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 Obama Strikes a Chord With a Disaffected RepublicanPosted on Jun 4, 2008By Amy Goodman David Iglesias is an evangelical, Hispanic Republican—yes, that one, the former U.S. attorney for New Mexico—and he has positive things to say about Barack Obama. I interviewed Iglesias the morning after Obama became the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic Party: “Obama represents all the promise of America, that a biracial man from a broken family can rise and have a strong shot of becoming our next president.” Asked if he’s endorsing Obama, Iglesias replied: “I’m not endorsing anybody. Our country has elected white males from northern European countries going back now 230-or-so years. This finally represents that the top position in American government is really open to everyone, and I think that’s sending a powerful message not only to Americans, but throughout the world.” While Iglesias does not dislike John McCain, his own party’s nominee, his comments bear directly on strategy for a campaign of Obama versus McCain. As the Puerto Rican primary results suggested, Obama still has to make major inroads into the Latino community. Iglesias’ home state, New Mexico, is a “majority minority” state—that is, people of color outnumber whites in the state (others include California, Texas and Hawaii). Iglesias represents another population at play in this election: disaffected Republicans. In his new book “In Justice: Inside the Scandal That Rocked the Bush Administration,” Iglesias paints a picture of a highly politicized U.S. Department of Justice, allegedly following Republican Party strategy to prosecute people accused of voter fraud in cases where voter registrations could be seen to help Democratic candidates. Iglesias was not prosecuting these alleged voter-fraud cases, which did not sit well with New Mexico Republicans. Al Gore won New Mexico in 2000 by a mere 366 votes, and George Bush edged out John Kerry there in 2004 by about 6,000 votes. New Mexico is definitely a swing state. Congresswoman Heather Wilson barely held on to her congressional office in 2006. Every vote counts in New Mexico, and the Republicans know it: All three House seats are up for grabs in November, along with the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici. Wilson is giving up her House seat to run for his. Advertisement Iglesias predicted that the Republican Party will be reined in as a result of the U.S. attorney firing scandal: “I hope the media keeps shining the spotlight on groups like the American Center for Voting Rights, which has been engaging in this type of voter-suppression action, especially targeting the elderly people and minorities. If you are an American citizen who is not a felon, you have the right to vote. I would just hope that in swing states like Missouri, Wisconsin, New Mexico and a handful of other states, that the Democratic Party and the media really keep a lot of pressure on this.” David Iglesias’ father is a Kuna Indian from Panama. David grew up in Panama, Oklahoma and New Mexico. This once rising star of the Republican Party has much to teach all parties in this crucial, volatile political season. Amy Goodman is the host of “Democracy Now!,” a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on 650 stations in North America. Her third book, “Standing Up to the Madness: Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times,” was published in April 2008. © 2008 Amy Goodman Previous item: Obama Strikes a Chord With a Disaffected Republican Next item: Obama Strikes a Chord With a Disaffected Republican Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment
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By cann4ing, June 16, 2008 at 10:27 am #
BCC Mr. Seigelman’s first order of business is his still pending appeal. While a civil R.I.C.O. by individuals harmed by the extra-legal actions of the Rove-led cabal are intriguing, the most powerful and far-reaching “legal” position I have observed so far is the one advanced by is the call by Vincent Bugliosi, the for L.A. County D.A. who prosecuted Charles Manson, to prosecute George W. Bush for the murder of more than 4,000 U.S. service personnel who lost their lives because of the Bush regime’s fraudulent justification for taking this nation to war.
Report thisBy BCC Meteorites, June 16, 2008 at 9:32 am #
AG makes some salient points in the Republican disaffection with their party. Here in Texas, we know many Republicans who are voting for the Senator from Illinois, because they have awakened and opened their eyes. I am as surprised at David Iglesias as I am with Don Siegelman, for not having filed a Racketeering Complaint (Civil R.I.C.O.)against those who sought their destruction? This is very surprising indeed.
http://www.bccmeteorites.com/misconduct-planetary.html
http://www.bccmeteorites.com/NASAcert.html
SRD-BCCM
Report thisBy cann4ing, June 5, 2008 at 4:54 pm #
I wholeheartedly concur. Felon disenfranchisement is the one “legal” hold-over from Jim Crow that needs to be scrapped.
Report thisBy John F. Butterfield, June 5, 2008 at 4:17 pm #
Felons can vote in some states, and because of all the crap republicans have pulled, we should strive to make it so felons can vote in every state.
Report thisBy Ed Harges, June 5, 2008 at 2:43 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
You’re right; his full comments are much more enthusiastic than the edited version conveys. I hope he will join the fight against Bush with all his heart.
Report thisBy Ed Harges, June 5, 2008 at 1:34 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Like former right-winger David Brock, Iglesias seems to be awakening to the entrenched evil of the Republican party. It helps to be Hispanic, like Iglesias, or gay, like Brock. Sooner or later, this circumstance is bound to clarify things. There’s a *reason* that minorities traditionally suffering discrimination don’t tend to be Republicans.
But I think that also explains the attraction of the GOP for some members of minorities. The exclusiveness and intolerance of the GOP makes them feel that, somehow, simply through their membership in the GOP, they’ve made themselves honorary Anglo-Saxon heterosexuals especially if they also have money and can sport a nice car and nice clothes. “Wow! My long nightmare of being different from the dominant demographic group is over!”
Report thisBy Nobody, June 5, 2008 at 11:14 am #
^ oxymoron. They exist and hopefully will operate with maximum intelligence and vote accordingly.
Report thisBy Purple Girl, June 5, 2008 at 10:58 am #
I have watched the erosion of both parties over the last 28 yrs. The NeoCon BS ‘Right’ seized the Republican party without shame or regard. But so has their counterparts the DLC taken the Dem party for a ‘magic bus ride’. teh RED were Overt while the Blue were Covert.Why has No othe rDLC’er been able to ‘seal the Deal ’ running for the WH- because True Bluers could smell their Corp whore Stench a mile away. the reason we had to Hold our noses in ‘00 and ‘04.Gore may be enjoying glory Now- but have no doubt real Dems Knew he was on the Take then. But I am a true believer in Redemption- so I acknowledge Al’s attempt at Atonement Now. But have no doubt I voted for him , but never sent him a damn dime!
And after this dispictable charade th eClintons pulled on th eCampaign trail (along with Hillary’s complicity with this Admin during her time in the Senate) They have Lost ALL respect from me and cause Me to apologize to all those I debated with through out the’90’s in their Defense.they wer Right and I was Wrong- Con Artists and Self Centered Opportunists.
I Hope Sen Obama actually names a REAL republican as VP. My Choice Sen Chuck Hagel. I am ready to return to th edays of Old- squabbling with the tightwad ‘Fiscally Responsible’ ,I will stand Up with my former Foes to demand ‘Small Gov’t’ limited Foreign involvement Policies! I am Ready to Concessions which will return Our country back to the path of fulfilling our Dreams of Democracy and Freedom for All!
With the help of REAL patriots we can Rid ourselves of the Corps Covert operatives Plaguing Both sides of the Aisle. these Corrupt ‘Public Servants’ and their corp sponsors must be Prosecuted for their crimes of Treason, War Crimes, Embezzelement and Decades of Crime agaisnt Humanity - all in th ename of th eAll mighty dollar. They have undermined Our rights, Our Economy, Our Reputation and have blood on their hands because of their Business Pracitces and Agendas.
I am Color Blind- I can Only detect those who bleed the combination of colors which truely represent our country - a beautiful shade of Purple.
Obama is not OUR answer, but he is Our War Cry against those who have Betrayed US for Decades!Consider him the First Shot across Your Bow.
Cave Adsum Neo CONS of both colors we are on a mission of Debrisement
Report thisBy jhm, June 5, 2008 at 7:44 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
It was much commented upon that Hon. Sen. Obama’s team had an early strategy for fine-grain targeting of delegates, and that this foresight played a large part in his securing the nomination. I hope, and trust, that they have engaged in similar planning for the inevitable attempts at voter suppression (if not out right disenfranchisement) that is to a large extent the reason that we’ve been saddled with two GWB terms. It is my belief that an effective focus on this area alone would ensure (knock on wood) electoral success.
Report thisBy cann4ing, June 5, 2008 at 12:38 am #
While, as usual, Amy Goodman is spot on, her editing understated what David Inglesias had to say. When Amy asked Inglesias about Obama, he responded:
“Well, Obama, to me, represents all the promise of America that a biracial man from a broken family can rise and have a strong shot of becoming our next president, Incredible, inspirational. His rhetoric is soaring. It reminds me of speeches I’ve heard from Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Just beautiful stuff. It really makes me proud to be an American, also a biracial person—grew up tri-cultural in Latin America and the US. I have a lot of warm thoughts to Barack Obama.”
Inglesias’s observations track those I saw from several Republican posters commenting on the speech Obama gave last night at the Washington Post. Each said that Obama made them “proud to be an American.”
I listened carefully to both speeches last night—the powerful statement provided by Obama, the Magna Cum Laude graduate of Harvard law school, and the stilted mumblings from a man, McCain, who got into Annapolis only because his father was an admiral and who graduated near the bottom of his class. Both in style and in substance, this is a mismatch.
While it may sound like an oxymoron, there are a good number of “honest Republicans” out there who are beginning to appreciate that they have been deceived by the propaganda that brought forth the Bush agenda. And there is a very good chance that they too will see the wisdom in rejecting four more years of the insanity we call the Bush agenda.
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