CQ TODAY PRINT EDITION
June 17, 2008 – 10:07 p.m.
House Latinas Deflect Courting by Obama
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
The presumed Democratic presidential nominee got the cold shoulder from Latina lawmakers Tuesday as he began a three-day campaign to shore up Capitol Hill support after an arduous primary season.
Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois huddled with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) at the offices of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). But only one of the six Hispanic congresswomen who are Democrats, longtime Obama backer Rep. Linda T. Sánchez of California, attended the meeting, in which members gathered in a semicircle around Obama.
The men in the CHC said scheduling conflicts were to blame for the absence of Latinas who had backed Obama’s primary rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. But that was not true in all cases.
“They called to set up a call,” said Rep. Loretta Sanchez , D-Calif., who had spoken on the House floor earlier in the day. “I said, ‘He can come over and see me.’ ”
Obama began calling Hispanic congresswomen last week after they first made their displeasure with his inattention to them known.
Since then, Obama’s campaign has had contact with the offices of Loretta Sanchez as well as Hilda L. Solis and Grace F. Napolitano , also from California.
The Latinas’ reluctance to get behind Obama reflects the challenges he faces in uniting Democrats. They were important surrogates for Clinton both in and beyond their congressional districts, and they could provide vital help to Obama, too.
Attending to Clinton Backers
Obama also is scheduled to meet later this week with fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), many of whom endorsed Clinton.
There are concerns among CBC members that former Clinton backers could face political retribution because they did not support Obama, whose father was black and who won the overwhelming majority of African-American votes in the Democratic primaries.
The meetings show that Obama is now fully engaged with the delicate politics of courting his former opposition.
Even as Clinton and Obama are planning to meet jointly with top Clinton fundraisers in the coming days to pave the way for donations to Obama, there are signs that Obama is stepping on toes in the Clinton camp.
Clinton loyalists reacted as though they had been spited Monday when Obama’s campaign announced that the nominee had hired Patti Solis Doyle, who was fired as Clinton’s campaign manager in February, to fill the job of chief of staff to a vice presidential nominee whom he has not yet picked.
House Latinas Deflect Courting by Obama
Obama and Clinton allies alike read the move as a strong message to Clinton and her supporters that the former first lady is not being considered for the second spot.
Solis Doyle and Clinton have not spoken since she was deposed, according to a Clinton insider. However, Solis Doyle continued to draw a salary from the Clinton campaign at least through the end of April, according to federal election records.
Outside the DNC offices Tuesday, Obama declined to answer a shouted question about what message was being sent by Solis Doyle’s hiring; but spokeswoman Jen Psaki insisted the move indicated nothing about who would or would not be the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee.
Clinton’s top Hispanic fundraisers asked her to act as an intermediary between them and Obama during a conference call on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the discussion.
Obama talked with CHC members about the former first lady’s role in the general election, according to several lawmakers.
“We talked about Sen. Clinton campaigning,” said Rep. Jim Costa , D-Calif. “I think Sen. Obama indicated she was going to be an important part” of his efforts in the Hispanic community.
Rep. Xavier Becerra , D-Calif., who endorsed Obama in the primary, predicted Clinton would be on the hustings for Obama.
“I think you’re going to find her campaigning side by side with him,” Becerra said.
Outside the DNC offices, Obama said he communicated to CHC members “how important it’s going to be for me to mobilize the Hispanic vote.”
Rep. Joe Baca , D-Calif., shrugged off the poor attendance among Latinas.
“They’re going to be there for him,” Baca said. “That’s not really a challenge or a question.”
But Baca may not be the ideal conduit for Obama to Hispanic women. The Sanchez sisters left the CHC last year after Loretta accused Baca of calling her a “whore” in a meeting with California state legislators. Baca denies the allegation.
In addition to their other concerns, it appears that the Latina lawmakers are less than enthusiastic about meeting with Obama in conjunction with the male-dominated CHC.
House Latinas Deflect Courting by Obama
Echoing sentiments expressed by some of her colleagues in recent days, Loretta Sanchez said Obama has not done enough to articulate his agenda.
“Change is not enough,” she said. “If you want me to go out and sell you to people, I want to know what you’re doing.”
Comments
1. If McCain himself were to go out of his way to court Loretta and other pro-Rodhamista Latinas, then would they switch over to him? 2. Of course, were "HillRod" to be the VeeP pick, Solis-Doyle may always be let go from her current designated position. Far more likely...
really? latina problem? i guess you missed the fact that all polls show sen. obama with a huge lead among hispanics. nice headline, though. masterfully deceptive.
Him and most of his followers are well known not to care much for the Latino community. I find no support for him at all from the few I know. Many women, as well, are cool to him, and from what they tell me, close to 50% are planning to not vote or vote for McCain.
Obama's only Hispanic problem is not there are not more Hispanic voters. The idea that a group that at it's worst votes 60% for the Democratic Presidential candidate is a problem for Dems is a beltway fantasy.
The same experts on the Latino vote who claimed that Clinton firing Solis Doyle would hurt her with Latinos are now complaining that Obama isn't doing enough to win them over despite his hiring her.
Obama is toast in November. Stick a fork in him.
Obama doesn't have a Hispanic problem. The Latino community has a leadership problem. As a Latino and a blogger I could not be more disheartened with the mediocre state of our supposed Congressional leaders. ("Why is the Conrgressional Leadership so Mediocre?"" http://eristic-ragemail.blogspot.com/) Obama will carry the Hispanic vote -- no thanks to any Latino/as in Congress. One Bill Richardson is worth the whole Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
You McCain folks need to stop lying here. Obama is way ahead in all polls with Latinos and women. With women he is far ahead of Kerry or even Gore. It is McCain who has the Latino problem and woman problem, not Obama. After Obama's landslide (ahead now in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) in November, we won't hear from Thomas anymore.
Ricardo Castro has it exactly right. Might I add Bob Menendez and Bill Richardson is worth 100 times the whole Hispanic Caucus.
Are you people nuts? Obama is not doing enough to get any votes. Did you see people boo when Governor Granholm was on stage in Michigan. As long as this hate for Senator Clinton keeps up he is toast in many communities. And let me add this Obama is only the presumptive nominee until August, so as a Junior Senator he owes these people some respect! He needs to go to them not the other way around. You don't just get votes and support you have to earn them. He isn't doing the job very well but then his arrogance and sense of entitlement won't let him!
The Democratic party are not in a position to take for granted the Latino vote, especially with almost one-in-five undecided Latinos. Also, various members of the CHC are strong leaders for theiir constituents, and the Latino community. In viewing their roll call votes and behind-the-scence presure on democratic house leasdership, they as a group have applied pressured which changed legislation, and benefitted Latino communities. So to make a blanket statement that the CHC are mediocre leaders is incorrect based on legislative reserch.
The very allure of Obama is problematic in our political system because he is very much an outsider, the fundamental position of his hope and change platform. With only a few years of experience on the Hill, he is viable candidate to point out the inconsistencies (and some would argue the outright scandalous nature) of politics. But we're seeing the problems of this position materializing by party insiders turning a cold shoulder to his upstart ways because he's not playing the game by the book. I, myself, don't want a candidate to play by the book ... just look where we are as a nation using this mentality. Regardless, Obama will need to become more astute in the necessary backroom dealings to get elected. He still owns a small lead in national polls among the voters, but don't think for a second that the popular vote will be enough come November. We've already seen what winning the wrong race gets you: a headline spot on the Earth Day concert.
Yeah right Obama's toast except fivethirtyeight.com, a site that adds up most state and national polls, shows Obama getting around 70% of the Latino vote. And that 70% is making Colorado and New Mexico solid blue, making Nevada and Florida swing states, and putting Obama within ten at Texas and Arizona. Obama's totally gonna get his ass kicked in November.
Navyvet48 June 18, 2008 2:21 PM Are you people nuts? Obama is not doing enough to get any votes. Did you see people boo when Governor Granholm was on stage in Michigan. As long as this hate for Senator Clinton keeps up he is toast in many communities. And let me add this Obama is only the presumptive nominee until August, so as a Junior Senator he owes these people some respect! He needs to go to them not the other way around. You don't just get votes and support you have to earn them. He isn't doing the job very well but then his arrogance and sense of entitlement won't let him! Obama does not owe Hispanics any more respect than the respect others who support him are getting from the Senator. The alternative to Obama is McStupid. No somos pendejos. Arriba con Obama!!!
Like the older African Americans leadership, the Latinos leadership represented in Congress are being rapidly passed by the people they purportedly represent. Latino voters, particularly the generations who are younger than the senior members of their community elected to Congress, aren't so hung up on who comes to see whom and are eagerly supporting the one who best represents their talents and aspirations. If the leaders in Congress aren't prepared to accept their peoples' choice, please, just get out of the way. You are just a Member. Your President is calling.
What in the world do the women in the Congressional HIspanic Caucus hope to accomplish for Latinos by carrying on like this? As a California Latina, I say, get it together and work for change.
Let's all remember that it's only June and we still have time to get more Latinos registered to vote. We also have time to get out into our communities and talk one-on-one to Latinos about the issues that matter most to them. Once you show both sides, you gotta know that we will have a majority of Latinos voting for Obama. It's up to all of us that support him to start interacting with our community to ensure victory for Dems in the Fall.
What I find really amatuerish is that Obama and his supporters don't get it that now is the time they should be trying to consolidate the party and reaching out to 18 million voters that voted for Hillary not further alienating them wiith name calling and put downs. How dumb can you be!
Muy bien representantes Latinas!!!!! BRAVO!!!!!
Here's a little song to keep all you rebellious types fired up. Sing it to the tune of It's Raining Men! It's Rainin' Rebellion! Hallelujah! Amen! Hi, Hi! We're the Clinton People -- Ah-huh, And have we got news for you -- You better listen! Get ready, all you disenfranchised people and leave those umbrellas at home -- Alright! Heat is rising -- thermometer's ready to bend. According to all sources, PUMA is the place to go. 'Cause today, for the first time in a long time, The DNC has met its greatest foe. And, it's a PUMA rebellion, that's so -- It's raining rebellion! Hallelujah! Just say No Deal! Amen! I'm gonna go out and yell, and let myself get Absolutely soaking wet! It's raining rebellion! Hallelujah! It's raining rebellion! Every specimen! Tall, short, blonde, dark, big, or lean, Rough and tough and strong and mean. God bless PUMA wildcats, they're angels too. They started a rebellion - did what they had to do. Asked every voter to think things through. So that every voter could be counted, it's true -- It's raining rebellion! Hallelujah! Just say No Deal! Ame---------nnnn! Keep the fires burning, Mark
As an Italian married to an Hispanic I just want to let everyone know that both California and Texas latinos do NOT trust OBama. They feel he's got his own agenda and doen't include women, latinos, asians, and the blue collars. I don't care what the polls says, noone has called me or my inlaws asking for our opinion. I also met another latina at the last day of school and told me how she doens't trust Obama and will not vote for him... THE LATINO COMMUNITY LOVES HILLARY...HATE OBAMA
If these people are really Democrats they'll get on board. If they are not, I know of a guy from Panama who is shilling for votes.
You know, the only reason why every one thinks that Barack Obama has a latino, latina, women, and blue collar problem is because of the few (yet very vocal) Hillary supporters who are just mad about losing the primary. Many of us voted for some one else, not because Hillary was a woman, and not because of what the so called "biased against women" media said, but based on the fact that we just do not like Hillary (call it Clinton fatigue if you want). She was not the best candidate like many of you thinkshe was. Otherwise she would have focused on all states and not just the big states, would not be in debt, and (most importantly) would have won the most delegates. But she didn't so she cannot even be considered as the nest candidate. As for Obama not doing enough to reach out to these groups, how can he when you refuse to listen (or even show up to a meeting) to him. I think a lot of the people need to realize that even if you prefer Clinton over Obama, you have to admit he's a lot better than McCain. It's time we learn to respect our presidential candidates again (which I realize is difficult given who our current president is). We are not in a fraternity or Soroity where the president is the most popular. Look at the real differences in the campaigns and do whats right for the U.S.
Obama's arrogance will be his downfall and the reason Clinton supporters, Latinos and middle class whites will NOT vote for him but will go to McCain! RWD
So all of Hillary's supporters bitch and moan and complain about how Obama has been/is ignoring them, and then he wants to meet with them halfway and they say "HELL NO!" Well why don't they get over themselves and realize what he's trying to do with them.
Although I am not a Clington fan, at least Hillary stood for something, anyone listening to Obama must know by now he speaks and says NOTHING. I have no idea what issues are important to him, I only see him pandering to certain groups i:e; Latinos, Blacks, any strange group who has voting privileges. At least Sen. McCain sticks by what he says and I do think he is honest in his words.
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