Si se puede

-Latinos, Barack Obama no se hecha para atrás en lo que dice. A diferencia de Hillary Clinton, Barack aun apoya las licencias de conducción y un camino humanitario hacia la legalización. Incluso enfrentando gran oposición el estuvo firme en contra de la guerra desde el principio, y no se dejo influenciar como Clinton que voto a favor una la guerra basada en mentiras que tantos muertes ha causado. Barack Obama tiene la integridad y honestidad para traer el cambio necesario a este país. El no le dice una cosa a un grupo y otra a otros solo para conseguir votos: En la iglesia de Martín Luther King Jr el le pidió a la audiencia afro-americana que dejaran atrás la discriminación a otros grupos y que valoraran a los inmigrantes no como competencia sino como compañeros en la busca de oportunidad... En el debate televisado por CNN, mientras Clinton mantuvo una posición hostil respecto a la influencia de los inmigrantes en la economía de otras minorías, Barack Obama le dijo de frente que no se le puede hechar la culpa a una minoría cuando obviamente el problema económico es uno que sufrimos todos y es causado por la falta de inversión en infra-estructura, educación etc. Una economía en la cual el país invierte billones y billones de dólares en una guerra sin razón. Barack Obama no quiere dividirnos como Hillary, el quiere unir al país y sanarlo. Inspirarnos a ayudarnos los unos a los otros y tener una política exterior que exhauste las posibilidades diplomáticas antes de iniciar cualquier guerra. Obama, con un trasfondo racial mixto, y familia inmigrante, simboliza la armonía entre las distintas etnias y minorías de estos Estados Unidos de Norte América. Unámonos apoyando a Obama. El peleará por una mayor justicia e igualdad para todos. No es un sueño vacio, es un sueño que se puede realizar si lo crees. Si se puede... Si crees y votas con tu mente y tu corazón. Escucha sus palabras: Si Se puede, si nos unimos y nos movilizamos para alcanzarlo. Si se puede, este es el momento. Escucha el cantar de las masas... Si se puede. Únete y grítalo con nosotros Si se puede.

Well, it's about time Obama decided to talk to Latina Lista. Better late than never? Or is he hoping for a bigger share of the Latino vote than he's gotten so far?

I'm not Latino or an Obama supporter but I went back and read Clinton's post here on Latina Lista and then re-read Obama's. Nothing here sways me. I don't understand anything Obama says about HOW he's going to help Latinas keep their families together.

He does mention the DREAM Act, which is good --- though I'm terribly afraid that no batter how bad a democratic president might want to push it through, it isn't going to happen. I want it to happen, but I think the majority of the country does not.

I'll be looking forward to reading the comments to this post from Obama. Maybe someone will point out something I've missed that will make me change my mind about Obama.

Companero, te necesitamos! Necesitamos que hables con tus amigos y familiares, y todos aquellos que aun no estan convencidos de votar por Obama, que les digas de las reformas y las esperanzas que Obama representa! Necesitamos un cambio! Tu puedes ser parte de el!

Dear Senator Obama,

thank you very much for your comments, and for having worked for comprehensive immigration reform and for the DREAM act. I am hopeful that these two extremely important pieces of legislation could be passed in the first year of an Obama administration.

Until they are passed, my undocumented friends are living a daily nightmare of fear and anxiety. Their daily lives are tightly constricted by not being able to drive legally.

Worst of all is the fear of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement police. These people have already traumatized countless families, and children who are US citizens. Their raids on family homes in the middle of the night, and on workplaces where they treat undocumented workers as if they were terrorists, are devastating violations of my friends' civil rights and human dignity.

When they raid family homes, they usually do not have a warrant. They frighten people into opening the door by shouting "Police", then they storm into the apartment and handcuff the parents in front of the children. They have used mace inside apartments to force residents to open locked doors.

The raids on factories leave children without parents, parents without knowledge of their children, husbands and wives separated.

My question to you is: how do you plan to deal with the Department of Homeland Security's "Operation return to sender," under which all these abuses take place?

And do you know how small the percentage is of detainees arrested by ICE who are actually accused of a crime ? Do you in fact know the vanishingly small percentage who are accused of terrorism ?

Do you know how many people are held for months by ICE ? How many families ? Do you know how many people arrested for immigration violations have died in custody ?

Lastly, why is the Department of Homeland Security wasting resources on detaining seamstresses and slaughterhouse workers when we are actually being threatened by Al Qaida ? Could there be any reason other than to intimidate our community into silence ?

I am looking forward to your answer and your plans with great interest.

Sincerely,

Laura

Too bad Obama didn't elaborate on his illegal immigration plan. All of these candidates are trying to play both sides of the fence for votes, so I wouldn't read too much into what he hasn't even clearly stated the kind of plan he has yet. Immigraton reform can take many paths and it may not be the one you want, especially since congress makes the decisions on those issues anyway, not the president. If he gets elected, since he was so vague on what he meant, he can do anything he wants because he won't be pandering for votes anymore.

The vision Barack conveyed to the people of America during his campaign, is promising. I do believe that in the process of implementing the vision, the “money talks” affair will gradually be replaced with character, and set of values. In my opinion Barack’s idea of change is not only targeting Washington’s version of politics but also will address the unwanted habits that seemed to be part of the American culture. Restoration of America’s moral standing in the world, and restoring the family and societal values in the process is something irresistible.
Although America is a land of immigrants, no one from the running presidential candidates can claim as much knowledge as Barack Obama in all its imaginable angles. Barack Obama understands what Immigrants are going through. Barack Obama’s father was an immigrant in the recent distant, and Barack has full knowledge of that. Barack’s immigration stand is crystal clear. I believe Barack will implement the human comprehensive immigration policy soon after he resides in the office.
Vote for Barack Obama! Don’t gamble on the only chance you have available.
Raphael.

Laura:

Perhaps the illegal aliens, or as you like to call them "undocumented" would be safer and happier in Mexico. Once back there, they could work to improve their homeland.

I happened to be in a grocery store a few hours ago and overheard a young woman speaking to her two small children in Spanish but upon checking out her groceries she spoke English. A smart mother would be missing no opportunities to teach her children English.

Opportunities lost!!!

Denise, this is cool.

Check this, it is the immigration reform. At the bottom is a downloadable .pdf of the proposal that is much more comprehensive. Also, check the part where he asks for your advice. Well, go give him some! He listens.

Ever ask yourself where the $10 to $50 million estate of the Clintons came from and how she is able to loan her campaign $5 million? One only has to look at donation profiles of Obama and Clinton supporters to realize that Obama is supported by the common people of the US. Hillary has far too many links to insiders.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080206/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_money_6

As a latina from Nogales, Arizona, I am proud to support Barack Obama.

He spent part of his childhood in Indonesia and is the son of a man from Kenya and a woman from Kansas. He has lived all over the United States, from Hawaii to New York to Kansas to south-side Chicago. He is well-respected, with a liberal voting record to match any, and an honesty that almost seems as though he's not a politician.

He talks about us as a group that he would like to help achieve the American Dream. In his tireless work with minorities of all shades for the poor, the underprivileged, and the troubled, he has earned himself our votes.

I respect Hillary Clinton. She will have my vote if she takes the nomination, but there will be many opposed to voting for her under any circumstances. Her legacy is one of the politics of past years: fighting, bitterness, anger. Watch one of his speeches. Obama's message is clearly one of togetherness, of family, of integrity. People can support that even if they don't entirely see eye-to-eye with the Democratic plans for the future, and this will enable us to move forward. The idea that we should care for and stand up for each other-- as one United States of America-- is beautiful.

I will stand with him as long as I am able. Please read about him.
http://www.barackobama.com

Estoy muy inspirado con la biografía de Barack Obama. El candidate fue criado por madre soltera y los abuelos. Obama ha trabajado con muchas personas sin empleo, especialmente los latinos. Como un abogado y senador Obama escucho a la gente latina y la apoyó con vigor. Obama para presidente! Sí se puede!

Here's Barack Obama's immigration plan: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/pdf/ImmigrationFactSheet.pdf

Thank you for writing in to share your feelings about immigration. Every time I hear you speak or read your words, I find tears coming to my eyes. Is it because what I want to hear most right now is someone human, kind, with an understanding of the difficulties everyone, immigrant or not, face right now?

Thank you for reminding me of the reasons this country is so great, today and, now, for the future.

However, I did find myself react strangely to reading suddenly of the issue of low Latino graduation rates, like if we just worked harder, say like the often cited smart Asian students, we'd advance. Sorry, old wounds.

Maybe seven years ago I would have agreed that - like when I was younger in public school which my parents were proud to send me - if one worked hard, you'd advance, no matter your circumstances.

Yet, after enrolling my son in a local bilingual school in the heart of Silicon Valley, a school with a 90% Latino population, immigrants and often, low income, families, I was absolutely STUNNED to see the conditions of the school. Mold in classrooms, rat droppings, overworked teachers with little patience and empty pockets from having to pay for supplies themselves, metal trailer classrooms without air conditioning on hot, pre- summer days. Overcrowding. I have seen the scene repeated over and over in other school districts in schools with overwhelming Latino majority students.

I worked with a group of many parents to address the conditions, yet, it became very clear that change would take a whole generation and my child needed an education today.

If you are elected President, I hope to see a real review of our public education system that will FIRST ensure EQUAL Educational Conditions and Resources, regardless of race, economic, or social status, for all our children. When Latino students are treated with respect, shared educational resources, and provided clean classrooms, we can achieve the same as anyone else. Without a real assessment of our schools, our children from neighborhoods Latino and not, will continue to be shortchanged.

With all due respect :)

A Presidential candidate will need to take a fair look first at how these early circumstances are impacting education of Latino students as we count how many students we have going to college (no offence to those who are headed down the road).

Ultimately, I had a hard choice to make yesterday. I do believe it’s a time in the world when we need strong women leaders. Yet, you made the hard choices from the start and I wanted to vote beyond race and gender to reach for the dream you inspire that brings tears to my eyes. Yet, for that dream to come true, we must TODAY look beyond the usual stereotypical beliefs: like realizing Latinos and African Americans can and do and have over history worked together for amazing changes - the issue with higher education for Latinos must be reviewed from the bottom up, from elementary on, rather than point only to historic under representation at the university level.

One last note, I wonder how the last six years of contentious debates, raids, and negative media coverage impact a whole generation of school age children who read history of immigrant raids, then watch them on the evening news or see it played out in their own living room?

You won the election at my child’s school yesterday, and I was inspired to take their lead, to vote for a different world. They are trusting you to ensure they receive an equal education through university and to make the dream of an equal and equitable education a reality.

Thank you again, to you and your family, for your energy, time and commitment to bring about a better world.

Dear Laura and Denise:

Allow me to share with you my understanding of Senator Barack Obamas’ character and how he is going to implement or reform policies, such as immigration policy. First of all, it must be clear that Barack is different, he has been running a different kind of campaign, he has built a different kind of political organization, and he is up to a different kind of approach as to how a federal government should be run.

Secondly, you may have noticed that how he set the tone of the campaign to his standard. Although the media has been negligent or did not want to acknowledge the setting of tone of the campaign to his standard, many Americans know full well that his opponent was left with no choice but to pull herself up to his standard. Whether or not his opponent will maintain that standard in the coming campaign is yet to be seen.

One thing that we must understand from this episode is that Barack seems to be a person of principle, and knows his path well ahead of time. You can tell by his attempt to rectify his audience’s inflated hopes and aspirations by telling them right on the spot that “change does not come so easily, that there will be set backs and false starts”, and he further assures them that the change is inevitable. From this it is evident that Barack seems to know what can be done and what it takes to do it.

Furthermore, Barack said in one of his debates/speeches, that he would introduce a complete "transparency", and in that who said what would be known to Americans, and consequently, elected officials will be bound to do the right thing, and refrain from being politically divisive. That way, the to be “implemented comprehensive immigration reform”, when put on table, will be given the attention and urgency it deserves.

One can, therefore, be rest assured that promises that are made by elected officials are not going to be forgotten once the "transparency" is in place. Barack’s position is that for campaign promises to be fulfilled the required change, such as "transparency", and "poletics" itself need to be taken place in the white house in both its content and process.

The change Barack is going to bring about is completely different to that of his opponents. His opponents seem to define change interns of which party or gender is in power. For Barack, change is beyond party lines and labels. It is a complete change of politics in its application and process. In a way, it is a full implementation of a democratic process; a process in which every one has an equal influence on the way a government should function, and every one will enjoy an equal access in exercising that right at ease and at time of need. Simply put it the science of democracy in process that Barack is going to out in place.

If you need further details, you can visit Barack’s website, and you will find his plans and you can abstract his visions for America.
Vote for Barack Obama!

Raphael

Barack's immigration reform plan:

Obama wants to provide a pathway to citizenship in a humane way to the current illegals here, secure the borders to keep more illegals from coming over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aekautDZlRU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNCLomrqIN8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiUzJB3nagw

I just found a new song: Obama Nuestro Presidente, on MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/flowkidvip

It's excellent!

Who will represent us, someone who can afford to lend her own campaign $5 million (and they say it might get up to $20 million -- loose change!). Or someone whose father was an immigrant, and who turned down Wall Street to work as a community organizer with Latinos and African Americans in depressed South Chicago? He is FOR REAL.

Yes We Can

You said:

"All of these candidates are trying to play both sides of the fence for votes, so I wouldn't read too much into what he hasn't even clearly stated the kind of plan he has yet."

If right now they are both fence sitting, which side do you think the guy with the Immigrant father is going to land on? What about the person who is only here because her Husband was a President?

No matter who gets elected and no matter what immigration plan they try to implement, it is mind boggling that any American citizen would demonize our government for enforcing it's immigration laws and demonize their fellow American citizens for expecting them too.

Obama would be committing political suicide if he forces any type of amnesty for illegal aliens on the country. He does not want to tarnish his image as the first Black President by pandering to anyone of any particular ethnic origin. If he does so, you probably will not see another ethnic minority President for a long, long time. He realizes that the majority of Americans will settle for nothing less than enforcement of existing immigration laws. Besides, that is only if he defeats Hillary who would also be held accountable to the majority of Americans that want enforcement only. The Democraps have also introduced the Save Act which will probably be passed into law requiring all employers to use the E-Verify system to check employees SS numbers for no-match violations. This alone will dry up jobs for illegal aliens using stolen and fraudulent SS numbers.

If our federal government fails to address illegal immigration issues to the satisfaction of the majority, then the task will fall on states to pass laws to force illegal aliens out of their state. No one wants to see harm come to anyone, but those people here illegally must be handled under the guidelines of our existing immigration laws. Nothing more, nothing less.

FM, Do your think that tens of millions of illegals MIGHT be placing a strain on an education system NOT set up to handle this influx???? Do you think that MAYBE--JUST MAYBE--that is ONE REASON why countries have immigration laws, i.e., in order to have an orderly immigration system which allows only the number of newcomers which can be assimilated, which does not overwhelm infrastructure and schools, and which protects the jobs of the native population???? In my mind, it takes an extraordinary amount of chutzpah to enter this country illegally, overburden the schools with children who would not otherwise be here, and then COMPLAIN and DEMAND that not enough tax $$$ is being extorted from citizens to pay for building new schools, hiring more teachers, and purchasing new equipment and supplies in order to accommodate that surplus, uninvited population! I doubt that Mexico would put up with this situation for any length of time. It is simply ludicrous by any objective standards!

If Obama wins and he starts playing ethnic politics for anyone he will be a one term President. It will also end any chance of having an ethnic minority as President for a long, long time. You really think he wants to take that chance? I don't. Unless he wants to shoot himself in the foot, he will be very cautious not to turn the majority of Americans against him by making any radical or unpopular changes. Conservative America is still very much alive and will not tolerate changes based solely on ethnicity.

The following was written by my friend, Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, in December, 2007.

I don’t usually worry much about party politics until the general election. The many debates and a good deal of the media attention try to reduce serious issues to controversies. The focus is on “the horse race” and not on the role of government.

But I had to react against Senator Hillary Clinton’s big gamble at the televised debate in Las Vegas in which she bet that Latinos and Latinas wouldn’t notice how she rolled the dice against us. Just a few days before, she had “stumbled” (word from the blogs) when asked if she supported the New York governor’s decision to issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. If you didn’t catch it, she first said she “supported the action,” then changed that to she only “understood the reason for the licenses,” than a third version that she hadn’t really taken a stand. The three statements were made within the period of two minutes, something her rivals, Senators Dodd, Edwards and Obama considered confusing – at the very least.

The next few days, according to those in the know, her staff worked furiously to get the governor to retract his initiative – which had been approved by Homeland Security and is already the law in several states including California, the largest in the nation, and in Illinois, the home state of Barack Obama. Days later, her derriere now covered with behind-the-scene maneuvers, Hillary answered the question about licenses for the undocumented in Las Vegas with an unequivocal, “No.”

I would not be alone in considering this change of position to be a reaction to the polls and a typical politician’s effort to say “whatever is necessary to get elected.” Frankly, I’m disappointed. I’m not sure if the error is big enough to get me to vote against the Senator should she face off against a Republican like Mitt Romney, but it certainly dampens my enthusiasm for her.

Despite a good record for the people of New York, support to end the bombing of Vieques, Puerto Rico and a generally progressive stance on social welfare initiatives, there is very little on the positive side that distinguishes Senator Clinton from any generic brand Democrat. Not so the issue of licenses. The Republicans give every sign of tripping over each other to be the most anti-Latino immigrant candidate for 2008. (Spreading hate for Latinos and Latinas, it would seem, is an easier path to power than supporting the war in Iraq and a national debt over 9 trillion dollars.) Moreover, the impetus to crackdown hard on “illegals” feeds its spawn of racist nationalism and fear-mongering.

Senator Clinton’s cowardice – grudgingly, that is what I would have to call it – sends a signal that we Latinos and Latinas are expendable in her pursuit of the presidency. While her position is virtually the same as that of Chris Dodd of Connecticut, at least he was clear and forthright on his reasons. (Not representing a border state is also part of the background for his stance). I will now seek to support another Democrat for president in 2008, although I was looking forward to see the gender ceiling broken. Defense of our Latino rights and our freedom is too precious to surrender to a merely symbolic victory for women.

Biographical note: Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo is Professor Emeritus of Puerto Rican & Latino Studies at Brooklyn College. Author and scholar, he serves as member of the Pennsylvania State Advisory Committee to the US Commission of Civil Rights in Washington.

She (Hillary) isn't the first woman to be thrust into the spotlight by accommodating Mr. Bill with a few sexual favors. She, with her teary eyes, is not exactly what I invision as a strong Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. military. Middle-Eastern nations do not have leaders that will show her any respect or accept her as an equal when it comes to worldly affairs. Also, don't be surprised to see Bill playing a bigger role in her administration than just First Whatever. It will be another four years of national turmoil if she is elected.

Hello! I wandered over here from the Obama web site, to read his comments, and your responses. About me: I'm an African American. I have sometimes been discouraged by what seems to be a divide between the African American and Latino community, and I'm especially sorry that this election seems to bear out my experiences. Anyway - I'm here to learn, and to understand a little more about what issues concern the Latino community, and look forward to sharing with you.

One thing I will say, in Barack's defense, is that he seems to have decided not to play one group against the other. While we may not have all the same issues and concerns - we do have some of the same issues and concerns, and I do believe that we will do so much better as a whole through cooperation.

All the best! Oh! And - how do I say in spanish: Yes we can!? :-) Be well, sisters.

As a community organizer, Barack Obama has a history of bringing people together to solve the difficult problems that face this country. We need a leader who will listen and understand the importance that this issue needs to be solved NOW. Hillary Clinton has had multiple chances in the past 16 years to address this issue and has not. We need new leadership who has spent time in the streets of Chicago as a community organizer understanding the needs of the Latino and entire comuunity. Si se puede!!! Si se puede!!!

Yes - I see how Senator Clinton sold out her supporters whenever she didn't need them anymore. Just like her husband. She voted for the Iraq war every chance she had. Looking at her donors - she is bought and paid for.

Let's be clear about Obama - he is no saint either. In 2005, he voted for the bankruptcy law - demanded by the credit card companies - that is now causing much pain to middle class families. He did vote to keep funding the Iraq war once he was a US Senator.

Yet I think there is more of a chance he will be responsive to us. He is already showing that with his stance on drivers' licenses. But he will be responsive only if we demand responses.

Latina Lista, It was good to read Sen. Obama´s response to your request.

I am neutral. I support both Hillary and Obama. I enjoyed their debate in LA recently. It is clear, they are both intelligent, determined and will make great Presidents. Both have similar policies, including their stance on Comprehensive Immigration Reform and I believe both will move forward to make positive changes once elected.

I do have two issues with standing too firmly behind Sen. Obama vs Hillary and both issues relate to Electibility. The Dems MUST win in 2008.

1. Media Bias: The Right Wing Media is firmly behind Obama. All of the AM Shock Jocks, Hannity, Tucker and especially Matthews. They also support McCain. It is clear they would rather have Obama as a challenger to McCain vs Hillary.

2.Obama is not vetted. Hillary is and she does, in fact, have "Insiders." (as someone noted) An electible candidate will need these Insiders to help them overcome the tactics of the GOP. We know what happened to Kerry. (swiftboatting) I have read several ANTI and GOP discussion boards just ravage Obama. They have a list of arguments, much worse than the mild bashing Obama received from Bill.

The bottom line is, our Democratic Presidential Candidate MUST Win!!

I will support whichever candidate the party selects, Hillary or Obama. If elected, each of them will support Comprehensive Immigration Reform and make positive changes.

The question is:
Can Obama beat McCain? I believe Hillary Can.

Latina, we talk about these issues on my blog too. Take care, I love your blog!!

I have been reading (and posting extracts from) Obama's "Dreams From My Father" and I am very impressed by his sensitivity and commitment to women's and family's causes, as well as by his innate awareness of cultural diversity, not just in America but around the world.
I think that Lista Latina was very blessed to get his contribution como voz convidada!
Si se Puede!!
Sim Podemos!!!

HRC is trying to convince people that she has more experience than Obama. However, take a look at this, check it out, and decide for yourself who has the experience to represent all people of this country. If you believe Obama has more experience in helping the everyday person, then please pass the information on to those who have yet to vote.

I firmly believe that with Obama, we will have a better future.

Who Has More Experience / Proposed Legislation?

By Michael Huppman - Feb 6th, 2008 at 8:04 pm EST

Senator Clinton has based her campaign on an erroneous claim to greater legislative and administrative experie nce. Former President Clinton talks up her role in his administration on the campaign trail but pointedly refuses to release any documents that would provide greater details on her actual activities there. It is broadly understood that Hillary spearheaded the response team that staved off Republican attacks and spun the many scandals of the Clinton years. As to her Sen ate record, no one in the press has had the diligence to lay out her record for the public to assess.

Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (www.thomas.loc.gov), but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.

1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.

2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.

3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.

5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.

6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.

7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.

8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.

9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.

10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.

11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.

12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.

13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.

14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.

15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.

Only five of Clinton 's bills are more substantive.

16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.

17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11

18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.

19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.

20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it, the facts straight from the Senate Record.

Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize. During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced

233 regarding healthcare reform,

125 on poverty and public assistance,

112 crime fighting bills,

97 economic bills,

60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,

21 ethics reform bills,

15 gun control,

6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included:

**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparen cy Act of 2006 (became law),

**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),

**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,

**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),

**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more.

Jax:

The opportunity that we need to be sure not to lose is that of raising our children bilingually-- and thereby of catching up educationally with most of the rest of the developed world, where virtually all educated people are multilingual.

As the father of four Latino children raised in the United States, let me assure you that there is no way a child will grow up in this country without speaking English. The danger is that they grow up without getting the benefit of a second language that their parents can teach them (and I don't think this is the responsibility of government).

I further assure you, based on personal experience, that capturing the opportunity to teach our children a second language requires a great deal of effort, discipline and sacrifice on the part of the parent. I salute the woman you came across in the grocery store and invite you to expand your horizons.

Ricardo Anzaldua
Hartford, Connecticut

Some of the remarks in here are just mind boggling. Republicans are anti-Latino immigrant? What in the world does that mean? I know of no Republican candidate that is anti-immigrant or anti-Latino. Some of them are anti-illegal alien and it doesn't matter what their ethnicity is either. Why all the spin and lies in here?

We have a right to expect our immigration laws to be enforced. We have a right to expect immigrants to come legally. Any decent candidate for the presidency should first and foremost respect the laws of this country and should never run on a platform of rewarding illegal behavior in any way.

We are all Americans no matter what ethnicity we are. Those who think in terms of the latter rather than the former are dividing this country. No group should be treated special either and that includes White people too. What has illegal immigration have to do with the legal Hispanic citizens in this country? Why are so many taking sides with illegal foreigners rather than the rule of law and their fellow American citizens? That isn't what this country is all about. We take in over a million legal immigrants a year so this country is not inhumane or racist. What is going on here?

Thank you so much for your comments and to those of you who have posted links to my policy proposals and speeches. My comments were directed at family because I know that families should be at the core of the debate on immigration. We must realize that in order to fix our broken immigration policy, we must bring people from out of the shadows and provide a pathway to legalization. I also believe that any immigration reform bill that is proposed and does not focus on the reunification of families is missing the mark. It is for this reason that during the summer of 2007, I proposed an amendment to the comprehensive immigration reform bill that gave points to those who seek to immigrate and already have family in the United States. I continue to believe that comprehensive immigration reform is crucial and I have pledged to address this issue within my first year as President. It may not be politically convenient or easy, but we have to treat this problem with the urgency it demands. I stood with those calling for comprehensive reform when I marched on May 1, 2005 in Chicago, and I will stand with them as President.

Also, when I mentioned the high drop out rates of Latino children, I also mentioned the importance of the DREAM Act. In order to keep Latino children in school, it is essential that we first give immigrant children hope, the hope they will be able to attend college and make a better life for themselves. We owe it to our children to give them all the resources and opportunities possible. That is why I believe so strongly in making early childhood education, alternative high school programs and college more available and more affordable. It is also important to make mentoring programs and educational summer programs a priority, to help put college within reach. And that’s what I’ll do as President.

RICARDO A:

Although my Spanish is a bit rusty,I did study the language for three years in High School and Two on College.

I think it's fair to point out the unassailable fact that many illegal aliens as well as a fair number of legals speak no language other than Spanish.

I have overheard many Spanish speakers speak Spanish exclusively to children in stores and then speak English to store employees. This does not serve the best interests of the children unless they are merely visiting this country. Perhaps the Spanish lessons might be better taught at home.

I don't expect you to agree with me but I do feel strongly that English should be the official language of this country and that all illegal aliens should be deported. They could then waqit their turn with those from other countries who might like to be here.

Frank, yeah we should all get over partisan politics but:

NO HUMANO ES ILEGAL!

There's a reason I support Obama AND immigrant rights. Please listen to me on this. The HRC campaign will try to lie to you, it's a slick political machine... how CAN Obama's campaign, it's made up of millions of ordinary people.

I think HRC is racist against Latinos (she said she "knew you" because you are "waiters"... not "doctors" and not "lawyers" and not "good friends," but the people who "cared for our children" ... she said that in the New Hampshire Debate) and it disturbs me and it disturbs me to see you give her your trust only to for her to exploit that trust down the line.

You NEED to talk about this. This isn't about race, it's about stopping oppression.

Do I believe, because of the research that I've done, that HRC and Obama's immigration reform policy looks the same? NO. NOT AT ALL.

Do I believe that Obama will not improve the lives of immigrants? NO. OR I WOULD NOT HAVE VOTED FOR HIM.

We do field work on the ground, me with my bad Spanish, trying to get I.C.E. to go away, alto la migra, all the time.

And I support Obama. And my friends support Obama. Latino activists support Obama.

Please vote for your welfare! The welfare of your children. I am concerned.

Also, he is showing as more electable than Clinton. Time Magazine has said it only today, in polls. Countless other polls have said the same. McCain is disliked almost as much as Clinton. Obama is beloved by people which is how he attracts such a large, awesome, inspired group.

Also, he won't be bound by political lobbyists.

That's a big deal in immigration reform, because deportation is a mainly privatized industry. HRC can be swayed by that industry; Obama will not be.

This is revolution, my friends.

VIVA LA RAZA Y VIVA OBAMA!!!!

Sakino, first let me thank you for not hurling insults my way just because we have a different point of view.

"NO HUMANO IS ILLEGAL"? Depends on what you mean by that. We have people who have violated our immigration laws and that is why they are called illegal aliens. It doesn't mean that they are as humans born on this earth illegal to the planet. Your remark is just meant to spin the truth.

There is no candidate left in the race that I would feel comfortable voting for. I am a conservative Republican. McCain is not. Not much difference between him and Obama/Clinton. The only thing that I agree with the Democrats on is ending the war. So I guess if I decide to vote at all I would vote for Hillary as she wants to end the war anyway.

I have some serious differences with Obama on CIR based on his statement above. Hillary only gets a slightly better mark in my mind on this issue. What oppression are you speaking of? Could you elaborate? What "immigrants" would Obama improve the lives of? Isn't this about illegal aliens? Why should we improve their lives? How about improving the lives of Americans? I am thinking of my welfare and the welfare of my children by not supporting the kind of CIR that McCain/Kennedy proposed and was defeated.

The remarks you said that Hillary made about Latinos was about the illegal ones and she meant it as a compliment as in "you cared for our children". She was pandering to legal Hispanic citizens by showing sympathy and respect for their illegal counterparts. I don't see why you were offended by that.

Why the "VIVA LA RAZA" at the end of your post? Why not "God Bless America" instead?

Come on Frank, you know very well what's going on here. Can you say La Raza? It's all about the numbers. While they continue to call us racists their entire agenda is based around their race, and their race only. When was the last time you saw thousands of Asians, Middle-Easterners, Africans or any other ethnic group marching in the streets by the thousands, making demands for changes to our laws and chanting anti-American crap.

As we sit ideally by this nation is under a full invasion for the south by illegal aliens. Most of them are young and immediately start producing anchor babies to further increase their numbers. The majority of them advocate open borders and promote amnesty for those that are already here. Some will openly admit it, some won't, but eventually the balance will tip in their favor if this situation is left unchecked. Once that occurs, their agenda of bringing down the White power structure, which has existed since the conception of this country, will be achieved. It has nothing to do with being American and all to do with La Raza. Does that just stink with racism or what?

This Presidental election will be the most important one of our life and will determine the type of America that our children and grandchildren will inherit. With any luck it will come down to Obama and McCain as the candidates for President. This combination will bring out White American voters like never before. Whether you like it or not, the racial divide in this country will be the deciding factor at election time. If by chance the candidates are Hillary and McCain things could still be in our favor because even if Hillary wins she will not be so eager to do anything
she has promised. Her promises aren't worth the breath it took to make them. Besides, she has already taken a stand against drivers licences for illegal aliens and with enough pressure from people that believe in enforcing the laws, she can be kept in check. McCain, is the best bet for actually saving our country even though he was part of the Shamnesty Bill. Recently he seems to be turning around on some of his thinking and I believe he is starting to lean further to the right.

So, if everyone can be honest with themselves, we as a nation have not overcome our racial divide. Too many comments in this blog are proof of that, including mine. It's only human nature.

EOT, you are of course right in your summations of what the bottom line agenda is here. I wonder if Obama saw it too? Maybe he doesn't care because he is a minority sticking up for other minorities? That is another reason I can't vote for him...racial politics rather than doing what is best for this country and following the rule of law. As you said, I think Hillary will be less of a threat.

I wonder why Obama hasn't given any thought to the population growth we have already experienced with illegal immigration or how the kind of CIR that was presenented last year will even further our population growth through family reunification and chain migration.

I wish I could trust McCain but I don't. As I said, if I do vote, I will vote for Hillary because of Obama's remarks in here.

Frank,
The ANTI Illegal Immigration debate clearly illustrates the views of many Republicans are ANTI Latino and ANTI Immigrant. The view of the majority of ANTIs includes Mass Deportation of the 12M here, limited future immigration and the enforcement of strict restrictionist laws within our own U.S. communities.

Let´s start with the restrictionist laws, as those enforced in Oklahoma and recently in Arizona. The restrictionist law in Oklahoma includes criminal penalties for those transporting illegal immigrants. Do you know what this means? It means if you give anyone a ride in your car, you need to check for their papers, otherwise, run the risk of being arrested. This means the police are racial profiling all Hispanic driven vehicles and stopping them, as they are doing now in Tulsa. I´ve read several comment sections from the local Tulsa newspapers in which the residents are very upset about what is happening in their communities. Not only Hispanics, but many Native Americans are targeted. Once stopped, the police have a right to inspect anything in your car. If any type of civil violation occurs, you are ticketed (e.g. wiper blade repair). Keep in mind they are targeting people “Driving While Brown (DWB).” Do you know what their citizens are saying? They are saying they did not vote for these laws, why are they made to go through this. (BTW, these laws were championed by the Minutemen Leaders, led by Randy Terrill, REPUBLICAN – Moore, OK with no public vote). Democrats and the Local Chamber are against these laws and are taking actions to rescind them. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080202_1_A1_hItsj23352

Sheriff Arpaio in Arizona is doing the same racial profiling.

News reports are saying throngs of Latinos (legal citizens and illegal immigrants) are leaving both Oklahoma and Arizona now. Who can blame them.

Leading Republicans are supporting these Restrictionist Laws and the Mass Deportation of the 12M here. Who among Republicans? Let´s start with their Presidential Candidates, especially Tancredo (shall we talk about his affiliation with racial Hate Groups), Hunter, Paul, Romney and Huckabee (recent affiliation with Minuteman Gilchrist). Then the Right Wing Shock Jocks including: Limbaugh, Hannity, Buchanan, Coulter, Malkin, Beck and Dobbs. Why do you think these guys are angry at McCain? Because he is the only candidate that supports CIR. Read the ANTI blogs and ANTI discussion boards including the Minuteman Project, FAIR, NumbersUSA, Alipac to see their HATE FILLED ANTI LATINO Discussions. In fact, the Anti-Defamation League has said these ANTI groups are Hate Groups. Both the ADL and the Southern Poverty Law Center have acknowledged the “Code Words of Hate” used by these ANTI groups. http://www.wecanstopthehate.org/site/page/code_words_of_hate

It is important that we all recognize what is happening in our country right now. Our country needs not only a CHANGE but a CORRECTION, just as it did during the fifties and sixties. In the sixties we needed the Civil Rights Movement. Today we need to “Stop the Hate.” The word Obama used during the last debate “Scape-goating” was EXACTLY RIGHT!

The candidate that acknowledges and exposes this Hate and creates and supports a Movement to Correct It will WIN the nomination.

We Latinos LOVE our great USA! Of course we support Secure Borders and Employer Sanctions for unscrupulous employers. The difference is, we look for a path to citizenship for the 12M who are here felony free (most have been here +5 - 20 years). We support Comprehensive Immigration Reform. We are loyal, educated, we serve in the military. To claim anything else is a Lie. We must support and vote for a DEMOCRAT in 2008 for President!

Dee
http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/

Frank, why are you spouting offensive and racist views on Latina Lista? Did you take a wrong-turn in Amarillo or something? Your views are atrocious.

Am I an American? I'm a Daughters of the Revolution American. But I also know that the struggle of Latinos is a serious, basic human rights and civil rights issue. I'm not out to convert people like you, but I am out to help Latinos, Latino-Americans, etc...

Why? Because I have a good heart, plain and simple. Because I can't stand by idly while I see injustice performed upon a proud people. Because I don't believe in white privilege. I want the American dream of freedom and equality and happiness for all who make it to our grounds.

And I do strongly feel that Senator Obama is the MOST ELECTABLE candidate to do that.

Time Magazine shows McCain can't beat him, but that McCain can beat Hillary. That means really careful voting for anyone who doesn't want 100 years of war, or another 4-8 years of a Republican in the white house.

Please do your research, Latina Lista. I am one voice. There are millions more like mine. Go onto Obama's site and check for yourself. Go post something. The whole site is en espanol, derecha, there's a button to change it. If you like what you see, show your parents, other non-English speakers, and if they don't read, talk with them one to one. If they say they want to vote HRC, explain why members from the Committee For Immigrant Rights will support them, members from the County of Refuge, Dolores Huerta, La Opinion, who writes:

El Partido Demócrata llega a la primaria de California con una oferta histórica entre dos candidatos extraordinarios. Creemos que entre ellos el senador Barack Obama representa realmente el cambio en una campaña en que "el cambio" es el tema central. Los puntos sobre inmigración del legislador de Illinois y su visión inspiradora es lo que necesita el país para salir del sentimiento actual de agotamiento político.

No hay duda de que la senadora Hillary Clinton sería una presidenta excelente si fuera electa. Es una mujer capaz, competente, disciplinada y trabajadora que ha demostrado talento como legisladora y que tiene la posición correcta en la mayoría de los temas. Su plan para un seguro de salud universal es un ejemplo de las valiosas iniciativas que ha propuesto la candidata. Sería grandioso poder elegir a la primera mujer presidente de esta nación.

La senadora ha obtenido un respaldo significativo de influyentes y reconocidos líderes nacionales latinos como Raúl Yzaguirre, Henry Cisneros y el alcalde Antonio Villaraigosa. Ella trabajó arduamente durante muchos años representando el mejor interés de los latinos y su compromiso personal esta documentado a lo largo de esta campaña.

Sin embargo, este es un momento histórico donde la gran capacidad y experiencia de la senadora es insuficiente para brindar al país el sentido de renovación que necesita después de ocho años de George W. Bush.

Nos ha desilusionado también la calculada oposición de Clinton a las licencias de conducir para los indocumentados, que contrasta con la contundencia de los argumentos de Obama a favor de las mismas. Sabemos que eso es muy controversial, pero hay una sola posición correcta y es la del legislador de Illinois. Ambos senadores respaldan una reforma integral de inmigración, pero Obama es el único que se comprometió a presentar de nuevo el proyecto de ley durante su primer año de gobierno.

Ese mismo compromiso con el tema migratorio llevó a Obama a condenar en un debate las mentiras que se dicen maliciosamente sobre ellos; a comprender la necesidad de las licencias y a defender a los estudiantes indocumentados con la coautoría del DREAM Act en la Legislatura. El senador ha mostrado carácter, manteniendo su línea pese al antagonismo del clima político.

Al mismo tiempo, no existe una gran diferencia entre los dos demócratas en la mayoría de los temas más importantes; por eso la visión marca la diferencia. Obama tiene un mensaje inclusivo y de esperanza, necesario para los momentos que vive el país. Él reúne las condiciones conciliadoras para revertir el círculo vicioso de rencor que desde hace décadas predomina en Washing-ton y paraliza las grandes decisiones necesarias.

Necesitamos un presidente que de nuevo inspire y una a los ciudadanos alrededor de las grandes posibilidades que nos brinda el futuro. Obama es el líder adecuado para este momento. Sabemos que no es muy conocido en nuestra comunidad y si bien tiene el respaldo de María Elena Durazo, del senador Gil Cedillo y de otros. No obstante, es quien hoy merece el respaldo de la comunidad latina.

Los demócratas ya están haciendo historia al tener que decidir su candidato a presidente entre una mujer y un afroamericano.

Barak Obama tiene la sensibilidad de un origen humilde, de un hogar multicultural y es la mejor opción para un cambio visionario.

Once again the pro-illegal alien crowd has twisted words to make those that oppose illegal immigration and open borders to be haters and racists. No one has stated that they are anti-immigration or anti-Hispanic. Illegal aliens in this country fall into many ethnic groups from every nation in the world. It's that the majority of them are from Mexico and South America and these are the ones that take the term "illegal alien" personally and as an attack on their race. Wrong, wrong , wrong. Legal and controlled immigration is supported by most everyone. Secure borders is what maintains a countries sovereignty and protects its citizens from foreign invasion.

For those demanding amnesty for the 20-25 million illegal aliens currently in our nation, stop and remember the blanket amnesty of 1986 that has created the problem we have today. Those that have broken laws must be held accountable, not rewarded for ignoring immigration laws that they chose to break. There is nothing racist or nothing anti-Hispanic about demanding full enforcement of laws currently in effect. We all want the American dream of freedom and equality and happiness for all who make it to our grounds LEGALLY AND AS DICTATED BY OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS.

Eyes of Texas,
Your name calling and accusations are false.
No one on the PRO side is Pro Illegal Alien (no human is Illegal).
We are PRO CIR (Comprehensive Immigration Reform). We want to legalize the 12M here who are felony free. Your side stopped CIR with your mass form letters campaign loading up the Congressional faxes and emails. (It is clear the FEW on your side are NOT the Majority in our great USA, otherwise Tancredo would be the GOP Presidential nominee.)

We DO NOT support Open Borders. We promote Secure Borders, with trained Border Patrol Agents. We DO NOT support vigilante minutemen driving around in their pickup trucks with guns shooting at people.

We DO NOT support restrictionist Immigration laws like those enacted in Oklahoma that promote racial profiling. Citizens were not allowed to vote for these bills. They were pushed through by Minutemen leaders. Now, the sane members of OK. Congress are trying to rescind them. Note: in one respect, it is good they did pass these laws so the Nation can see the impact on the economy and on citizens (Latinos and Native Americans) being racially profiled.

It is important that anyone who enters into Immigration discussions understand the History of Immigration in our country. Our country has welcomed in workers from Latin countries for over a hundred years. They have partnered with Mexico and initiated work programs such as the Bracero program to bring in workers. Even when Immigration laws were imposed, they were not enforced. It is Business and the various Administrations that have brought in workers and employed them, while parntering with our Southern Neighbors on NAFTA and CAFTA to allow Free Trade and establish additional manufacturing partnerships like the maquiladoras program.

Brewing beneath the surface, the ANTI godfather, John Tanton, began his nativist quest to restrict immigration particularly from the south. He said Hispanics were not educatable. He said we should limit and restrict immigration. He formed FAIR and sponsored other groups including: NumbersUSA with Roy Beck, ProAmericaPAC with Bay Buchanan, and You Don´t Speak for Me, a so-called Hispanic group which was actually started by Tanton and Ira Mehlman. Tanton sponsored many other nativists groups which began the ANTI dialogue in the 1970´s and gained energy after 9-11, partnering with nativist groups including the Minutemen, Stormfront, VDare, Alipac, etc. These groups promote fear tactics by using terms such as 3rd World Country (eg: Tancredo´s line: “Miami is a 3rd World Country”), Anchor Babies, Disease (eg: Dobbs gross exaggerations about Leprosy) and blaming the crimes of a few on ALL 12M.

The Anti Defamation League (ADL) has said these ANTI groups are Hate Groups and has begun a campaign to Stop the Hate.

These are complex issues, my friend. Most Americans know that and understand it will take Comprehensive Immigration Reform to resolve these very complex issues.

Dee
http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/

Well so much for my compliment to Sakina for addressing me without insults with her first reply to me. I should have know that the pro illegals true colors would come out in the wash.

I said nothing that was racist. I said that I don't like racial or ethnic politics. I want a president who represents all Americans. What is racist about that?

I asked if Obama had given any thought to population growth and the ensuing chain migration from the type of CIR that he is proposing. What is racist about that?

EOT, you are right. These people can't stand any enforcement of our immigration laws but they can't attack the government so they attack us instead. There is nothing racist about wanting our immigration laws enforced, absolutely nothing! They try to turn it into an anti-Latino, anti-immigrant issue and that is a bald faced lie!

These people claim to have good hearts but it is only extended towards their own ethnic kind who are here illegally in this country, not American citizens.

All the rest of the whining about ICE, racial profiling and the rest of their blather is just to gain sympathy for those illegally in our country and to pull the race card at every turn. Shameful that our country has become divided in this way rather than united by the laws and sovereignty of this country.