Ritter: Hispanics will rally around Obama
By Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published June 29, 2008 at 10:38 a.m.
Updated June 29, 2008 at 5:29 p.m.
Photo by Handout
David J. Swift © Getty
Ritter and Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal speak with host Tom Brokaw on 'Meet the Press'.
Colorado's Hispanic voters will help Sen. Barack Obama carry the state in November, Gov. Bill Ritter predicted Sunday on "Meet the Press."
"Obama wins among Hispanics hands down, and he does that because he has a language about education that really is about optimism," Ritter said. "But it's also about reforming the system, and I think Hispanic voters pay attention to that."
Ritter and Gov. Dave Freudenthal discussed the upcoming presidential race, the urgent need for a federal energy policy and various other issues facing the West.
The show was taped in Jackson Hole, Wyo., where the Western Governor's Association is meeting through Tuesday. The show was moderated by veteran newsman Tom Brokaw; long-time host Tim Russert died earlier this month of a heart attack.
Brokaw asked Ritter pointedly what would happen in Colorado if all the illegal immigrants were forced to return to Mexico.
"We passed some serious reforms in 2006 and it's had its impact," Ritter said. "It's had its impact on farms and ranches and hotels and the service industry. Some of it is not because illegals aren't there, but because legal immigrants viewed it as becoming a less friendly place."
Ritter said a lack of "sensible immigration policy" hampers the state's ability to attract "foreign-born workers."
Denver political analyst Eric Sondermann said Ritter didn't slip up, but he didn't offer any earth-shattering policy revelations, either.
"He did nothing to embarrass himself, but it wasn't heaviest discussion in the world," Sondermann said. "It was heavy on politics and light on policy due to the nature of Brokaw's questions."
The two governors — facing increasing pressure to open up public lands for oil and gas drilling — emphasized the need for a balanced federal energy policy.
"We should load up on research and development for clean coal, and quite frankly, we have not done that," Ritter said.
Ritter also said the nation needs to "incentivize conservation and efficiency" to tackle greenhouse gases.
Ritter waded into the controversial issue of gun laws after Brokaw cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that a ban on handgun ownership in the District of Columbia was unconstitutional.
Ritter, former Denver District attorney, said the court did not strike down provisions prohibiting convicted felons or people with certain mental illnesses from carrying guns.
"It's really important that communities have some ability beyond just everybody being able to carry a gun," Ritter said. "I just think that the Supreme Court looked at Washington, D.C., and said, 'The ban goes too far, but we're not saying that there aren't reasonable restrictions that communities can put in place.'"
Ritter meets the press
Dress: The governor ditched his suit and tie. "He looked the part of a western governor sitting in front to the Tetons in an open-collared shirt." -- Political analyst Eric Sondermann
Question he dodged: Will it help or hurt Obama to choose Hillary Clinton as running mate?
Dodgy answer: "I don't know really if it'll help or hurt. What I can tell you is if you think about the play in the West, independent voters...they're really where the play will be."
Hot button question 1: Will Ritter "take a nuclear power plant in Colorado?"
Ritter: "It's going to be part of our future as a country. It already provides about 20 percent of the energy to this country."
Hot button question 2: Will a pro-choice agenda permeate the Democratic National Convention?
Ritter (an anti-abortion Catholic): "I suspect it'll be a plank in the platform, and it has been a plank in the platform for a very long time, but that doesn't mean that as a party we don't embrace people who might have different views. I'm a great example of that."
Best joke attempt: Ritter talked about whether evangelicals, especially those who make the environment a top issue, are likely to support Sen. Obama: "It's not that they joined the Green Party, but it's that they really view the Earth as a sacred trust."
Show without Tim Russert: "No one does it like Russert did. Brokaw's obviously very polished and has all the stature in the world, but it felt a little more like a gentile conversation. There was no edge to it" - Sondermann
poppenj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5176
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Denver turns 150
Read about the city's history, look at old photos and see a list of influential Denverites.
-
Mount Crushmore
Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Weekend plans?
Figure out things to do this weekend with the help of our entertainment calendar.
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's pregame rant on the Raiders.
-
Season To Share
The Post-News Season To Share campaign provides grants to area nonprofits.
-
The Rocky @ 150 Years
The Rocky was there when Colorado became a state in 1876. Read our coverage.
-
A Dozen on Denver
And the winner is... Robert Ziegler! See the whole fiction series by clicking here.
June 29, 2008
11:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
American Hispanics are to smart to vote for Obama!! They also see through his phoney baloney rhetoric and will avoid him like the plague!! What will he do for them??? He is more interested in promoting African-American causes!!
June 29, 2008
12:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
ParkHillPosse writes:
To T1anda: Why would Obama, who is half-white, necessarily be more prone to "promote" African-American causes than McCain (or Hillary) would be motivated to pander to their white electorates? It seems to me that both McCain and Hillary have utilized pandering, populist demagoguery and dishonesty far more than Obama (for example in their talk of a counterproductive gas tax holiday, or their votes on the Iraq war). Basically, it seems that you are trying to slander Obama's intentions vis-a-vis Hispanics by your own misguided opinion of the motivations of African-American political leaders. It seems to me that Obama would be pretty fair to all Americans and would be far more willing to reach across ethnic and socioeconomic lines than McCain.
June 29, 2008
12:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
LoFat writes:
How easily the left overlooks the facts surrounding our current world dilema. The United States was attacked about eight months after W took office. This was a direct result of Clinton's refusal to confront international terrorism (the first world trade center bombing and the USS Cole bombing for starters). Early in his first administration Clinton gutted the foreign intelligence programs. As late as 1998 the litany of Who's Who in the American Democratic party were decrying the existence and posession of WMD by Saddam Hussein. Ted Kennedy sat and complained about "Lie after lie, after lie". We now know the Democrats told these lies in an attempt at self-preservation. I often wonder what existence spawned these liberal "know nothing and deny everytying" creatures.
June 29, 2008
12:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Shaggy writes:
I don't know Park,
Maybe because he belonged to a church for 20 years that has a non negotiable commitment to Africa and the Black people.
Maybe because he was an organizer of the black people to gain notoriety in Chicago.
Pretty much his whole life had been about separating himself the his white heritage and associate himself with his other half..Almost as though he is disgraced by it.
There is a lot that has and is surfacing it's ugly little head about Obama and who he associates himself with and has a hard time distancing himself from.
As for the topic, I don't put much stock into any prediction of one term Ritters. Pretty much everything he has done has been a failure or ruled unconstitutional.
June 29, 2008
1:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Shaggy writes:
I might add that Obama would still belong to that hate whitey, hate America church if it wasn't for his racist Reverend of 20 years finally throwing him under the bus as a lying Politician who says anything to be elected.
Rev.Wright was correct and he is the only one who hasn't backed away from his racial views he has been teaching Obama for 20 years that Obama said he never heard or never knew Wright was like that.
Yea right...That was Wrights signature..He was the reason people went to that Church...to hear his racist and hate filled sermons.
We all already know his unproud wife was paying attention.
If Obama is too stupid to understand what he was listening to for 20 years, he is too stupid to be in the WH.
Read his own book in his own words.
From ‘The Audacity Of Hope:
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”---Obama.
June 29, 2008
1:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
gary writes:
Tax Ritter...rides again!!
No guns..
No lapel pin..
No pledge to our flag or country..
NObama...'08'
Nuff Said!
June 29, 2008
1:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
me2 writes:
T1anda, just how many Hispanic friends do you have?
June 29, 2008
1:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
Politicians sure are arrogant to think they can lead every hispanic around by the nose, as if they don't each think for themselves. I'm Irish catholic and I would never vote a Kennedy. If I were hispanic, (3 of my children are, 2 of my grandchildren as well), I'd consider Mr. Ritter's comments quite arrogant. People have brains to think for themselves. In one breath they want racial equality, in the next they are taking about leading one seperate race to one opinion. Americans are starting to think for themselves as to whats best for thier situation. How are all the asian people going to vote Mr. Ritter, think all the white people will vote Mc Cain? Politicians would divide us all if they could.
June 29, 2008
1:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
In this town Mr. Ritter, we vote for the best man. Look at Denvers last three mayors, Pena, Webb, and Hinckenlooper. I think Mr. Ritter really doesn't give the people credit for voting on character, substance, and ability. Yeah, we're all birds of a feather that flock together; do we all look alike to you Mr. Ritter?
June 29, 2008
2:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
blacksho89 writes:
Hm. A white man promising a black man that the brown man will vote for him.
June 29, 2008
2:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
sheepherder writes:
LOl! Well said blacksho!
June 29, 2008
2:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
Bogus old news, lies, innuendos, slogans... this is all conservatives have these days.
As I recall, Bush was president when the attacks on September 11, 2001 occurred, yet conservatives still blame Clinton. After all, how can we blame Bush? He was on vacation for six weeks before the attack and was busy teaching Florida second-graders how to read when it happened. If another attack happened today, conservatives would still find some way to spin it into being Clinton's fault.
As for comparing Obama to Rev. Wright, John McCain's spiritual advisor is John C. Hagee. Hagee uses his Bible to argue that it was God's plan to have Adolf Hitler chase the Jews out of Europe back to Palestine. So, conservatives are living so far and deeply in a cruel past that Nazi apologetics and sympathy for mass-murderers seems natural to them.
From what I've read of Rev, Jeremiah Wright, his primary complaints revolve around the fact that the richest country in the world tolerates poverty, unemployment, and gross injustices. Wright was complaining about wealth-driven self-indulgence in the face of human suffering, a rather Christian theme based on my readings of what Jesus taught.
There will always be stupid people who will support bad politicians who become even worse leaders. In these times, we call them conservatives or fascists. This kind of stupidity is not isolated to any particular "race". It is most prevalent amongst those who still believe in "race" even though science has proven there is only one race, the human race.
June 29, 2008
2:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Mighty_Mile writes:
Lo- What proof do you have that Clinton gutted foreign intelligence programs? According to Richard Clarke, GWB's and Clinton's top counterintelligence official, in a testimony to the 9/11 commission, the Clinton administration treated terrorism as its highest priority, whereas the Bush administration did not consider it to be an urgent issue before the attacks.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...
And your mention of Saddam possessing WMD's is a testimony to the sophisticated indoctrination by the powers that be. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by anything at this point, but still. . .are you serious?
Also, the quote taken from Obama's book clearly shows his commitment to protecting law-abiding AMERICAN CITIZENS from forms of discrimination, that is if you read the entire quote. Lastly, where did this obsession with lapel pins come from? Some of the most brutal dictators of the 20th century wore lapel pins. I consider it a desecration of old glory myself.
June 29, 2008
2:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
Mighty_Mile, the lapel pin issue was Obama's refusal of an American Flag lapel pin as a gift to wear on his lapel when offered by a disabled American vet, I believe. Correct me someone, is this right?
June 29, 2008
2:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
Me2 if Hispanic relatives count...quite a few!!!!
June 29, 2008
3:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
VERY well said Blacksho89!!!!!
June 29, 2008
3:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Mike846 writes:
Ritter is your typical "plantation" Democrat. He thinks if he provides sanctuary for millions of illegals and increases the daily pandering to their spokespeople, then he will be able to lead them around by the nose and tell American citizens who happen to be of Hispanic descent how to vote. The Dems have been doing this to blacks for years. Now they want to add anyone brown to the mix. Wake up, amigos, "Tax" Ritter ain't your friend. He's just the latest version of the overseer. Mike
June 29, 2008
4:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
Michael writes:
Most Hispanics are Catholic, anti-abortion, church-going, God-fearing, not overly fond of gays and their issues, and for the most part, socially conservative. I don't think anyone can argue these points - and if you can, be my guest. On the other hand, many (not most) Hispanics are also tied to the hand-outs, income redistribution, and welfare that liberal Democrats so favor and love to promise more of. Tough call.
June 29, 2008
5:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
BO writes:
Shaggy-
Just out of curiosity- which candidates do you think people in groups like the Aryan Brotherhood, the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and other like groups are voting for? Does that mean that candidate has the same views?
BTW-Laura Bush defended Michelle Obama on her comment, so you need to get over that bridge. If a reverend (one I'm guessing you had never heard of this time last year-and who served in Vietnam), a comment from someone who has seen Vietnam and Watergate but was not alive to witness our victory in WWII, and a flag pin which was probably made in China are the key points in your argument, that's pretty lame.
If wearing a flag pin and a loyalty to Bush are the only keystones to patriotism, then were in pretty sad shape as a country.
June 29, 2008
5:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
American100 writes:
This Hispanic will vote for McCain just to make a point of voting AGAINST Obama!
I do not appreciate being talked down to by Obama, who only has the black fact going for him. His approach to minorities is demeaning and will backfire soon enough.
Too bad so many buy into it.
June 29, 2008
6:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
Most Hispanics aren't.
Hispania was an old prefecture of the ancient Roman empire that administered people living in the country now known as Spain. Hispania doesn't exist anymore. If you hold citizenship in modern nation of Spain then you are Spanish, which also makes you European. If you are not a citizen of Spain then you're probably not Spanish. No living person hails from Hispania. Therefore, there are no Hispanics. It's a cultural goof invented by racist crackpots who never tire of inventing new racial categories.
Even the Irish were considered "non-white" by racist crackpots. In an interesting twist of racist ignorance this makes George Washington himself our first "non-white" president because his mother was Irish. So, America had a good start. What went wrong with us?
Colorado was inhabited by the Nuntzi (Ute) and various other nomadic people before and after 1500 AD. Spanish speakers colonized the San Luis Valley and established farms not long after 1600 AD. When Zebulon M. Pike came to survey the source of the Arkansas River in 1805, the Nuntzi people who were already here generously helped him and his party to survive. They also helped Pike to avoid capture by Spanish dragoons until he decided to meet them. Then he visited Chihuahua before he was later repatriated. After that, mountain men arrived in the 1820s and 1830s to trap beavers and sell their pelts back East. Many met, befriended, and married native women who were already here.
The latest big bunch of immigrants to Colorado hails from Mexico, not Hispania. Many of them are now second and third generation immigrant descendants also known as Americans. I have Mexican ancestors myself but a racist crackpot might be really confused because they were originally from Ireland. They spoke Irish Gaelic, Spanish, and some Nahuatl.
Here's a fun substitution you can make in any political discussion. Take the word "black" and substitute the word "worker's" or "working class". All black issues become worker's or working class issues. You will find that all working people have the same troubles. We struggle with bad health care policies, low pay, high expenses, unjust treatment, the soaring cost of a university education, job insecurity, and the possibility of having our kids get their heads blown off in an unjustified war. So what's up with the racist distinctions?
Racism is an insidious propaganda weapon used to keep Americans divided. Take it out of the discussion, unite, and fight the power that keeps you down.
June 29, 2008
6:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
American100 writes:
Holier than thou wrote: "Racism is an insidious propaganda weapon used to keep Americans divided. Take it out of the discussion, unite, and fight the power that keeps you down."
TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE
Another truth: Minorities use the accusation of racism EVERY DAY on these posts. To me it's a sign of self pity, self loathing and laziness.
Obama is insulting to minorities. He uses his blackness as a weapon to get where he wants to be and has NO loyalty to the people have gotten him this far.
June 29, 2008
7:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
CP writes:
Ritter said a lack of "sensible immigration policy" hampers the state's ability to attract "foreign-born workers."
Yeah, just what we need, more illegals. Ritter is an idiot.
June 29, 2008
9:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
bxwatso writes:
I wonder how people would react if someone said "white people will vote for McCain." Ritter's identity politics of saying people should vote Democratic because of their ethnicity is a backward step toward the progress the Dems claim to seek.
June 29, 2008
9:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
redwhiteandBLUE writes:
American 100,
Exactly ! We had the same idea, vote for McSame to prove a point against Obama.
T1landa..Yes! American Hispanics are too smart to vote for Obama...friend.
Lastly; according to Bill O'Reily he quoted Obama saying that he won't be pressured by all the Hispanic groups..
Yeah right! He's already being a push over!! The La Raza group and all the other groups are ON OBAMA like flies on ****pressuring him to make sure he does good on the Dream Act/Amnesty.
Who wants a commander in Chief that can be pushed around ?
We already have one.
June 29, 2008
9:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Uno writes:
HolierThanThou wrote;
“It's a cultural goof invented by racist crackpots who never tire of inventing new racial categories.” – I agree. The Democrats never tire to characterize and classify every each one of us for political gain. Race, gender, sexual orientation, income, what you drive, how big is your house, what you eat, smoker, gun owner, religious, and according to Obama even how much you weight is something to target. How bout those Democrats, great uniters aren’t they?
June 29, 2008
11 p.m.
Suggest removal
jacka writes:
Tengo tres carnés de conducir: Ritter, Salazar e Hickenlooper. Cada votante registrado votará una vez.
También, puedo venderle 3 números de la Seguridad Sociales para solamente $300.
June 30, 2008
6:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Alive writes:
Democrat, Republican, honestly what is the difference? They are all cut from the same cloth.
Look at how Obama has shown he is just a standard politician with all his pandering, flip-flops, and throwing of bodies under the bus. I think many people want to vote for him just because he is black. Now THAT is racism if I have ever seen it. What a gullible populace we have become.
It is high time for a viable third party.
June 30, 2008
8:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
soccermom writes:
In a sense, independents are a third party. (hmm, has a nice ring to it, the Independent Party) I'm just curious and not out to pick an argument on this, but what do you think their platform should be?
June 30, 2008
10:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
"Democrat, Republican, honestly what is the difference? They are all cut from the same cloth."
really? the republicans have given us 8 years of failure after 8 years of record prosperity.
i think there's a pretty big difference when you look at the track records.
http://www.dems.gov/index.asp?Type=B_...{D68CD0B2-1442-4804-9F6B-AF67DE7FF585}&DE={FDD09C4F-E958-4E13-A92B-179C2FAC6FEA}&Design=PrintView
June 30, 2008
11:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
Shaggy writes:
BO,
You make absolutely NO sense what so ever.
Are you saying John McCain is a member of the Aryan Brotherhood and the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan???
If McCain was a member of those hates groups than I would absolutely say he shares those views just as Obama shares the views of his racist preacher of 20 years.
The problem is that McCain didn't belong to a hate groups like Obama did.
Understand the difference??
For the TaxRitter thread,
He has been pimping himself to the Hispanic community for years.
Handing out Agriculture Trespass charges to the illegals.
All the Democrats and Liberals pimp themselves out to the hispanic people for votes, they don't give a crap about the Country as long as they gain power.
June 30, 2008
11:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
shaggy....you're still spouting myths. what policy stances of obama's proves your conspiracy theory that he "shares the views of his racist preacher"?
until you provide that info...you're a liar.
also...we've gone over this a thousand times...ritter dealt with court cases involving illegal immigrants just like DA's across the country dealt with theirs'...republican and democrat alike.
so...you can either rail at the system and be credible...or rail at a guy or party in the system just because he's/it's a democrat and be a ignorant partisan hack.
your choice.
by the way...some good reading in here...maybe we can cut down on these pesky debunking sessions if you post fewer myths.
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/
June 30, 2008
1:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
Shaggy writes:
jay which facts do you not understand?
Let me know and if I get some time today I will tutor you.
Maybe Obama is stupider than we thought. Maybe he went to that church and didn't understand what his racist Reverend was preaching.
Or maybe he is so stupid he knew how racial his Reverend was but chose to ignore that little inconvenient fact and still went there for 20 years.
Yes I know Liberal D.A.'s like Ritter have been giving illegals favors for votes for years...thank you for confirming that...
You are just in denila jay, I give your posts as much as i give Ritters saying he has always been tough on illegal immigration..
I'm not the liar jay, you, Obama and Ritter are the liars..
June 30, 2008
2:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
"It's not like O was going to introduce some crazy pro black or anti white legislation."
thank you yiota.
his policy stances don't back up your ridiculous far right wing conspiracy theories, shaggy.
so...unless you can provide the information necessary to establish yourself as credible on this issue...i think we're done here.
June 30, 2008
2:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
Shaggy writes:
jay I can put facts right under your nose and you still refer to them as myths.
You are so partisan blinded you cannot see who Obama really is and how he has so many of you Liberals brainwashed.
June 30, 2008
2:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
i am so sorry, shaggy. maybe i missed them since you put them "right under my nose".
which policy stances of obama's supports your conspiracy theory? did i miss them in one of your posts?
i'm not saying you're necessarily lying to me...just to yourself, shaggy. i think sometimes you honestly believe what you hear from the likes of rush limbaugh and just can't help yourself but to repeat the lies here. the problem is that when you tell these things to people with educations, the reception of such tales is probably less warm that you'd get at your typical gunny bob chat room. you then get all flustered and still to the willful ignorance thing instead of just admitting that what you were told and have now been parroting is just partisan drivel.
let me give you an example.
hey, did you hear the one about being a pow who cracked and is an unamerican terrorist appeaser because he has a history of telling our enemies u.s. secrets?
see how easy that is? can you guess who came up with that one?