Rafael Anchía: Obama is preaching the politics of hope - not division

[Bread and Circus]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-anchia_15edi.State.Edition1.1e38d00.html


Rafael Anchía: Obama is preaching the politics of hope - not division

05:24 PM CST on Thursday, February 14, 2008

During recent weeks, I have watched with increasing dismay the media suggestions that Latinos will not vote for Barack Obama in the Democratic primary because of underlying racism or tension that exists between African-Americans and us.

What surprises me most is the overly facile and inaccurate juxtaposition of Latino vs. African-Americans as a "race" conflict. I chair the National Association of Latino Elected Officials Educational Fund and, in that capacity, work with Latinos at every level of government across the country.

And guess what? We are black, indigenous, white and everything in between. We are also blond-haired and blue-eyed, we are Catholic and Protestant, Republican and Democratic, and, as far as I have been able to determine, we are not unanimously supporting one candidate more than another. The idea that all Latinos speak with one political voice is a false dichotomy and makes flawed assumptions that show a basic ignorance of Latinos and our very diverse culture.

As the son of a Mexican mother and Spanish father who grew up in a Cuban and El Salvadoran neighborhood, I have lived this diversity and recognize that Latino Democratic primary voting trends are much more about familiarity with the candidate and much less about race.

[babylonsister]

1. Thanks for this hopeful piece! nt

[jackson_dem]

2. His rhetoric doesn't match his record

Here is the best example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dUp16hFzY8

[FrenchieCat]

4. You must work for the Hillary campaign.

Too bad you are not one of the ones fired today.

[emilyg]

5. You are so full of

love, hope and change :sarcasm:

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. "politics of hope"

?

[troubleinwinter]

6. The article is worth reading to note that it does not say anything.

(and no, I don't support HRC)