August 27, 2008
"Never in the political process did he (Obama) mention Cesar Chavez or the plight of farmworkers."
This is what out-going State Representative Paul Moreno had to say about Barack Obama to Sito Negron at the Democratic National Convention in a story that ran in Newspaper Tree.
Prior to that, Moreno also said, "Texas and the Southwest are deeply indebted to Clinton because of the great work he did for Mexican Americans. I don't think Obama knows anything about Mexican Americans."
I have a big problem with this criticism leveled at Obama by the so-called conscience of the Texas Legislature. This is clearly a comment that is meant to anger Latinos and serve as yet another wedge between Latinos and the African-American Community.
Not only is this an effort by a legend in Texas politics to stain the good name of Cesar Chavez for the sake of being divisive, but its also inaccurate. Earlier this year, Barack Obama did something no other presidential candidate has ever done, including Hillary Clinton. He called for a national holiday honoring Cesar Chavez. In fact, here's a quote from Barack Obama about Cesar Chavez that he made at the end of March.
"As farmworkers and laborers across America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages, we find strength in what Cesar Chavez accomplished so many years ago?and we should honor him for what he's taught us about making America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation?That's why I support the call to make Cesar Chavez's birthday a national holiday. It's time to recognize the contributions of this American icon to the ongoing efforts to perfect our union." (Source: LA TIMES http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/03/barack-obama-ca.html)
So much for the accuracy of Paul Moreno's statement. It is my belief that Moreno's statement represents a either a profound ignorance of the facts or a willful effort to mislead thousands of Latino voters.
The argument that a few political appointments means that our community should be indebted to anyone is a tough measuring stick for a Democrat to use. The highest-ranking Latino, and a Tejano no less, to ever serve in the federal government was Alberto Gonzalez. He was the first Latino Attorney General of the United States. So by Representative Moreno's logic, should Latinos now feel indebted to President Bush?
Furthermore, the United Farmworker's Union has endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States back in June (http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/jennyu/gG5nQX). When a member of the Chavez family came to El Paso to knock on doors to support a presidential candidate, it was for Barack Obama. Cesar's granddaughter and I walked the streets of Socorro (where Hillary won overwhelmingly) talking with voters about Barack Obama and reminiscing about growing up in the Union and mutual family friends.
Representative Moreno has done his part for La Raza and La Causa, I don't dispute that one bit. People like him were fighting for La Causa before I was even born. But the very fact that he does have a long history of being a major player in the Chicano movement, makes a statement like that all the more intolerable. He knows better.
Moreno is not a political amateur who knows nothing of Cesar Chavez or his struggle. Moreno should know that an effort to use the name of Cesar Chavez to divide two communities that have struggled for equality and social justice is the opposite of the teachings of Cesar Chavez and the ideals he stood for.
By this statement Representative Moreno implies that the only thing that matters to Latinos is the name of Cesar Chavez. It's sad for me to admit as a devout Chavista, but many people in our own community are ignorant as to the contributions of Cesar Chavez to our great nation.
I'm Chicano and my vote has never depended on one issue like whether or not a candidate has mentioned the name of Cesar Chavez enough times. Other issues matter to me too, like taxes, national security, the War in Iraq, health care, protecting a woman's right to choose, equal pay for equal work, crime, etc?
Implying that we as Latinos only care about Cesar Chavez and not the other issues that face this country is an insult to our community and our intelligence.
Let us not forget that the struggle over the plight of farmworkers was a battle fought by many people from a variety of backgrounds. I spoke with my father, who was with the Union since the early days, about this and he explained that the movement involved African-Americans, women, the clergy, Anglos, Filipinos, and even a few Jews.
My Jewish tio, Mark Grossman, was a long-time Press Secretary for Cesar Chavez and the United Farmworker's Union. Dad also told me that one of the original Union Vice Presidents was African-American.
Perhaps Representative Moreno forgot a little about Cesar Chavez and the movement in recent years. Cesar Chavez was about the very idea that Barack Obama has been talking about for the duration of this presidential campaign, change. Chavez looked to change the way farmworkers were treated.
Cesar Chavez was at first, an organizer. Barack Obama also got his start as an organizer. Chavez organized in the fields; Obama organized in the streets. Both organized to change the way things were done in their communities. Both organized to change the way their communities were treated by the establishment. Both built their movements on grassroots efforts. Obama believes, Yes We Can; Chavez believed, ¡Si Se Puede!
Paul Moreno should know first hand all about change. The constituents in his district, in an election that had a huge turnout, voted for a little change of their own.
So I will say what I have said before (with apologies to Senator Lloyd Bentsen). Representative Moreno, I knew Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez was a close friend of my family. Representative Moreno, Senator Clinton is no Cesar Chavez.
¡La Causa Sigue!
[Editor's Note: Listen to Jaime R. Abeytia on Charlando con La Gringa today from 4-6 p.m. on KAMA 750 AM.]