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Hillary hopes to appeal to Hispanics
(by Mark J. Bonamo - January 29, 2008)
U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez introduces Hillary Clinton on Jan. 23.
“I know how incredibly important family is in the Latino community,” said Clinton to an estimated audience of 1,200 people at a rally hosted by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, the Cuban-American national co-chairman of Clinton’s campaign. “Let’s start supporting Latino families with real resources.”
In front of a sign stating “Juntos con Hillary, a una vida mejor”, which means “Together with Hillary for a better life”, Clinton expounded on her plans for education, health care and the economy, specifically advocating a $3,500 annual tax credit for parents of college students and criticizing President Bush’s No Child Left Behind education policies. The New York senator then touched on one particular issue that is especially important for Hispanics, the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States, who now make up close to 10 percent of eligible voters in the Garden State.
“We’re going to fix our broken immigration system,” Clinton said, outlining her goals for tightening border security while providing a way for illegal immigrants to gain legal status if they officially register, learn English and pay back taxes and a fine for entering the U.S. illegally. “I think we’ve got to bring people out of the shadows. I believe that having people - 12 to 14 million of them here undocumented - is just a recipe for exploitation, for abuse, for demagoguery.”
Clinton went on to say that those undocumented immigrants who have committed a crime in the U.S. or in their home country should be deported, emphasizing that these individuals are “a very, very small percentage” of all undocumented persons.
“That is the only practical, realistic solution,” Clinton said. “It is in keeping with our values as a nation of immigrants and in keeping with the rule of law.”
Local Latina lauds Hillary
Among those assembled to listen to Clinton’s suggested solutions for the country was Luz Carreno, 43, of Leonia, a Colombian native who became an U.S. citizen four years ago. Carreno is a member of the Colombian American Organizations Leadership, a political action committee founded in Bergen County in 2006 that is a part of the Latino PAC Alliance, a group consisting of Latino organizations and politicians in New Jersey.
“One of our goals is to help the new generation get involved in American government,” said Carreno, pointing to the rise to political power of Colombian-Americans such as Hackensack Mayor Jorge Meneses and Bergen County Freeholder Chairman and Hackensack police captain Tomas Padilla. For Carreno, the choice is clear in terms of which candidate Latinos in Bergen County and beyond should support in the Feb. 5 Democratic primary.
“We have to support Hillary,” she said. “We Latinos think that her program really helps us, especially when it comes to education, health care and immigration. Hillary has the background that we need right now. Barack Obama is an intelligent man, but he needs more experience. I guess it’s not the time for him.”
For Menendez, Clinton is ‘el proximo Presidente de los Estados Unidos’
Just before Clinton’s 25-minute speech, Menendez escorted her to the stage and addressed the crowd in English and Spanish. He exhorted the cheering crowd to remember the four Hs on Feb. 5, “Hudson, Hispanics, Hillary, History,” the first H a reference to his home county. In a conversation with Sen. Menendez backstage after the rally, New Jersey’s leading Latino politician told Hackensack Chronicle why he believes that Hispanics will come out in large numbers for Clinton.
“I think the enthusiasm that we saw tonight is an indicator of how well she’ll do not only with the Hispanic community but throughout New Jersey,” Menendez said, pointing out that Clinton received close to 80 percent of the Hispanic vote in the Nevada Democratic primary.
“The Hispanic community is certainly enthused because we know Hillary’s history with us. She worked with us on issues such as reducing the Hispanic dropout rate, dealing with children’s health care and making sure that family reunification continues to be a key part of our immigration policy. For Hispanics, Hillary is a known commodity. She shares our values.”
Menendez disagreed with the concept that a racial divide is widening among Democratic voters during the increasingly heated campaign, with African-Americans strongly supporting Illinois Sen. Obama while Latinos lean towards Clinton.
“I was in Essex County a few days ago, and there almost all the African-American elected political leadership is for Hillary,” he said, pointing to U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-10th district) and New Jersey State Senator Nia Gill (D – 34th district) as Clinton supporters. “I see strong support for Hillary in the black community.”
A notable exception to this group of Essex County African-American politicians is Newark Mayor and Bergen County native Cory Booker, who is a strong backer of Obama, Clinton’s main rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Despite Obama’s recent gains in the polls against Clinton, Menendez does not see a surge threatening his candidate’s current front-runner status on Feb. 5, a day when New Jersey will be among 22 states holding a Democratic presidential primary.
“New Jersey is Hillary country,” he said, a reference to the Quinnipiac University poll released Jan. 23 which showed Clinton keeping a 49 percent to 32 percent lead over Obama among likely New Jersey Democratic primary voters. “The surge I see here is a Hillary surge. We’re going to show that Feb. 5.”
On a night in North Bergen, keeping the dream alive
For her part, Clinton seemed determined to show that she is ready to lead New Jersey Latinos as well as all Americans in the years ahead. In her speech, she referenced an idea that has fueled immigration to the United States for generations.
“I believe in the American dream for everybody,” Clinton said.
“I want to do what I can to make sure that dream stays alive.”
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