May 5 marks the anniversary of the defeat of 8,000 well-armed French forces at the hands of the outnumbered Mexican army led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín in the Battle of Puebla, or Batalla de Puebla in Spanish, during the French intervention in 1862.
Columnist Andrés Oppenheimer ripped John McCain over his embrace of the right-wing on immigration in Sunday's Miami Herald. Oppenheimer, an award-winning journalist, writes that following an interview with the presumptive GOP nominee that McCain is "moving steadily backward" on immigration.
The Tancredo Effect: For the first time, the number of Hispanic Democrats in the state is expected to exceed the number of Hispanic Republicans. The Florida secretary of state is expected to release the month's voter registration figures to the...
This week, the Democratic National Committee announced the Hispanic Leadership Council that will be led by long-time activists Gilberto Ocañas and Ingrid Duran. Arizona Republic: "We believe this is a key for us to be able to go on the...
John McCain says that on his campaign tour this week he is visiting "places that have long been ignored or are losing ground as the global economy forces change" and that "[i]t's time for action" to help those communities. But in reality, John McCain has proven time and again that he would leave these communities behind by vetoing earmarks, which have funded critical programs in these economically struggling areas.
Forty-years ago, just days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President Lyndon Johnson signed the '68 Civil Rights Act. Twenty-two years later, John McCain cast a deciding vote against the Civil Rights Act in 1990. In 1990,...
"Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a transformative American leader whose life was cut tragically short 40 years ago. As we reflect on this solemn occasion, each one of us should reaffirm our commitment to continuing Dr. King's fight for social justice, equality, fairness, and inclusion for all Americans.
"Among the many lessons of Dr. King's life, he taught us that our Democracy must be nurtured. That the work of making America a better place is a lifetime commitment. Each one of us must fight for the shared values of an America where we stand up and stand together for the least among us, for our children, our veterans, our communities, the very things that define who we are and what we believe.
"This year's presidential election provides a ray of hope in the realization of Dr. King's dream. Across the country we've seen historic turnout as Americans from all walks of life are making their voices heard to move our country forward. Today the Democratic Party reaffirms its commitment to work towards the beloved community Dr. King envisioned. "
Early in the primary process, John McCain backed away from his efforts on comprehensive immigration reform by telling Republican crowds that he "got the message." Just a few weeks ago, McCain traveled to Illinois' 14th Congressional District to endorse and...
"John McCain can't apologize for one mistake while making another of the same ilk. As recently as 1994 John McCain voted to cut off funding for the Commission promoting Dr. King's holiday, but today says he made 'a mistake.' If McCain is truly regretful of those past actions, how can he justify advertising on a website that promotes the same type of hate and division Dr. King gave his life to end?"
"César Chávez is undeniably one of America's greatest heroes, and the best way to honor his service and sacrifice today is to continue to fight for the ideals he worked for and cherished."
In the New York Times this morning was an Associated Press piece on the rise of young Latino voters citing figures from the Pew Hispanic Center and the efforts of independent groups like Voto Latino to increase the Latino youth...
March 1st begins Women's History Month and that is particularly important for Democrats since we have a long, proud history of women's accomplishments to celebrate and honor. Simply going back to 1920, after battling for 72 years, the 19th Amendment...
The Republican National Committee is testing how far it can go in attacks against a potential woman or African American opponent.
The Latino community is one of the most rapidly growing in the country, and with the rise in numbers will be a rise in political power. Latinos turned out in huge numbers across the country on Super Tuesday, and set...
Today, the Supreme Court heard arguments on Indiana's undemocratic voter identification law. While there has never been a report of voter impersonation fraud in Indiana, real voters - seniors, students, veterans, minorities and low-income families -have been disenfranchised at the polls because of this restrictive requirement.
In a recent e-mail to party supporters, Kansas GOP Chair Kris Kobach bragged about the Republican Party's efforts at "caging" voters. In an e-mail message sent to state Republicans, Kansas Republican Party Chairman Kris Kobach reviewed the party’s accomplishments this...
A recent study examined wage gaps between whites and non-whites in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington state. The results are staggering, especially for Latinos.
It took less than 48 hours for the Republican Party's presidential candidates to run away from the moderate tone on immigration they had tried to use at the Univision Republican debate on Sunday.
The Democratic National Committee's Hispanic Caucus elected a new Chair and Vice-Chair on Friday November 30th during the DNC's 2007 Fall meeting, the last full gathering of DNC members before the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement as the Democratic Presidential candidates prepared to debate in Nevada...
Bush administration voting rights division chief John Tanner created a firestorm when he said that, "minorities don't become elderly the way white people do: They die first." Now he has apologized.
El Presidente Bush ofreció un discurso sobre la política hacia Cuba de su Administración luego de casi ocho años de ofrecerle promesas vacías a la comunidad Cubano Americana, y luego de haber repatriado a unos 8,000 refugiados Cubanos que huían del regimen Castrista durante su presidencia. [New York Times, 10/23/07; AP, 10/24/07; New York Sun, 1/18/06]
The Democratic Party released a new web video highlighting the fact that the leading Republican Presidential candidates have excluded the vast majority of the American people from their vision of the American Dream.
The leading Republican presidential candidates have skipped most debates that address issues important to people of color. We've responded with a new web video on the American Dream.
Tonight Tavis Smiley will moderate a Republican presidential debate that will focus on issues important to minority communities. But the four leading candidates will not appear.
Effective today, the first woman of color elected as top officer at the National AFL-CIO, Linda Chavez-Thompson, will retire from her historic position. Chavez-Thompson won election as Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO in 1995.
Washington, DC - Today the Democratic Congress sent landmark legislation to the President that reduces college costs for millions of young people. College Democrats of America issued the following statement praising Congressional Democrats and highlighting the bill's benefits for minority students.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and DNC Hispanic Caucus Chair Ramona Martinez issued the following joint statement today commemorating the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated September 15 through October 15:
Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on the Democratic presidential candidates and their participation in the Univision Democratic Presidential Candidates' Forum.
Starting tomorrow, the Democratic National Committee will host the first joint American Majority Partnership Summit August 23-25 at the Paris/Bally's Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It appears that some of the harsh rhetoric coming from some segments of the Republican Party have backfired with Hispanic voters. Democrats are making gains across the country.
The Republican National Hispanic Assembly is holding its biennial national convention this week to little fanfare in Washington -- without most of its Republican presidential candidates, and facing an uphill battle given the anti-immigrant, anti-Hispanic rhetoric coming from the Republican Party.
Following a Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force forum Wednesday, Hispanic Democrats in the Senate delivered their fellow Senators an issue briefing on why the No Child Left Behind reauthorization has to take into account the needs of Latino students. Today, the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic Caucus applauded the commitment of Latino leaders in the House and in the Senate to ensuring that Latino students get the tools necessary to succeed academically and in the workforce.
Luego de un foro coordinado por el Grupo de Trabajo de Demócratas Hispanos del Senado el miercoles, los Demócratas Hispanos en el Senado le entregaron a sus colegas un documento en el que se resume por qué la reautorización de la ley “No Child Left Behind” (‘Ningun Niño Se Queda Atras’) tiene que tomar en cuenta las necesidades de los estudiantes Latinos. Hoy, el Caucus Hispano del Comité Nacional Demócrata (DNC por sus siglas en ingles) elogió el compromiso que tienen los líderes Latinos en la Cámara y en el Senado con asegurar que los estudiantes Latinos tengan los recursos necesarios para triunfar a nivel académico y en la fuerza laboral.
If recent reports are any indication, the 2008 Republican presidential candidates as a group refuse to talk to America’s teachers, young people, African Americans or Hispanics.
On the same day that an influential, bipartisan Latino group convenes its annual convention, Fred Thompson slammed Cubans, suggesting that they come to America not in search of freedom, but to bring "suitcase bombs."
After Senate Republicans and their right-wing allies defeated bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform last week,
The New York Times reported yesterday that the GOP will pay a price in 2008 and lose support from Hispanic voters. As the report notes, “…Hispanics may have been deeply alienated by the heated rhetoric that wound around the axle of the debate, most of it stemming from a few Republican opponents and the loud echo chamber of talk radio.” The
Times also reports that the defeat of immigration reform at the hands of the GOP sends a message to the growing Latino population that they are not welcome in the Republican Party, a message with huge implications for 2008 and beyond. As former Reagan Administration senior official Linda Chavez notes, the GOP’s defeat of comprehensive immigration reform “...is disastrous for the Republican Party” in terms of attracting or keeping Hispanic voters.
Fred Thompson's campaign is off to a rocky start today, as he managed to insult Cuban refugees by referring to them as terrorists.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement after Republicans blocked comprehensive immigration legislation in the Senate:
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement after the Senate voted to move forward on the comprehensive immigration reform bill. In the statement Dean reaffirmed the Democratic Party's support for comprehensive reform that restores order to the border, protects workers and their wages, stops dividing families, and allows hard working immigrants who pay taxes and obey the law the opportunity to apply for legalization and eventually earn the responsibilities of citizenship:
Governor Dean, along with the DNC Caucus Chairs Bel Leong-Hong, Ramona Martinez, Mame Reiley, Virgie M. Rollins and Rick Stafford, will be hosting the DNC American Majority Partnership Summit on August 23-25, 2007, at the Paris-Bally Hotels in Las Vegas, NV.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean addressed the 2007 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC this morning. In his remarks, Dean spoke of the shared values of Democrats and the Hispanic faith community, and how we can work together to find a compassionate and practical solution to immigration issues facing our nation.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement today following the Republican filibuster that stopped the bipartisan compromise for a comprehensive immigration reform bill:
On the O'Reilly Factor, John McCain agreed with Bill O'Reilly's statement that we need a cap on immigration because the far-left "want to break down the white, Christian, male power structure."
As President Bush, Republicans in Congress and the GOP presidential contenders continue to play politics with immigration reform, Democratic leaders in Congress are moving forward with a comprehensive plan that offers a practical, tough, and fair solution. Today, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the Senate will vote on Tuesday on whether to debate the strong, bipartisan immigration bill passed last year—a plan that was supported by 62 Senators, including 23 Republicans.
Rudy Giuliani yesterday called Hugo Chavez, leader of oil-rich Venezuela, a dangerous foe of the United States--even though Giuliani's law firm lobbies for the U.S. branch of an oil company controlled by Chavez.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and DNC Hispanic Caucus Chair Ramona Martinez issued the following statement commemorating the 80th anniversary of the birth of civil rights leader Cesar Chavez and the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning...
The Democratic National Committee’s Hispanic Caucus Chair Ramona Martinez issued the following statement praising Congress’ efforts to pass legislation to create a national Latino museum.
Army veteran Joe Rios, a member of the DNC Veterans and Military Families Council and veteran of the Vietnam War, will deliver the Democratic Hispanic Radio Address this Saturday.
After promising that this would be the "Century of the Americas" during his 2000 presidential campaign, President Bush heads to Latin America today with a "weak hand" after years of turning his back on the region, years of broken promises, and years of failed policies.
Yesterday, smooth talking Mitt Romney's presidential campaign hit the airwaves in Florida with a Spanish-language radio ad promoting his appearance at the Miami Dade Republican Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday.
Yesterday, smooth talking Mitt Romney's presidential campaign hit the airwaves in Florida with a Spanish-language radio ad promoting his appearance at the Miami Dade Republican Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday.
Today, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and DNC Hispanic Caucus Chair Ramona Martinez called on Republican National Committee Chairman Mel Martinez to put a halt to the College Republicans' "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" events across the country.
In an attempt to stun the country with its offensiveness, the Republican National Committee brushed off calls this week to put a halt to the College Republicans' "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" events across the country.
The Bush administration has announced their intention to nearly double the immigration application fee, according to the Washington Post.
Colorado DNC Hispanic Caucus Members applauded the selection of Denver to host the Democratic Party's 2008 national convention, touting the decision's importance to the Hispanic community in Colorado and across the country.
The Supreme Court ordered the boundaries of the 23rd District redrawn after determining that the old map discriminated against Latino voters and did not comply with the Voting Rights Act.
Joining the growing chorus of folks recognizing the important shift that took place among Hispanic voters in last month's elections, Newsweek writes about the "spanking" that Hispanic voters delivered to the Republican Party.
Democrats are unified and ready to change the tone of politics in Washington to get things done for the American people. The Hispanic community has paid for the Republican Congress' failed leadership with lower family income and more falling into the ranks of the uninsured.
From the Washington Post article that detailed policies that may change with the Democrats in power in Congress: Washington may sink into partisan fighting in the next two years. But there is one piece of proposed legislation that will have...
