Hispanic lawyers to Obama: Pay up

By Michelle Malkin  •  November 18, 2008 01:32 PM

The Hispanic National Bar Association has just sent out a press release gently reminding Barack Obama that he owes them — and they are not going to let him forget it:

HNBA Congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama and Urges Appointment of Hispanics to the Federal Judiciary and Executive Branch

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Last week, Ramona E. Romero, the HNBA National President, formally congratulated President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden for their victory in the 2008 presidential election. In her letter, Ms. Romero noted that two-thirds of the Latino electorate joined President-Elect Obama’s diverse base of supporters to contribute to his win on November 4th. The Latino vote was key in battleground states such as Florida, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. In fact, at least 10 million Latino voters cast ballots, an increase in participation of 32% from the 2004 Presidential Election.

“The power of the Latino vote was evident during this election,” said Ms. Romero. She added that “we are both hopeful and confident that President-Elect Obama will select cabinet members and other advisors whose backgrounds reflect the rich diversity of our Country and of the voters who supported his candidacy.” She concluded by stating that “the HNBA has called on the President-Elect to appoint more Hispanics to the federal bench, and urged him to make history yet again by nominating a Hispanic to fill the first U.S. Supreme Court vacancy that occurs during his term.” No person of Latino origin has ever served on the U.S. Supreme Court.

A copy of the letter to President-Elect Obama is available at the HNBA website, www.hnba.com.

Posted in: Barack Obama

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  5. Michelle Malkin » Latinos to Obama: You still owe us more
  6. Michelle Malkin » Latinos turn up the heat on Obama: Remember, you owe us more!

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Comments


  1. #549152
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:14 pm, PhredE said:

    1. Dare… to envision a post racially/ethnically hyper-aware USA…

    2. Why not a “Middle Eastern” American, or an “Asian” American…. or an American?

    3. Will it be that the things that divide us prove stronger than the things that unite us…? (Personally, I am not optimistic)

  2. #549155
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:17 pm, FilmLadd said:

    On November 18th, 2008 at 3:51 pm, nyk said:

    Yup. I guess I don’t get why it’s so hard to conceive of the idea that a Hispanic person might just be the most qualified person, or among the group of potential appointees that’s most qualified.

    I have a hispanic friend who was considering applying his company to the SBA for 8-A (minority disadvantaged) status. In the government contracts world it can be a very lucrative title to secure.

    In the application he had to write an essay about how he was disadvantaged because of his “race.”

    He couldn’t think of a damned thing and, being an honest person, gave up on the entire enterprise.

  3. #549156
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:18 pm, ackrite55 said:

    Would Judge Ito do?

  4. #549158
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:19 pm, emjem24 said:

    Anything for a handout. It’s the American way after all.

    Just hyphenate yourselves like the minorities in this country to prove how special and worthy you are. Doesn’t matter if these people actually have the talent or the ability to do said job, just that they have the “right” ethnicity. Interesting how far removed we’ve become from the idealistic goals of MLK.

    Man, the USA is really competing with France these days for mediocrity. Or is it mediocracy? :roll:

  5. #549159
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:20 pm, chapoutier said:

    Meirs wasn’t an “identity politics” pick. She was an in-your-face incompetent CRONY pick – like most of W.’s appointments.

    Actually, I’d say she was both. If that had not been O’Connor’s seat, I suspect Bush would have gone with some other crony.

    Tell me then, Are Obama and Joe Biden virtually equal in their presidential qualities except for their skin tone?

    I believe they are both qualified. As were Hillary, McCain, Romney, Giuliani… One’s specific preference within that group doesn’t change that.

  6. #549161
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:20 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    lgm said:

    Weak, like most Obama bashing. There’s nothing preventing any interest group from sending a message like this to any politician: “we support you, please support us.”

    Yes weak. Of you.

    Show me where MM says anything in this post directly about Obama.

    Pay attention or don’t post.

  7. #549162
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:22 pm, FilmLadd said:

    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:20 pm, chapoutier said:

    Actually, I’d say she was both. If that had not been O’Connor’s seat, I suspect Bush would have gone with some other crony.

    Welllllll… you may be right on the both part. He was definitely going to float a crony no matter what the marketing team said.

  8. #549164
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:24 pm, chapoutier said:

    If its any consolation, I think the threatened filibusters of Roberts and Alito were absurd.

    These guys are clearly qualified.

  9. #549166
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:25 pm, tre said:

    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:18 pm, ackrite55 said:
    Would Judge Ito do?

    Diddly squat! That’s why he’s faded back into obscurity after the OJ Simpson debacle.

  10. #549168
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:25 pm, SSG David Medzyk said:

    But……… it’s not about race :wink:

  11. #549173
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:27 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    chapoutier said:

    Tell me then, Are Obama and Joe Biden virtually equal in their presidential qualities except for their skin tone?

    I believe they are both qualified. As were Hillary, McCain, Romney, Giuliani… One’s specific preference within that group doesn’t change that.

    You can believe that if you like. You can also believe in Leprechauns as well. But they still don’t exist.

    If Obama were qualified for the job, you would not have heard a peep on the subject. But it was in fact a big topic of discussion. Any reasonable person acknowledges his inexperience for the post.

  12. #549176
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:31 pm, chapoutier said:

    If Obama were qualified for the job, you would not have heard a peep on the subject. But it was in fact a big topic of discussion. Any reasonable person acknowledges his inexperience for the post.

    Inexperience and qualification are not the same thing when it comes to the presidency, or so thought 53% of the country.

  13. #549186
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:36 pm, Misscheryl said:

    In an episode that could potentially strain relations between Warsaw and Washington, Radek Sikorski, an Oxford-educated politician who has lived in the US, was reported to have made the jibe by an opposition politician, Ryszard Czarnecki.

    Writing in his blog, Mr Czarnecki, an MEP, quoted the foreign minister as saying: “Have you heard that Obama may have a Polish connection? His grandfather ate a Polish missionary.”

    A spokesman for the Polish foreign office conceded that Mr Sikorski had made the controversial comment, but denied that the foreign minister had intended to insult Mr Obama, whose father was Kenyan.

    “Mr Sikorski did not tell a racist joke,” said Piotr Paszkowski, the spokesman. “He was only giving an example of the unpalatable and racist ‘jokes’ that surround President Elect Obama.”

    Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, has made no comment on the affair. It appears that Mr Sikorski’s position is not under threat despite calls from opposition politicians for an investigation to deter if the foreign minister broke anti-racism laws.

    The derogatory comment about Mr Obama’s family may also have become common staple in Polish political circles. Wojciech Olejniczak, the leader of Poland’s main Left-wing party, the SLD, alleged that he first heard it from Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a Right-wing former prime minister and twin brother of the Polish president, Lech Kaczynski.

    If there was even a thread of respect remaining for our country’s president from around the world, I think the above comment reflects it not to be the case any longer. We may be done with white guilt and racism may not have much of a hold on us here anymore, but it’s obviously not the case elsewhere. We are toast.

  14. #549189
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:41 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Chap,

    Unfortunately lost in the discussion were the traits of problem solving, common sense, judgement, and core values.

    If given a subject totally unknown to them, an equal access to data and an equal amount of time, I am confident I would prefer a solution from Sarah Palin over Biden, Obama or McCain.

    Obams’s core values do not match mine and I have seen enough of McCain and Biden over the past 20 years to tell me they both can’t cut it.

    Palin’s history is a solid one. Until shown otherwise, she would have my confidence.

  15. #549209
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:55 pm, Joy said:

    Inexperience and qualification are not the same thing when it comes to the presidency, or so thought 53% of the country.

    This is the lamest answer EV-ER.

    Yeah, because it was time for a black president. Affirmative Action POTUS. And people like Peggy the Moocher believed his LIES.

  16. #549214
    On November 18th, 2008 at 4:59 pm, Joy said:

    So Chap… AGAIN – What makes Obama QUALIFIED if Sarah Palin ISN’T when he has ZERO experience?

    Just cuz he has a good tag line? Hope and Change?

    Why can’t you admit it is because he is black… period? That is his qualification. The color of his skin.

  17. #549216
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:01 pm, purplepeep said:

    chapoutier said:
    Inexperience and qualification are not the same thing when it comes to the presidency, or so thought 53% of the country.

    But then again, as noted in the “How Obama Got Elected” post & comment thread, over 85% of that 53% cannot tell the difference between reality and fantasy, Chappy.

  18. #549217
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:01 pm, chapoutier said:

    So Chap… AGAIN – What makes Obama QUALIFIED if Sarah Palin ISN’T when he has ZERO experience?

    Firing synapses, perhaps?

  19. #549230
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:12 pm, whoozit said:

    IMHO, the appeal of Obama to the left is similar to the appeal of Palin to the right. (Atleast to people of the reformer frame of mind).

    Young Obama and Palin’s experience deficits (compared to McCain and Biden) have been a positive for both of them.

    They will upset the status quo because Americans would rather give a fresh face a chance as opposed to electing someone who has been entrenched in Washington for decades.

  20. #549239
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    chapoutier said:

    If Obama were qualified for the job, you would not have heard a peep on the subject. But it was in fact a big topic of discussion. Any reasonable person acknowledges his inexperience for the post.

    Inexperience and qualification are not the same thing when it comes to the presidency, or so thought 53% of the country.

    The ballot wasn’t a referendum about his experience or qualifications. I would argue it was more about who people liked more, which has little if anything to do with whether or not he would make a good president.

    Maybe a better comparison would be a guy trying to pick up a girl in a bar. He’ll go for the “hot” one every time. What’s beneath the surface is not relevant to his decision making process at the time.

    Unfortunately, I believe this is how many voters arrived at their decision in this election. But they can’t use the “I was drunk” excuse this time.

  21. #549248
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    chapoutier said:

    So Chap… AGAIN – What makes Obama QUALIFIED if Sarah Palin ISN’T when he has ZERO experience?

    Firing synapses, perhaps?

    [[rim shot sound]]

    He’s here all week folks!!!

    C’mon now. You can do better than that. What would your profs at Georgetown say???

  22. #549249
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pm, chapoutier said:

    But they can’t use the “I was drunk” excuse this time.

    Why not? I was. It was a Tuesday evening after all.

  23. #549253
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:20 pm, chapoutier said:

    What would your profs at Georgetown say???

    Probably:

    “Who are you, again. I haven’t seen you in my class since the first day.”

  24. #549261
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:28 pm, Freddy said:

    Notice this comment in the 2nd to last paragraph, in bold no less, by this ‘leader’ over at HNBA.

    Clearly, she only sees the current court as a bunch of racists. I do not think that her type of bigotry stops at just 1!

  25. #549298
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:51 pm, Joy said:

    Chap – I’m not surprised that when this question gets asked all you can do is perform a very lame shtick. You resort to that because you know that Palin is more experienced AND qualified.

  26. #549299
    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:51 pm, Micheleeroo said:

    As someone of part-latino background myself, let me just say that the color/race of the judge is not important. Their values and judicial approach to issues IS. Give me the Roberts’, Alitos and Scalias any day over some rabid leftwinger like Ruth B-Gins.
    That’s what matters. Not their race.

  27. #549344
    On November 18th, 2008 at 6:26 pm, chapoutier said:

    Joy,

    As I said before I won’t try to convince you about Obama if you don’t try to convince me of palin. Besides, I am busy watching Syracuse freaking lose to Richmond. Again.

  28. #549361
    On November 18th, 2008 at 6:37 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    What would your profs at Georgetown say???

    “Whose paper is this – it’s written in crayon?”

  29. #549364
    On November 18th, 2008 at 6:39 pm, Joy said:

    “Whose paper is this – it’s written in crayon?”

    :lol:

    Exactly

  30. #549365
    On November 18th, 2008 at 6:40 pm, oldcollegeguy1980 said:

    Pay me now and then pay me later and again and again and…..

  31. #549408
    On November 18th, 2008 at 7:14 pm, havok said:

    Can I put dibs on ‘Anglo-American’?

  32. #549423
    On November 18th, 2008 at 7:28 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

    Speaking of Supreme Court nominations, this quote is Schadenfreudelicious:

    Let me also say that I remain distressed that the White House during this confirmation process, which overall went smoothly, failed to provide critical documents as part of the record that could have provided us with a better basis to make our judgment with respect to the nomination. This White House continues to stymie efforts on the part of the Senate to do its job.

    -Remarks of Senator Barack Obama on the Confirmation of Judge John Roberts

    Failed to provide critical documents“, eh, Indonesian citizen Barry Soetoro?

    How’s that workin’ out for ya?

  33. #549449
    On November 18th, 2008 at 7:42 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Wow payback time for Obama. I guess they’ll have to get in the back of the hand out line. Should be about 35 city blocks long by now.

  34. #549450
    On November 18th, 2008 at 7:43 pm, zyzzyg said:

    This letter is a proforma expectation that many groups will no doubt send. Big deal. Whomever Pres Elect Obama selects to serve in his administration, as long as the are qualified, what the hay?

  35. #549460
    On November 18th, 2008 at 7:56 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    Whomever Pres Elect Obama selects to serve in his administration, as long as the are qualified, what the hay?

    Simple. They’ll be socialists. Which, by definition, means they can never be qualified to hold any political position in a free country.

    Which means they will just change this country from being free, and change it to be socialist.

  36. #549479
    On November 18th, 2008 at 8:19 pm, chep said:

    Your argument rests on the premise that there is one “right person” for the job, which I find to be patently absurd.

    No. My argument does not rest on any premise of the sort. It’s clear that you would like it to though because I just poked holes in all of the race favor garbage.

  37. #549504
    On November 18th, 2008 at 9:02 pm, CW4_KGP said:

    On November 18th, 2008 at 5:20 pm, chapoutier said:
    What would your profs at Georgetown say???

    Probably:

    “Who are you, again. I haven’t seen you in my class since the first day.”

    Sounds like the Obama College Graduation plan. Carrying a 4.0 GPA no doubt, as well.

    CW4

  38. #549522
    On November 18th, 2008 at 9:22 pm, garydt said:

    How does Mexico handle its diversity when a new president comes in every six years? I know their first president had more native blod then Spanish blood but other Fox being of Irish ancestory, the total Mexican government has been all of one race. Someone across the hall in school once asked “when are we going to get a Mexican for president” and the teacher said probably about the same time Mexico elects an American for president in Mexico and the student had nothing to say. As for Hispanics serving the BO administration, I would assume conservative Hispanics would not be allowed.

  39. #549529
    On November 18th, 2008 at 9:36 pm, chapoutier said:

    chep,

    Stay out of the deep end of the thinkin’ pool buddy. You ain’t ready for it yet.

  40. #549599
    On November 18th, 2008 at 10:56 pm, chep said:

    chapoutier,
    Yes I don’t want to play with the kids pissing on themselves like you. You can have the pool

  41. #549809
    On November 19th, 2008 at 6:17 am, Dandapani said:

    Heard on the radio the other day, one of the MSM liberal anchors say that “Obama needs a high ranking Hispanic on his cabinet such as Bill Richards.” I always thought we needed the “best” people and not just people of a certain demographic. Identity politics is just plain wrong.

  42. #549816
    On November 19th, 2008 at 6:32 am, frontierguy said:

    Inexperience and qualification are not the same thing when it comes to the presidency, or so thought 53% of the country.

    We’ve already discussed the stupid people who voted for Obama on another thread.

  43. #550017
    On November 19th, 2008 at 9:53 am, tiredofit08 said:

    two words…..

    go away

  44. #550060
    On November 19th, 2008 at 10:26 am, McCloud9 said:

    backgrounds reflect the rich diversity of our Country

    Diversity…. When I hear that word it sends shivers up my spine.
    Diversity… The ORIGINAL meaning of the word is TO DIVIDE !!!
    It should scare the Hell out of you too.

  45. #550643
    On November 19th, 2008 at 3:06 pm, iowavette said:

    In the last Clinton administration one of our Asian-American attorneys was tapped to be an assistant cabinet secretary, I believe Labor. In any event, she was lovely and had a terrific education. She also was obtuse and incredibly lazy. Let’s “hope” for more appointments along those lines to ensure as little is accomplished as possible.

  46. #550648
    On November 19th, 2008 at 3:08 pm, iowavette said:

    Furthermore, remember that “W” received absolutely no credit for all the qualified protected classes he placed in high-ranking positions just as a matter of course – not because he owed a particular demographic.

  47. #550842
    On November 19th, 2008 at 5:17 pm, tiefelj said:

    I’m starting to think that Obama should consider November 4th his personal 9-11

    Jake

  48. #551853
    On November 20th, 2008 at 11:30 am, chep said:

    MCloud9,

    Diversity in this context has a feel good ring to it. It’s supposed to instill compassion and understanding (of someone else’s point of view not race). The truth is that feel good doesn’t get the job done.

    The problem is not all the different ethnic backgrounds. It’s all the individuals or groups who try to use it as a bully tactic in the political arena. Or the ones who use it as an excuse to get some special treatments , appointed positions which they may not otherwise be qualified for. Even for admission of special entitlements which create special rights for their ethnic group and divide our nation’s class of citizenry. It’s a scam in that regard.

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