THEY ARE FEELING THIS BROTHA, TRUST ME!
By Najee Ali
The recent false and misleading statements by Sen. Clinton and her staff who implied that Latinos will not vote for Sen. Obama because he is Black are ridiculous.
There are three African American Congress members(Diane Watson, Laura Richardson, and Maxine Waters) whose congressional districts in Los Angeles are noted for having a large population of Latino voters. These African American Congress members as well as Jan Perry, an African American L.A. City Councilmember could not retain there seat without the Latino vote.
Latino voters can’t allow the politics of fear to guide them when they cast their vote. The Clinton campaign has chosen to engage in the politics of divide and conquer. When we cast our ballots to vote we shouldn’t cast our ballot for anyone based on race whether their Latino, African American White or Asian. We have to elect someone who best serves our interests.
When Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa first ran for Mayor I was one the few African American leaders who endorsed him and worked on his campaign. The majority of African American leaders endorsed and supported City Attorney James K. Hahn who grew up in our community and whose father was the legendary Supervisor Kenny Hahn. Black voters were more comfortable supporting someone whose name they knew and whose family was part of their past.
Villaraigosa was unsuccessful in his first attempt but Villaraigosa was successful on his second attempt due in part on the strength of the African American vote which helped him to become the city first Latino Mayor in over a century. African Americans and Latinos live side by side in various parts of the city. We share the same problems and concerns which include gang violence, a lack of jobs, and employment training access to quality schools and healthcare.
Black voters realized that Mayor Villaraigosa was the future and our best choice. Black voters needed to have and welcome a new friend into our community. We chose to vote our conscience and for someone we believed in the next election. Our new friend Mayor Villaraigosa is now a voice in South Los Angles and City Hall for the Black community.
On Tuesday Feb 5th, Latino voters will face a similar dilemma and challenges. Clinton and her husband former President Bill Clinton are well known in the Latino community. Sen. Clinton has been able to use those relationships to garner endorsements from some Latino leaders but is she the best choice for Latinos based on their needs? Sen. Clinton does not support supports driver licenses for undocumented immigrants.
Sen. Obama has a long history of working side by side in Chicago with Latino activists for social change’s.Sen Obama has stated publicly that he supports driver licenses for undocumented immigrants.
Which is why I believe he has been able to secure the vote and support of influential Latino leaders such as Congressman Xavier Becerra, State Sen. Gil Cedillo and State Sen. Gloria Romero. Undocumented immigrants who qualify should be able to drive legally to the store, work, parks, school, and the doctor’s office or anywhere they choose. That should be a right for the Latino community.
The Latino community in Southern California is now faced with the same challenge that African American voters faced. Will the Latino community vote for politicians based on there name or will they vote for their future and a person that best represents there needs.
Digital Civil Rights Activist Najee Ali is co-founder of the Latino and African American Leadership Alliance.