This letter is associated with the following article:
Letters
Monday, June 2, 2008 12:00 AM

Viva Hillary Clinton!

Although she won Puerto Rico easily, Clinton seemed to be campaigning in an alternate reality, as hopes for the nomination slipped away.

Read other letters about this article

  • Monday, June 2, 2008 06:42 AM

    Ana - that is right

    Interesting point - I'd respond that black Americans voting for a black candidate is a unique circumstance (and different from whites voting for a white given the nation's history). Much like Catholics coming out for JFK. So the fact that this is the first black candidate with a shot at winning does buck the trend. Same with women and Hillary, as you note.

    But as for the point on Hispanics, I think I'm right. In terms of Hispanic media you are citing the mass-market Spanish-language networks and publications. If you look tactically you'll find that Spanish media in a given market is skewed to its population, and will vary based on the country of origin. A Spanish newspaper in LA will have more Mexican news. A Spanish newspaper in NY will have little Mexican content, and more Puerto Rican skew. Miami will be Cuban. There may be more than one in a market. All of these blocks have their own POV and interests. No better example than FL Cubans, who are upscale educated Republicans. Contrast that with NYC Puerto Ricans, who vote Democrat.

    I do remember those protests. But I also remember that Philadelphia and Boston and many other large metros saw minimal protests from Hispanics. NY, LA, CHI, PHO saw larger ones because of the situation of that specific geography. These protests were locally coordinated, harnessing the passions and fears of local populations based on conditions there at the time. One group felt like they were gonna be deported, the other felt nothing for 'the cause'. There is not the kind of 'pan Hispanic' movement, as the populations remain too fragmented. Just as there is not much of a "Pan Asian" movement among Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese - although that is more apparent due to differences in language. The fact Hispanics share the same language - and thus gravitate to the same media - is not really an indicator that there is a larger movement afoot.

    Other than looking at the older population segments of mainland Puerto Ricans, I don't see how one could draw anything from the islander vote.

Most Active Letters Threads

692

The commendably missing element from Obama's speech

There was no pretense that human rights is our goal, or the likely outcome, in escalating the war
688

Obama's exceedingly familiar justifications for escalation

The "new" approach to Afghanistan touted by White House officials seems quite old
440

The face of rotted Washington

Evan Bayh demands more debt-financed war - fought by others - while boasting that he's a stern "deficit hawk."
324

Yes, it's Obama's war now

An uninspiring speech sells a dubious policy, but progressives who feel betrayed have only themselves to blame
209

Bigotry wins in Switzerland

By voting to ban the construction of minarets, Switzerland apes the most extreme intolerance in the Muslim world

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon