The Progressive Latino

Center for American Progress on Immigration Reform

The Center for American Progress is a progressive think tank.  An article produced on 29 Sept. 2011 (http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/09/immigration_economy.html) highlighted 10 reasons why immigration reform is important to our nations fiscal health.  Had we had comprehensive immigration reform two years ago, we would have had $1.5 trillion added to our gross domestic product and we would have seen a growth of 2.9% in our GDP.  Take a look at the article.  Immigration reform is not only the compassionate course of action, Americans can take but it is a wise investment in our nation's overall economic health.

Income Inequality Hits All-Time High

With all the talk regarding the 99% it looks like it is a fact - the top 1% according to a Congressional report, "Trends in the Distribution of Income"  (http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/124xx/doc12485/10-25-HouseholdIncome.pdf) saw their income grow 275% from 1979 to 2007!  President Obama wants to pay for the jobs bill by having the top 1% pay just .05% more in taxes yet the Republicans have opposed the bill.  Jobs are a key issue for Latinos. Being among the worst hit, Latinos need to wake up to the Republican obstructionism as it continues to hurt the Latino community.

Florida denies In-State tuition to Latino U.S. Citizens

Lately we have been hearing about Rick Perry and that in Texas he has in-state tuition for children of undocumented immigrant.  Conservatives are in an uproar and all the other Republican presidential contenders have criticized Perry.  Nearby in Florida Latino U.S. citizens are denied in-state tuition becasue of who their parents are.  In short because their parents can provide proof of citizenship, their children through no fault of their are expected to pay out-of-state rates.  These are children that once completing college will be able to participate as Americans, contribute to society with their God-given talents and also be tax payers.  There is no justice in this.  See Ian Milhifer's Think Progress article at: http://thinkprogress.org/tag/immigration

Republican wants Hispanic Speaking voters to prove they are American

Republicans continue to show they are no friends of Latinos. Due to Florida's growing population, it stands to gain two new congressional seats. One may be in Central Florida where there has been a growing Hispanic presence, primarily of Puerto Ricans. In a Think Progress article by Alex Seitz-Wald, he wrote that Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, rekindled the divisive debate over illegal immigration when he told the Senate committee reviewing a series of congressional redistricting plans that “before we design a district anywhere in the state of Florida for Hispanic voters, we need to ascertain that they are citizens of the United States.” Well first off if one citizen has to prove he/she is a America then all need to. Additionally, Puerto Ricans are US citizens at birth whether born in the US or in Puerto Rico. See full article at: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/10/21/350601/florida-republican-rep-calls-for-hispanic-speaking-voters-to-prove-they-are-american/

Latinos Occupy Wall Street

It now appears that as the Occupy Wall Street movement grows that there is increased participation of Latinos in the movement. Latinos share the same concerns as mainstream Americans, and along with African Americans have been the worst hit by the economic downturn. Among the many grievances of those in the Occupy Wall Street movement are the lack of accountability that allowed Wall Street to run amuck causing our financial system to collapse and bringing us to the brink of a depression; CEOs that send American jobs overseas, and a system that puts over 40 % of our wealth in the hands of the top 1% leaving the 99 % with increased financial hardships and limited opportunities. Lack of jobs has hit Latinos hard and so it it good to see that Latinos are increasingly supporting the Occupy movement. TPL recommends you read article by David Ramirez at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/20/latinos-occupy-wall-street_n_1011283.html

Obama on the American Jobs Act

 On Wednesday, October 19, President Obama visited Ashville, NC. There he gave a great speech (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TmnJKwxOcw&feature=youtube_gdata_player) which highlighted the differences between his Americans Job Act (AJA) and the Republican option. It is important for Latinos to understand the AJA. It consists on concrete proposals that can be implemented now. Several of its proposal are ones that were supported in the past by Republicans yet all the Republicans on the Senate voted against it and the Republican Congress will not even let it on the floor for debate. So this leave Obama with the only other option that is to take his cause to the American people so they can pressure Congress to act. TPL believes the AJA benefits Latinos - what do you think?

 

Republicans want an Electrical Border fence to Kill Illegal immigrants

By now many of you may have heard that Republican Presidential candidate, Herman Cain proposed establishing an electrified border fence http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/herman-cain-wants-electrified-border-fence-to-kill-illegal-immigrants.php?ref=fpb) that would kill illegal immigrants tying to cross into the U.S. He has already back-pedaled saying it was just a joke but his arrogant attitude says it all. You'll note
the title above did not point to Cain but Republicans. Reason for that is to make you think - note that other Republicans have not repudiated Cain, and if you watch the video you will hear his supporters cheering. This is what you can expect Latino from the Republican party. Remember this next time you feel Obama has not solved all our problems in his first three years. See Cain's speak on building an electrical fence at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PFAAILiNxU . See Congressman Gonzales' comments on Cain at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVJ74jVnQ18

What Occupy Wall Street means to Latinos

The Occupy Wall Street movement is picking up steam with over 200 Occupy Wall Street groups (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/04/1022722/-Occupy-Wall-Street:-List-and-map-of-over-200-US-solidarity-events-and-Facebook)  throughout the US, Canada and even Puerto Rico.  The fundamental issue regardless of who might be in the movement is that they see themselves as the 99% of America that has been victum to the greed of the 1% represented by Wall Street.  Republicans are trying to make out the "Occupy" groups as mobs.  They did not have a big problem when their Tea Party was at Congress, spitting on members of Congress afew years ago.  Nancy Pelosi, to her credit called out Eric Cantor's hypocracy (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/09/nancy-pelosi-wall-street-protests_n_1002289.html).  What does Occupy Wall Street mean for Latinos?  It should mean alot. Latinos have shared a heavy burden in this economic downturn.  Latinos should take note and keep your eyes on this movement as you may just want to become more involved. TPL

Even Reagan is not good enough for the Republicans!

President Obama introduced the "Buffet Plan" which calls for closing of tax loopholes that allows millionaires to end up paying less in taxes than a secretary. The Republicans have done nothing but criticize Obama. The hypocrisy of this is clear when you go back to when Ronald Reagan was President. He himself spoke to the same problem. So why when President Obama calls for the same as President Reagan is it now not a good idea? As with every other Obama proposal - the Republicans say no to without hesitation. It is all about opposing any Obama initiative at the expense of the American middle, lower class. See this video if you don't believe TPL: http://youtu.be/cgbJ-Fs1ikA.

 

Another Right-Wing Zealot

 

This Monday, Hank Williams Jr. used an analogy to Adolf Hitler in discussing President Barack Obama that caused ESPN to pull his classic intro song to ''Monday Night Football.''  Good!!!! Though ESPN will likely put it back.   When he was asked to clarify his comment, Williams said, ''They're the enemy,'' adding that by ''they'' he meant Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.  Williams could have picked any number of real policy differences to debate or criticize but he lowered himself as many right-wing, self-proclaimed patriots do so often now by name calling and insulting his - our President.  Whether it is President Bush or Obama it is Un-American and unpatriotic to insult one's president.  To equate him to Hitler and as an enemy of America is in TPL's book - treasonous and Un-American!!!

Obama needs the latino vote to win in 2012

According to C. Nicole Mason, in a June 22, 2011 article in the Progressive, "In order to win in 2012, Obama will need Latinos to turn out in record numbers. In 2008, Obama garnered 67 percent of the Latino vote. In 2012, he will have to capture a larger portion of the vote to account for the potential loss of independent voters and others who have lost hope in the “change” promised in 2008.

Among Latinos, Obama still has a hurdle to jump with voters going into the 2012 election: specifically, his failure to deliver on his 2008 campaign promise of comprehensive immigration reform. In fact, the passage of anti-immigration legislation such as SB 1070 in Arizona has only made the need for action at the federal level more urgent."

Obama has not been able to deliver on his promises to Latino. Must of the blame falls on the Republicans, which have opposed Obama and the Democrats in Congress on every issue. So if you think the Republican will do anything - forget it - just listen to the recent outcry against Rick Perry when he spoke for immigrant student tuition.

Latino if they vote in large numbers in 2012 can use their vote to leverage action on their behalf when Obama wins re-election. Yes we are all frustrated but frustration is no reason to drop support to Obama.

Wana be Commanders in Chief stand silent when soldier is booed

This Saturday, President Obama attended the annual Human Rights Campaign fundraising dinner (see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/01/obama-hrc-speech-gay-rights_n_990574.html).  In his speech to over 3000 attendee, he blasted the Republican presedential candidates for standing by speechlees while folks in the audience booed a gay American soldier.  Obama stated, "We don't believe in the kind of smallness that says it's okay for a stage full of political leaders -- one of whom could end up being the president of the United States -- being silent when an American soldier is booed. We don't believe in that," said Obama to loud cheers and a standing ovation.  "We don't believe in standing silent when that happens. We don't believe in them being silent since. You want to be commander in chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it's not politically convenient. We don't believe in a small America. We believe in a big America -- a tolerant America, a just America, an equal America -- that values the service of every patriot."

Gays have served in our military without the ability to let it be known.  Discrimination is nothing new in the history of our nation - blacks, asian, women, latinos have all been through it.  Our's is al all volunteer military.  Just think about it, less than 1 percent of our population defend our way of life.  Should we not honor all soldiers the same or is it somehow less honorable if the soldier who put his life on the line unlike the other 99 percent, happens to be gay?

We got him!!!

Yes, we got Anwar al-Awlaki!!!  Yes, he is a US citizen.  Yes, he is a terrorist - not a suspected terrorist, and all of us have known he has been a terrorist for some time.  Yet some feel uncomfortable that Obama allowed him to be killed rather than be captured and put on trial simply because he is an American citizen.  In my view the moment he took off to Yeman and got involved with Al Quada, he became an enemy of the US.