Turning Texas Blue

Texans Boo George Lopez at Toyota Center

I attended a George Lopez stand-up show at Toyota Center last night. George was in classic form and his delivery was as good as ever. However, towards the tail-end of his routine he started to venture towards politics! As he noted Texas’ March 4th Primary he said and I will paraphrase here:

Latinos don’t understand the power they have. You guys in Texas have the chance to pick the next Democratic President, in a few weeks.

Then the jovial atmosphere suddenly took a u-turn. He continues:

I support Barack Obama.

He didn’t get much further than that. No sooner did he finish endorsing Obama than he was met with a weak applause followed immediately by a backlash of booing. I was flabbergasted. I thought the Obama endorsement was going to be another wave of momentum that would wash over the 17,000 people in the center. Apparently these mostly Latino Texans had their opinion and it’s clear that they weren’t getting onboard Obamamentum.


30 Comments

Posted by
Bibi from Texas
17 February 2008 @ 1pm

I was there too. I had a floor seat. Not only did he get majorly booed some got up and left. You can’t tell a hispanic who to vote for at a paid event. Many of us are supporting Hillary because she has been in our corner. She has working for programs like SCHIP which been beneficial to a lot of hispanic children. She has attended our hispanic conferences and spoken for our rights at them. Obama has done nothing for us he IS all talk. He has just lately decided to try to take our votes from Hillary who has been on our side.

Posted by
Chris
17 February 2008 @ 5pm

Obama worked on and voted for SCHIP too. He also worked for years with minority communities in Chicago, and his record clearly shows that he’s all about giving the little guy a fair shake. Frankly, I don’t understand your animosity.

Posted by
Bibi from Texas
17 February 2008 @ 9pm

I don’t have any animosity. If Hillary weren’t running against him, I’d take a chance on him. Frankly, I do like him but I don’t believe he has enough experience. Bill first years in office were a mess. Learning on the job is not what I can afford. My kids Frankin College funds are losing money and so is our (my husban’s and mine) IRAs. I think a lot of us are more upset at the media bias. He can do no wrong, but I know it will get very messy when the replicans start swift boating. I have also met John McCain at one of the hispanic conferences in AZ. He is truly a nice guy, but I couldn’t vote for him either because of his position on the war and I don’t think he has the right credentials to help our economy.Right now I own 2 houses and can’t seem to sell the one in Brownsville without losing 70k because people aren’t buying lage houses anymore. It’s hard paying two morgages and my taxes in Brownsville are over 5k yearly. But chris I like your style! Maybe one day we’ll root for the same guy. :)

Posted by
Gabriel
20 February 2008 @ 4am

I am sorry but as a Latino, Obama is much more progressive for Latino causes… He believes in comprehensive immigration reform, also he believes that latinos and blacks suffer the blunt of war because a majority of the military front lines is minorities, which is why he is apposed to dumb wars.

Anyone who supports Hillary on name alone is doing themselves a grave injustice. Do some homework, Latinos shouldn’t be a monolithic voting block… Besides, I love Bill but look how wuick he through the blacks under the bus when it was evident they werent going to support Hillary. Imagine when they dont need us anymore. I was offended.

Posted by
Kevin
20 February 2008 @ 4am

The facts in this race are plain to me. Nominate Clinton and the Reps get four more years in the White House. Nominate Obama and the Dems controll the White House and both branches of Congress. Now which situation will benifit Latinos more? Clinton can imho simply not win for one simple fact. The far right wing.

Now I come from an extremely conservative family. Just to the right of Attila the Hun. The far right-wingers simply do not have a horse in this race. Because of that I believe that many of them will simply stay home on Election Day. That is unless Billary is running on the Democratic ticket. For some reason the total hatred they have for that woman will get them to vote for ANYONE that is against her. I am not saying its right, I am simply stating facts about the people I know the best. This fact alone should sway anyone that is undecided. I don’t want four more years of the status quo. I WANT CHANGE NOW!

I am from Kansas, a very Republican state. We went for Obama almost 3 to 1. The same thing is happening around the country. I believe that this is because we looked not only at the messages but also at the messenger. AND we had more Democrats vote in the caucus than did the Republicans by almost a 2 : 1 margin. This is in KANSAS. Change CAN win in November but ONLY if Obama is leading the charge.

The youth in this election are for the first time in a LONG time, speaking at the polls. The fact that Obama won in Wisconsin in EVERY age category under age 65 says a lot. The fact that he won in the 18 – 29 year old range by almost a 3:1 ratio says even more. This site is called turning Texas Blue. Now will the over 65 crowd still vote in November if Obama is on the ticket? Sure they will. Will the record number of young votes turn out for Hillary? I think we all know the answer to that. She inspires NO ONE.

Simply put, it’s Obama or McCain. Not much of a choice.

Posted by
handsdown
20 February 2008 @ 4am

Bibi,
Clinton “has attended our hispanic conferences and spoken for our rights at them.” Obama called immigrant-bashing “scapegoating” in front of a national audience. Doesn’t he get credit for that? It takes a little more courage to stand up for something in front of the largest tv audience of the campaign season than to do it at a conference full of people you know are going to agree with you.

Right? Here’s a short list of things that matter a lot more than how much pandering she’s done at various conferences:
1) She takes lobbyist money, and even defended the role of lobbyists in government at YearlyKos.
2) She voted for the Iraq war and against the Levin amendment which would’ve allowed the inspectors to finish their jobs. There’s no explaining that one away.
3) She voted for a fear-mongering war pretext called Kyl-Lieberman. It labels the Iranian military as a terrorist organization so US attacks on Iran could be justified.

Of the things Clinton has accomplished, I don’t understand how any of them could be more important than her getting us into wars and defending the corruption of government through lobbyist money.

Posted by
ames
20 February 2008 @ 4am

yeah, but he wasn’t telling them who to vote for, he was just expressing his opinion. Tengo amigos que tienen documentos y otros que no tienen. But Hillary cannot stand up for all of us to have basic rights. Obama has lots of courage for always standing up for what is right, instead of what is most popular. Todos estamos pagando por la guerra estupida que ella autorizo, sin leer el reportaje de inteligencia (eran sola 91 paginas!!). Y ni puede admitir que hizo mal. Nunca pide perdon, y debe. Yo tambien apoyo a Barack Obama. Los Clintons nos toman por dados.

Posted by
Serge
20 February 2008 @ 4am

I respect your support for Senator Clinton.
I also acknowledge her work on behalf of the latino community.

Now let’s look at what Obama has done for the latino community:

1) He supports driver licenses for illegal immigrant and a path to citizenship for them. Senator Clinton said clearly that she was against both;

2) As someone else pointed out, Senator Obama also voted for the SCHIP ;

3) Senator Clinton said in a recent interview that all illegals must be arrested and deported without even appearing in front of a judge; again Senator Obama supports citizenship for all immigrants;

4) When it comes to the economy, Senator Clinton raised more money than Senator Obama in 2007; she overspent, went broke and had to loan her campaign 5 millions dollars; who do you want to trust with helping you with your mortgage problems? A good or a bad manager of their own money?

5) Senator Clinton just fired her hispanic campaign manager Sollis Doyle after she helped her get a majority of the hispanic vote;

6) Obama is a son of immigrant who started from zero to get where he is. Who do you really think will better understand the problems of the lower class? The person who grew up poor or the one who has been living in a millionaire club for 25 years?

For more reasons to support senator Obama go to http://www.barackobama.com - Issues.

Posted by
Jesse
20 February 2008 @ 4am

I look white and have an Anglo last name, so people think I’m just Anglo, unless I tell them or they meet my mom. It’s not a secret, I just mean random people don’t think I’m Mexican when they meet me.

I’ve had white bosses who only talk about how they love Chilli Peppers around people they know are Mexican, and those some guys talk about dirty greasers and wetbacks when they think it’s only anglos around, and then it gets nasty and I lose my job.

Because of that, I don’t believe in Hillary anymore after the way she has acted this year. Everyone likes our food, why does she keep saying it like it’s a reason to vote for her?

George has been in Hollywood a long time working with rich Anglos. He can see when they are patronizing.

Posted by
Chris
20 February 2008 @ 4am

Yes, McCain would be a disaster. On that, at least, we agree. :)

I like Hillary’s policies, and honestly, I think she’d make a terrific president. I just can’t rationalize supporting someone who has huge negatives among independents and republicans right out of the gate. Hundreds of thousands of people who have been indoctrinated by right-wing radio will never even think twice before dismissing Hillary. Is that fair? Absolutely not. She doesn’t deserve the bullshit and lies that have been thrown her way.

Unfortunately, it’s the way things are. I’d argue that Obama has all the right kinds of experience for the job, and his ability to reach across the aisle and electrify the youth means that he can win big in November. Hillary could probably eek out a win against McCain, but I’d rather go with what I see as the sure thing.

Thanks for the comments, and good luck to you and your candidate here in Texas!

Posted by
Vanessa
20 February 2008 @ 6am

I’m a Chicana por Obama!

In Nogales, Arizona, where I grew up, I know several Obama supporters. We’ll win you over yet.

Love to the community and to George Lopez for helping us yet again. Thank you– all of you.

Posted by
LISSA
20 February 2008 @ 7am

I LOVE TO HEAR MEXICAN-AMERICANS COME OUT SO FORCEFUL.BUT WHAT I ASK OF YOU IS LOOK A WHAT BARACK IS OFFERING. IT IS EXPERIENCE THAT GOT US INTO THIS MESS,IT WILL BE SOUND JUDGEMENT THAT GETS US OUT.

Posted by
Tanya
20 February 2008 @ 8am

During the CNN debate in Los Angeles, Hillary Clinton said that Latino immigrants were taking jobs AWAY from blacks. Most Latinos in California were SHOCKED and OFFENDED by this. I’m very surprised that the good people of Texas haven’t noticed the blatant attempt of the Clinton campaign to implay that Latinos are racist against blacks. Isn’t that offensive?

Posted by
Tanya
20 February 2008 @ 8am

ooops…meant “imply”, not “implay” =)

Posted by
GIo
20 February 2008 @ 6pm

I respect all of the opinions that are posted. I to am a hispanic. I have heard so much about Obama…yeah he make people jump off there seats,makes people feel “good to be an american”,makes women faint,and oh last but not least “CHANGE”.”CHANGE” what does this mean?? i think his supporter can’t even answer that….What one of his accomplishements?? i think no one in the whole USA can answer that, a senator i forgot who but anyways he himself could not answer this question.The reporters laughed at the senator. I think his supporter should asked themselves these question.Yes, his speeches should be greatly admired but do we really need a person who can only give good speech?? We need a president that can walk the walk and talk the talk.This other note to take in consideration if obama wins he will be greatly defeated by Mc Cain.Thats why republicans talk trash after trash about Hillary. Republicans don’t want another Clinton in the Whitehouse Why??? I’ll let you think of this if you are a true democrat .It is my first time voting and I do support Hillary Clinton. I believe that she is the only one that will enforce to change the rules on health care, she will bring many jobs into our country just as her husband did and,immigration will be affected for the better.

Posted by
Chris
20 February 2008 @ 6pm

What one of his accomplishements?? i think no one in the whole USA can answer that, a senator i forgot who but anyways he himself could not answer this question

How about the most sweeping ethics reform in years? How about sunshine laws that open up government agencies to scrutiny by the public, so we can hold them accountable for their actions? How about bi-partisan legislation to help stop nuclear proliferation? Or proposed legislation that protects our country against Avian fule (a far more deadly threat than terrorism)?

These are only some of issues that he’s tackled in his brief two year stint in Congress, as a freshman senator in the minority party. They don’t even take into account his formidable record in the Illinois legislature.

If you don’t support Obama, I have no problem with that. When your lack of support is based on lies and half-truths, I do have a problem with that.

Oh, and if you want a candidate with experience, perhaps you should consider these historical notes:

Richard Nixon, the candidate with Experience
Bill Clinton on why his Arkansas experience matters, and why change is important.

Posted by
Gio
20 February 2008 @ 7pm

“If you don’t support Obama, I have no problem with that. When your lack of support is based on lies and half-truths, I do have a problem with that.”

What lies have i said? i expressed on what i feel and im sticking to it. Maybe your mad about what i said about McCain beating Obama but if this happens because he might not even make it till November, i will just post “told you so.”McCain is getting critized by not being conservative enough thats exactly what they said about Reagan and I got to say that Mc Cain is a tough man. His politics are not all wrong. His view on immigration is not all wrong and it does benifits hispanics he has not yet said hes against illegals.That makes him a tough man. In order to beat a tough opponent you need a tough challenger.”I BELIEVE” i said “I BELIEVE” that Hillary will be a greatly tougher opponent.Are you really comparing Bill Clinton and Obama by showing that?? There are many diffrences in between both for one obama. Just one is that obama is not for universal health care theres a difference in the health care plan.I don’t think that i was full of lies or stuff like that…. Senator is not an accomplishment. Bill Clinton was a great speech giver and a man who demand what he believed in..i’m not going to argue with you just don’t acuse me of lies…. I ain’t no liar

Posted by
Gio
20 February 2008 @ 7pm

lets just wait and see what happen

Posted by
Chris
21 February 2008 @ 2am

What lies have i said? i expressed on what i feel and im sticking to it.

I’m not accusing you of making up lies, just perpetuating them. The idea that Sen. Obama has no accomplishments is one pushed by the Clinton campaign, and it’s clearly false. His strong track record speaks for itself, if you bother to do the research.

You might also be interesting in reading this piece, which takes a pretty fair and balanced look at both Senators’ legislative records.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633

I have no problem with the rest of your argument. You’re entitled to believe that Hillary will be a tougher opponent, and I’m entitled to believe that Obama will be. I’ve got no beef with you there :)

Posted by
johanna
21 February 2008 @ 5am

I respect all of the opinions that are posted. I to am a hispanic. I have heard so much about Obama…yeah he make people jump off there seats,makes people feel “good to be an american”,makes women faint,and oh last but not least “CHANGE”.”CHANGE” what does this mean??
————————————————
I am becoming enlightened more and more as this campaign goes on. This blogger is not the only one who has missed the meaning of the “CHANGE” message. On other blogs, this question continues to come up. It is touted by people, or so I believe, who are against Obama and closed and not listening to begin with. I wrote a full 3 or 4 paragraphs on my barackobama.com site defining what “CHANGE” refers to. I’ll summarize simply: Change from business as usual in Washington politics — lobbyists dominating legislation at the expense of the American people; party loyalty legislation rather than loyalty to the American people; lawmakers giving themselves hefty pay raises in the dark of night with taxpayers’ money; lawmakers giving themselves hefty retirement packages while leaving Americans to struggle with social security funds; tax credits to big money corporations while the middle class is smothered in taxes; and lawmakers having healthcare as a benefit while the people they serve go without it. I could go on and on but did say this is a summary.

Posted by
Bibi from Texas
21 February 2008 @ 6pm

Alright ..alright
I thought this was a friendly debate.
I think expeirence does matter. Hillary wouldn’t have taken large portions of someone else’s speech because she knows it will come back to you. I am deeply shocked that Obamas speech was lifted from his friend. His words are what brought him his followers. At this level he should be original. If they are not even his words then what’s the point. By the way on the drivers license issue the republicans will crucify him for it. They are sitting around making their list on how many things they can swift boat him on. You know they are also sitting there with a picture of his grandmother in Africa holding a chicken speaking some foreign language. So far the press has given him a free ride, but it won’t last through the geneal election.
I know it’s only an opinion, but I do believe you are taking a chance. One that I’m not willing to take. His words are all we mostly know. On the issues she does win him hands down. Again,I do like him but she has much more substance that he is now trying to mimic with his new economic plan. Yes she vote to give Bush the Authorization to go war. But you can’t deny that we wouldn’t be in this situation if she (or Obama)were president
We (hillary supports) are somewhat angry about the election. She has been very unevenly attacked while he is teflon with the media for now. The kool-aid drinkers are very nasty on the blogs, and its really disgusting the language they use against her. Most Obama supporters have no real idea why we should elect him president and can not name any accomplishments he has made. (not you chris)This is called an ignorant voter. I am also sick and tired of my African American students (who I also love)telling me that their parents are voting for a president because he’s black. I do tell them to find another reason. They have no idea who I support because they should make an informed decision on their own.

Got to go I have steaks on the grill and I have to help my 7yr old with his homewok.
Have a great evening!

Posted by
Gio
21 February 2008 @ 7pm

Ofcourse this is a friendly debate i guess i came out to aggresive and for that im sorry. I don’t think im perpetuating lies, i heard that senator on the Michael Berry show that could’t answer this simple question on what Obama’s accomplishements were..People that know politics want to hear something besides his Senators legislative records…

Posted by
Bibi from Texas
21 February 2008 @ 8pm

I saw that! I agree. Click to watch.

http://www.findinternettv.com/Video,item,382667611.aspx

Posted by
Chris
21 February 2008 @ 10pm

If you’re going to push the plagarization meme, you should be aware of what your own candidate is saying:

Bill Clinton, 1992:
“The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits the people of this state and this country have been taking for a long time.”

Hillary Clinton, tonight in the debate:
“You know, the hits I’ve taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country.”

Borrowing of words and phrases from other politicians is nothing new in politics. It’s one of the ways in which good ideas spread. Neither of these candidates is guilty of plagarism.


Most Obama supporters have no real idea why we should elect him president and can not name any accomplishments he has made. (not you chris)This is called an ignorant voter. I am also sick and tired of my African American students (who I also love)telling me that their parents are voting for a president because he’s black.

I’d argue that there are far too many underinformed voters on both sides (and agree that it’s a big problem). I’d also argue that plenty of people are voting for Hillary because she’s a woman. (which is as dumb as voting for Barack because he’s black).

Posted by
Turning Texas Blue – Comments
21 February 2008 @ 10pm

[...] post has dropped off of the front page, but a lively discussion is still going on in the George Lopez comment thread. Drop in and leave your two [...]

Posted by
Michael
21 February 2008 @ 11pm

The plagiarizing issue is more about the elevation of rhetoric with words that Obama used deliberately and calculatedly to attack Hillary.

No one is saying that it is a problem to borrow someone’s lines or the gist of what their line is because it’s obvious that once they get out in public domain there is no copyright on them. However, I take issue with Obama using those paragraphs verbatim from Deval Patrick and passing them off as his own in order to score political points against Hillary. It seems disingenuous (since he only admitted lifting the lines after he was called out on it) and for the most part any average viewer would assume that those were his own words.

Posted by
Michael
21 February 2008 @ 11pm

Furthermore they weren’t just any old words that he used. He invoked the very best leaders of this great nation in order to put the smack down on his political opponent. This is really quite the heart of the matter. It’s not as simple as just plagiarizing. There is something that rings quite distasteful in my mind when he uses such lofty rhetoric on such flimsy footing.

Posted by
Chris
21 February 2008 @ 11pm

Are you seriously trying to portray Hillary as the victim here? The Clintons started the whole exchange when they claimed Obama was all style and no substance. He responded with riff off of Patrick’s lines, and that’s where this mess came from.

Posted by
Jesse
22 February 2008 @ 4am

Gov. Patrick is Senator Obamas national campaign co-chair. He has been acting as one of Senator Obamas speechwriters for months. Senator Clinton has speechwriters too, who used to work for President Clinton.

The same thing happens. Just like we sometimes type the same sentence on more than one comments section or blog and don’t realize it, people do the same when they write speeches.

Senator Clinton didn’t Plagerise President Clinton, and Senator Obama didn’t Plagerise Governor Patrick. Bobby Kennedy used to use Jack Kennedy lines sometimes, because they had the same speechwriter. Would you call Bobby a plagerist because of that?

There isn’t one standard for Senator Obama because he has a better voice, and a break for Senator Clinton because she’s more reserved. That’s not how fairness works.

It’s not about Senator Obamas words, but about the vision he expresses through them. He could have “hit back” at Senator Clinton tonight, but he didn’t, because she might still win and he wants to make sure WE (democrats) win against McCain. He doesn’t want to risk making her weak just to raise his own chances of getting nominated.

That’s why people booed her tonight. He might win the nomination, and no one with sense wants to make the Candidate - who ever that is - weaker in November.

Posted by
Jesse
22 February 2008 @ 4am

Why do people keep saying paragraphs, or that it was the whole speech?

The speech was 45 minutes, the material under discussion is one sentence. 30 seconds, tops.

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