Diaz to Support Obama After Departure of Solis Doyle
A State Senator who criticized the dismissal of the top Latina on Hillary Clinton's campaign now says he’ll support Barack Obama as a result.
When reached by cell phone Monday night in Albany, State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. said, "I never supported anyone yet, so, you know, if I support Obama? Yes. I am with Obama, yes."
Diaz, who has had a history of criticizing his fellow Democrats in New York, said, "Hillary's campaign has been going down because of Bill Clinton, William Jefferson Clinton. Because people like Charlie Rangel, who called Obama stupid."
But the final straw, Diaz, said, was the removal of Patti Solis Doyle as Clinton's campaign manager, which was announced over the weekend. The next day, Diaz, along with Assemblyman Jose Peralta, sent a letter to Clinton's campaign saying they felt the Hispanic community was being ignored, and Doyle treated as a scapegoat.
"It is hard to understand how the Hispanic community that has been there to keep your campaign alive could remain in your corner when the first Hispanic woman to serve as your presidential campaign manager has 'resigned' from her post," Diaz and Peralta wrote.
They went on to say, "Although we are inclined to believe that Patti Solis Doyle did resign, we would like you to realize that it will be very troubling to many if somehow we later find that she left her post under pressure because of the recent primary losses your campaign suffered. If so, we will have many questions about why a Hispanic woman who has helped to build Latino support for you throughout the nation would have been the one to take the blame and resign from her post instead of others involved with your campaign, including former President Clinton, who have caused serious problems and embarrassing situations for your campaign."
In the phone interview, Diaz told me, "This is the first Hispanic woman ever to run a presidential campaign. By replacing her, the message they are sending is that they are losing because of a campaign manger. So, at the end, what they are going to do is ruin this lady's career."
Peralta told me, "This is not a hostile letter. This is just trying to make sure that Hillary Clinton does not forget Latinos because she is going to bank on Latinos to win the election in Texas, she is going to bank on Latinos to win the election in Ohio and Pennsylvania."
When told of Diaz's decision to support Obama, Peralta said, "He said he was? Oh, the Reverend is always controversial in that way," and added, "Latinos still like Hillary. They're just concerned they may have been taken for granted."
Peralta said he was representing constituents who "wanted to make sure that there wasn't that distancing of Hillary Clinton from them in trying to court, not only a courting of another ethnic group, but forgetting about another ethnic group, being the Latinos."
When reached for a comment, a spokesman for Clinton's campaign referred to Doyle's comments in the AP, where she said, "This is my decision, my choice, my timing," and "I was really, really proud to be the first Hispanic woman to run a presidential campaign and particularly proud of the way Hispanics turned out and they turned out for Hillary."
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 45.8
- 41.6
- Obama +4.2
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.6
- 33.0
- +22.6
- McCain
- 52.6
- 34.3
- +18.3
These two are really disgusting. What does the fact that Doyle is Hispanic (or as our ever so educated electeds might say, "Latino") have to do with anything. Someone drops the ball and they get replaced. Am I missing something here?
Obama's entire campaign is about bringing all types of people together... I'm not to sure where these two ass clowns fit in with that plan. They really do a disservice to their community with this nonsense.
Hands down, the Bronx has the LEAST RESPECTABLE ELECTEDS in the City. Just disgusting.
These two are definitely absurd, and their stance on this issue is nothing short of silly. But one of them is from Queens and one is from the Bronx, so I'm not sure how the above poster came to his conclusion about Bronx electeds.
Not sure why the poster's last comment is relevant either... It sure is accurate though! Bronx does have the worst of the worst.
Shame on you "Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and even Staten Island!" Crapping on the Bronx has a place and time.
Live by the sword. Die by the sword. For mos. we have been told by both Clintons Latinos WOULD NOT VOTE FOR AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, while Ms. Solis-Doyle was the Campaign Manager, so clearly proffered this message. Barack wants to move BEYOND this kind of Tammany-Hall, side deal, special (ethnic) interest politics to doing what is best for ALL Americans at this difficult time. Instead, Latinos have themselves been playing the RACE card proudly. NOT ONE so-called leader has spoken up to challenge this clearly divisive and RACIST rationale for voting for or against a President. It is a stark CONTRAST to the rest of the Nation at this moment in time. Dated and destructive, as Ms. Solis-Doyle has found. Latinos may be a large group, but they are standing against an even larger group -- the rest of the American people who are running from the Clintons and this kind of politics in droves. Arrogance re Latino nos. and attempts to enforce their interests w/side deals w/the Clintons will be thwarted. Perhaps it IS time Latinos re-think their rationale and rethink RACIST voting IF their self-interests are to be respected after Inauguration Day 2009. Latinos wouldn't want Americans to NOT vote for them because of THEIR ethnicity??? Mr. Diaz may be the wisest of the crew. Jump on board! The train is leaving the station and we can do better than this.
These guys are idiots. As an hispanic I find this disgusting! That lady herself got fired or resigned cause this campaign was too much for her. Simple as that. It went over her head. A lady who calls herself the 'queen bee'...please!!! As far as this two never heard of them but their stance is just absurd!
You all seem to be missing the point here>
Hillary Clinton is a user she hires a latino to win over the latinos because she thought she had the blacks like me in a bag.
She fires the latino and hire a black to win back the black like me.
Scapegoating. That's what the Senator from Brooklyn or was it the Bronx was saying.
If you guys want to continue to be doped by the Clintons. Its your sh-- sit in it.
No wonder you'll think she's smart. Actually she is. Make sense of that. Too smart or i'm ignorant.
The eyes of this country are upon you !!! Please vote with careful consideration.
When you vote, don’t believe the Clinton campaign when it asserts that Barack Obama is not qualified to lead this country. Obama’s great background exceeds Hillary’s qualifications. Here are a few highlights from Barack Obama’s resume…
He graduated in the top 1% of his class at Harvard Law School with a major in Constitutional Law, and was elected President of the Harvard Law Review - a great honor.
Hillary graduated in the middle of her class and flunked her law exam TWICE (this is true, check it out !!)
Obama could have gotten a high paying prestigious job, but opted to work as a community organizer in the poor sections of Chicago helping blacks, hispanics and others to gain a political voice and get ahead.
Obama then worked for years as a Civil Rights lawyer representing a wide range of clients.
He also worked as a Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago.
For her ENTIRE CAREER in Arkansas, Hillary worked as a CORPORATE LAWYER representing large companies in lawsuits against them.
Hillary then became First Lady when Bill won the election, and for 8 years the one “real” project she headed was Health Care Reform, in which she failed miserably.
Barack Obama served as State Senator of Illinois for 8 years, and he has been U.S. Senator for ther last 3 years. He has a total of 11 years in ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICE.
Hillary has a total of 6 years in ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICE.
You be the judge. Who’s background is more relevant ??
Manhattan, Brooklyn, whoever you are? Why are you getting angry... stop taking the blogs too seriously... Relax, don't get angry at the Bronx. Most of the electeds in the Bronx are with Clinton... so are you saying that Clinton is the least respectable Senator?--- Dude--- take a chill pill, don't get so worked up.
We have to use this campaign to educate all Americans about the political process. I am sure that Mrs. Solis departure was based on other reasons not known to the American public. Latinos must make a decision that works best for the American people. African-Americans and Latinos can not afford to bring division amongst themselves. Today our lives our vested in the global economy. How can we compete in the global economy if we allow local leaders to bring division among both groups? If the Clintons campaign is based on bringing division, then we as Americans must take a good look at how both groups are being used to further one women's dream as oppose to the nations dream, for unity. The truth lies in who is voting for Obama. Our country can no longer respond to the race card. We are losing the fight economically because for to long our country has divided all groups. Ruben Diaz Sr. does not speak for all Latinos, nor should he be allowed to. It is not about black and white anymore. It is about America and its posiiton in the world. If we begin to feed into the race card at the end we will lose the war, and Lations we be viewed as a divisive group, as oppose to a group with strong contributions to American society. Let's be responsible for teaching all Americans how the individual can empower their communities by researching whom they feel can improve America' state. If your canidate is either Obama, Clinton, Huckabee or McCain, then do the research and support your candidate based on the facts and not emotion. Keep the Democracy alive.
Dear Azi:
While I too share State Senator Diaz and Assemblyman Peralta's concern, I must make public that the timing of the open letter to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton over the resignation of Patti Solis Doyle as campaign manager is not only suspect, but devoid of intellectual honesty.
As a resident of the Empire State and as a Democratic Party activist, I am concerned that the issues brought forth in the open letter fail to pass the smell test. If fairness is to be the standard, then we must first acknowledge Senator Clinton's commitment to the Latino community, especially women. We should all admire, support and celebrate the fact that of all Democratic candidates for President, only Senator Clinton demonstrated the foresight to name a Latina to the highest post in her bid for the presidency. Furthermore, Senator Clinton not only hired Patti Solis Doyle, but several other Latinas/os to work on her national campaign. Moreover, Senator Clinton previously made history by placing several Latinas/os in key positions within her New York District and Washington, DC Senate staff.
Now, let's turn our attention to New York State. Why aren't Senator Diaz or Assemblyman Peralta challenging and questioning our New York State Democratic Committee who has NO Latinas/os serving as co-chairs, NO Latina/o political strategies to engage the growing pockets of Latino communities springing up throughout the Empire State, and NO Latinas/os at the "think table." Where are the open letters from State Senator Diaz or Assemblyman Peralta regarding this lack of inclusion?
As a proud Latino, I will never hesitate to stand up to injustice and the lack of inclusion. However, I do not see the benefit of attacking one of the handful of non-Latino elected officials in our state who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our community – not just in words, but in action.
If these gentlemen are seeking to score cheap political points, I suggest that they get their own house in order first. You want my concurrence then turn your attention to the Federal Government, New York State Democratic Committee, and New York State Senate and Assembly. You want my respect then diversify your committees and Albany staff.
To put it bluntly, Jesus said, "but why are you looking at the speck in the eye of your brother, but you do not perceive the log in your own eye?" No matter how this election season concludes, Hillary Clinton will go down in history as a courageous friend to all Latinas/os across the United States. We should be good enough to be at least half as loyal as she has been to us.
Sincerely,
CRJ
Alternate Delegate
7th Congressional District – The Bronx
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for President
ʵ