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POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:
Obama reaches out to Latinos
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| Barack Obama gave a radio interview with Eduardo “Piolín” Sotelo of KSCA, La Nueva, 101.9 FM Thursday. |
By Ryan Vaillancourt
U.S. Sen. and presidential hopeful Barack Obama came to Glendale on Thursday morning to access one of the nation's most vast gateways to Latino voters — Univision Radio DJ Eduardo "Piolín" Sotelo.
In a one-hour live interview on KSCA-FM (101.9) "La Nueva," the Spanish-language radio personality tested Obama's stance on immigration — a test that Piolín said can be passed only if Obama follows through on his campaign promises if elected next year.
Obama's Glendale visit marked new turf and a new kind of venue on his Los Angeles County campaign trail.
He spoke at an outdoor rally in February in Crenshaw that reportedly drew several thousand supporters.
Later that night, he wooed celebrities at a $2,300-per-ticket reception in Beverly Hills.
But Obama's Glendale visit had him standing in a small radio studio, exchanging platitudes and at times going one on one with Piolín — who has been largely credited for drawing hundreds of thousands of people for the March 15 immigration march and rallies last year in downtown Los Angeles.
"This is the most important [campaign stop] because not only are you the biggest morning radio personality in the country, but you've been using your voice to advance justice and equality in this country, " Obama said.
In response to Piolín's questioning, Obama said he wants to create a path to citizenship for the nation's millions of undocumented immigrants and secure health care and education for immigrant children.
Such a policy, though, may require legal Latino residents to become citizens, Obama said.
"The key is going to be getting as many legal residents as possible naturalized so that as they go to the polls in 2008, they can tell those who voted against comprehensive immigration reform, 'You are going to suffer at the polls as a consequence,'" he said.
During the hourlong exchange, which included live questions from radio listeners, Obama and Piolín tried to bridge a social and political divide they said has arisen between African Americans and Latino Americans.
"I don't look like any president before," Obama said.
"If I'm elected, that's not just a victory for me. That's a victory for people whose names aren't Smith or Jones, named Obama or, you know, Fernandez, people who historically have been on the outside, and I think it will signal that America is ready to think differently about itself."
Obama's words resonated with Piolín.
"I believe he was honest," Piolín said.
"He used a language that we understand, because a lot of politicians, they use so many words as a way to skip the question."
Piolín, however, would not promise his vote to Obama on the air Thursday.
Piolín grilled Obama about whether he will attend a Univision-hosted presidential debate, which is planned to be conducted in Spanish in Miami in September.
Obama hasn't agreed to attend the event, but said he might immediately commit if Piolín registered his singular support for Obama on Thursday.
But Piolín, who said his show hopes to host other presidential candidates, would not commit.
"Right now, it's too early," he said.
In a one-hour live interview on KSCA-FM (101.9) "La Nueva," the Spanish-language radio personality tested Obama's stance on immigration — a test that Piolín said can be passed only if Obama follows through on his campaign promises if elected next year.
Obama's Glendale visit marked new turf and a new kind of venue on his Los Angeles County campaign trail.
He spoke at an outdoor rally in February in Crenshaw that reportedly drew several thousand supporters.
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But Obama's Glendale visit had him standing in a small radio studio, exchanging platitudes and at times going one on one with Piolín — who has been largely credited for drawing hundreds of thousands of people for the March 15 immigration march and rallies last year in downtown Los Angeles.
"This is the most important [campaign stop] because not only are you the biggest morning radio personality in the country, but you've been using your voice to advance justice and equality in this country, " Obama said.
In response to Piolín's questioning, Obama said he wants to create a path to citizenship for the nation's millions of undocumented immigrants and secure health care and education for immigrant children.
Such a policy, though, may require legal Latino residents to become citizens, Obama said.
"The key is going to be getting as many legal residents as possible naturalized so that as they go to the polls in 2008, they can tell those who voted against comprehensive immigration reform, 'You are going to suffer at the polls as a consequence,'" he said.
During the hourlong exchange, which included live questions from radio listeners, Obama and Piolín tried to bridge a social and political divide they said has arisen between African Americans and Latino Americans.
"I don't look like any president before," Obama said.
"If I'm elected, that's not just a victory for me. That's a victory for people whose names aren't Smith or Jones, named Obama or, you know, Fernandez, people who historically have been on the outside, and I think it will signal that America is ready to think differently about itself."
Obama's words resonated with Piolín.
"I believe he was honest," Piolín said.
"He used a language that we understand, because a lot of politicians, they use so many words as a way to skip the question."
Piolín, however, would not promise his vote to Obama on the air Thursday.
Piolín grilled Obama about whether he will attend a Univision-hosted presidential debate, which is planned to be conducted in Spanish in Miami in September.
Obama hasn't agreed to attend the event, but said he might immediately commit if Piolín registered his singular support for Obama on Thursday.
But Piolín, who said his show hopes to host other presidential candidates, would not commit.
"Right now, it's too early," he said.
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