This has got to be one of the weirdest blog outreach maneuvers coming from the current crop of Presidential candidates. Juan Tornoe, of Hispanic Trending [1], a marketing site, has published an "interview" with the junior senator of New York and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.
Let's just start by clearing out the air here. Even though I loathe the word Hispanic [2] I don't necessarily loathe the people that use it. I believe though that the use of the word contextualizes the politics of the person using it. So within the context of my previous post, make what you will of my view on the "hispanic" demographics.
That said, even though I read from time to time Tornoe's blog, I wouldn't consider it as Ms. Clinton has allegedly said in the interview, a very popular site --especially within the latino blogosphere.
I'd just as well think that honor would fall on blogs like Vivir Latino [3], Latina Lista [4], Xicano Power [5], Unapologetic Mexican [6], LatinoPundit [7] or Latino Politico [8]. Last place I would go for all things latino would be a marketing site, if you know what I mean.
Then of course, there's me.
I have the dubious honor to have been the first one to announce Clinton's candidacy --bundled along with the death of the progressive blogosphere-- after Peter Daou annouonced he was going to work for Senator Clinton [8]. I also happened to be the one who critized the campaign for the professional deameanor in which they have failed to reach out to latino or black bloggers [8].
So, I am OK with knowing that insiders would go out of their way to dismiss me. What I find creepy, to say the least, is the inability by the Clinton campaign to engage the latino blogosphere in a sincere dialogue --even if some people like me have expressed their concerns about her possible nomination. It's as if they are incapable of dealing with dissenting opinions or even people who are on the fence about them. Their mentality is completely black and white : If you're not a cheerleader, you are the enemy.
Which is why the so-called interview at at Hispanic Trending is troubling, to say the least. I can't honestly believe the interview was actually answered by Clinton herself. The language is stilted, as if frases were taken from a rule book and stitched together into sentences and paragraphs.
Here's some examples :
Hispanic Trending: What similarities do you see between "Traditional" American Values and Hispanic Values?
Sen. Hillary Clinton: You know, I’m glad that your first question is about similarities instead of differences, because for centuries, Hispanics have been part of the fabric of our nation. So when we talk about Hispanic values, we are in fact talking about American values. The values that Hispanics hold near and dear – such as hard work, family, faith and patriotism have helped strengthen America for centuries.
Because of the contributions of millions of Latinos, America is stronger, more vibrant and more prosperous. And I am very proud to have worked over the years with so many Latinos who believe as I do in the promise of America.
Notice the writer's inability to actually answer the question. Don't they have latinos or at least people with a Latin American Studies background on staff? The fact there's not one example tells you a lot of what the campaign is incapable of understanding about the latino blogoshere.
Here's another non-sequitur :
HT: Why do you consider wining the Latino Vote important for your campaign? Can you mention three things that you are consciously doing to achieve this goal?
Sen. Hillary Clinton: Winning the Latino vote is very important to me. I’m proud of the increasing involvement in the political process by Latino voters.
The increasing involvement in the political process? Aren't more than 100 years of political involvement enough to consider us equals at the table?
Whenever a candidate "answers" that way they seem to be implying that we are always going to be driving around our vote and political influence in training wheels. WTF!
And this one :
I believe we should start by creating an education system worthy of our children. As President, I will provide access to pre-kindergarten for every four year-old in America, so they have the opportunities they need to fulfill their God-given potential.
God-given potential?
WTF!
Does she think all latinos believe in a god?
Then there's her infamous forked-tongue denial of immigration rights for laborers who don't come to the United States through sponsored employment :
I think that the broken immigration system is causing enormous hardships for those who come here legally. Processing immigration paperwork can sometimes take years due to the existing backlogs in the system. I believe we must craft a solution to this problem, so that those who come here legally can become citizens, if they so choose, in a more efficient way.
Whomever answered these questions for the Senator did a sloppy job. Yet, if these answers were actually approved by senior staff, as in Patty Solís herself, then ... wow! This interview spells más de la misma Washington mierda.
Read the whole interview at Q&A on Hispanics with Senator Hillary Clinton [9].
When you finish reading, come back and answer me this : What is the Hillary campaign afraid off? What is it about latino and black bloggers that they can't seem to reconcile in their outreach?
I for one take it that their effort to squeeze the more progressive latinos out of any political engagement is an acknowledgement of the potential damage we could inflict on their campaign.
Makes you rethink her inevitability : All smoke and mirrors.
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