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How Dare Brown People Participate In Politics?

If the point is that money corrupts politics, well duh. But the choice of example by the Washington Post bothers me a great deal:

Clinton's success in this unlikely setting is based almost entirely on her friendship with one man, McAllen developer Alonzo Cantu. A self-made millionaire who once picked grapes on the migratory farm labor circuit, Cantu persuaded more than 300 people in Hidalgo County, where the median household income in 2006 was $28,660, to write checks ranging from $500 to $2,300 to the senator from New York. Cantu offers a simple explanation for what he's doing for Clinton. "To me, there's two things that will keep us from being ignored," he said. "Money and votes. I think we've shown we can raise money. That will get us attention, or at least get us a seat at the table, get us in the room."

Gawd forbid a self made Latino, an American citizen, involve himself in the political process by raising money. Does the Washington Post think this is a unique or even an unflattering story? In a way it is, to them.

Look, I am for complete public financing of political campaigns myself. But until that is even remotely a reality, Latinos, just like everyone else, will and MUST participate in the political system as it exists. To single Cantu out, as the WaPo does, is patronizing at best, racist at worst.

Update [2007-11-26 11:8:20 by Big Tent Democrat]: For comparison, consider how the same WaPo reporter covered white people bundling money for Obama:

They had a second dinner a few weeks later. This time Obama, Smoot and a small group of New Yorkers joined them to talk about how they would tap Manhattan for campaign funds. Wolf was on board and was on his way to becoming one of the senator's most prolific fundraisers.

As Obama's announcement neared, his outreach intensified.

. . . By early February, Obama had recruited billionaire hotel heiress Penny Pritzker to head his national finance team. The two had met when Michelle Obama's brother was coaching her children's basketball team, and they became friendly before Obama launched his political career.

. . . Obama also landed several Kerry bundlers, including Silicon Valley venture capitalist Mark Gorenberg, and lured two former fundraisers of Bill Clinton's, Boston financier Alan Solomont and New York investment manager Orin Kramer. Solomont said he was surprised by the notice his decision received. "I wasn't looking to make a statement about the Clintons," he said. "My decision wasn't in any way based on less affection or respect for her. [Obama] just had this energy. I could tell this was going to be something different."

I am sure access had nothing to do with white man (ex-lobbyist) Solomont's decision to bundle for Obama. Riiiiight.

Let's be clear, Cantu operates entirely within the law. Does not even come close to skirting it. But yet, this is supposed to be an unflattering piece. Shame on the Washington Post.

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  • Display: Sort:
    The story reeked to me. (4.00 / 4) (#33)
    by SaneSoutherner on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:31:13 PM EST
    I could hear in my head the long litany of people claiming that inner city blacks simply pull the lever for whomever the NAACP man tells them to, because they don't know any better.

    Texas Hispanics are about 60% in Hillarys favor, period.  She's huge here in San Antonio.

    Call me suspicious, but given the current level of Lou Dobbs style "they are trying to take over our country" rhetoric , isn't it amazing that the only two campaign finance "hit" stories have involved brown or yellow people?  What, they couldn't find any white bundled donors to make an issue of?  

    Stinks to high heaven, to me.  I grew up in SC, so unfortunately have a nose for subtle race-baiting.

    Indeed. (none / 0) (#37)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:57:42 PM EST
    That poor(ish) yellow and brown skinned groups are being targeted by bundlers, but not poor whites, does sound racist to me...

    Parent
    Ummm (1.00 / 1) (#5)
    by jarober on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 11:38:55 AM EST
    So tell me - how likely is it that a person clearing all of $28K is going to donate $500 - $2300 non-tax deductible dollars to anyone?

    The controversy is over the thing you refuse to posit as a possibility - that all the money comes from the rich guy, who is using the poorer people as props.

    If a Republican were doing that, you would be outraged.  Instead, you try to wave the bloody shirt of racism.

    You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

    And yet (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 11:42:02 AM EST
    The article states that it came from OTHER well to do Latinos.

    Not surprising that someone like you can not fathom more than one well to do Latino in a community, much less 300 of them.

    Racists are like that.

    Parent

    from OTHER well to Latinos? (none / 0) (#16)
    by Jgarza on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 02:30:19 PM EST
    Hum well it doesnt exactly say that

    He has raised money from doctors who work at the hospital where he holds an ownership interest, from bankers who work at the bank he co-owns and from the scores of tradesmen who contract with his primary business

    This is a bit fishy too:


    "When Alonzo comes through the door, you want to give to him," said Gerardo J. Reyna, Cantu's brother-in-law. Reyna owns McAllen Carpet & Interiors, a company that provides close to 90 percent of the floor coverings in Cantu-built homes and offices. "The last thing you want to do is get on Alonzo's bad side," he said with a smile. Reyna donated $1,000 to Clinton.

    They even talk about people not being registered to vote, who are suddenly writing 1,000 checks? Please.

    This line of attack fits in with cult of Clinton people.
    Someone Critisized Clinton, therefore there must be some racist/sexist/fill in the blank undertone.

    Parent

    You got Jim on your side (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:03:24 PM EST
    You must be proud.

    Parent
    Didn't you see the Godfather?? (none / 0) (#17)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 02:55:46 PM EST
    It's called, "Making an offer they can't refuse."

    Parent
    Sure (none / 0) (#23)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 05:19:08 PM EST
    Sure you are.

    Parent
    Please (none / 0) (#41)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 02:24:07 PM EST
    point out the racism.

    Parent
    Interesting article, especially (5.00 / 0) (#13)
    by oculus on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 12:55:01 PM EST
    the part about beggars and givers:

    NYT on migration w/i India

    Parent

    Big Tent - You kid your friends and (1.00 / 0) (#12)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 12:30:11 PM EST
    I'll kid mine, but let's don't kid each other.

    YORK -- Something remarkable happened at 44 Henry St., a grimy Chinatown tenement with peeling walls. It also happened nearby at a dimly lighted apartment building with trash bins clustered by the front door.

    And again not too far away, at 88 E. Broadway beneath the Manhattan bridge, where vendors chatter in Mandarin and Fujianese as they hawk rubber sandals and bargain-basement clothes.

    All three locations, along with scores of others scattered throughout some of the poorest Chinese neighborhoods in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, have been swept by an extraordinary impulse to shower money on one particular presidential candidate -- Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton.

    Dishwashers, waiters and others whose jobs and dilapidated home addresses seem to make them unpromising targets for political fundraisers are pouring $1,000 and $2,000 contributions into Clinton's campaign treasury. In April, a single fundraiser in an area long known for its gritty urban poverty yielded a whopping $380,000. When Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) ran for president in 2004, he received $24,000 from Chinatown

    After all, the rules don't apply to Hillary.

    Guess both the WaP and LA Times have become members of that vast right wing conspiracy.

    chuckle chuckle wink wink

    Maybe if the check the gravestones..

    So move along folks, nothing to see here.

    Parent

    I wonder which oppo team (none / 0) (#1)
    by masslib on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 10:25:18 AM EST
    pushed tht story with WaPo.

    Honestly (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 10:29:12 AM EST
    That is almost immaterial to me.

    It is the WaPo's attitude that bothers me here.


    Parent

    I'm just marveling at how all (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by masslib on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 10:51:24 AM EST
    this works.  I'm sure this story comes from one of the other candidates, and WaPo went with it. It is insulting, I agree.  "Brown people" have just as much right to participate as anyone else.  The system may be disfunctional, but this article doesn't point out anything worse than typical.

    Parent
    It is DESIGNED (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 10:55:17 AM EST
    to work like this.

    Parent
    Yes I agree (3.66 / 3) (#14)
    by daria g on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 01:56:48 PM EST
    It's just like the story that was pushed re: donors in Chinatown.  Suddenly the same old story about bundlers using networks to fund raise, which happens for all candidates, is something nefarious because it's (oh no!) about Chinese people, or Latinos.  Of course nobody in a less-wealthy-than-average community has money, right?  The doctors and lawyers and business owners must live in poverty or only make the median income?  This is totally playing on racism, BTD was right to call it out.

    The journalist isn't going to reveal the source of the story, of course, but it might not hurt to keep an eye out to see if any campaign picks it up and runs with it.

    Parent

    Thank you (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:03:58 PM EST
    I was Armando was at DK (none / 0) (#6)
    by MarkL on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 11:40:49 AM EST
    to offer his gentle criticism to this diary:

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/26/94245/936

    Not sure what you mean here (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 11:43:08 AM EST
    You pretended to me at Daily Kos? Please do not do that.

    Parent
    Huh? No (none / 0) (#9)
    by MarkL on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 12:13:19 PM EST
    I'm just saying I miss your commentary there---even if I didn't agree with it. I remember some sharp elbows you gave too:)

    Parent
    I was Armando (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 12:27:42 PM EST
    typo then.

    Sorry for the misunderstading.

    Parent

    "was" = "miss" (none / 0) (#10)
    by oculus on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 12:27:41 PM EST
    That diary deserves more than (none / 0) (#24)
    by Teresa on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 05:34:44 PM EST
    "gentle criticism". I miss you too BTD. I see your friends Geek and AdamB joined right in on it. I'll be so glad when this primary is over.

    Parent
    bundling by attorneys as well:
    Michigan lawyer Geoffrey Fieger was indicted last month on allegations of conspiring to make more than $125,000 in illegal bundled contributions to the 2004 presidential campaign of John Edwards, who declined to identify his bundlers during that campaign. The indictment alleges that Mr. Fieger's law firm reimbursed employees for their contributions by disguising them as bonuses and repaid contractors by calling the amounts payments for services.
    or maybe they don't like bundling by presumable jewish attorneys?:
    Though his former law firm came under indictment more than a year ago and he himself appeared likely to face criminal charges, prominent trial lawyer William S. Lerach slipped past the vetting of John Edwards' presidential campaign and was permitted to raise large amounts of money for the Democrat's 2008 bid.

    Lerach, his family and members of his new law Lerach Coughlin law firm accounted for nearly $78,000 in donations to Edwards' campaign in the first half of this year, making the trial lawyer one of the North Carolina Democrat's leading "bundlers" of contributions.


    Heck, by your standards, the reporter you accuse of being racist also must be an ageist, or something, since he wrote this about one of, if the, oldest of the potential candidates:
    The chairman of Fred Thompson's First Day Founders fundraising group has resigned after reports surfaced that he had been arrested on charges of cocaine trafficking and bookmaking in the 1980s.
    Some people look for offense as though there's a reward for it.

    Yes (none / 0) (#26)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:00:32 PM EST
    I guess I missed where Cantu was INDICTED.

    You are such a clown.

    Parent

    One of us is. (none / 0) (#31)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:18:24 PM EST
    Yes (none / 0) (#32)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:30:41 PM EST
    That would be you.

    I-N-D-I-C-T-E-D.

    Do you know what it means?

    Parent

    Playing the race card (none / 0) (#20)
    by Jgarza on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 03:40:12 PM EST
    but completely missing the point.

    I'm from Texas, even lived in McAllen, at one point, oh.. and I'm also one of those brown people you are telling to be offended.  I, however, read the article and not just your misleading quotes, some I'm not.

    This article mentions something that is true. Due to NAFTA and a host of other issues, the Clinton's are very popular with Hispanics and especially the Hispanic business community from San Antonio south. This accounts for the majority of the Clinton's fundraising success.

    The problem this article points out is that this guy is coercing people to give money.  As is noted the Texas Boarder area has a low median income and some of the highest unemployment in the nation.  Lots of people living in poverty.  When one of the largest sources of work is forcing people to give checks to a campaign, i think it raises a serious ethical issue.

    Because of his financial interests, Cantu's influence over potential donors is substantial. He has raised money from doctors who work at the hospital where he holds an ownership interest, from bankers who work at the bank he co-owns and from the scores of tradesmen who contract with his primary business, Cantu Construction and Development Co., one of the town's dominant residential and commercial builders.

    Here is one donor even admitting why he gave money:

    "When Alonzo comes through the door, you want to give to him," said Gerardo J. Reyna, Cantu's brother-in-law. Reyna owns McAllen Carpet & Interiors, a company that provides close to 90 percent of the floor coverings in Cantu-built homes and offices. "The last thing you want to do is get on Alonzo's bad side," he said with a smile. Reyna donated $1,000 to Clinton.

    I guess if you are in the Cult of Clinton any means of winning is acceptable.

    This reminds me of when Planned Parenthood in Austin lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and faced months of construction delay on one of its clinics because one of the city's largest contractors coerced every concrete company to boycott the job.    It worked even in Ausitn which is far larger and richer than McAllen and also strongly pro choice.  It's amazing what people will do, when their ability to make a living is used as a bargaining chip. Republicans will give money to Hillary, people who have never voted and aren't registered to vote, all of a sudden feel moved to donate. RIIIGHT

    Where's The Coercion? (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by john horse on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 05:49:18 PM EST
    The question that you pose is whether Hispanics would have contributed or contributed in the amounts they did if they hadn't been asked by Cantu.  Unfortunately you haven't proven any coercion.  Given that you admit that "the Clinton's are very popular with Hispanics and especially the Hispanic business community from San Antonio south" due to "NAFTA and a host of other issues" why is it not unreasonable that wealthy Hispanics would contribute if requested?

    Regarding what his brother-in-law said I think it was good advice.  If possible I think you should try to get along with your in-laws if for no other reason than the sake of your marriage.    

    Parent

    One Word - Immigration (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by john horse on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:04:41 PM EST
    Jgarza,
    I think polls have shown that there has been a significant shift in support among Hispanics for the Democrats.  I think this is mainly due to one issue - immigration.  There is a widespread perception that Republicans are anti-immigrant.  There are many conservative Hispanics who vote Republican but the way that the Republicans have misplayed the immigration issue has driven even many of these Hispanics to supporting the Democrats.  

    Parent
    TO both of you (none / 0) (#38)
    by Jgarza on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 08:50:15 PM EST
    I think polls have shown that there has been a significant shift in support among Hispanics for the Democrats.

    I don't disagree with this. Look at Ciros race, immigration had a lot to do with democrats rise. I don't see how that automatically applies to Hillary since she supports the fence(something people from south Texas hate) and she is against DL for people with questionable residency. I said that the Clinton's are very popular in South Texas.

    The question that you pose is whether Hispanics would have contributed or contributed in the amounts they did if they hadn't been asked by Cantu.

    The question has nothing to do with Hispanics, even though BTD desperately wants to make it about that. Hillary has raised a lot of money in San Antonio and south Texas, I think you can attribute that to the Clinton's popularity with Hispanics in south Texas, and I said that.

    With this specific bundler, and thats what this is about, a specific bundler, there is a clear pattern of suspicious coincidences. Having people who aren't registered to vote, or who supported Tom Delay, giving to Hillary because someone with a position of authority over them asked them for money.  When you have someone quoted as saying you don't want to be on this mans bad side, so you donate.  When you live in an area, with limited job opportunities, and someone is using your ability to work and make money as leverage to get you to donate.  I see a HUGE ethical problem.

    Cult of Hillary wants this to be a racial issue, but there is a history of Hillary bundlers using questionable methods to get people to donate.

    If this is all racist and this guy isn't questionable, where is the Clinton's campaign to defend him?

    Parent

    See what happens (none / 0) (#22)
    by Jgarza on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 04:29:34 PM EST
    when you play the race card like this.  Everybody who disagrees must be a racist!
    BTD thought playing the gender card was a smart political move on behalf of Clinton.  I think we can all see it wasn't.  Now he stoops to playing the race card to defend his supreme leader.

    With this obsession with race and gender, I think BTD is having an identity crisis.  OMG I said crisis!

    I'm having an identity crisis (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:02:21 PM EST
    You, who claim to be Latino, are applauding bigoted reporting.

    Sure, I'm the conflicted one.

    You can not even make a logical smear.

    Parent

    I deleted (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:47:17 PM EST
    the above two comments in which someone called someone else racist. Name calling and personal attacks aren't allowed here.

    Parent
    BTW (5.00 / 2) (#36)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:57:36 PM EST
    I find it objectionable to be accused of playing the race card.

    IMO, those comment should also be deleted.

    Parent

    That someone was me I think (none / 0) (#35)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 06:56:16 PM EST
    I apologize to the other someone and to Jeralyn.

    For the record, I played it cute and said that other someone said something a racist would say.

    Wrong from me and well deleted by J.

    Parent

    No (none / 0) (#39)
    by squeaky on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 11:15:39 PM EST
    It was me. I called ppj a name.

    Parent
    It's a nice group over here. (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by masslib on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 11:35:36 PM EST