Obama Courts Texas Hispanics

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

EDINBURG, TEXAS -- Barack Obama catered to a predominantly Hispanic crowd in southern Texas by speaking about Mexican-American labor leader, Cesar Chavez.

"When Cesar Chavez was in the midst of the fight to organize agriculture workers, Dr. King sent him a telegram and said our cause is the same," Obama explained to the crowd.

"What Chavez and King and every other freedom fighter understood is that there is a time, there is moment in the life of every generation when that spirit of hope has to come through."

Obama began using Chavez's motto "Si se puede" in Nevada when he spoke to large Hispanic crowds. In Edinburg, he used the line several times throughout the outdoor rally. Obama has been making a strong effort to appeal to Hispanic voters in Texas, stressing issues that have a direct impact on the community.

Obama emphasized his immigration plan, saying that "we can be a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants." He was deeply critical of the Republican position on immigration, saying that it is becoming an issue of race.

"I don't like what the Republicans are doing, talking about this as if it is a racial issue, just a southern border issue," Obama said, "We are going to have to change that."

Prior to the rally, Obama spoke to Hispanic students about the high cost of college. He spoke of his early education and said that he was often a "goof off."

"When I was coming out of high school, I didn't know what I was going to do. I was kind of a goof off when I was in high school."

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by violet68-2009 February 23, 2008 5:44 PM EST: No Latinos I know are voting for Obama. Just a lot of spin...; Reply to this comment


by macghil February 23, 2008 1:25 PM EST: Wow. Just wow.

An unabashed Socialist running for President of the United States on a Democratic Party ticket.

Sadly, he''ll probably win. We may as well just kiss our Republic good-bye.

The Constitution is meaningless to every single one of the presidential candidates, save Ron Paul.; Reply to this comment


by pensacola88 February 23, 2008 10:54 AM EST: Hispanic issues are shared by Blacks, Asians, and Mid-Easterners who live in the USA. They struggle for respect, acceptance and dignity without having to give up heritage. It is easier for a white woman to make a promise and later disconnect and break it and survive politically, but no black man can change the color of his skin if he doesn''t keep his promise.; Reply to this comment


by p5e0428 February 23, 2008 1:00 AM EST: HISPANICS LOOK AT THE ISSUES DONT BE TAKEN IN BY HIS WORDS OR SHOULD I SAY SOMEONE ELSES WORDS. NO ONE CALLED HIM ON HIS IGNORES AT THE DEBATE. HE SAID HE WANTS ILLEGALS TO START PAYING TAXES. THE SAID THING IS THEY DO PAY TAXES ITS JUST NOT REGISTERED TO THEM. SO FOR HIM TO SAY THAT WAS IGNORANT. HEALTH CARE IS IMPORTANT TO HISPANIC FAMILIES. HILLARYS PLAN WONT LEAVE YOU OUT. HILLARY IS THE UNDERDOG JUST LIKE HISPANICS HER WIN IS OUR WIN.

VOTE FOR HILLARY.; Reply to this comment