The first point made by that that dailykos diary writer covers the issue of Iraq and addresses the question that was read by the politico.com reporter from an African American woman who asked Senator Obama's and Senator Clinton's opinion about whether African American workers suffer from illegal imigration {I'm paraphrasing that question}
"Reasons why Obama may have started down the path to the Nomination Tonight:
1. Hillary Clinton was not able to change the direction of the momentum by playing nice. She entered the debate with a strategy to show some humility after the South Carolina trouncing and while people may come away liking her more, she didn't exactly persuade them to vote for her by skipping an answer on Immigrant Licenses and then spending 20 minutes rehashing her Iraq Vote contentions. Obama by Contrast was clear on his positions with Immigrants, did not pander to his base on the issue of Immigration but rather gave a stronger more forceful answer which will win points in the hispanic community. I'd go so far as to call it his sista souljah moment, with the Hispanic Community, the one Demographic he's hurting in. Additionally, he offered a stark contrast to the painful jujitsu that Hillary has to balance every time she discusses Iraq. He sealed the deal when he reminded her of the Title of the Bill she voted on. She didn't fool anybody with her answers, and the vote has come back to haunt her. Democrats need to present the voters with a contrast, and Barack made that clear tonight. While people applauded the red meat line about Bush Mopping, the real line that will win votes was "Right on Day One" especially in the light of her tortured Iraq Experience, which was "belabored" as he hinted"...
-snip-
Also, here's several poster comments about the immigration question:
"His immigration answer was a home run. Someone finally called this scapegoating against immigrants by name for what it really is -- scapegoating. -by Shem on Thu Jan 31, 2008
**
And Hillary's answer on immigration Just reinforced that meme. Like she was throwing Latinos under the bus to try and repair the damage with African Americans.
She didn't help herself there at all -by ChiGirl88 on Thu Jan 31
** I think Obama did this to go after latino vote (It was a positive for Obama. He has to get some more latino vote, and has been going after it heavy the last few days. el Piolin (spelling?)* -by egarr
**
There is no calculus Obama's position is born out of his community organizing background where he brought poor Latinos and AAs together to accomplish common goals. Obama knows that pitting the least of these against one another takes away all of their power. Obama is very popular with both the Latino and AA community in Illinois -by peraspera on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 10:59:15 PM PST
-snip-
* Eddie Sotelo, known as El Polini {Tweety Bird} is a tremendously popular and very influential Latino radio DJ who has endorsed Senator Barack Obama. [Radio La Nueva 101.9 FM - Estaciones de Radio en Los Angeles]/ Senator Ted Kennedy, who recently endorsed Barack Obama, has been a celebrated guest on that radio show, as he is held in high esteem by El Polini and many other Latinos. Here's a link to a summary of Senator Kennedy's appearance this past week on that radio show to encourage El Polini's listeners to get out and vote for Barack Obama: http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=400 Kennedy Lionized on El Piolín in 20 Minute Pro-Obama Call
Here's an excerpt from that article: "The El Piolín radio show, the most popular Spanish-language radio show in America (strike that - see the update below - it is the most popular radio show in any language nationwide), with millions of listeners in California and nationwide, gave a BIG buildup for Teddy at 7:40 a.m. California time with a three minute pre-produced bio calling him "the best senator in America" highlighting Kennedy family history and his leadership on education, health care and immigration reform..."
Sotelo translates his words.
- Kennedy: "Only two senators marched for immigrant rights on May 1, 2006, one in Washington and the other in Chicago. I marched in Washington and Barack Obama marched in Chicago. He was not afraid to stand up when others wouldn't."
- Obama has led in health care for children, in education and jobs.
- "Obama will lead the change and I will be there at his side."
- "70,000 Hispanics have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 11 percent of all the casualties in this war have been Hispanic. The Hispanic youth are patriotic and have served this country."
- "I'm committed to coming back on the immigration bill and Barack Obama will be with me. He is the one candidate who has said that he can do this in his first term. There's too many people that are living in the shadows. Men and women of dignity who love their families who love their faith. I'm on their side and Barack Obama is on their side."
- Sotelo continues translating for his listeners.
- Kennedy pushes his event for Obama with US Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-California) at East Los Angeles Community College, 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. Makes a "personal invitation" to the listeners to attend.
- "I'll do my best to be there after my show," says Sotelo.
-snip- Senator Obama has also received the endorsement of other popular Latino radio DJs in other US states.