The Hispanic World Celebrates the Barack Obama Victory

[curious one]

link
http://watchingamerica.com/News/1263/the-hispanic-world-celebrates-the-victory-of-barack-obama/

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Honduras - La Prensa - Original Article (Spanish)

The Hispanic world celebrates the victory of Barack Obama in the Democratic primary elections of the United States considering him a symbol of change, both in the attitude of the people as well as the politics that he promotes, and also a promise of better relations with the continent.

But these comments were tempered by a current of skepticism of those who doubt that the candidate can-– or that they will let him-–implement these changes.

In the Mexican capital, the 35-year-old painter Susana Mendoza's eyes sparkled when she found out that Obama had secured the Democratic presidential candidacy.

"There has always been so much discrimination in the United States that I think would be positive that the new president be of color," she commented. "George W. Bush was for the hierarchy. Obama is for the people."

Furthermore, she considered that a black president would be more sensitive to the situation of Hispanics in the United States, including her sister, an illegal immigrant who works for a construction company in Chicago. "Americans are treated very well in Mexico, but Mexicans are not treated well in the United States," she argued.

In Spain, the Spanish Socialists' Workers Party, PSOE, congratulated Obama on Wednesday and expressed its confidence that his victory "would be the prelude of change in the political direction of a country that is our friend and ally."

Through an informer, the direction of PSOE, that withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq in 2004 when it came to power and criticized the international politics of Bush, underlined the "force of change" that Obama represents and the new air that he could bring to Washington.

"The potential Democratic candidate during his course towards the nomination has championed the defense of social politics, solidarity, equality and international relations based on dialogue and multilateralism; values that we Spanish socialists completely share," said PSOE.

In Caracas, for business man Orlando Santana, 54-years-old, the United States needs a change. "I believe that Obama can bring forward new politics that will break with the errors that Bush committed, such as the war in Iraq."

"It would be interesting to see how relations between Venezuela and the United States would play out if Obama were to win in November," he added. "At best, they would improve, but this will also depend on president Hugo Chavez."

His compatriot Maribel Vargas, a 33-year-old secretary, stated that "if Obama makes it to the White House it is possible that the relations between Washington and Latin America will get better."

"We feel that the Bush government didn't pay a lot of attention to Latin America and the truth is that we are neighbors that must cooperate."

In Havana, the Cuban Jorge Serguera, a retired seventy-year-old who said that he closely followed the United States campaign, hope to see the Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton presidential ballot.

"They are two extraordinary candidates and have faced many challenges, he for the color of his skin and she as a woman," he commented. "I think that the American society is prepared to have both."

He considered that Obama "is a man of moral thinking and of ideas" and added that "the departure of Bush after eight years represents a little rest for Cuba."

In the Brazilian city of Sao Paolo, in a monthly dinner that draws musicians, artists, academics and others to the restaurant Soteropolitano in the Bohemian neighborhood Vila Madalena, the congregated supported the candidacy of Obama, but few are confident that he would radically change the United States foreign policy.

Obama "is more important from the symbolic point of view than effective to promote deep changes," stated Leandro Moura, a translator of 37 years that considered Clinton's health care plan as better and the Democratic winner's economic ideas as not being very progressive.

"But of course, it will be a refreshing breeze and I am with him," he added. "The current foreign policy of the United States is of such extreme right that even a slight moderation will be welcome."

Mario Cavallo, a 31-year-old pianist, does believe that there will be changes regardless of who wins the presidency in November.

"They will continue supporting the war in Iraq," he said of the future president of the United States, whether it be Obama or the Republican John McCain. "It is positive that a young, black man can maintain himself and eventually win the presidency. But it is improbable that the motto of his campaign, change, will be in any way fundamental."

In Bolivia, where the voters in 2005 elected Evo Morales as the first indigenous president, some highlight the difficulties that Obama could face in overcoming barriers.

Carlos Taborga, 76-years-old, who drank guiski with a group of seventy-year-olds, said, "in this month, we are very much supporters of Clinton. Why? Because I personally still have racist roots. But in a very small quantity, of course."

"Then, certainly this little root of racism that I have, in the United States is much greater, it is huge," he added. "Hillary or Obama, whoever it is, is only going to lose to McCain." He said that maybe "Hillary could win," but "still the North American society is not in favor of black presidents."

Miguel Rojas, 47, who changes currency, didn't know Obama's name even though he new that a black man was a candidate for the United States presidency.

"The black man has good intentions, of course, but they are not going to let him govern," he pronounced. "That is the problem. Just like here, they don't let him. As a result, there is failure."