Latinos unite behind mystery man Bustamante (El Terminator IV?)

[joefree1]

Latinos unite behind mystery man Bustamante
Few know who he is, but many plan to vote for him anyway

Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, August 8, 2003

In Oakland's heavily Latino Fruitvale district, there were two main responses to the announcement that Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante is running to replace Gov. Gray Davis in the recall election.
"Cruz who?"
And, "A Latino is running! I'll vote for him!"
The responses in an informal poll Thursday of 35 people on the streets of East Oakland and a few more in San Francisco's Mission District support the theory that Bustamante can energize California's Latino voters -- even those who know little about the candidate.
"I don't know much about him, but I'll probably vote for him," said Rafael Cortez of Oakland. "He seems like a good person, and the politics of this thing are really ugly. It would be great to have a Latino governor."
Carlos Garibotto, an immigrant from Peru who owns a small business in Oakland, added: "This could be our big chance to elect a Latino governor. Something good may come of this crazy recall."
Edit ...
But one part of his strategy is clear. Bustamante has already aggressively courted the Latino community. He leaked word that he was running to Spanish- language TV stations on Wednesday night, and he conducted a bilingual news conference to officially announce he was running.
More ...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/08/08/MN19612.DTL
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Did I just hear a collective Gulp from the rethuglicans? The strategy: Vote No/Yes on the recall then vote for Democrat Bustamante!



http://stoptherecall.com

For pics of the LA protest against bush go here
http://www.darrias.com/politics/Protest6-27.html

[tedoll78]

1. Yup.

THIS is why I think he's gonna pull it off. If the Democrats were smart, they'd unite behind this guy as their "safety" candidate. Denying the GOP that governor's mansion is key in this race.

[jamesinca]

8. And he speaks Spanish

That is what is key here. George "the red neck" Bush will have to get voice overs and interpreters. Bustamonte can just get up there and talk. California is half Latino. Half of the Latino population of the U.S. lives in California. This may make great inroads into the community. I have been hearing that half of the CA Latinos were right leaning, this may pull them back to the left. That is potentially 2.5% of the population of the U.S. that just came back to our side. This is monster huge big thing, can't find the words right now. I will not vote for the recall, but I will pick Bustamonte as the Gov. if Davis should get recalled.

Being able to speak to the people in their native tounge is an important issue. It is required of the health care profession that you speak to the people in an understandable fashion. If that requires you to get an interpreter then you must do it. It also puts peoples minds at ease when you talk to them in their native tounge. Even if you are saying the same thing in two different languages.

[dansolo]

25. There is a double advantage

Most people would probably feel that the Lt. Governor should take over in the case of a recall anyway. This will allow the Democrats to be against the recall, while being able to deflect any acusations of hypocrisy by not completely standing behind Davis. The Democrats should have used this strategy from the very beginning.

[Emboldened Chimp]

2. Don't know who he is?

I thought Cruz was popular? Well, regardless, he'll take the Latino vote, which is a huge block here in CA. Bye, bye, Ah-nuld. You won't be back this time...

[cherryperry]

4. He is popular! Fairly liberal guy who

has held other CA offices and I will certainly get behind him and he will get my vote. Not that it matters, but I am not Latino!

[rocktivity]

7. To put it quite simply, he is the most logical choice

He's the most qualified candidate in the field and has appeal across several voting groups. I certainly wouldn't vote for Arnold based on his name alone--why would I replace someone who I thought had done a terrible job with someone who had never done it before? Besides, I'd like to think that California has had enough of movie star political leaders.

rocknation

[joefree1]

5. Empty headed talking heads don't know him

Bustamante never made any violent B movies, posed nude, or took illegal drugs. He doesn't register with shallow entertainment types.

With us little people he's will known and about to get very popular.

[librechik]

3. Wow, I was wondering about this.

The racists in the GOP who started this hullaballoo may be about to find out the power behind La Raza! This situation just got interesting.

As you describe it, it turns into a sort of a poll or referendum. We'll all get to see where things stand.

Everything hitches on getting Democrats to the polling place. Good luck, California.

[bread_and_roses]

6. This sounds exciting

...could it have any offsetting effect on the Republican courting of the Latino/a vote?

[joefree1]

9. Like a hammer to a pinata?

[jamesinca]

11. I think it has a lot of that potential

If Bustamonte does a great job it might. If he does a great job and tries to advance the cause of the Hispanics in CA and it is shot down by the repugs in the state legislator, it will kill them. I really see this, don't know why or how, as pulling the Miami Cubans and the NY Puerto Ricans into the Dem party. I have not sorted it out yet, but I feel it will do this. I also see this a getting more immigrants from south of the border into CA. Bush has border issues and I think that will split a family that has half its members here. I am just giddy right now, we have our safety net. I said it to somebody earlier that I hope Davis, Bustamonte and the rest of the Dems all sit down and agree that this is for the team. Keep a dem in office is the goal here. It is for the common good. No hard feelings. We all vote to keep Davis and we check Bustamontes name if the recall happens.

[DBoon]

15. Courting or counting

Tin hat time - strong support from Latinos may equal controversy over "illegal aliens" voting. Look what happened when Loretta Sanchez beat Bob Dornan.

[BenFranklinUSA]

10. But What Are His Positions On The Key Issues????

[CMT]

12. this is also a reason why I support Bill Richardson for VP

he has tons of experience yes, but also as a Latino he would really turn out the vote on this important demographic group at record levels and squash Bush's appeal to them.

[Merlin]

13. What will be the effect on the black community?

If there's a lot of friction, and if we pick up the Latino vote in CA but blacks stay home, that may be a poor trade-off.

[sujan]

14. with the American media whoring for Ah-nold 24/7

I really hope Bustamente gets the attention.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

16. Ar-nuld is...

the BITCH for Rove and co, so I do not think that Cruz is going to get much time in the media.
Hopfully I am WRONG!!!

[sujan]

20. yes

What I dont get it is, why is the fact that Ah-nuld is running a Big surprise?


He was mulling to run for months.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

23. He must be defeated at all costs..

if the SOB wins then we will never hear the end of how great he is and how bad Democrats are!!!!
Gray Davis must be the EXTERMINATOR to the TERMINATOR!!!!!!!

[Zech Marquis]

17. oh man!

talk about sweet blowback! I hope Bustamate can get every single Latino vote in California, that'll wipe out that meathead Arrrnuld in a heatbeat :evilgrin:
Besides, Bustamte is the Lt Governor, right? If Davis were smart, he should resign and have Bustamate take over asap.

[David__77]

18. Bustamante Yes - Recall No!

That's my message from now until 10/7, barring unforseen events. This thing is still in rapid flux. But there's no time to waste. Democratic clubs, community organizations and unions need to get on the ball now...

[slackmaster]

19. And because Cruz is not the ONLY Democrat on the ballot

We are screwed, blued, and tattooed.

[joefree1]

21. Not

Bustamante has the support where as Garamendi is an also ran.

Let's hear it ...

Recall No, Busatamante Yes
Recall No, Busatamante Yes
Recall No, Busatamante Yes
Recall No, Busatamante Yes
Recall No, Busatamante Yes
Recall No, Busatamante Yes
Recall No, Busatamante Yes




http://stoptherecall.com

For pics of the LA protest against bush go here
http://www.darrias.com/politics/Protest6-27.html

[David__77]

22. not at all...

No time for pessimism. Look for solutions. Encourage Garamendi to withdraw. The GOP has several candidates. Don't despair!

[maggrwaggr]

24. That would be awesome if the Latinos overthrew the repugs

Sorry, Arnie, no habla espanol.