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Good article, Mike. I am an Obama supporter and I am glad the DNC moved him closer to being the candidate. But the Clinton press in Puerto Rico and resulting lopsided victory has lessons for us and the general election. Baracks weakness among Latinos is a real weak spot. I think it can be overcome with some work, not just be dancing the salsa, though that is important.
First, he needs to learn more Spanish, more than si, se puede. He must know some and spending a couple of hundred hours or so in the next couple of months doing some immersion would have a big payoff, both in election campaigning in the SW and California, for his image as a man of the people and if elected, to avoid the pidgin tex-mex of GWB.
Also, get latinos for neighborhood organizing in the campaign, not just idealistic white kids. Hispanics trust their own, la raza, la familia, first. Florida appearances with latin musical icons, speaking Spanish on the podium would get a lot of votes and break through latino skepticism, who dont trust politicians, but are won over by personal contact.
Many Latinos have a latent and not so latent suspicion of "blacks" ,partly from the explicit racism of the Spanish conquerors and also from the history of the African slaves coming in and taking the jobs of indigenous workers, an old tactic.
However, the great majority of Mexicans and a significant minority of other Central and South Americans are mestizos,mixed blood. Barack is definitely a mixed blood with his white mom and African dad. His multicultural background increases his mextizoness or mestizaje. He also looks like a mestizo and could easily pass as a Mexican in the southern Mexican place that I live, San Cristobal de las Casas. His height would only get him more respect.
In the election maybe he is concerned about calling too much attention to his blackness and mestizaje, his mixed bloodness, among the general white US population. I think that this would be a mistake. Many Democrats would consider this a plus. Many other Americans, Republicans and Democrats are neutral on race or cultural background and will only look at his strength and knowledge and where he stands on the economic, foreign policy and social issues that affect them.
The 20 percent of white voters who voted race in Appalachia are probably mostly lost except for the ones convinced by his bread and butter proposals for their areas and his personal appeal.
I am just an old white guy retired in southern Mexico but speak Portuguese and Spanish and spent much of my life living and working with latinos. I am also a fervent supporter of Barack and want him to win big in November and take this country back from the scalawags who have ruined it.
