El Diario NY

“Para evitar una guerra”: General de EE.UU. alertó a China sobre salud mental de Trump

Sofía Torres — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 19:29:18 +0000

En un libro escrito por los periodistas Robert Costa y Bob Woodward fueron publicadas revelaciones. Algunas de estas rechazadas y rehusadas a comentar por parte del Pentágono

Editorial: Trump’s Diplomatic Move

El Diario — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 22:54:54 +0000

It’s only normal to be worried when the person picked to defend the interests of the U.S. and it’s allies around the world is celebrated by their main strategic rival

Editorial: Trump and Recovering Jobs

El Diario — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 23:09:18 +0000

The advantages of getting on the new administration’s good side mean great business.

Could a Latino boycott doom Hillary Clintons presidential dreams in 2016?

Impremedia — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:03:00 +0000

American political history is rife with presidential elections that were determined well before the year in which the campaigns were held. The most prominent example…

Could Jeb Bush win Blue State California in 2016?

Impremedia — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 17:03:00 +0000

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who like any Republican would be hard pressed to win traditionally Democratic California in a general election, nonetheless will plunder…

Why Ted Cruzs presidential candidacy is important

Impremedia — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 17:03:00 +0000

Ronald Reagan once said that Latinos were Republicans. They just didn’t know it yet. Ted Cruz, the Republican U.S. senator from Texas who has become…

Backlash over Economist chili cover is uncalled for

Impremedia — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 14:03:00 +0000

OPINION There has a negative and downright aggressive response to the recent Economist cover that featured an American flag made up of denim, stars and…

Leftist party in Spain mirrors Greeces Syriza

Impremedia — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:03:00 +0000

Spains new leftist party continues to gain momentum, reminding us of a similar situation when Syriza, the far-left party in Greece, swept to power in…

Henry Cisneros, we need you!

Impremedia — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 12:03:00 +0000

OPINION They used to call Henry Cisneros the Latino political messiah, but that was a generation ago when he was mayor of San Antonio and…

How do Latinos get their political news?

Impremedia — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 12:03:00 +0000

A new survey released Thursday reveals where most Latinos are turning to get their political newsand its not the morning paper or the evening news.…

Can Latino Rocky win in Californias Senate fight?

Impremedia — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 18:03:00 +0000

Cue up the theme from Rocky in the California U.S. Senate race, only maybe with a little bit of salsa. The Oscar-winning film of a…

New bill would allow guns on Florida public school grounds

Impremedia — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 14:03:00 +0000

Gun control proponents congregated at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee early this week to say no to the new legislation that would allow individuals with…

Judge suggests former Fla. congressman David Rivera be fined nearly $60,000

Impremedia — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 15:03:00 +0000

The former Cuban-American congressman from South Florida with a penchant for scandals is in the limelight again. David Rivera’s latest woes involve a possible hefty…

In Guatemala, Biden discusses efforts to stem flow of child migrants

Impremedia — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 17:03:00 +0000

Last summer, photos showing hundreds of children crammed into Border Patrol holding cells surfaced, calling attention to the unprecedented number of minors crossing the southwest…

Has the GOP found a Latino Trojan Horse?

Impremedia — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 20:03:00 +0000

Could the Republican Party have stumbled over a small investment, grassroots strategy that could pay big dividends in 2016 and future national political campaigns? Thats…

Ted Cruzs pot flip-flop at CPAC

Impremedia — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 14:02:00 +0000

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) may have criticized President Obama for allowing Colorado and Washington to legalize recreational marijuana use in the past, but now…

Gloria Molina: Latina hubris or tragedy?

Impremedia — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 19:02:00 +0000

Once the most celebrated Latina in America, California political doña and legend Gloria Molina is now facing a challenge that could seriously tarnish her legacy…

A Senate seat in California, is it all but lost for Hispanics?

Impremedia — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 09:02:00 +0000

Immediately after Senator Barbara Boxer announced her decision to retire from the senate, several prominent African-American and white Democrats rallied behind the candidacy of Californias Attorney General,…

Can Richard Alarcon rise again?

Impremedia — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 20:02:00 +0000

What do you do when you are a former rising political Latino star who has been convicted for voter fraud and are now confined to…

The 2016 GOP field: No clear frontrunner, low support from Latinos

Impremedia — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 17:02:00 +0000

As the field of possible presidential candidates begins to shape up, one poll shows the Republican presidential race remains wide open while another poll finds…

What will President Obama be doing on Presidents Day weekend?

Impremedia — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 20:02:00 +0000

The White House press secretary confirmed that President Barack Obama will be spending Presidents Day weekend in Coachella valley for the second consecutive year. This…

The brutality of the Senate Confirmation Process

Impremedia — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 19:02:00 +0000

OPINION There is a federal government process that goes on in the nations capital that very few Americans know about, and even less have experienced:…

Jeb Bushs chief technology officer resigns after racist comments

Impremedia — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 16:02:00 +0000

Late Tuesday, Jeb Bush accepted the resignation of Ethan Czahor, Chief Technology officer, after evidence surfaced that Czahor has a history of making racially insensitive comments. Bush…

Meet Jeb Bushs Mexican wife, Columba

Impremedia — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 09:02:00 +0000

Jeb Bush released on Tuesday the first chapter of an e-book detailing his time as Florida governor. The first chapter revealed he earned the nickname…

Gal pal says former Fla. congressman David Rivera must pay for crimes

Impremedia — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 19:02:00 +0000

A real-life political saga is playing out like an episode of “House of Cards” in Miami with a story of elections fraud that extends…

Online petition calls for change in US-Cuba relations

Impremedia — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 19:02:00 +0000

CubaNow, a non-partisan organization dedicated to “advocating for practical US policies that help empower the Cuban people to freely determine their own futures,” is using…

Obama to immigration critics: Think about the human consequences

Impremedia — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 15:02:00 +0000

President Obama on Wednesday met with a group of dreamers in an effort to highlight the human consequences of a bill Republicans in Congress are trying to…

Maria Echaveste and the ethnic lions den debacle of Mexico

Impremedia — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 09:02:00 +0000

OPINION Maria Echaveste, the illustrious Texas-born daughter of Mexican immigrants, might have been the best ambassador to Mexico that President Barack Obama could have appointed,…

Marco Rubio doesnt hold back criticism of Cuba changes at hearing

Impremedia — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:02:00 +0000

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) didnt hold back when he discussed his opposition to President Obamas policy changes to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba during a…

Univision and the Republican Party wont be bosom buddies any time soon

Impremedia — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:02:00 +0000

OPINION In what would ordinarily have been a non-news story, the Republican National Committee (RNC) last week announced their list of television networks selected to participate in the upcoming Republican presidential primary debates, but the omission of one very important TV network is turning heads. The debates begin in August 2015 and end in February 2016, and the omission of Univision from that list made headlines all across the country. Of course, Univision wasnt the only network absent from the RNCs primary debate list. MSNBC and Bloomberg TV were also left out, but that wasnt what drove the headlines. It was the omission of the largest Spanish language network in America at a time when relations between the Republican Party and the Hispanic community arent their best. SEE ALSO: What President Obama could learn from Jorge Ramos Its a fact that the Republican Party has never enjoyed majority support from the Hispanic community overall, whether its national, state or local elections. Lately that level of support seems to be dwindling even further — much of which has to do with the failure of the GOP to pass immigration reform legislation. Issue of immigration reform takes center stage It seems that the issue of immigration has hijacked all other issues in national debate between the Hispanic community and the Republican Party. Yet, poll after poll shows that Hispanics, like the rest of America, want our economy to improve so their lives can in turn, improve too. But, it seems there isnt a member of the Republican Party that doesnt get drawn in during media interviews about their stance on immigration. Univision, in particular seems to beat this drum more than any other network; criticizing the Republican Party for the lack of support of the Dream Act and their not supporting a path to legal residency for the millions here illegally. Anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas in particular seem to spend more of their air time pursuing negative stories about Republicans than about important world issues. One can only wonder what drives them? But rather than answer the question, all one has to do is to look at their boss at Univision, Egyptian born, and a dual citizenship holder of both Israel and the United States, Haim Saban. Who runs Univision? Its no mystery that Mr. Saban has long been a generous supporter of the Democratic Party, pouring millions into the Partys coffers but especially contributing heavily to Bill and Hillary Clintons foundation and 2008 campaign respectively. For his generosity, Saban and his wife Cheryl Lynn spent many a night in the White House during Clintons administration. Which begs the question why is anyone surprised at Sabans Univision, where he is the CEO and also the co owner with a couple of private equity firms taking on the Republican Party? The Rubio controversy Its been reported that in 2011 Univision wanted to do an interview with Senator Rubio, but when he balked, the network supposedly threatened to do a stand-alone story about his brother-in-law, who was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for drug related charges. The senators brother in-law, Orlando Cicilia, was sentenced in 1989 but had an early release in 2000. When Cicilia was arrested in 1987, Marco Rubio was only 16-years-old, yet Univision insisted on asking the senator about this incident in relation to his political career. Marco Rubio did not do the interview that year, but he did acquiesce in 2012 when he did an interview with Jorge Ramos. During that interview Ramos grilled Senator Rubio about his brother in-law. It goes without saying that political figures are fair game when it comes to the news media. Once they get a hold of a story, with credible validation or not, the media will chase that politician down until they either tackle him/her to the ground or bury them. They take no prisoners, and certainly Univision has proven to be on that path toward Republican politicians. In the 2011 interview incident, words such as blackmail and threatening were heard throughout the media community when Senator Rubio refused to sit down with Univision to talk about his brother in-law Orlando Cicilia. In the meantime, its CEO Haim Saban inserted himself in the bashing of Rubio by calling him, anti-Hispanic because of his refusal to support certain aspects of immigration reform. I dont remember the last time I heard the head of a major television network personally attack a sitting United States Senator. At the same time, I am wondering who died and made Saban the judge of what constitutes being anti-Hispanic. SEE ALSO: Hulu’s latest addition is Univision’s Flama online channel It seems Haim Saban is bent on using his network to bash Republicans anyway and any time he wants, and sadly his two Hispanic television anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas seem to follow in their bosss footsteps. So is it any wonder that the Republican Party did not include Univision in the televised Republican presidential primary debates? Its the smart thing to do, and it would even be smarter if more and more Hispanics began to realize what they get with Univision.

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Latino-black political conflict could loom in California senate race

Impremedia — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 19:01:00 +0000

A historic Latino versus African American political confrontation is brewing in California over the first open U.S. Senate seat in a generation that some fear could threaten Democratic unity in the 2016 presidential election. In the the days since the senate seat became open, many California Latino political leaders have taken offense that national Democratic figures have rushed to support the candidacy of Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, who is today the most popular African-American in the Golden State. SEE ALSO: Return of the prodigal son, ‘Antonio Villaraigosa’ Its a little premature to assume theres only going to be one Democratic candidate, said an obviously miffed California Congressman Tony Cardenas who is urging former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to enter the 2016 race. Even Hispanic political leaders from outside California have entered the fray with Henry Cisneros, former Housing and Urban Development secretary under President Bill Clinton, lobbying for Villaraigosas candidacy. Cisneros and others say they believe Villaraigosa, who has national name recognition, will soon enter what will likely become one of the most costly Senate races in history. California Hispanic leaders have taken umbrage at the quick embrace of Harriss candidacy by Democrats outside the state because they have long had designs on a Latino making history by winning one of the two Senate seats. They had been waiting only on the retirement of one of the Californias two aging incumbents: Senator Barbara Boxer announced just two weeks ago that she will not seek re-election next year. The ‘coronation’ of Kamala Harris enters the picture But Latinos were caught off-guard by Harriss fast entry and the equally quick support she generated in Washington. Her effective anointment by national party leaders, Latinos fear, leaves any Hispanic candidate at a distinct disadvantage and flies in the face that Latinos now are the states largest demographic group more than five times the size of the African Americans population. I think Hispanic leaders are concerned about some kind of coronation, as opposed to a real electoral campaign, says Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. There are certainly talented Latinos who could run for that seat. Some California Democratic leaders fear the Latino-black fight could cause a breach in the longstanding minority-labor coalition that have helped Democrats control the state for much of the past half century. The last thing Democrats need is Latino so pissed off that we give them another reason for staying away from voting in droves, says a party leader who is working behind the scenes to avoid a political bloodbath. Causing friction among two communities? Historically, the clash represents the changing political culture in California where black political power has been on the wane for the last quarter century. In that time, Latinos have eclipsed African-Americans as political players in the state, which is why Harris emergence as a rising star has been a rallying cry. Former California legislator Willie Brown, an African-America once considered the most powerful politician in the state, has recently even met with Villaraigosa, asking him to step aside for Harriss sake. SEE ALSO: Mayor Villaraigosa’s legacy: mixed and polarizing But most California Latino leaders figure Villaraigosa is the only Hispanic capable of raising the $20 million believed necessary to win the Senate seat. The dynamics have changed since 1992, says former State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez. We have a role to play. Representing the Bay Area voters A former San Francisco prosecutor, Harris also represents the current hopes of Bay area Democrats who have long dominated the party in California. Boxer, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and state party Chairman John Burton are all from Northern California. But Latinos are now throwing down the political gauntlet, trying to assert their new claim on political power in the state. California is a different state than it used to be, says Nuñez. Before people make a decision as to who they want to be supporting, I think it would be wise for them to take a step back and take a deep breath.

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What Mitt Romneys decision to not run mean for Jeb Bush

Impremedia — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 13:01:00 +0000

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has announced he will not run for president in 2016, which may be good news for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as he considers running for president. Romney revealed the news during a phone call with supporters Friday morning, according to radio host Hugh Hewitt. After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, Ive decided it is best to give other leaders in the Party the opportunity to become our next nominee, he told supporters. He added that it is essential for a Republican to win the White House and vowed to do whatever I can to make that happen. SEE ALSO: Jeb Bush takes his next step towards a presidential run in 2016 A Fox News poll released Thursday prior to Romney announcing his decision to not run for president suggested Bush would gain the most from the decision. The poll found that Bush was the second choice of many Romney supporters, and would likely be the front-runner in the field of potential GOP presidential candidates if Romney didnt run for president. Bush reacted to Romneys announcement in a Facebook post, in which he described Romney as someone who has been a leader in our party for many years. Though Im sure todays decision was not easy, I know that Mitt Romney will never stop advocating for renewing Americas promise through upward mobility, encouraging free enterprise and strengthening our national defense, Bush said. Mitt is a patriot and I join many in hoping his days of serving our nation and our party are not over. I look forward to working with him to ensure all Americans have a chance to rise up. Earlier this year, Romney surprised a small group of former donors at a meeting in New York when he said he was considering a third run for the White House. But as he reached out to former supporters and donors to put together a national campaign, he discovered that several of them had already made plans to support Bush. SEE ALSO: Why Jeb Bush will be the first Latino president The Associated Press recently interviewed some of those supporters and donors, including Chicago investor Craig Duchossois. His wife contributed $250,000 to a pro-Romney super PAC while he collected tens of thousands more for Romneys last campaign. Ive got great respect for Gov. Romney, and I busted my buns for him, Duchossois told The Associated Press. But I have turned the page. Whats more, Romney also lost one of his most trusted political advisers to Bush. David Kochel, who led Romneys presidential campaign in Iowa in 2008 and 2012, is set to join Bushs political action committee as a senior strategist. He is also in line to serve as Bushs national campaign manager. Now, with Romney out of the race, Bush is looking more like the early GOP front-runner in the race for president. And he has a growing list of fundraisers and supporters to show it.

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GOP dominates Hispanic Presidential hopefuls of past & present

Impremedia — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 20:01:00 +0000

OPINION This past weekend several prominent Republicans raced to the Hawkeye state to speak to political grassroots activists about their positions on policy issues at the Iowa Freedom Summit. Thus, began the race for the 2016 presidency in the Republican Party. Democrats in the meantime havent held a similar type meeting, but their leading candidate — Hillary Clinton, who has yet to declare her presidential candidacy — is already being challenged by the likes of former Virginia Senator Jim Webb and possibly Vice President Joe Biden, former Maryland Governor Martin OMalley and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. SEE ALSO: The Republican primary race unofficially kicks off for 2016 Noticeably absent from this list is a person of Hispanic origin. In spite of Hispanics strongly supporting the Democratic Party and Democratic presidential candidates over the years, there has never been a Hispanic to throw their hat in the presidential ring. Not so for the Republicans. Where are the Hispanics in the Democratic Party? Presidential political history rarely mentions that the first person of Hispanic origin to run for United States President from a major party ticket was Republican Ben Fernandez. There were some that took his candidacy as a joke, but I saw it as paving the way for more Hispanics to run president in the future. Interestingly, Mr. Fernandez won enough primary votes to earn three delegates to the Republican Convention in 1980. Certainly that wasnt a strong showing, but for a minority of that era, his political support was quite an accomplishment and eye catcher. Don’t forget about Ben Fernandez Ben Fernandez was born in Kansas in 1925. His parents came to America illegally to seek a better life. One of seven children, Fernandez was born in a converted boxcar, which earned him the name Boxcar Ben. It wasnt a complimentary term but Fernandez didnt seem to mind, it served to remind voters that he was a man of the people despite having earned millions from smart investments and being a business and economic consultant. He ran again in 1984 and 1988 but he didnt gain much ground during these two election cycles as he had in 1980. He was a man ahead of his time, urging the Republican leadership to embrace the fast growing Hispanic population, which he felt were more in tune with Republican principles than those of the Democratic Party. He became a staunch Republican, and when a reporter once told him that the Republican Party was a party of the rich, he quickly responded, Sign me up, Ive had enough of poverty. Fernandez died in 2000 and so it seems did his Republican legacy. Today’s Hispanic Presidential Candidates At last weekends Iowas Freedom Summit, wannabe U.S. presidents attended to gain more national attention. Ted Cruz, among others, was one of those in attendance and while Marco Rubio didnt attend, all signals from his team thus far indicate he may run for president. Interestingly, Citizens United and Congressman Steve King who is against anything suggestive of a path to legal residency for the millions of immigrants in this country illegally, sponsored the Iowa Freedom Summit. In Kings way of thinking, the parents of Ben Fernandez would have been deported and this country wouldnt have benefited from Fernandezs dedication and courage to serve his country during World War II nor from his participation in politics. SEE ALSO: If 2016 were today, Latinos would vote Democrat Its time to pay our respects to the minority pioneers that began not just talking but walking politics and certainly Ben Fernandez earned his star in this arena. While Ted Cruz was being raised in Canada and Marco Rubios parents were newly arrived Cubans in this country, Ben Fernandez was busy paving the way for politicians like them to one day run for president from the Republican Party. Next time they speak about their roots, both Cruz and Rubio ought to make it a point of evoking the name of Ben Fernandez; after all it was he who became the first Hispanic to have the courage to run against all odds for President of the United States from a major political party and it was his parents who came to this country seeking a better life which their children apparently enjoyed and more importantly, they contributed significantly to our countrys well being.

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The Republican presidential primary race unofficially kicks off

Impremedia — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 16:01:00 +0000

The 2016 Republican presidential primary race unofficially kicked off this weekend with about a dozen potential candidates taking the stage at two GOP star-powered events. The first event was the Iowa Freedom summit, which was held all day Saturday. It was co-hosted by Citizens United and immigration hardliner Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). The second event dubbed the American Recovery Policy Forum took place Sunday night in California. It was sponsored by Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, a conservative group that has ties with billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch. The event by the Koch brothers was closed off to the public but members of the media were able to watch it through a live stream video. SEE ALSO: Sen. Ernst promises Republicans will focus on Americans concerns Both events gave a glimpse of how the GOP presidential primary run will look like. They gathered a long list of potential Republican presidential hopefuls who made their case to an audience of influential voters, many of them with deep pockets. Two big names missing at both events were 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. The two likely Republican presidential candidates were invited to the Iowa Freedom Summit but didnt attend. Only Bush was invited to the event organized by the Koch brothers, according to The Wall Street Journal. Iowa Freedom Summit At the Iowa summit, which ended after nine straight hours of speeches by nearly a dozen potential 2016 contenders, King seemed optimistic that the next president spoke at the summit. Do you believe that the next president of the United States is going to be speaking from this stage to you today? King said, as the crowd responded with applause. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker were the clear favorites as both won over the crowd with their speeches. SEE ALSO: The Lone Hispanic Ultra Conservative Ted Cruz Cruz talked about his plan to reignite the miracle of America. He also distinguished himself as someone who has proven to fight for, not just talk about, conservative values. Walker also cast himself as a conservative who has proven to fight for conservative values. He talked about the death threats he received as he pushed for legislation to roll back collective bargaining rights for public employees. Some of the other potential 2016 contenders who attended the Iowa summit included former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Immigration was one of the hot topics discussed at the Iowa Freedom Summit. The speakers talked about strengthening border security and prioritizing American workers over undocumented workers. In his opening address, King said Dreamers come from another planet. He misspoke at first, saying: Were a great people. We have a vitality thats unequaled on the planet. We come from every possible planet, uh, every possible continent. Kings comments prompted laughter from the audience. Then, after a short pause, he referenced a group of Dreamers who were outside protesting the event. Theyre across the street, those people that come from the other planet, he said, inciting more laughs and applause from the crowd. SEE ALSO: Steve King criticizes Obama for inviting a deportable to SOTU Later in the day, a group of Dreamers interrupted Perrys speech as they held up signs that read, Deportable? They were referring to a comment King made last week about Ana Zamora, an undocumented college student who was invited to sit with First Lady Michelle Obama at last weeks State of the Union address. Moments later, another Dreamer interrupted Christies speech. A total of 13 Dreamers were escorted out of the summit and two were arrested, according to the Dream Action Coalition, which organized the protest. American Recovery Policy Forum The American Recovery Policy Forum organized by a group aligned with the Koch brothers gathered a smaller number of potential Republican presidential candidates. Cruz was the only possible GOP presidential candidate who attended both the Iowa summit and Koch brothers event, which was held at a luxury resort near Palm Springs. Joining Cruz at the Koch brothers event were Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, both of whom were invited to the Iowa Summit but didnt attend. The three Republicans faced off during a 90-minute forum that some say gave an early glimpse of the coming Republican presidential primary debates. During the forum, ABC News Jonathan Karl asked them several domestic policy questions, including whether they think there should be a federal minimum wage. Rubio said it wouldnt be practical to repeal the federal minimum wage, while Cruz and Paul didnt give a clear yes or no answer. SEE ALSO: A Marco Rubio 2016 presidential run appears closer to reality On foreign policy issues, the three likely presidential candidates were asked questions about the United States moving to restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba. Rubio and Cruz, both sons of Cuban immigrants, said they opposed the steps President Barack Obama announced in December to end an outdated approach on Cuba. Meanwhile, Paul reiterated his support for presidents move to normalize relations with Cuba, saying a policy of isolationism toward Cuba hasnt worked. Weve tried an embargo for 50 years. It hasnt worked, Paul said, according to Politico. Rubio disagreed, saying that normalizing ties with Cuba wont result in more economic freedom or democracy in Cuba. Instead, he said it would result in billions more for the Castro regime, according to The Hill.

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Dreamers interrupt Rick Perry, Chris Christie at Iowa summit

Impremedia — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 09:01:00 +0000

A group of Dreamers interrupted two Republicans eyeing a presidential run while they spoke Saturday at the Iowa Freedom Summit, an event hosted by immigration hardliner Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in Des Moines, Iowa. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry was the first one to get interrupted at the event that included a lineup of several GOP presidential hopefuls. If Washington refuses to secure the border, Texas will. This problem has dragged on long enough, Perry said right before a half-dozen Dreamers interrupted him, according to The Dallas Morning News. Perrys comments triggered the group of Dreamers to stand up from the balcony and hold up sings that read Deportable? They were referring to a comment King made last week about Ana Zamora, an undocumented college student from Dallas who was invited to sit with First Lady Michelle Obama at the State of the Union address last Tuesday night. SEE ALSO: Steve King criticizes Obama for inviting a deportable to SOTU A total of 13 Dreamers were escorted out of the summit and two were arrested, according to the Dream Action Coalition. The Dreamers arrested were later released. Marco Malagon, a Dreamer from Texas and the co-founder of the Texas Dream Team, was one of the two Dreamers who were arrested. He shouted to Perry: Governor, do you stand with King, or do you stand with us and our families? Do you think Im deportable? The Dallas Morning News reported that Perry ignored the Dreamers and kept speaking. And after his speech, he embraced King. Cesar Vargas, a Dreamer from New York and the co-director of the Dream Action Coalition, was the other Dreamer arrested after he interrupted New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies speech. “Immigration continues to be a central issue for GOP hopefuls who have their eyes on the White House, Vargas said in a statement. Events like the Freedom Summit further illustrate how out of touch the Republican Party is with the growing Latino and immigrant population in the United States. He added, Do they really want to deport me and my mother? This comes as Republicans push forward with their plan to do everything they can do roll back President Barack Obamas recent executive actions on immigration. Earlier this month, they voted to block funding for the presidents actions, which would shield up to 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation. SEE ALSO: GOP responses to State of the Union differ on immigration

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A Marco Rubio 2016 presidential run appears closer to reality

Impremedia — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 20:01:00 +0000

Senator Marco Rubio is taking steps toward the 2016 candidacy for president by contracting a campaign finance director and by executing a mock campaign run through key states for early voting. Univision News reported that a source close to Rubios campaign revealed that he ordered his team to operate as if he were throwing his hat into the ring. Rubio reportedly hired Anna Rogers as his campaign finance director, who will be in charge of raising $50 million or more in order for him to participate in the Republican primaries. SEE ALSO: Marco Rubio slams Florida gay marriage ruling Rogers is the current director of finance for American Crossroads, a conservative Super PAC (Political Action Committee) started by Karl Rove, which has managed to raise more than $200 million in previous elections to support Republican candidates. She’s expected to start working for Marco Rubios camp on February 1st, but already the Republican Senator from Florida, has recruited two big Republican campaign donors aboard: George Seay, CEO of Annadale; Jim Rubrich, of RockTenn. Marco Rubio starts fundraising for a 2016 presidential run Though he’s not expected to make his bid official for several weeks, Rubio is getting an early start on fundraising for his Super PAC. The senator is planning a swing through California to raise money, with stops in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, and Rancho Sante Fe. He’ll also visit Texas and Chicago, CBS News reported. Possible contenders for the Republican nomination, include Floridas own former governor Jeb Bush, as well as Rand Paul of, and Senator Ted Cruz, of Texas. SEE ALSO: Marco Rubio’s comments on a 2016 campaign run sound very convincing None of these candidates have confirmed they will seek the candidacy, even though Jeb Bush has already created the “Right to Rise PAC” in anticipation of a possible campaign run. The senator of Cuban descent, is a strong conservative who has endeared himself to the Tea Party in the past, even though his stance on immigration and immigration reform has swung from extreme-right to moderate.

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GOP responses to State of the Union differ on immigration

Impremedia — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 15:01:00 +0000

The Republican Partys Spanish-language response to President Barack Obamas State of the Union address included an issue not mentioned in the English-language rebuttal: immigration. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) delivered the official GOP response to the presidents State of the Union address. In her speech, she left out the issue of immigration. She didnt even make a reference to her partys efforts to block Obamas recent executive actions on immigration. SEE ALSO: Obama: The State of the Union is strong But in the Spanish-language response given by Rep. Carlos Curbelo, the newly elected Republican from Florida, the issue of immigration did come up. We should also work through the appropriate channels to create permanent solutions for our immigration system in order to secure the border, modernize legal immigration and strengthen our economy, Curbelo said in Spanish. In the past, the president has expressed support for ideas like these. Now we ask him to cooperate with us to get it done. Immigration is an issue that has divided the Republican Party. That division was front-and-center Tuesday night through Ernst and Curbelo, two Republicans with very different views on immigration. Ernst has spoken out against amnesty while Curbelo has said he supports a path to citizenship for some of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. The Florida Republican was also one of the 26 GOP leaders who earlier this month broke the ranks with their party by voting against a measure to cut off funding for a federal deferred action program that Obama announced in 2012 to protect undocumented youth from deportation. But in his speech Tuesday night, Curbelo said the Republican-controlled Congress would not stand by if Obama legislates by decree. He was likely referring to the executive actions Obama announced last month to shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. The Constitution assigned that responsibility to Congress, Curbelo said about legislating. SEE ALSO: Marco Rubio to send Obama a message with SOTU guest In addition, Curbelo said he and other Republicans are concerned about the undeserved concessions by the Obama administration toward Cuba and Iran. He said both countries are ruled by cruel dictatorships that for decades have tried to harm our country and our allies. Ernst, on the other hand, said Republicans will work to confront Irans nuclear ambitions but didnt say anything about Cuba. When the House Republican Conference originally announced that Curbelo would deliver the GOP Spanish-language address, it left out the fact that Curbelos speech would be different from Ernsts speech. However, there were similarities between both speeches. Curbelo and Ernst both talked about how the new Republican majority elected by voters wants to reform Congress to make it function for the benefit of its citizens. They also laid out the GOPs list of priorities, which include creating jobs, tearing down trade barriers and reforming the tax code. Curbelo ended his speech by noting that for centuries, immigrantslike his parents who are Cuban exiles who fled the Castro regime in the 1960shave come to the U.S. with nothing more than faith for a better life and desire to work to provide for their children. That is the story of my family and also of yours, he said in Spanish. Thanks to the sacrifices of those who have preceded me, this son of political refugees can represent his community in Congress. Only in the United States is this possible. In this country, success is for everyone who seeks it. SEE ALSO: Sen. Ernst promises Republicans will focus on Americans concerns

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Obama: The State of the Union is strong

Impremedia — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 12:01:00 +0000

President Barack Obama said the United States is ready to turn the page on years of economic and foreign policy troubles and declared the nation is strong. The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong, he said. At this moment??with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, and booming energy production??we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth. SEE ALSO: State of the Union: Promises made in 2014 which got fulfilled? Obama noted the U.S. economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999, the unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis and more Americans are finishing college than ever before. He also said the U.S. has reduced its dependence on foreign oil, the nations deficits have been cut by two-thirds and millions of more Americans are now able to afford health care. The verdict is clear, Obama said. Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work, as long as politics dont get in the way. But the president also said there are still many Americans who still need our help. He laid out a series of policies hed like to see implemented in the last two years of his presidency to help those who are still struggling and to strengthen the middle class. The policies include one that would eliminate loopholes that currently allow the wealthiest Americans and big corporations to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Obama said the funds produced by the tax loophole closureswhich would amount to $320 billion over a decadewould go toward paying for policies to help the middle class. Those policies include providing two free years of community college, extending sick leave to working families, lowering mortgage insurance premium rates and tripling the child care tax credit. Its now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years, and for decades to come, Obama said. Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort? SEE ALSO: Will Obama mention Cuba in State of the Union speech? The president also talked about U.S. efforts to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba and called on Congress to work on ending the five-decade-old embargo. On immigration, he said he still believes its possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. Obama delivered his speech in front of a Congress controlled by Republicans, who will likely block his proposed economic policies. He said that despite the bickering and gridlock in Congress, he still believes Congress can come together and do something different. If you share the broad vision I outlined tonight, join me in the work at hand, Obama said to members of Congress. If you disagree with parts of it, I hope youll at least work with me where you do agree. And I commit to every Republican here tonight that I will not only seek out your ideas, I will seek to work with you to make this country stronger. The president ended his speech by reminding Americans of his vision for the U.S. when he first made his national debut while giving the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Perhaps one of his most famous lines from that speech was: There are no red states or blue states, just the United States. Obama reiterated that message Tuesday night when he said: I want [future generations] to grow up in a country that shows the world what we still know to be true, that we are still more than a collection of red states and blue states, that we are the United States of America. SEE ALSO: Dreamer to sit with First Lady at State of the Union

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Steve King criticizes Obama for inviting a deportable to SOTU

Impremedia — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 12:01:00 +0000

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) criticized President Barack Obama via Twitter just hours before the State of the Union address Tuesday night for inviting a deportable to sit with First Lady Michelle Obama. #Obama perverts prosecutorial discretion by inviting a deportable to sit in place of honor at #SOTU w/1st Lady, King tweeted. I should sit with Alito. King was likely referring to Ana Zamora, a Dreamer from Dallas who was among the honored guests invited to sit with the first lady for the State of the Union address. The 21-year-old is is finishing up her last year at Northwood University in Texas, where she is majoring in business administration. SEE ALSO: Dreamer to sit with First Lady at State of the Union Zamora is one of the more than 600,000 undocumented youth immigrants benefiting from Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Announced in 2012, the program protects undocumented youth from deportation and grants them work authorization. Zamoras parentsdescribed by the White House as a small-business owner and a construction workerare potentially eligible to receive temporary relief from deportation and work authorization under a new program Obama announced last November as part of a series of executive actions. In September, Zamora wrote a letter to Obama to express why her parents deserved the same relief she received through the DACA program. As I write this letter, my heart pounds and tears roll out of my eyes as I remember all the sacrifices my parents have made through the years to procure me a better future, Zamora wrote in her letter to Obama. King has been a vocal opponent of Obamas recent executive actions on immigration and has pushed for legislation to end the DACA program. Last week, he joined House Republicans in passing measures to cut off funding for the presidents executive actions on immigration as well as the DACA program. He also introduced legislation to deny citizenship to children who are born in the United States but have undocumented parents. SEE ALSO: Obama: The State of the Union is strong On Saturday, King will be holding the Iowa Freedom Summit for several potential Republican presidential candidates. Among those GOP presidential hopefuls scheduled to attend are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Immigration is an issue that will likely come up during the event. When asked King about the tweet Tuesday night, King tried to channel Taylor Swifts song by telling reporters to shake it off.

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Marco Rubio to send Obama a message with SOTU guest

Impremedia — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:01:00 +0000

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will bring as his guest to the State of the Union address the daughter of a Cuban political activist who was killed in a car crash that was allegedly caused by the Cuban government. Rosa Maria Paya will be Rubios guest when President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address at the House gallery Tuesday night. Meanwhile, First Lady Michelle Obama will bring Alan Gross, an American sub-contractor who was imprisoned in Cuba for five years, as one of her guests. SEE ALSO: US loosens embargo on Cuba, making trade and travel easier Payas father, Oswaldo Paya, attracted international attention for his efforts to collect tens of thousands of signatures for a petition known as the Varela Project, which called for democratic political reforms within Cuba. He died in a car accident in Cuba nearly three years ago. His daughter and others allege that Cuban government officials deliberately caused the accident. All Oswaldo Paya wanted was a better future for Cuba and the Cuban people, and the Castro regime assassinated him for it, Rubio said in a statement. The Cuban-American Florida senator added that he expects Obama will address his administrations efforts to normalize relations with Cuba during his State of the Union address. He said he hopes to send a message to Obama by bringing Rosa Maria Payar as his guest. While I disagree with the presidents new Cuba policy, I hope Rosa Maria Payas presence on Tuesday night will at least remind him that her fathers murderers have not been brought to justice, and that the U.S. is now, in fact, sitting at the table with them, Rubio said in a statement. Since her fathers murder, Rosa Maria Paya has been advocating for a free and democratic Cuba. She has also been involved in efforts to find out what exactly happened in the car crash involving her father and activist Harold Cepero, who also died in the car crash. SEE ALSO: Will Obama mention Cuba in State of the Union speech? The Cuban government has denied requests for an independent investigation, raising suspicion. Rubio said the Obama administration should at the very least call on the Castro regime to allow an impartial, third party investigation into the car crash as the United States moves to ease trade and travel restrictions to Cuba.

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Will Obama mention Cuba in State of the Union speech?

Impremedia — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 14:01:00 +0000

President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, and, unlike previous years, there is expectation regarding whether the future of U.S.-Latin America relations will be addressed or simply overlooked. SEE ALSO: Alan Gross among 22 special guests to attend State of the Union The address comes days after lifting several sanctions against Cuba, hence it will be interesting to see if the U.S. head of state will pressure the now Republican-controlled Congress to consider lifting the decades-old embargo as well. (Some) Sanctions Lifted This past Friday, January 15, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that, following President Obamas historic December 17 speech, a revised Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) will be published, reflecting the changes in Washingtons new policy towards the Caribbean island. While U.S. citizens still cannot travel to Cuba freely, the December 17 announcement offers more alternatives to travel to the Caribbean island. For example, U.S. citizens can now go for professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions, among other reasons. Moreover, the Treasury Department has announced, travelers will now be allowed to use U.S. credit and debit cards in Cuba. This is quite a significant development, as it will permit visitors to spend more money in Cuba without having to exchange it for the local currency first. As for bringing Cuban goods into the country, the new policy states U.S. travelers to Cuba will be allowed to import up to $400 worth of goods acquired in Cuba for personal use. This includes no more than $100 of alcohol or tobacco products. Considering that cigars and rum are Cuban trademarks, even a relatively small amount like $100 USD still allows for plenty of cigars and bottles of liquor to be brought back to the United States. Nevertheless, while these are important developments, the state-controlled Cuban media has highlighted that large segments of the embargo remain in place. For example, the newspaper Juventud Rebelde published an op-ed on January 17, which stresses how open tourism is still prohibited, as well as a ban on imports and exports (with few exceptions) between the two countries. Concerns Regarding the Cuban Government Predictably, Republican lawmakers have critiqued the Presidents initiatives case in point, Senator (and Republican presidential hopeful) Marco Rubio has declared that Im going to continue to oppose the Obama-Paul foreign policy on Cuba because I know it wont lead to freedom and liberty for the Cuban people, which is my sole interest here. (Rubio meant Senator Rand Paul, who has supported the White Houses new policy). Moreover, the debate on the new U.S.-Cuba relations and its effects on the island is not only taking place in Washington. The Cuban digital newspaper 14ymedio, run by the renowned Cuban opposition blogger Yoani Sanchez, published a commentary on January 16 about what renewed relations may mean for the Cuban Government in the long run. Specifically, the article was concerned that the countrys economy will be transformed into state-run capitalism, controlled by an authoritarian political-military elite with ties to U.S. capital. The difference here is that Senator Rubio is in favor of maintaining the embargo, while even Cuban critics of the Castro regime want the embargo to be lifted, though the latter also want renewed U.S.-Cuba relations to go hand in hand with changes in the Cuban government. So far, the Cuban Government has complied with U.S. requests, including releasing the U.S. citizen Alan Gross and 53 political prisoners. Nevertheless, a valid concern is whether the powers-that-be in Havana plan to remain in power even as relations with Washington improve. The island is scheduled to hold municipal elections in April (over 14 thousand spots are up for grabs); this will be the first major test of the Cuban government in the post-agreement era to showcase that it is willing to allow opposition voices in its decision-making bodies. Negotiations and Internal Politics U.S.-Cuba relations are going through a very important momentum as, apart from more relaxed travel and commercial policies, diplomatic initiatives are increasing. At the time of this writing, Senator Patrick Leahy (VT-D) is leading a congressional delegation on a three-day trip to the Caribbean state. Moreover, this upcoming January 21-22, Roberta Jacobson, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, will lead another delegation to Cuba to discuss migration issues as well as the reestablishment of diplomatic ties. SEE ALSO: Renewed US-Cuba relations to bring old cars to life on the island Given these high-ranking delegations traveling to Cuba, and the fact that U.S.-Cuba relations have been widely discussed by the global media since the December announcement, it will be interesting to see if President Obama maintains his current momentum by mentioning Cuba in his upcoming State of the Union address. The recently freed Gross will attend the event, so the President could mention him as segue to asking congress to discuss the future of the embargo.

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Rep. Steve King introduces bill to end birthright citizenship

Impremedia — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:01:00 +0000

Amid all the talk surrounding immigration in Congress, a House Republican wants to deny citizenship to children who are born in the United States but have undocumented parents. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), an outspoken immigration hardliner, introduced legislation this week that would deny birthright citizenship to the children of undocumented immigrants. King said his bill is needed to fight an anchor baby agenda that consists of undocumented immigrants giving birth in the U.S. so that their children can become U.S. citizens and later sponsor family members for legal status. A century ago it didnt matter very much that a practice began that has now grown into a birthright citizenship, an anchor baby agenda, King said in a statement. SEE ALSO: Steve King: Dreamers should be deported, not allowed to join military The 14th Amendment of the Constitution states: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. But King argued that language of the amendment has been misinterpreted. When they started granting automatic citizenship on all babies born in the United States they missed the clause in the 14th Amendment that says, And subject to the jurisdiction thereof, he said. So once the practice began, it grew out of proportion and today between 340,000 and 750,000 babies are born in America each year that get automatic citizenship even though both parents are illegal. That has to stop. Under Kings legislation, those born in the U.S. would automatically become American citizens but only if one of their parents is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or an immigrant performing active service in the armed forces. However, the bill doesnt say what would happen to those who are born in the U.S. and have undocumented parents. This is not the first time King introduced such legislation. He introduced identical bills in 2011 and 2013. Former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) also introduced a similar bill in 2009. All three bills never made it to the House floor for a vote and eventually died in Congress. SEE ALSO: Erika Andiola confronts Rep. Steve King over immigration policy

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Court may ultimately decide fate of Obamas executive actions

Impremedia — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:01:00 +0000

Congress continues to debate President Barack Obamas executive actions that seek to protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation, but the fate of the presidents actions may ultimately rest in the hands of a federal court in Texas. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, who was appointed by then-President George W. Bush in 2002, was scheduled to hear oral arguments in Brownsville, Texas, on Thursday in a case that will decide whether Obama exceeded his legal authority when he issued a series of executive actions on immigration in November. This comes a day after House Republicans approved measures to block funding for Obamas executive actions and to essentially end a 2012 deferred action program for undocumented youth. Attorneys representing the 25 states that filed the lawsuit against Obamas executive actions say the president overstepped his legal authority when he bypassed Congress and acted alone on immigration. More specifically, they say Obamas move tramples the Constitutions Take Care Clause that mandates the president to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. This lawsuit is not about immigration, the sates argue in their lawsuit. It is about the rule of law, presidential power, and the structural limits of the U.S. Constitution. SEE ALSO: List of states suing Obama over his immigration actions grows Meanwhile, White House officials argue that Obama acted within the confines of his authority to try to reform as much of the nations broken immigration system as he possibly could. Cecilia Muñoz, the White House domestic policy director, repeated that message Wednesday during a conference call with reporters. This administration is going to continue to implement the executive actions because the president believes they are not only well within his legal authority, but they are the right way to fix what he can fix of our broken immigration system, Muñoz said. Obamas actions would shield up to 5 million undocumented immigrantsincluding parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residentsfrom deportation. It would also expand the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that allows undocumented youth to stay and work in the United States. Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, said she is confident that the federal court in Texas will ultimately determine that Obamas executive actions on immigration are legally sound. She also spoke in a conference call with reporters Thursday about the role the court will have in deciding the fate of Obamas actions. The impact is tremendous, she said. This means that a courtin this case the Brownsville, Texas, judgewill have the power to decide at least temporarily whether to block the program from going forward or not. SEE ALSO: House votes to block Obamas executive actions, end DACA Joining Hincapie in the conference call were several immigration supporters, including Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas who revealed hes undocumented in a New York Times Magazine article in 2011. He said Obamas executive actions would allow him to reunite with his mother in the Philippines for the first time in two decades. Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank told reporters that Obamas executive actions would help improve public safety by allowing undocumented immigrants to come out of the shadows and report crimes without fear of deportation. When criminals know that their victims are afraid or unwilling to cooperate with the police, then they enjoy that. And, in fact, crime thrives, he said. Meanwhile, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) said Thursdays hearing in Texas was the latest attack by opponents in their efforts to block Obamas executive actions on immigration. But Im here to say that no matter the result today, they will not be successful, she said. Former Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, whos now a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, also joined the call. She cited a study by researchers at UCLAs North American Integration and Development Center that found Obamas executive actions on immigration would lead to an increase in tax revenues and jobs in California. Clearly, bringing hardworking and honest undocumented immigrants and their families out of the shadows is the right thing to do because of the values and principles of our country, Solis said. Its also highly beneficial for the national and local economy. SEE ALSO: White House issues veto threat on DHS funding bill

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Return of the prodigal: Antonio Villaraigosa eyes governorship

Impremedia — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 17:01:00 +0000

Antonio Villaraigosa wakes up each morning in his Santa Monica apartment to a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean its seemingly endless blue waters and the dreams that have inspired men since they first set eyes on the scene. Those dreams and their inspiration have not been lost on Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles, who has returned to California after an imposed sabbatical in New York with plans to run for governor of the Golden State, or possibly for the newly opened U.S. Senate seat. That gubernatorial election is not until 2018, but the Senate race to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer is in 2016, and suitors are already lining up in what could become historic campaigns. Villaraigosa wants to become the first Latino governor of California in modern history or its first Hispanic U.S. Senator — and his return to his home state has shaken up the political landscape for obvious reasons. The Latino vote now threatens to potentially be the deciding difference in any statewide race in California. SEE ALSO: California Latinos scramble for historic Senate seat Hispanics make up the largest demographic segment of California, having surpassed whites in 2014, and Villaraigosa symbolizes the prospect of what could happen politically if over the coming three years he can galvanize the ever-growing Latino constituency. Were going to have to restore the luster to the California dream, Villaraigosa told the Sacramento Bee last week while in the state capital for a panel on state politics that effectively became his homecoming. Villaraigosa, 61, stepped down as mayor of Los Angeles after two terms in 2013 and moved to New York for what he called a timeout, a time to reflect. The timeout could not have come at a better point in Villaraigosas political calender, according to a longtime adviser who now says it has given voters a chance to take stock and understand he did an incredible job as mayor. Los Angeles is no better off today and may not even be in as good of shape, fiscally, as it was when Antonio was mayor, says the advisor and longtime Democratic Party leader. I think people have come to understand that the recession that hit the country while he was mayor affected the nation and all its cities, and Los Angeles under Antonio probably did better than most. To that end, Villaraigosa and his people have been quietly positioning his mayoral legacy in the best light as the “guy who fixed Los Angeles”by bringing mass transit to L.A., by wiping out much of the crime and giving the city a real downtown. That is the message that Villaraigosas advisers say he will be delivering throughout California during the coming years leading up to whichever campaign he enters, plus also taking time to mend fences, especially with the powerful public employee labor unions with whom he battled at times while mayor. Villaraigosa will be aided by the fact that he himself is a former labor organizer and still has close friendships among both union leaders and the rank and file. He may also be helped that he can run being seen by some as an outsider of California establishment politics because in 2018 he will have not held public office in five years. The other likely gubernatorial contenders currently are public officials among them Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Secretary of State-elect Alex Padilla. Attorney General Kamala Harris has already announced she will run for the Senate seat in 2016. For Villaraigosa, the task at hand will also be capturing the spotlight as the most popular Latino leader in the state away from Padilla and Garcetti, while establishing himself as the foremost Hispanic candidate with formidable ethnic and labor backing, as well as considerable Jewish backing. SEE ALSO: California Governor Jerry Brown sworn in for a historic fourth term Whatever Villaraigosa decides, he is likely to get a boost in that role with the 2016 presidential campaign, again becoming a Latino surrogate for the partys nominee. Villaraigosa has also intimated that he will begin setting forth a challenge to Californians to ambitiously think about restoring the state to a leadership role in all areas of life, especially public education. We became the No. 5 economy in the world, he says. We became that state because we were investing in people. We were investing in an infrastructure. We had the best roads and highways, airports and ports. Weve got to get back to those kinds of investments. It is the kind of quixotic message, say his longtime advisers, that has always worked successfully for Villaraigosa since his election to the legislature where he became Assembly Speaker and eventually his run for mayor. Dont accept the idea that public life is just about hitting singles and doubles. You cant be afraid to swing for home runs, says Villaraigosa. If you want to make investments for the good of the public, you cant let a few individuals block progress.

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House votes to block Obamas executive actions, end DACA

Impremedia — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:01:00 +0000

The House voted Wednesday to fund the Department of Homeland Security but attached measures to block President Obamas immigration orders that shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. Passage of the nearly $40 billion funding bill fell largely along party lines with a vote of 236-191, after House Republicans approved five controversial amendments. One amendment would block funding for the implementation of Obamas recent executive actions on immigration. The measure passed by a vote of 237-190. Another amendment would cut off funding for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that allows undocumented youth to stay and work in the United States. More than 600,000 young undocumented immigrants have been approved for the DACA program, but their applications for renewal would be denied under the House-approved amendment. SEE ALSO: Democrats plan to help immigrants as Republicans play politics House members approved the amendment to essentially end the DACA program by a 218-209 vote. A total of 26 Republicans joined Democrats to vote against it. Among those Republicans were Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from Florida, David Valadao from California, and Mario Diaz-Balart from Florida. Prior to that vote, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) noted in a speech on the House floor that last year Republicans supported a path to citizenship for undocumented youth if they met certain requirements, including undergoing a background check. One year later, you want to take away from 600,000 Dreamers their right to live in this country and to live legal, Gutierrez said to Republicans. You want to deport them all. What happened? If thats what happened in one year, what are you going to come up with next year? But the DHS funding bill as amended faces a murky future in the Senate. It is unlikely to pick up the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. And even if the Senate were to pass the bill, the White House has already said Obama would veto it. Still, Republicans are moving forward with their efforts to block Obamas plan that protects up to 5 millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. SEE ALSO: White House issues veto threat on DHS funding bill House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) took to the House floor just before the vote on the DHS funding bill to say House members should vote for the bill as a way to support and defend our Constitution. We do not take this action lightly, but simply there is no alternative, Boehner said. This is not a dispute between the parties, or even between the branches of our government. This executive overreach is an affront to the rule of law and to the Constitution itself. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) echoed Boehners message. He explained that the overreach by Obama is what led House Republicans to push for the immigration amendments to the DHS funding bill. This is not a fight between Republicans and Democrats, Gowdy said. Its not even a fight over immigration reform. This is a fight over whether this branch of government will ever find the courage to stand up for itself. However, Democrats didnt buy that argument. They condemned Republicans for using the DHS funding bill as a way to undermine Obamas executive actions on immigration and risk shutting down the agency responsible for national security. We all support compromise, Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) said on the House floor. But Homeland Security is the last thing in this body that should be subject to a political compromise. SEE ALSO: Marco Rubio returns to immigration debate in book

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List of 53 Cuban political prisoners may be misleading

Impremedia — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 13:01:00 +0000

The list of the 53 political prisoners released from Cuba in a historical move this year is being called into question. The Miami Herald reports that 31 of the 53 names belonged to members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU in Spanish), the largest and most active opposition group on the island. Among their crimes were dangerousness, public disorder, resisting arrest, distributing anti-government leaflets, and disrespecting the Castro brothers. Three human rights activists included in the list had already fully served their sentences according to the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), Jose Daniel Ferrer, when they were released as part of Cuba’s historic deal with President Barack Obama. The deal is meant to reestablish diplomatic relations between both countries. Ferrer alleges that four members of the group “had fulfilled every minute of their arbitrary sentences,” and they should have been released separately from this agreement. Those four men are Jorge Cervantes, Eider Frómeta Allen, Juan Carlos Vazquez Osoria and Eliso Castillo González. SEE ALSO: Cuba prisoners release doesn’t change anything Cuban dissidents also argue that the list contains at least 14 people who were released before the announcement of the agreements between the US and Cuba on December 17. Frómeta González Castillo and Allen were released in July and García Cervantes in August after exhausting their sentences. Another prisoner, César Andrés Sánchez Pérez was released almost a year ago, but the list was supposedly completed in July, as reported by Reuters. In the meantime, Elizardo Sanchez, president of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN) told the Miami Herald that the US Interest Section (USINT or Sección de Intereses de Estados Unidos en La Habana in Spanish) had kept in touch with his organization during releases, but he was not consulted for making the final list. According to Sanchez, the list was drawn up in Washington, from information gathered by the USINT, as well as data from the CCDHRN and other organizations that monitor human rights on the island, as stated by White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest. “We have worked with human rights groups in Cuba that have been able to verify that these individuals have been released,” Earnest said in a meeting with reporters Tuesday. He says that the list was one they reviewed, negotiated and discussed at length so it was not something that they gave the Castro regime the day before the announcement. SEE ALSO: Cuba releases political prisoners left of group of 53 in diplomatic deal Sanchez noted that the administration of President Barack Obama seems to have emphasized prisoners with short sentences and who had not been charged with a violent crime. “But if they had consulted us, we had called for the release of those serving long sentences or who have health problems,” he said. The opposition gave the example of eight people who were sentenced to long prison sentence for trying to smuggle weapons to Cuba. They had already served almost 20 years and yet they are being released as if it were a great mercy given to them. Earnest told reporters that the US governments effort to secure the release of other political prisoners who are unjustly detained in Cuba continues and that one of the reasons why the administration was opposed to publish the list was to avoid giving the impression that these were the only 53 political prisoners that matter. He insists more prisoners will be released but these 53 were simply the first wave.

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Democrats plan to help immigrants as Republicans play politics

Impremedia — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:01:00 +0000

While Republicans continue their efforts to block President Obamas executive actions on immigration, Democrats are planning events across the country to help educate and prepare immigrants for the presidents immigration actions. Democrats announced their plans during a press conference on Tuesday. They said they will hold events in dozens of cities to get immigrants ready for Obamas executive actions, which include allowing the parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to apply for relief from deportation and work permits. SEE ALSO: GOP fight against Obamas executive actions to start soon The effort is led by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who announced last week his plans to tour the country as a way to promote Obamas executive actions on immigration. Gutierrez said on the House floor last week that while Republicans continue to play politics on immigration, Democrats are actually taking steps on immigration. He reiterated that message at the press conference on Tuesday. While Republicans are trying to sue the president or play legislative games with the budget of the Department of Homeland Security, Democrats are going to protect American families and get people ready to sign up, Gutierrez said. Meanwhile, Republicans continue their efforts to try to block Obamas immigration actions. GOP leaders are pushing for the passage of a bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of September but would roll back the presidents executive actions on immigration. A vote could come as early as Wednesday. At a press conference on Tuesday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) stressed that the debate over the DHS funding bill is not about immigration, but rather about the president acting lawlessly. Our goal here is to fund the Department of Homeland Security, Boehner said. Our second goal is to stop the presidents executive overreach. But the White House made clear on Monday that Obama would veto the DHS funding bill if it includes amendments that would undermine the presidents executive actions on immigration. If presented to the president with objectionable restrictions, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto this bill, the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement. SEE ALSO: White House issues veto threat on DHS funding bill

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A new Congress arrives but is it Hispanic friendly?

Impremedia — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:01:00 +0000

The canapés and cocktails from last weeks congressional parties are long gone but the wheeling and dealing that went on are probably still lingering in congressional minds. Thousands of congressional constituents and supporters invaded Washington, DC last week to help welcome the new House and Senate members while at the same time cheer on those already there. With the celebratory festivities over, its back to work for our elected congressional officials. But just what is that work going to be about and how does it affect our Hispanic community? SEE ALSO: Top issues Latinos want the 144th Congress to address The 114th Congress ruled by the Republican Party has a long list of legislative issues to debate and eventually send to the president for his signature for final passage. But before members of congress took their hand off the bible last week, the White House and the new Republican congressional leaders began sparring over which issues they plan to work on together. We know that one key issue that will be on the table almost immediately is the Keystone Pipeline, which Republicans favor but not the White House. President Obama began sending signals that he was likely to veto any such legislation. We also know that Republicans in both the House and Senate want to repeal Obamacare or at the very least, make serious amendments to the already standing legislation. This would very likely cause a fight between the White House and Congress that has every possibility of lasting until Obama leaves office, which means nothing gets done in this critically important area of public health. Then there is the contentious immigration reform issue that seems to draw Republicans and Democrats farther apart than together and which also means little or no progress will be accomplished. All of these issues have the potential to seriously impact our Hispanic community; i.e., the Keystone Pipeline would bring many jobs, Obamacare, if sensibly amended, could end up providing more and better affordable health care to our community and if immigration reform legislation is passed that includes security and a path to legal residency it could mean that the millions here illegally could come out of the shadows and become an integral part of our every day society. But legislation doesnt come easy and with the ongoing disagreements that continue to divide Republicans and Democrats we may be in for a slow long haul. Of course Hispanic members of both the House and Senate could be major players in passing Hispanic friendly legislation. But their numbers while record breaking, 29 in the House and 3 in the Senate for a total of 32 doesnt guarantee passage of this type of legislation. Take Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, for example, he is against any kind of amnesty for the millions here illegally, thus Hispanics cannot count on him to rally for long overdue and friendly legislation that will help millions in our community. However, there are other Hispanics in congress that are of reasonable minds and for now it appears that Democratic Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez of Illinois and Republican Congressman Raul Labrador of Idaho will be actively involved and may just save the day for immigration reform. We know where Republican legislators stand on issues critical to our community but what we dont know is how much our Hispanic members of congress are going to stand up and fight for passage of that type of legislation. SEE ALSO: The 114th Congress features five new Latinos It goes without saying that no member of Congress is elected to represent only the interests of a particular ethnic, racial or religious group but certainly our Hispanic community which has long been ignored when it comes to being included in the passage of major legislation, deserves to be heard. Our Latinos in congress can began to change the conversation in this regard and our voices will have to be heard but that will be up to us to carry the day. We Latinos want to become a pain in the rear, if you will, so all of congress hears our concerns not just the Hispanic members.

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White House issues veto threat on DHS funding bill

Impremedia — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 09:01:00 +0000

The White House on Monday said President Barack Obama wont sign the legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security if it includes amendments to roll back the presidents recent executive actions on immigration. The Office of Management and Budget said in a statement that the administration supports the nearly $40 billion legislation to fund DHS through Sept. 30. But it strongly opposes any new amendments that would essentially block Obamas executive actions that halt the deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants. The presidents immigration accountability executive actions strengthen our border security, ensure undocumented immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents pass background checks to obtain temporary relief from removal, and require everyone to play by the same rules, the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement. If presented to the President with objectionable restrictions, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto this bill. The statement was released just before the House Rules Committee considered five new amendments by Republicans to the DHS funding bill. All five amendments take aim at Obamas executive actions on immigration. SEE ALSO: GOP fight against Obamas executive actions to start soon One amendment would prevent the use of funds from whatever source to be used to implement Obamas executive actions on immigration, as well as the Morton Memos of 2011 and 2012 that instruct immigration officials to focus deportation efforts on certain undocumented immigrants, including those with serious criminal records. Another amendment would block funding from being used to carry out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that protects undocumented youth from deportation and allows them to work. Another amendment would require DHS to focus immigration enforcement on those convicted of domestic violence, sexual abuse and child abuse. Theres also an amendment that would block policies that put U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents at a disadvantage over undocumented workers, and another amendment that would prioritize people who came to the U.S. legally over those who came here illegally. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) spoke out against the amendments during the House Rules Committee hearing, saying: I dont think these amendments solve our need to reform the immigration system. She added that the amendments would essentially put not only Dreamers and the parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents at risk of deportation, but also victims of domestic violence. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), a longtime supporter of immigration reform, also spoke out against the amendments during the hearing. He said the amendments by Republicans that would block Obamas executive actions on immigration threaten to shut down DHS at a time when theres increased terrorist risks. I find it hard to believe that after the incidents we all saw unfolding overseas this very past weekwith bombings and shootings and hostages taken in recent daysthat your side wants to play political theater with the federal agencythe biggest law enforcement entity we havethe entity charged with guarding our ports, our cargo, our borders, our airports and our coasts, he said, directing his remarks to Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), who chairs the House Rules Committee. Gutierrez added, I just dont see how this is good politics, good policy or way of reassuring the American people that the United States Congress in the hands of a Republican Party is doing everything it can to keep us safe. SEE ALSO: Marco Rubio returns to immigration debate in book Meanwhile, Heritage Action for America on Monday urged lawmakers to vote in support of the DHS funding bill and the amendments to block Obamas executive actions on immigration. If the bill is amended to stop President Obamas dangerous and unlawful amnesty as expected, Heritage Action will support H.R. 240 and will include it as a key vote on our legislative scorecard, the conservative group said in a statement. The House will likely vote on the DHS funding bill and the proposed amendments on Wednesday.

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Ros-Lehtinen: Cuba prisoners release doesnt change anything

Impremedia — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 17:01:00 +0000

Keeping its promise to the United States, Cuba has released all of the 53 political prisoners it promised to liberate as part of last months historic deal between the two countries. But Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) said on Monday that the release of the political prisoners in Cuba doesnt change anything given that many more remain in prison and continue to be deprived of their human rights. While it is welcome news that some political prisoners have been freed in Cuba, we cannot be fooled by this smoke and mirror attempt to disregard those individuals who still languish in Castro gulags, the Republican congresswoman said in a statement. Freeing innocent individuals is not an accomplishment nor does it show a change in the regimes brutal and violent tactics against the people of Cuba. The release of the prisoners came several weeks after the Obama administration agreed to ease trade and travel restrictions and to normalize diplomatic ties with Cuba for the first time in half a century. As part of the agreement, the administration asked Cuba to release the 53 political prisoners. And on Monday, The Associate Press reported that the 53 political prisoners had been released in recent days. SEE ALSO: Several of 53 political dissidents in Cuba havent been released Ros-Lehtinen has been critical of the move to re-establish ties with Cuba. On Monday, she called on the Obama administration to offer no concessions to Cuba until the all political prisoners are released. Like Ros-Lehtinen, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) doesnt think the release of the 53 political prisoners in Cuba will change anything in the communist nation. Rubio said in an interview Monday on CBS This Morning that just two weeks ago, the Cuban government rounded up dozens more people because they planned to go to a public square and speak out in favor of freedom and democracy. He also said hes worried that the 53 released political prisoners run the risk of getting arrested again. Rubio, who like Ros-Lehtinen has also been critical of the recent U.S.-Cuba deal, also stressed that he didnt have a problem with improving ties with Cuba. However, he said hes worried that the Cubans are getting virtually everything they want from the U.S. in return for minimal changes. My interest in Cuba is freedom and democracy, Rubio said. But it has already been very clear there will be no political changes on the island of Cuba, and there is no contemporary example of how a tyranny resisted to change is forced to change because of economic opening. SEE ALSO: Marco Rubio wants Cuba talks canceled amidst detention of 53 dissidents Rubio is also among a group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill who want the Obama administration to release the names of the 53 political prisoners who were freed in Cuba. Senior U.S. officials told Reuters that the White House will provide the names to members of Congress but didnt specify when thatll happen. Certainly, for those 53 prisoners, its a great deal, Rubio said reacting to the news of the freed prisoners. Unfortunately, we dont know who they are. The list is kept secret from the world.

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