[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Senator Barack Obama today received the endorsement of La Opinion, the largest Spanish language newspaper in the United States and the most read newspaper in Los Angeles after the Los Angeles Times. Said La Opinion: 

"The Democratic Party arrives at the California primary with a historic choice between two extraordinary candidates. We believe that of the two, Senator Barack Obama represents fundamental change in a campaign in which "change" has become a central theme. Obama’s approach to immigration and his inspiring vision are what the country need to break through the current feeling of political malaise.

There is no doubt that Senator Hillary Clinton would be an excellent president if elected. She is capable, competent, disciplined, and hard working. She has shown herself to be a talented legislator and is on the right side of the major issues. Her plan for universal health care is one example of the courageous initiatives she has proposed as a candidate. And it would be wonderful to elect the country's first woman president. ...

read more »

by sdpolitico [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

La Opinión - The major Spanish language newspaper in Los Angeles has endorsed Barack Obama in the upcoming primary. In an editorial titled "The Democratic Choice is Barack Obama," it explains why Obama is their choice:

Senator Barack Obama represents fundamental change in a campaign in which "change" has become a central theme. Obama’s approach to immigration and his inspiring vision are what the country need to break through the current feeling of political malaise.[Link]

The paper list many of Senator Clinton's accomplishments but come to the following conclusion:

Yet, this is a historic moment and tremendous skills and experience are not enough to inspire a feeling of renewal in our country after eight long years of George W. Bush.

read more »

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I've seen some sniping about driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in the presidential race, and I just don't get it. Perhaps granting driver's licenses is a reasonable framing for the state level, but it simply is not an issue that our president will need to address. And at any rate, both candidates support them. You see they both support comprehensive immigration reform.

From Senator Clinton:

Hillary has consistently called for comprehensive immigration reform that respects our immigrant heritage and honors the rule of law. She believes comprehensive reform must have as essential ingredients a strengthening of our borders, greater cross-cooperation with our neighbors, strict but fair enforcement of our laws, federal assistance to our state and local governments, strict penalties for those who exploit undocumented workers, and a path to earned legal status for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar. (Emphasis added, HillaryClinton.com)

From Senator Obama:

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The debate over Proposition 92, which would give community collegestheir own auto-pilot formula in the state budget, is shaping up to be a "battle royale" between state's two largest teachers' unions,the Sacramento Bee reports. The K-12 heavy California TeachersAssociation opposes because they worry they'll lose money, while thesmaller and more community college faculty based Federation of Teacherssupports. The momentum appears to be toward no—Senate Pro Tem DonPerata came out against it today, arguing it was fiscally irresponsible.

Illegal immigration has quickly become the "third rail" of politics and anyone who doesn't get aboard is going to be in trouble, writes DanWalters in today's Bee. Democrats in Congress have tried to do theright thing by pushing for comprehensive immigration reform thataddresses root problems and acknowledges reality. But the Republicansmears and 30-second ads have made real solutions very difficult.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In this Democratic weekly radio address Assemblymember Joe Coto, Chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus, talks about the need for comprehensive immigration reform. In the radio address Assembly member Coto says, even though an immigration reform measure stalled recently in the U.S. Senate, the fight for real and fair immigration reform will continue. In the address Coto says, quote, “It is irresponsible and immoral to let our search for the perfect immigration bill get in the way of the passage of a good immigration bill.”

A complete transcript of the radio address in English and Spanish follows.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Tucked into a Sunday New York Times article was this nugget from GOP State Senator Abel Maldanado about Republican efforts in the U.S. Senate to torpedo the comprehensive immigration reform bill. "It hurts the Republican party a little bit more in terms of brining more minorities into the party."
 
Linda Chavez, who served under President Reagan at the Center for Equal Opportunity was a bit more blunt. "... in the long term, it is disastrous for the Republican Party."
 
These two Republicans join an increasingly larger circle believing the national Republican Party's efforts to kill immigration reform will have serious consequences  -- a la Prop 187 -- for the GOP to attract the Latino vote here in California. Republicans have been vocal in their opposition to immigration reform, while Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein was front and center in leading the charge, and Sen. Barbara Boxer had the ear of Latino groups who thought the compromises were too harsh on the immigrant community.
 
So while the Republicans have the right-wing talk shows covered for now, they've stirred up a hornets nest in the Latino community. In addition, they've put themselves squarely to the right of mainstream public opinion in California; both recent polls from the PPIC and San Jose State University show strong support for immigration reform in the Golden State.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Democrats can take comfort that a new generation of voters is leaning our way, according to a New York Times poll released this morning.

Younger workers back universal health care, marriage equality, and comprehensive immigration reform. And they're fired up about Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, with 54 percent saying they will side with a Democrat for president. Once more, "they have continued a long-term drift away from the Republican Party," says the analysis of the poll.