from high-profile endorsements from Latino leaders such as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union.
While Illinois Sen. Barack Obama did not win the Latino vote in California, he managed to attract younger Latino voters. Clinton culled her support — as she did in other states — from older voters.
The wave of Latino support for Clinton began during the Nevada caucuses, when she won the Latino vote two-to-one.
The issues Latino voters have valued this primary season were similar to the concerns of voters nationwide, and included the economy, education and the war. But Latino voters also have expressed concern with immigration legislation, workplace raids and relations with Mexico and Central America.
After Super Tuesday, political scientists say Latino voters will press candidates for more details on immigration reform and related concerns, which certainly could help Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican front-runner. He co-authored an immigration overhaul bill that ultimately died in Congress.
But not everyone in the Republican Party may feel so inclined to court Hispanic voters. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has made immigration one of his central campaign tenets and has spoken out against illegal border crossings.
If candidates do chose to campaign for the Latino votes, they will have to do so seriously.
"Candidates are now forced to talk to the issues that matter to Latinos," says Jaime Regalado, director of the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University. "In past years, they used to just go to East L.A. and eat a taco."
Related NPR Stories
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Clinton gets warm welcome from Latinos
Robyn Beck /AFP/Getty Images
Members of the United Farm Workers, which endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton, fill a town hall meeting at Hartnell College in the Salinas Valley that featured the Democratic presidential hopeful.
The United Farm Workers union endorses her. One expert says Obama remains a relatively unknown entity.
SALINAS, CALIF. -- The next showdown in the Democratic presidential contest may be in South Carolina on Saturday, but Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton showed her determination to look further down the campaign calendar Tuesday with a whirlwind visit to California's Salinas Valley and to a high school in Phoenix.
With polls showing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, her chief rival, benefiting from the support of African American voters in South Carolina, Clinton's coast-to-coast excursion played to a different audience with whom she has held the upper hand -- Latinos.
The New York senator won Saturday's Nevada caucuses, besting Obama by 2 to 1 among Latinos. And a Field Poll released Tuesday showed her with an even bigger advantage -- 59% to 19% -- among Latinos likely to vote in the Feb. 5 California primary.
Clinton greeted an overflow crowd of more than 2,000 at the gymnasium of Hartnell College in this agricultural city, where she received the endorsement of the United Farm Workers of America.
Arturo Rodriguez, president of the union, told an audience that included a contingent of red-shirted farm workers from across California that the UFW's leadership had reached a "unanimous" decision to endorse Clinton.
"We know that Sen. Clinton . . . will ensure that Americans get health insurance throughout the United States," Rodriguez told the crowd. "She will ensure that the economic issues that face working families in America will be dealt with in her administration. She will repair the relationships with countries throughout the world."
When Clinton took the gymnasium stage, the crowd shouted greetings and chanted her name. During her speech and a brief question-and-answer session, Clinton hewed mainly to economic themes that have dominated the campaign in recent days.
The crowd greeted her most warmly when she talked about reforming education -- making preschool available to all children and scrapping President Bush's No Child Left Behind program to put more decision-making in the hands of teachers.
"I want education to be available to every single child in America in a way that gives you a chance to live up to your God-given potential," Clinton said.
That launched the crowd into the traditional farm workers union chant, "Si, se puede!" The candidate smiled broadly and basked in the moment before slightly botching her own "Si, se puede." ("Si, se pue-dah," she offered.) She added the translation, "That's right: 'Yes, we can!' "
Clinton repeated her call for comprehensive immigration reform and belittled the suggestion "that you lock up and deport 12 [million] to 14 million people" who have entered the U.S. illegally. She said such an effort would cost more than $200 billion, require some 100,000 federal law-enforcement officials and force intrusive searches of homes and businesses.
"I don't think most Americans would welcome that," she said.
Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said Clinton has consistently been well received in the Latino community. "Obama has not been able to dent her advantage," he said.
Harry Pachon, president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, said Obama remains an unknown quantity to many Latinos.
A Spanish-language news report from the Nevada caucuses described some voters as unclear even as to the name of Clinton's prime challenger. "They were looking for an Omega, not an Obama," Pachon said. "So his name is just not recognized yet."
Clinton has been served well by her multiple endorsements from Latino elected officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Pachon said. Social worker Nora Lopez took her 9-year-old daughter, Kylee, out of school Tuesday and drove from Santa Cruz to see Clinton.
"Women are having an opportunity to be educated and to have a voice," Lopez said. "Having a chance to have a woman in the White House, that's monumental. It's history in the making. And we wanted to be here to see it."
The effect of the UFW endorsement is hard to assess. The union and particularly its founders, Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, maintain a storied place in the Latino community for strikes and boycotts of the 1960s and 1970s that helped form a political consciousness. Rodriguez said union members are prepared to travel to key precincts to rally for Clinton.
But the union has struggled to bolster its membership in recent years. Although a Clinton news release claimed the union has 27,000 members, a union leader conceded that was a cumulative enrollment over a year's time. A report to the federal government last year showed the UFW with fewer than 6,000 members.
With polls showing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, her chief rival, benefiting from the support of African American voters in South Carolina, Clinton's coast-to-coast excursion played to a different audience with whom she has held the upper hand -- Latinos.
The New York senator won Saturday's Nevada caucuses, besting Obama by 2 to 1 among Latinos. And a Field Poll released Tuesday showed her with an even bigger advantage -- 59% to 19% -- among Latinos likely to vote in the Feb. 5 California primary.
Clinton greeted an overflow crowd of more than 2,000 at the gymnasium of Hartnell College in this agricultural city, where she received the endorsement of the United Farm Workers of America.
Arturo Rodriguez, president of the union, told an audience that included a contingent of red-shirted farm workers from across California that the UFW's leadership had reached a "unanimous" decision to endorse Clinton.
"We know that Sen. Clinton . . . will ensure that Americans get health insurance throughout the United States," Rodriguez told the crowd. "She will ensure that the economic issues that face working families in America will be dealt with in her administration. She will repair the relationships with countries throughout the world."
When Clinton took the gymnasium stage, the crowd shouted greetings and chanted her name. During her speech and a brief question-and-answer session, Clinton hewed mainly to economic themes that have dominated the campaign in recent days.
The crowd greeted her most warmly when she talked about reforming education -- making preschool available to all children and scrapping President Bush's No Child Left Behind program to put more decision-making in the hands of teachers.
"I want education to be available to every single child in America in a way that gives you a chance to live up to your God-given potential," Clinton said.
That launched the crowd into the traditional farm workers union chant, "Si, se puede!" The candidate smiled broadly and basked in the moment before slightly botching her own "Si, se puede." ("Si, se pue-dah," she offered.) She added the translation, "That's right: 'Yes, we can!' "
Clinton repeated her call for comprehensive immigration reform and belittled the suggestion "that you lock up and deport 12 [million] to 14 million people" who have entered the U.S. illegally. She said such an effort would cost more than $200 billion, require some 100,000 federal law-enforcement officials and force intrusive searches of homes and businesses.
"I don't think most Americans would welcome that," she said.
Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said Clinton has consistently been well received in the Latino community. "Obama has not been able to dent her advantage," he said.
Harry Pachon, president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, said Obama remains an unknown quantity to many Latinos.
A Spanish-language news report from the Nevada caucuses described some voters as unclear even as to the name of Clinton's prime challenger. "They were looking for an Omega, not an Obama," Pachon said. "So his name is just not recognized yet."
Clinton has been served well by her multiple endorsements from Latino elected officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Pachon said. Social worker Nora Lopez took her 9-year-old daughter, Kylee, out of school Tuesday and drove from Santa Cruz to see Clinton.
"Women are having an opportunity to be educated and to have a voice," Lopez said. "Having a chance to have a woman in the White House, that's monumental. It's history in the making. And we wanted to be here to see it."
The effect of the UFW endorsement is hard to assess. The union and particularly its founders, Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, maintain a storied place in the Latino community for strikes and boycotts of the 1960s and 1970s that helped form a political consciousness. Rodriguez said union members are prepared to travel to key precincts to rally for Clinton.
But the union has struggled to bolster its membership in recent years. Although a Clinton news release claimed the union has 27,000 members, a union leader conceded that was a cumulative enrollment over a year's time. A report to the federal government last year showed the UFW with fewer than 6,000 members.
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