Tag Archives: dnc

The Noticeable Lack of Latinos at the Dem Convention

Posted on August 17, 2020 | 1 comment

There’s a lot of talk among the brown masses about the lack of brown faces at this week’s national Democratic convention, which will formally nominate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to be the top of the ticket for 2020.

The latest list of brown faces on a shortened 2-hour per day program, includes:  Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (Nevada); Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY); Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM); and an article by Adrian Carrasquillo mentions early Biden endorser Congressman Filemon Vela (TX) who will be pre-recorded.

Let’s face it. Showcasing our best is not just about selling Biden, but also about giving Latino leaders a national spotlight to show us as more than just leaders of Latinos, and as people who can run a country.

The same article also gives reasons for the lack of brown faces:  Not enough time in the program; they don’t want too many elected officials speaking; and there were not enough early brown-faced Biden endorsers (Julian Castro and others didn’t endorse Biden until June). One former Obama brown person stated:

“At the end of the day, the convention is for party insiders, and in the times of COVID, I question the number of ordinary people who are paying attention and tuning in,” Stephanie Valencia said. What will move voters instead is the kind of field, television, digital and radio program the campaign has invested in, she added.

I think my “ordinary” Chicano parents just turned over in their graves, and not just because Republican John Kasich is on the list of speakers.

Frankly, I’m not too trusting of Democratic messaging for Latinos. In Florida, Biden will again (as Hillary did in 2016) run attack ads against dead Latin American presidents and other Latin American countries with democratically-elected leftist leaders who support things like universal health care and public education, while the other states will be reminded of Obama and DACA–and that’s about it. At least that’s my guess. But at this point, it seems that the excitement of Biden’s Latino agenda has sort of stalled because of the lack of brown faces at the convention. I’m thinking Biden and the DNC didn’t want things like “Abolish ICE” to be said too many times to a national audience.

So, it’s back to pointing fingers at Trump as a means of convincing brown folks to vote for Biden. But, as I’ve stated before, if Biden wants to win big, he needs to portray himself as more than the next guy brown people will be protesting.

The reality is that we won’t be seeing too much complaining from those brown faces considered “high-profile.” They are either getting support for their PACs to help regional campaigns, they don’t want to be brownballed by the DNC and state parties, and/or they are hoping for a job.

Seriously, though, nothing surprises me anymore.

 

 

 

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Posted in Cultura, Democratic Stuff, Elections, Sensible Immigration Reform

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Dems Exact Revenge on Bernie, Give Pass to Dumbocrats

Posted on June 13, 2018 | Comments Off on Dems Exact Revenge on Bernie, Give Pass to Dumbocrats

That’ll teach Bernie!

Democrats (DNC) who are still wasting time blaming Bernie Sanders for their failings have finally exacted revenge on the liberal Senator from Vermont.

“At the time a presidential candidate announces their candidacy publicly, they must publicly affirm that they are a Democrat.”

The draft goes on to require that any candidate pursuing the Democratic Party’s nomination for president confirm in writing to the Democratic National Committee chairman that they are a member of the Democratic Party, will accept the Democratic nomination and will “run and serve as a member of the Democratic Party.”

Well, maybe it doesn’t stop Bernie from a 2020 bid, but that’s up to him.

What was more noticeable to me was that DNC members and activists celebrating this would rather waste time playing internal politics with an “independent” who goes above and beyond to follow the DNC platform and votes with the Democrats in Congress all the time, yet give credence to Dumbocrats (Tester, Manchin, McCaskill-types) who sign on the dotted Dem line, yet, do nothing for Democratic issues, especially immigration and deportation reform. The Dumbocrats sure as hell don’t “run and serve” as Democrats on this and other issues, in my opinion. Manchin actually likes Trump!

The former is punished for challenging Dem “royalty,” while the latter is revered for selling out entire groups of people for the sake of some sort of ineffective and artificial scorecard majority. All this says is:  “We support democracy, but only OUR type of democracy.” Whether one thinks it’s wrong or right, one thing it really is is hypocritical.

Now, perhaps it’s easier for some to call themselves “independent” in a state like Vermont. In Texas, I don’t fit the profile–at least in years when Dems put good people, like Lupe Valdez, on the ballot. The reason I don’t call myself one is because I’m pretty decided on what issues I support and I’m not some undecided voter who expects all the campaign money to be spent on convincing me. But I do demand Democratic candidates act like they’re Democrats, and if that calls for a heated Democratic Primary to find out which candidates act right (or left), then, so be it. You know, democracy!

Anyway, if you’re going to be demanding loyalty oaths, then, let’s go all the way. But, if you’re just pissed off at Bernie, then you’re just doing a disservice to the Party.

[I write this as I go over page after page of Democrats who accept money from the private prison lobby while Trump threatens using tent cities in very sunny El Paso to warehouse children escaping violence and poverty and separated from their parents. It really complicates the Democratic response to GOP bigotry when everyone plays the game]

Egberto Willies has his take on this.

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Posted in 2018, Cultura, Democratic Stuff, Sensible Immigration Reform

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O’Malley Challenges Democrats’ Lack of Open Debate

Posted on August 29, 2015 | Comments Off on O’Malley Challenges Democrats’ Lack of Open Debate

It’s about time someone did! Some of us who criticize the policy pronouncements of Hillary Clinton, particularly on Latin America and Central American children, are being smacked around in the name of some weird need for a coronation without debate.

If we’re really Democrats, then we should have real debates.

Here’s a video from Dem candidate Martin O’Malley at this weekend’s DNC meeting that needs to be viewed by Democratic voters.

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Posted in 2016, National Democrats

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Texas Gets a Hire in DNCs Voter Expansion Project

Posted on April 9, 2014 | Comments Off on Texas Gets a Hire in DNCs Voter Expansion Project

Recently, you may have heard of a video VP Joe Biden made to bolster voting rights in America. In fact, it is part of a push by the Democratic National Committee to expand voting in America, ensuring voting rights for all Americans. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz announced four new hires in Ohio and Texas–two states in which voter protection has become a priority.

“With our state party partners, we have a national infrastructure and team of experts that no other organization can bring to bear,” she said in a statement.  “Voting laws are rapidly changing, and our Voter Expansion Project will make sure that Democrats – and all voters – across the country are able to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard.”

In Texas, it was announced today that the project’s state director will be Sondra Haltom whose work protecting the rights of voters during a stint at the Texas Democratic Party is widely known.

A native Houstonian, Haltom has 15 years of experience working on election issues like ballot access, voter suppression prevention, redistricting and more. In December 2012, she founded Empower The Vote Texas (ETVT), a non-profit organization dedicated to voting rights and election reform issues. ETVT tracked election legislation proposed in both the Texas Legislature and U.S. Congress, monitored litigation on voting rights, served as a resource on Texas election law, and educated Texans about the voting process.

“Protecting and expanding the right to vote has long been a struggle in Texas but the challenges have been magnified in recent years,” said Haltom. “In order to fight back against the barriers being erected to voter participation, it is vital that this work happen year-round. That’s why I am so excited to be a part of the DNC’s effort to ensure that all eligible Texans are able to fully participate in their democracy.”

Prior to starting ETVT, Haltom served for seven years as the Political Director for the Texas Democratic Party where she built and lead the TDP’s Voter Protection Program and their efforts to fight illegal redistricting maps, voter suppression efforts and voter ID legislation. She is a graduate of Texas Christian University.

Here’s more from President Bill Clinton on the project.

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Posted in Democratic Stuff, Elections, Voting Rights

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