Hispanic Groups Reconsider Their Support for Gonzales --wApO

[Demeter]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/28/AR2007052801139.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email

Hispanic Groups Reconsider Their Support for Gonzales

By Darryl Fears
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 29, 2007; A03



Two years ago, major Hispanic groups broke with other civil rights organizations and supported Alberto R. Gonzales's nomination for attorney general, primarily because he would become the highest-ranking Latino ever in a presidential Cabinet. Now, these groups say they are suffering from buyer's remorse. Janet Murguia, president and chief executive of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic rights group, called Gonzales "a follower, not a leader." In the Hispanic community, she said, "people are conflicted. They are excited that a Latino had a chance to serve as the attorney general." But, she added, "I think we've been disappointed with his record so far."

A few rights organizations that once backed Gonzales now refuse to talk about him. Gilbert Moreno, president of the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, said, "We're not really in a position to comment." Gonzales once sat on his organization's board....The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, which offered enthusiastic support for Gonzales, also declined to discuss him. William Ramos, director of the organization's Washington office, said, "We provided a support letter, yes," then hung up.

Wilkes and Murguia said their disappointment with the attorney general started long before Democrats and Republicans in the Senate began calling for his ouster over the firing of U.S. attorneys.
"The reason these attorneys were fired is that they weren't investigating allegations of voter fraud," Wilkes said. "Republicans use voter fraud allegations to create more registration burdens for our members without any evidence. I think Gonzales himself was pushing some of these voter-restriction techniques. He ought to know better."..."When he showed up, Gonzales wouldn't talk much about the case (the beating and sodomy of a Mexican American teenager by two white teenagers in Houston)," Wilkes said. "He wanted to lobby... for his support of the Patriot Act and the removal of individual protections. When that happened, we realized things weren't going as planned."

.......
Other Hispanic organizations say he has (DONE WELL). The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the National Latino Peace Officers Association, the Latino Coalition and the Hispanic Alliance for Progress Institute all wrote letters supporting Gonzales when he became embroiled in the scandal over the prosecutor firings.

"We strongly oppose what is nothing but patently political calls for the resignation of Alberto Gonzales," the Latino Coalition wrote. "He has been, and continues to be, a leading example to all in the Hispanic community of what we can accomplish through hard work and keeping true to our dreams."

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. Good for them! Bush has done a terrible disservice to all

minority people in his adm. He has chosen the worst of the worst and then put them out in the spotlight for everyone to see.

Blacks should not be judged by Condaleeza Rice. Hispanics should not be judged by Gonzales.

[sdfernando]

2. Its about time!

Its about time these organization made public their disappointment in gonzo, but they should have known from the beginning! I'm of 100% Mexican decent and I did not/do not/have never supported him. These groups let their cultural pride blind them to what gonzo really is. Its disappointing because they should have known better.

I would never support anyone for high office simply due to one factor like ethnicity or gender. Sure, its great when a minority "makes" it....but you have to look at how they got there don't you? Did they sell out like gonzo and coniliar??

These groups should not be saying they aren't in a position to comment! Screw that! Call for his resignation dammit! You owe it all of us!

[Demeter]

3. I Mean, Who'd Have Thought Gonzo Had Any Friends?

Just a Puppet master.