Moreno, apparently, did not get the memo reported upon by the New York Times. (comment missing)
The story, about pre-convention jitters largely due to uncertainty about the Clintons, ends like this: "The Obama campaign is leaving little to chance. It has created a rapid response team — led by Craig Smith, a former top operative in the Clinton world — to head out to the convention floor at the first sign of any trouble from Clinton supporters.
"Mr. Obama’s campaign began sending out a one-page sheet of daily talking points to delegates, instructing them what to say and what to avoid in talking to reporters. (In one last week, according to a recipient, the central thrust was how to parry questions about Clinton-Obama strife and Mrs. Clinton’s speech by saying, “I can’t wait to hear Hillary Clinton talk about the future and am excited that her candidacy is unifying our party!”)"
Moreno didn't appear in the mood to celebrate party unity.
"Don Williams? I just chewed his ass out," Moreno said. "He tried to take a picture with us."
Moreno said that he was all-in for Hillary Clinton.
"When I support somebody I support them. No Mickey Mouse stuff," he 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."
(Interestingly, as I was writing this on Word 2004, the autoformat uppercases Mexican Americans and Clinton, but not obama.)
As an example, Moreno noted the Clinton judicial appointments of two El Pasoans, David Briones and Phil Martinez>, and the near appointment of Enrique Moreno to the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Martinez was appointed by President George W. Bush (oops), but Moreno got the big picture mostly right (here's a 2003 news release from U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, touting Clinton's record of appointing Hispanics).
"My mind is made up," Moreno said. "Never in the political process did he (Obama) mention Cesar Chavez or the plight of farmworkers.
"Under Obama," Moreno said, "appointments (to Mexican-Americans) will diminish. Our education rates are low, and they're going to use that excuse, and go after appointments from Illinois or Detroit.
"I'm going to vote straight Democrat. What I'm saying now is not (meant) to poison … I'm just just telling you facts and truths that will not be erased easily."
I asked him about the split between he and Chavez.
"Norma, I never liked her. It's known I cannot stand Norma and she cannot stand me."
I asked him about the draft Hillary movement.
"I'm going to do whatever I can," he said. "I can't count too well but I know the millions of votes she got can be very helpful to the Democratic party or very detrimental."
***
[Editor's Note: Read Jaime R. Abeytia's response to Paul Moreno's comments on Barack Obama.]
politics
Paul Moreno Weighs in
by Sito Negron
Posted on August 25, 2008
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