Hóla, Puerto Rico!: Puerto Rico Presidential Primary V

Obama Campaigns in Puerto Rico
The beats of salsa and reggaeton were pulsing, the sun was shining and the waves of the Atlantic were rippling in the distance when Senator Barack Obama walked into La Plaza del Quinto to greet supporters one week before the Democratic presidential primary here.

When languages matter: Obama tests his Spanish in Puerto Rico
U.S. presidential candidates don’t often make it to Puerto Rico, so the language barrier is not usually a problem.

The Road to the White House Goes Through Puerto Rico?
Who would have thought that seventeen months into this nomination process, the two leading Democratic presidential nominees are battling it out in – Puerto Rico? Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have taken their campaigns to a territory with no constitutional right to vote in the general election and an island where the residents are not required to pay federal income taxes.

Obama Campaign Redoubles Efforts to Reach Hispanic Voters
"Hóla, Puerto Rico! How's everybody doing today?" Obama shouted to a crowd gathered in Old San Juan, before he led dancing supporters along the seaside battlements for a raucous caminata, the traditional candidate parade. "I am thankful, I am grateful. . . . If we do well in Puerto Rico, there is no reason I will not be announcing that I am the Democratic nominee for president of the United States of America!"

Clinton Greets Puerto Ricans: Buenas Noches!
“Buenos Noches!”

Puerto Rico's moment in the sun
The throbbing beat of plena, blaring from a speaker truck, shook the Plaza del Quinto Centenario this afternoon as Barack Obama embarked on that most Puerto Rican of campaign appearances: the caminata.

In visit to Puerto Rico, Obama criticizes McCain for not supporting new veterans' benefit bill
Barack Obama told veterans Saturday that he cannot understand why Republican John McCain opposes legislation that would provide college scholarships to people who have served in the U.S. military.

Will Puerto Rico Determine the Dem Nominee?
On June 1st, Puerto Rico will hold its primary, the third to last contest of this long and drawn out Democratic race. Barack Obama spent the day campaigning in the territory, hoping to reap some of its 55 pledged delegates up for grabs next Sunday.

Obama stirs up South Florida crowds
Barack Obama whipped up some Cuban-American leaders in Miami and an arena-sized crowd in Broward County on the last leg of a three-day tour kick-starting his presidential campaign in Florida.

Comments Cast Shadow on Last Laps in Primaries
Yet even though Mrs. Clinton apologized for invoking the death of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on Friday — she said she was simply explaining how many races had gone on longer than hers, including in 1968, when Mr. Kennedy was killed in June — the reverberations have raised fresh questions about her motivations, overshadowing her campaign here and in the remaining two states.

Obama, Clinton Make Campaign Pitches in Puerto Rico
Barack Obama, campaigning today in Puerto Rico, pledged to improve health care and other assistance for the more than 150,000 military veterans living in the U.S. territory.

Puerto Rico con Obama - Plaza Las Americas Rally

Related Posts:
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary IV
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary III
Latinos Shift to Obama
An Obama Victory in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary II
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary
Puerto Rico to Pick the Next U.S. President? It may not be so crazy
Angelo Falcon: Puerto Rico & the U.S. Presidential Election
Puerto Rico's Anibal Acevedo-Vila Endorses Barack Obama
Independentistas Tap Puerto Rico's Anti-War Sentiment

Tío Pablo: Jibaro, Borinqueneer, Sage

My Tío Pablo, a Jibaro from Carite, served in Korea with the 65th. He was a Borinqueneer. Memorial Day is his day, too.

I vaguely remember as a small child hearing him talk to the men about the 65th. I didn't understand what it all meant--other than it clearly meant a great deal to them.

Forty years later, at his farmhouse on a Carite slope, Tío Pablo--his body riddled with multiple cancers--rested quietly waiting for the end. Framed above the bed was a photo of a young, vital Pablo in his 65th dress uniform and cap.

A young Boricua, one of many braves, was sent to fight an enemy on the other side of the world. The Boricuas fought bravely--and a huge number of died.

Afterward, many of the Boricua veterans followed Yankee buddies to U.S. Northern cities in search of their rewards. It was the 50's and the U.S. industrial machine was humming with the muscle of so many war veterans. Instead, too many Boricuas found low-paying, dangerous factory jobs, racism and long stints in VA hospitals to treat mysterious illnesses.

Of course, that was Tío Pablo's experience.

I always viewed Tío Pablo as a pretty smart man, proud, skilled--and so I always wondered why it was that he choose to return to Carite so early. He was may be in his early 30s. There on our ancestral land--still referred to as El Conuco and the rise above--Tío Pablo spent the rest of his days as a man of the land.

Never a rich man, Tío Pablo confided that he had all he needed: his wife, Tía Irene; his land; his health--even when it was failing; and his freedom.

THE BORINQUENEERS: Puerto Rico Broadcast

We know that many of you have been anxiously awaiting the re-broadcast of THE BORINQUENEERS in Puerto Rico. We are happy to report that the Spanish version “Los Borinqueños” will be broadcast on TUTV (Channels 6 and 3) on Sunday, May 25th at 8:30 p.m. in honor of Memorial Day. Please let your family and friends know!

Sabemos que muchos en Puerto Rico han estado esperando ansiosamente por la transmission de THE BORINQUENEERS (“Los Borinqueños”). Nos complace informarles que TUTV (Canales 6 y 3) transmitirá nuevamente el documental “Los Borinqueños” el domingo, 25 de mayo a las 8:30 p.m. ¡No se olviden de dejarles saber a sus familiares y amistades!

REMINDER – New York’s WNET (Channel 13) will re-broadcast on Tuesday, June 3rd at 8 p.m.

We do not know of any other broadcasts at this time in other cities. But you should call your local PBS station to inquire if THE BORINQUENEERS will be broadcast. If you know of any air dates, please let us know so we can announce it through the E-Newsletter and on our website.

Thank you!

El Pozo Productions
PO Box 302
Crompond, NY 10517
(914) 739-3989
www.borinqueneers.com

James Henry Webb - War Hero, Secretary of the Navy, U.S. Senator, Virginian and Obama VP Prospect

James Henry Webb is the man who took out the GOP's leading presidential in 2006, Virginia's George Allen, by defeating the popular former governor and incumbent U.S. Senator.

A decorated war hero, author and Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Regan, Webb says he was compelled to run for public office for two reasons: 1) the Bush administration's strategic blunder in tying the U.S. military in Iraq during a "war against international terrorism that's global"; and 2) the shameful lack of national leadership in response to Katrina.

Many Obama supporters and political pundits believe Webb is a near perfect VP choice for Obama. Here's a glimpse of the man from his recent visit to the Tonight Show with David Letterman.

Puerto Rico Presidential Primary IV

Puerto Rico’s Moment in the Sun - NYTimes
The United States is overdue in re-engaging with this special place, which landed in our lap as a stepchild of imperialism in 1898, and which we have never seen clearly.

Primary News from Puerto Rico
PR for Obama's summary of the daily presidential primary news published in PR´s papers, radio and TV.

Obama, el primero en llegar a Puerto Rico - El Vocero
Obama, según fuentes de su campaña, será el primero en llegar. Su llegada está pautada para el viernes por la noche y se quedará hasta el sábado. Mientras, la campaña de Clinton ya confirmó que la senadora estará en la Isla desde el sábado hasta el lunes. Según se supo, su campaña espera que Clinton aterrice por Aguadilla.

Al rojo vivo la batalla primarista - El Nuevo Dia
La primaria del 1 de junio se convierte este fin de semana en el centro de atracción de la contienda por la candidatura presidencial del Partido Demócrata con la llegada de los senadores Barack Obama y Hillary Clinton a la Isla, en búsqueda de los 55 delegados que elegirán los electores puertorriqueños ese día.

De paseo por Ponce - El Nuevo Dia
El gobernador del estado de Nuevo México, Bill Richardson, junto al ex gobernador Rafael Hernández Colón, recorrieron hoy varias calles del casco urbano de esta ciudad pidiendo a todo el que se encontraban a su paso que votaran por Barack Obama en las primarias demócratas del primero de junio.

Puerto Rico will not give Hillary the popular vote edge, from someone who actually lives in PR
Puertorrican politics are like latinamerican politics. You don't choose a party, you are born into one. We don’t root for our parties, we fight for them, we scream, we ruin family meetings talking politics. We like our candidate strong, with personality, we like them to hug us, kiss us, dance with us. We don't mind choosing women (we had a female governor), as long as they are strong women. If you are a nice guy, if you can't dole out the punishment, you are branded as a "mongo", literally a local slang that means flacid. The label mongo is a death.

Democrats adopt boisterous Puerto Rican style - AP
Forget placards, stoic bodyguards and formal rallies. To win Puerto Rico's presidential primary, both the Clinton and Obama camps are campaigning in the boisterous, face-to-face "boricua style" favored on this Caribbean island.

Impugna uso de fondos públicos para primaria - PrimeraHora.com
La asignación de fondos públicos para la celebración de las primarias demócratas en Puerto Rico es inconstitucional porque no tendría “consecuencia legítima” alguna, ya que Barack Obama prácticamente alcanzó los delegados necesarios para obtener la nominación presidencial.

Michelle en la isla, Dia 2 - Zacharias
Fotos de nuestra fotoblog sobre la visita de Michelle Obama en Puerto Rico.

PHOTO: Governor Bill Richardson campaigning with formeer PR Governor Hernández Colón and Mayor Francisco Zayas Seijo in Ponce on behalf of Barack Obama.

Related Posts:
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary III
Latinos Shift to Obama
An Obama Victory in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary II
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary
Puerto Rico to Pick the Next U.S. President? It may not be so crazy
Angelo Falcon: Puerto Rico & the U.S. Presidential Election
Puerto Rico's Anibal Acevedo-Vila Endorses Barack Obama
Independentistas Tap Puerto Rico's Anti-War Sentiment

Puerto Rico Presidential Primary III

Puerto Rico...Obama Island?
Anthropologist, Blogger and DailyKOS Diaryist Denise Oliver-Velez (aka Deoliver47) notes that "Most United States citizens here on the mainland know next to nothing about Puerto Rico, and yet we are headed towards a primary there on June 1."

She then provides a comprehensive education on the Isla del Encanto, its people, politics and upcoming presidential primary. Very nice.

WHY OBAMA? by Hernandez Colon
Obama is precisely the type of leader that the U.S. needs to guide it in the post American world. He is free from mind sets of the past and can relate better than any other to those that the U.S. must engage with due respect in order to bring about a world built on cooperation not on confrontation.

Salen ganando los boricuas
Para el presidente del Senado, Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rico ya está obteniendo ganancias de la primaria demócrata que tendrá lugar el 1 de junio en la Isla.

'Crece el apoyo a la campaña de Obama'
Miguel Hernández Agosto, ex presidente del Partido Demócrata en Puerto Rico, anunció ayer su apoyo a la precandidatura presidencial de Barack Obama. “Obama entiende esta nueva realidad y puede detener el descenso de los Estados Unidos ante el mundo y de su poderío económico."

Richardson to campaign for Obama in Puerto Rico
Former presidential contender Bill Richardson will campaign this week for Barack Obama in Puerto Rico, 10 days before the Commonwealth holds its Democratic primary.

Obama vs Clinton: La campaña en P. R. (WAPA Video)
Las primarias demócratas presidenciales en la isla, continúan al rojo vivo. En Decisión 2008, El Programa, Pedro Pierlusi -candidato a la Comisaría Residente por el PNP y co-presidente de la campaña de Barack Obama en P. R. - y Francisco Domeneche -líder local de Hillary Clinton y súper delegado- hablan sobre lo que esperan sean las tendencias en la Isla.

Puerto Rico relishes clout as ballot battleground
The island's June 1 primary is the biggest Democratic contest left, with 55 delegates at stake and perhaps giving Sen. Hillary Clinton a last-gasp opportunity to claim victory in the popular vote.

Obama cartel grandísimo cubre edificio en San Juan
Mira este cartel que los admiradores de Barack lo colgó en la Clinica las Americas en San Juan. ¡Viva Barack!

P.R. Primary Watch - Vigilia Primaria P.R./Obama vs. Clinton

Related Posts:
Latinos Shift to Obama
An Obama Victory in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary II
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary
Puerto Rico to Pick the Next U.S. President? It may not be so crazy
Angelo Falcon: Puerto Rico & the U.S. Presidential Election
Puerto Rico's Anibal Acevedo-Vila Endorses Barack Obama
Independentistas Tap Puerto Rico's Anti-War Sentiment

David Archuleta: 1st American Idol of Latino Heritage (NOT!)

Update: Surprise! David Cook--and NOT Archuleta--took this year's American Idol crown. Congratulations to Cook, Archuleta and the other contenders for a terrific competition.

The Miami-born balladeer, David Archuleta, has been the odds on favorite to win the American Idol singing competition. Tonight, AI fans will see the 17 year old virtuoso beat out rocker David Cook to win the coveted title and lucrative recording contract.

Archuleta's win makes him the first Idol winner of Latino heritage: David's father, James Jeffrey Archuleta, is Spanish heritage and his mother, Xiomara Guadalupe Mayorga, Honduran (Source: IMDB).

Other Latinos finishing in the top 12 included:

Syesha Mercado (Cuban father)
Jason Castro (Colombian parents)
David Hernandez

Latinos Shift to Obama

A new Gallup Poll finds that Latino Democrats now favor Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton 51% to 44%. This is significant because Clinton has held a firm advantage with Latinos throughout most of the primary season. Moreover, the shift to Obama means that the McCain Campaign will have to work very hard to match the 44% of the Latino vote won by George W. Bush in 2000.

Key Clinton Constituencies Moving Toward Obama

Obama Takes Oregon and Majority of Pledged Delegates

Obama has won Oregon by a significant margin!

More importantly, he has now won an absolute majority of pledged delegates.

Much is being made by the Clintonistas and the FOX propagandists about Obama's low appeal to Whites.

Four points:

1) No Democratic presidential candidate--and they've ALL been White--have won a majority of the so-called "White working-class voters" since 1964! And that includes Bubba himself!

2) A large number of Hillary's White voters vote Republican in nation elections--and few would vote for Hillary in the general election.

3) A larger percentage of Blue Dog Democrats voted for George W. Bush in 2004 than plan to vote for John McCain if Barack Obama is the nominee.

4) Oregon is overwhelmingly White--92%--and it just voted Obama! But then again so did all of these overwhelmingly "White" states:

- Colorado (91.91%)
- Iowa (95.79%)
- Vermont (97.95%)
- New Hampshire (96.97%)
- Idaho (96.81%)
- Kansas (90.87%)
- South Dakota (88.50%)
- North Dakota (93.19%)
- Utah (95.01%)
- Nebraska (93.06%)
- Washington (87.65%)
- Maine (97.81%)
- Wisconsin (91.00%)
- Minnesota (87.30%)
- Wyoming (96.01%)

Warren "The Sage of Omaha" Buffett Bets Obama

Q: Who would bet against this guy?

Warren Buffett--America's richest man--believes that the super-rich are NOT paying their fair share, and that the economy has been mismanaged by the Republicans.

Oh...and he's donated his personal wealth to fighting disease and educating children.

Video: Warren Buffett Endorses Obama
Warren Buffett backs Obama
Here's Why Warren Buffett Endorsed Obama Today: McCain Failed to Get 'Lobotomy'
Warren Buffett (Wikipedia)