La Prensa de Minnesota Endorsements President and Congress
A Very Important Election for Latinos in Minnesota
The last two years have been devastating for Latinos in Minnesota. Almost three years ago a group of politicians decided to use immigrants as a wedge issue to try to save the Republican Party from the growing unpopularity of the war in Iraq. Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, together with mostly Republican and some Democrat legislators joined in the anti-immigrant bandwagon. Pawlenty even held a press conference announcing anti-immigrant measures, with pictures of Latino gang members in the background. That was the beginning of one of the darkest periods in Minnesota Latino history.
The “we’re not against immigrants we’re against illegals” crowd never made a single proposal to make it easier for immigrants to enter and stay in the US legally. Republicans in congress proposed in 2006, making it a felony to be in the country with out proper documentation, a change from what was an administrative violation. Latinos in Minnesota reacted by joining with supporters in one of the largest marches in Minnesota history. St Paul saw 40,000 marchers, invited by Latino radio stations, churches and community organizations protesting these anti-immigrant measures. They joined close to two million people that marched nationally against these measures.
These marches had mixed results. On one end the anti-immigrant legislation failed to pass. On the other there were also two failed attempts at comprehensive immigration reform that would have increased the number of immigrants allowed to work legally in the US, and also would have allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to pay penalties and apply to stay in the country legally.
During the same period the Bush administration dramatically increased Homeland Security funding for immigration enforcement. This lead to raids all over the country, and in Minnesota that clogged the immigration judicial system, and overcrowded county jails with peaceful, hard working immigrants, instead of rapists, murderers and drug dealers.
To make things worse the sub prime mortgage mess hit the Latino community hard. Fear of immigration raids and thousands of Latinos with increased mortgage payments they could no longer afford, dramatically cut economic activity in Latino communities and businesses. And as if this wasn’t enough, in 2008, increased gas and food prices and fewer jobs made a bad situation intolerable.
We urged Latinos to march in 2006. In 2008 we urge Latinos to vote. The percentage of Latinos who voted in the 2008 Democratic Presidential primaries rose from 8% of total voters in 2004, to 13% in 2008. This in a primary that saw an increase in all groups of voters. Bush got over 40% of the Latino vote and won the 2004 election. Polls now show that over 60% of Latino voters support Obama and fewer than 30% support McCain.
We don’t ask for much. We don’t want handouts. We don’t want special favors. We want to be given a FAIR chance to enter and stay in the United States legally. We want an equal opportunity at quality education. We want the chance to be able to afford quality health care. We want our families to be allowed to stay together. Give us a chance, get out of our way, and we will continue to make contributions towards making the United States the best country in the world to live in. After all we’re the ones that risk our lives to get here.
There are over 80,000 eligible Latino voters in Minnesota. In the past election only slightly 20,000 voted. We will see a dramatic increase in Latino voters in the state in 2008. La Prensa de Minnesota will present this week, and the next, its endorsements for the political offices that we consider the most important to Latinos in Minnesota. This week we make our endorsements for President of the United States, and for three congressional seats. Next week we will endorse for US Senate, one more congressional seat, and for the Minneapolis School Board. We will also make a recommendation on how to vote for the Minneapolis School district referendum on increasing local funding for schools. If there was ever a time for Latinos in Minnesota to vote it is NOW!
US President: Obama for President
During the Republican and Democratic primaries La Prensa de Minnestoa endorsed John McCain and Hilary Clinton. We endorsed them because we felt they offered the best chances in their parties to pass comprehensive immigration reform. For the general election we endorse Barack Obama. It was not easy not to deny endorsement to someone like John McCain who was one of the leaders in congress trying to pass comprehensive immigration reform. He risked his political career to support our community. But in 2008 the best candidate for the Latino community and for the future of the United States is Barack Obama.
The past eight years the federal government sat idle while mortgage bankers preyed on our community with toxic loans that our people would never be able to afford. It sad idle while corrupt Wall Street executives gambled with the prosperity of Main Street. It badly mismanaged a war that unnecessarily killed thousands of our young. It over spent and mortgaged our grand kids future. Health Insurance coverage now seems impossible for most small businesses and even many large ones. Our Latino and African American kids still graduate at much lower rates from High School than white kids. College seems now harder to reach for many of our kids.
Barack Obama is the best candidate to address all these issues. John McCain supported the Bush administration over 90 % if the time during the past eight years. We simply can’t trust him now to do the right thing.
But the issue that separates the Latino community from everyone else is immigration. Over 10 million of our Latino brothers and sisters are undocumented. We feel a Democratic President that has continuously demonstrated his support for comprehensive immigration reform, with an increased Democratic majority, will give us the best chance for badly needed immigration reform. This reform should include an increase in the number of people allowed to enter the US legally. It should also allow undocumented immigrants that are currently in the US, to pay penalties and back taxes and apply to work in the US legally. They should be allowed to wait after those who applied thought traditional means, and eventually be allowed a path to citizenship.
Barack Obama offers Latinos the best clear path to reach the American Dream. A path that has been badly clouded over the past eight years.
Congress
For those of us that want to see comprehensive immigration reform, congressional races will be more important probably than the race for the Presidency. We already had a President and the leadership of both chambers of congress support comprehensive immigration reform. It still failed. Which means we will only endorse candidates for congress that will support reform.
Fifth Congressional district Keith Ellison
Major cities in the district include Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Richfield, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, and Fridley.
First we want to recognize the best friend the Latino community has in congress from Minnesota. We endorsed Keith Ellison in his primary and general election bid two years ago. We endorsed him because he had always been with the Minnesota Latino community, before he ran for congress. In the past two years he has been a constant champion for Latino issues in congress. He won’t be afraid to aggressively advocate for us when we need it the most next year: when comprehensive immigration comes for a vote. We are glad we endorsed him two years ago and to do so again this year, even if he doesn’t need it. He faces mostly token opposition from Republican Barb Davis White and Independent Bill Mcgaughey and is expected to win comfortably his seat, but we still like to recognize our friends.
First Congressional District Tim Waltz
Entire southern border including Worthington, Albert Lea, Austin, Mankato, Owatona, Rochester, Winona
In the First congressional district in Southern Minnesota our choice for congress is Democrat congressman Tim Waltz. Waltz got elected two years ago in a surprise upset over six-term incumbent Gil Gutknecht by a margin of 53% to 47%. Tim Waltz had a career in the military and as a teacher before being elected to congress. Waltz answered a four question questionnaire we sent him. Hs opponent Republican Brian Davis, a medical doctor at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, didn’t bother to respond.
Tim Waltz has said in the past he supports comprehensive immigration reform. Brian Davis’ campaign web site says on immigration: “Those who do not have legal residency status and wish to live and work in the United States should be required to return to their home countries and apply for legal residency. Amnesty is not the answer.” It also says:” To help combat the problem, local law enforcement officials should be empowered to serve as immigration officials as allowed through the 287g clause of the 1996 Immigration and Nationality Act.
Tim Waltz answered on our question on how he would grow jobs and the economy: “For the last eight years, the Bush economy has put CEOs and Big Oil companies first. Enough is enough. I have a plan to rebuild our economy and strengthen the middle-class. I’m fighting to increase oversight of Wall Street, rein in CEO pay and cut taxes for middle-class families. And I want to create new, green-collar jobs that will grow our economy.
I’ve also authored a middle class tax cut that will help middle-class families that are being squeezed by high gas and food prices, skyrocketing health care costs, and college tuition that is increasingly out of reach. My plan would save 61 million taxpayers an average of $750 on their taxes, expand access to the Child Tax Credit, and help offset the rising cost of property taxes.”
Sixth Congressional District El Tinklenberg
Andover, Blaine, Anoka, Woodbury
Michelle Backmann is the current congresswoman in the sixth congressional district. She is probably one of the most anti-immigrant members of congress. She is someone we could rely on voting against comprehensive immigration reform. She recently embarrassed herself on national TV saying that Senator Barck Obama holds Anti-American views.
El Tinkleberg, supports comprehensive immigration reform. He served as governor Jesse Ventura’s commissioner of transportation, has not only the support of the Democratic Party, but also of the Independence Party. He is the best choice for congress in the sixth congressional district.
The last two years have been devastating for Latinos in Minnesota. Almost three years ago a group of politicians decided to use immigrants as a wedge issue to try to save the Republican Party from the growing unpopularity of the war in Iraq. Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, together with mostly Republican and some Democrat legislators joined in the anti-immigrant bandwagon. Pawlenty even held a press conference announcing anti-immigrant measures, with pictures of Latino gang members in the background. That was the beginning of one of the darkest periods in Minnesota Latino history.
The “we’re not against immigrants we’re against illegals” crowd never made a single proposal to make it easier for immigrants to enter and stay in the US legally. Republicans in congress proposed in 2006, making it a felony to be in the country with out proper documentation, a change from what was an administrative violation. Latinos in Minnesota reacted by joining with supporters in one of the largest marches in Minnesota history. St Paul saw 40,000 marchers, invited by Latino radio stations, churches and community organizations protesting these anti-immigrant measures. They joined close to two million people that marched nationally against these measures.
These marches had mixed results. On one end the anti-immigrant legislation failed to pass. On the other there were also two failed attempts at comprehensive immigration reform that would have increased the number of immigrants allowed to work legally in the US, and also would have allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to pay penalties and apply to stay in the country legally.
During the same period the Bush administration dramatically increased Homeland Security funding for immigration enforcement. This lead to raids all over the country, and in Minnesota that clogged the immigration judicial system, and overcrowded county jails with peaceful, hard working immigrants, instead of rapists, murderers and drug dealers.
To make things worse the sub prime mortgage mess hit the Latino community hard. Fear of immigration raids and thousands of Latinos with increased mortgage payments they could no longer afford, dramatically cut economic activity in Latino communities and businesses. And as if this wasn’t enough, in 2008, increased gas and food prices and fewer jobs made a bad situation intolerable.
We urged Latinos to march in 2006. In 2008 we urge Latinos to vote. The percentage of Latinos who voted in the 2008 Democratic Presidential primaries rose from 8% of total voters in 2004, to 13% in 2008. This in a primary that saw an increase in all groups of voters. Bush got over 40% of the Latino vote and won the 2004 election. Polls now show that over 60% of Latino voters support Obama and fewer than 30% support McCain.
We don’t ask for much. We don’t want handouts. We don’t want special favors. We want to be given a FAIR chance to enter and stay in the United States legally. We want an equal opportunity at quality education. We want the chance to be able to afford quality health care. We want our families to be allowed to stay together. Give us a chance, get out of our way, and we will continue to make contributions towards making the United States the best country in the world to live in. After all we’re the ones that risk our lives to get here.
There are over 80,000 eligible Latino voters in Minnesota. In the past election only slightly 20,000 voted. We will see a dramatic increase in Latino voters in the state in 2008. La Prensa de Minnesota will present this week, and the next, its endorsements for the political offices that we consider the most important to Latinos in Minnesota. This week we make our endorsements for President of the United States, and for three congressional seats. Next week we will endorse for US Senate, one more congressional seat, and for the Minneapolis School Board. We will also make a recommendation on how to vote for the Minneapolis School district referendum on increasing local funding for schools. If there was ever a time for Latinos in Minnesota to vote it is NOW!
US President: Obama for President
During the Republican and Democratic primaries La Prensa de Minnestoa endorsed John McCain and Hilary Clinton. We endorsed them because we felt they offered the best chances in their parties to pass comprehensive immigration reform. For the general election we endorse Barack Obama. It was not easy not to deny endorsement to someone like John McCain who was one of the leaders in congress trying to pass comprehensive immigration reform. He risked his political career to support our community. But in 2008 the best candidate for the Latino community and for the future of the United States is Barack Obama.
The past eight years the federal government sat idle while mortgage bankers preyed on our community with toxic loans that our people would never be able to afford. It sad idle while corrupt Wall Street executives gambled with the prosperity of Main Street. It badly mismanaged a war that unnecessarily killed thousands of our young. It over spent and mortgaged our grand kids future. Health Insurance coverage now seems impossible for most small businesses and even many large ones. Our Latino and African American kids still graduate at much lower rates from High School than white kids. College seems now harder to reach for many of our kids.
Barack Obama is the best candidate to address all these issues. John McCain supported the Bush administration over 90 % if the time during the past eight years. We simply can’t trust him now to do the right thing.
But the issue that separates the Latino community from everyone else is immigration. Over 10 million of our Latino brothers and sisters are undocumented. We feel a Democratic President that has continuously demonstrated his support for comprehensive immigration reform, with an increased Democratic majority, will give us the best chance for badly needed immigration reform. This reform should include an increase in the number of people allowed to enter the US legally. It should also allow undocumented immigrants that are currently in the US, to pay penalties and back taxes and apply to work in the US legally. They should be allowed to wait after those who applied thought traditional means, and eventually be allowed a path to citizenship.
Barack Obama offers Latinos the best clear path to reach the American Dream. A path that has been badly clouded over the past eight years.
Congress
For those of us that want to see comprehensive immigration reform, congressional races will be more important probably than the race for the Presidency. We already had a President and the leadership of both chambers of congress support comprehensive immigration reform. It still failed. Which means we will only endorse candidates for congress that will support reform.
Fifth Congressional district Keith Ellison
Major cities in the district include Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Richfield, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, and Fridley.
First we want to recognize the best friend the Latino community has in congress from Minnesota. We endorsed Keith Ellison in his primary and general election bid two years ago. We endorsed him because he had always been with the Minnesota Latino community, before he ran for congress. In the past two years he has been a constant champion for Latino issues in congress. He won’t be afraid to aggressively advocate for us when we need it the most next year: when comprehensive immigration comes for a vote. We are glad we endorsed him two years ago and to do so again this year, even if he doesn’t need it. He faces mostly token opposition from Republican Barb Davis White and Independent Bill Mcgaughey and is expected to win comfortably his seat, but we still like to recognize our friends.
First Congressional District Tim Waltz
Entire southern border including Worthington, Albert Lea, Austin, Mankato, Owatona, Rochester, Winona
In the First congressional district in Southern Minnesota our choice for congress is Democrat congressman Tim Waltz. Waltz got elected two years ago in a surprise upset over six-term incumbent Gil Gutknecht by a margin of 53% to 47%. Tim Waltz had a career in the military and as a teacher before being elected to congress. Waltz answered a four question questionnaire we sent him. Hs opponent Republican Brian Davis, a medical doctor at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, didn’t bother to respond.
Tim Waltz has said in the past he supports comprehensive immigration reform. Brian Davis’ campaign web site says on immigration: “Those who do not have legal residency status and wish to live and work in the United States should be required to return to their home countries and apply for legal residency. Amnesty is not the answer.” It also says:” To help combat the problem, local law enforcement officials should be empowered to serve as immigration officials as allowed through the 287g clause of the 1996 Immigration and Nationality Act.
Tim Waltz answered on our question on how he would grow jobs and the economy: “For the last eight years, the Bush economy has put CEOs and Big Oil companies first. Enough is enough. I have a plan to rebuild our economy and strengthen the middle-class. I’m fighting to increase oversight of Wall Street, rein in CEO pay and cut taxes for middle-class families. And I want to create new, green-collar jobs that will grow our economy.
I’ve also authored a middle class tax cut that will help middle-class families that are being squeezed by high gas and food prices, skyrocketing health care costs, and college tuition that is increasingly out of reach. My plan would save 61 million taxpayers an average of $750 on their taxes, expand access to the Child Tax Credit, and help offset the rising cost of property taxes.”
Sixth Congressional District El Tinklenberg
Andover, Blaine, Anoka, Woodbury
Michelle Backmann is the current congresswoman in the sixth congressional district. She is probably one of the most anti-immigrant members of congress. She is someone we could rely on voting against comprehensive immigration reform. She recently embarrassed herself on national TV saying that Senator Barck Obama holds Anti-American views.
El Tinkleberg, supports comprehensive immigration reform. He served as governor Jesse Ventura’s commissioner of transportation, has not only the support of the Democratic Party, but also of the Independence Party. He is the best choice for congress in the sixth congressional district.
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