CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
June 12, 2008 – 10:19 a.m.
House Latinas Irked by Obama’s Neglect
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
Barack Obama has a Latina problem in the House of Representatives, and it could be symptomatic of a larger obstacle to unifying his party.
Several Hispanic women who backed New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the primaries are miffed at the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s failure so far to seektheir support, according to several sources familiar with their discontent.
“We were told that he was going to make some approach to us to join the fold,” said Rep. Grace F. Napolitano , D-Calif., a former chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “I haven’t heard from Mr. Obama.”
It is not unusual for members of Congress to feel taken for granted by a president of their own party or a White House hopeful. But Obama has a tough task ahead in courting Clinton’s strongest constituencies, including Hispanics, women and working-class white voters.
In particular, the Illinois senator, who got swamped in most heavily Hispanic districts across the country, can ill afford to risk alienating potential surrogates in a community that has viewed him with skepticism.
Napolitano, who describes herself as a “dyed in the wool” Democrat, said she will vote for and support the Democratic nominee in the fall. But she has not seen the type of commitment to Latino issues from Obama that she says she saw in Clinton.
“Unless I see something inherently helpful to our community, I’m going to sit back and see what happens,” Napolitano said. Napolitano and some of her Hispanic colleagues are informally boycotting Obama campaign events aimed at reaching out to Clinton supporters because the candidate himself has not asked for their help.
Another lawmaker said anger over Obama’s inattentiveness extends to women who are not Hispanic and even to Obama backers in the CHC who feel that they have been ignored by the campaign.
“It’s about respect,” that House member said. “I don’t understand why third parties have to be intermediaries.”
Over the course of the campaign, many House Democrats have privately expressed frustration with what they describe as Obama’s neglect of elected officials.
The issue appears to be particularly acute among Hispanic women, who say the Democratic primaries were tinged with sexism and that Obama has shown little interest in issues of importance to Hispanic voters.
“They are pissed,” said a congressman who has observed the developing anger. “People have said to Obama ‘Call them.’”
With Clinton issuing a hardy endorsement of Obama last Saturday, backers of both campaigns say this is a critical period for Obama to reach out to Democrats who were loyal to Clinton.
House Latinas Irked by Obama’s Neglect
“The scab is still drying,” said one of the Hispanic women.
But the wound was exacerbated earlier this week when Rep. Xavier Becerra , one of Obama’s most prominent Hispanic supporters, told Politico that he advised the Obama campaign that he could wrap up Hispanic backing by saying “Just give him to me for a week, and I will deliver the Latino vote.”
Becerra’s comments left some Hispanic lawmakers feeling that their support was being taken for granted.
But on Thursday, Becerra sought to reassure them.
“It’s clear Sen. Obama will undertake energetic efforts to reach out to all of Sen. Clinton’s supporters in order to build his team and unite all of us behind him,” Becerra said. “His personal story, his message of hope and change and his tireless work to reach every corner of the country will no doubt resonate with all Americans, especially those in the Latino community.”
Comments
Instead of waiting for him why don't they go to him? To good to take the first step, get over it. clinton lost and they expect him to come begging.......bull If they are so concerned let them make the first move but we know that will not happen because they are just a dense as clinton thinking they have some kind of right to expect him to come to them.
I guess what confuses me here is that these are folk who actively worked for Obama's competitor in the primaries. It is nice that they want respect but how about GIVING a little respect too. It seems to me that a loyal Democrat who had backed a losing opponent should reach out to the winner and OFFER support. That is respect owed to the nominee. Respect is a two-way street and the HRC supporters would seem less insensitive if they remembered that.
This entire campaign cycle has made women look bad; like a bunch of whiney crybabies who scream sexism anytime something doesn't go their way. As a woman, I'm getting a little embarrassed. Yes, there was some sexism toward Hillary, but there was also racism toward Obama to a greater extent, and mostly generated from the Clinton camp. And now we have female Congressional members crying because Obama hasn't called to beg for their support? Jesus, ladies. Grow up. Since when do candidates have to call every single member of the House and Senate to beg for support? You're embarrassing our/my gender.
I agree with "jc". Senator Obama is now the titular "leader" of the Democratic party - since when does the "leader" come to the sub-leaders. It is their responsibility to advise him that they are available at his leasure, and for him to set aside time to meet with them personally. However, just like their illustrious, defeated HRC - they aren't familiar with manners - she thinks because Senator Obama held her chair for her at one of the debates that he was being "demeaning" and "sexist" to her. Good Grief!!!
Good article, finally giving press attention to a critical issue-O'Bama's lack of leadership in reaching out to HRC supporters. To the previous comment, HRC did far more than was needed in her gracious and supportive speech endorsing O'Bama. His inaction is glaring.
Last time I checked Sen Obama has been criss crossing the coutry and fending of sucker punches from the press and the Rep. party. I don't think he is ignoring anyone. I am sure that he would be more than willing to work with the Hispanic coalition in Congress. Right NOW he is being HAMMMERED on all side about the ECONOMY and the WAR. Instead of being offended why not formulate your most pressing issues and try to find a space on the calendar to bring these things to the table. Just be ready to travel 'cause it looks like the Sen. is going to have a lot of speaking engagements.
Hillary lost because of sexism? Give me a break. Hillary lost because her campaign sucked.
Well I don't know what the standard protocol is the folks involved with this discussion, but I do know Obama has quite a few issues to deal with. Mainly there is so much mis-information from the right wing slime machine, and the more they sense a threat the more it produces. On top of that he must continue to interact with as many voters as possible. Thirdly there is the VP selection process... and to my ears Obama during the primaries had doubly more supportive ideas for Latinas/os to consider than Clinton's.
As a Latina, let me just say: Get over yourselves! Yes, HRC lost. Let's move on and work towards the betterment for ALL of us. The media has done a bully job of slicing and dicing the electorate into a million little pieces, with lots of help from groups like these.
Clinton's commitment to Latino issues? What in the world are they talking about?
Those House Latinas need to get over it, and themselves as well. Obama isn't going to go begging to them, and the majority of democratic voters, as well as the moderates and independents he needs to get elected, would abandon him in a flash, were the GOP spin machine to be handed an opportunity to make hay out of it. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that those same House Latinas were on the McCain gravy train. I hope their supporters are monitering their campaign contributions.. opensecrets.org is a resource that ought to be in use all across the US this election year.
If this is true, it is patently ridiculous. This is exactly the type of divisive identity politics that Obama's transformative vision seeks to overcome. There's no reason why one particular demographic should be given special attention over another. We are all suffering the consequences of 8 years of George Bush. We are all Democrats who now have a presumptive nominee whom we should all support wholeheartedly for the strength and unity of our party. This type of back-biting and need for special pandering is so petty and disheartening.
PLEASE. Get over yourself and help this man get the GOP out of the White House and our men and women out of Iraq. (Many of whom happen to be Latino.) Do these folks really want to risk McBush getting elected because Obama won't kiss their feet. He beat Hillary. Now get with the program.
I am glad that I people see the glaring discrepency here. It is about the give and take; Barack Obama has a million things to do right now, and I am posiitve that he is not intentionally neglecting anyone. All this talk of sexism and racism is nothing but divisive and it is giving me an aneurism. To think Barack Obama could personally reach out to every person in HRC campaign is not only idiotic but narcistic. Let's truly unite and work together to win the general election or else we are all (black, white, hispanic, asian, other) going to have a third term Bush. (Disagree if you want but McCain voted with that man 95% percent of the time....I dont' even agree with my mother that much.)
By "commitment to Latino issues," they mean commitment to them. The last I checked, Obama supported giving the undocumented licenses to drive, while Clinton did not. I love how "Latino issues" completely dropped out of Clinton's speeches once Texas was over.
I'm willing to bet that anon was Hilda Solis. Congresswoman Solis, get over yourself.
a true leader knows that he should reach out to his aggressors camp for unity and integration as a whole. BHO ignoring this means he is using the rule of the pirates "KILL ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE VANQUISHED" This is his brand of unity. If you don't want to join him you are eliminated. Come to think this is also mob rule, typical during the mobster era in Chicago.
Why is it that you have to work so hard for Democrats to unify behind a Democcrat? Hillary's and Obama's policies are virtually indifferent. If you don't like Obama, think of him as the lesser of two evils. McCain is the alternative.
This discussion emphasizes the importance of the often neglected Latino vote in '08 and raises the viability of Bill Richardson as a VP pick. Bill could help win the critical Latino vote in Florida's I4 corridor as well as South Florida. There is a Latino cantidate running for Cronyn's seat in the Senate in Texas. Bill would be a big help in bringing out the vote in South Texas and possibly not only win a Senate seat but also help to put Texas in the win column for Dems. There are other areas with an increasingly large but "under the radar" Latino population such as Atlanta wherre Bill's presence on the ticket would help. Certainly something to think about.
What is more important; who he takes time to talk to or working to get the support he needs in order to make the changes the citizens of this Country needs. When I want to get someone to notice me, I go to them and seek them out because I know it is NOT ABOUT ME but about my ultimate goal which is to be a SERVANT TO THE PEOPLE; AS I WAS ELECTED TO BE.
Too bad!. He has offended every group. I will not support or vote for him. 1st time in over 40 years.
He expects to get our vote just because he's a Democrat. Well those are some great expectations, because people have to earn our vote. I know McCain has been working on the immigration issue against the wishes of his own party. Now that's change we can believe in! Obama won't be getting my Latino vote.
I am tired of Obama supporters calling Hillary supporters stupid or any of a number of other things. You will do well to remember you guys need my vote not the other way around! My candidate is out. So call us stupid and crybabies if you want to. Yet when November comes remember these comments when you ask why Obama lost! I will not vote for a candidate that does not respect me and respectfully ask me for my vote.
Senator Obama has an excellent track record on issues of importance to Latinos, just check his Senate record, his campaign platform and all the way back to his work in the Illinois State Senate. He worked well with former State Senator Miguel del Valle (arguably the litmus test on progressive Latino issues in the Illinois General Assembly) and also has an intimate understanding of the immigrant experience, both as child of one and a U.S. expatriate for much of his youth. I hope people don't allow the 'big boss theory' of politics to hold sway, where individual pols are held to be more important than the issues they were ostensibly sent to Washington to represent.
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