Obama Tries to Mobilize Young People, Blacks and Latinos

Published in El País
(Spain) on 2 November 2010
by Carlos Fresneda (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Miken Trogdon. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
In the eleventh hour, that critical moment when it is still possible to avoid the irreversible, Barack Obama has decided to launch an unheard-of offensive of radio interviews with the objective of mobilizing young, black and Hispanic voters.

The American president has wanted to make the most of the final opportunities provided by the permissive American election laws, where a “day of reflection” doesn’t exist, and where campaigning can continue up to the last moment in the proximity of the polling places. “Loitering is prohibited within 100 feet of the ballot boxes,” read the bilingual signs that have flooded New York today.

“My name is not on the ballots, but my agenda is,” Obama declared on the California radio station KPWR. The root question is: “Are things going better than they were two years ago?” Followed by this one: “Can we continue moving forward?”

The unequivocal message, directed at the masses of voters that gave him the win in 2008, was heard this morning on urban radio stations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Miami and Honolulu. In his effort to reach the youngest voters, Obama let himself be interviewed by America Idol host Ryan Seacrest.

Michelle Obama has joined the radio frenzy with her own battery of interviews directed at the black community, beginning with hip-hop and gospel icons Harvey and Yolanda Adams. Support of the president among African-Americans holds at 90 percent.

In the final hours, Obama has also pitched his message on the radio program most popular with Hispanic minorities, “Piolín in the Morning.” It was during statements to Eddie “Piolín” Sotelo that the president let it slip and called the Republicans “enemies.”

When asked about the growing skepticism of the Hispanics about the unfulfilled promise of immigration reform, Obama said, “If Latinos sit out the election instead of, ‘we’re going to punish our enemies and reward our friends […]’.”

John Boehner, a rising Republican leader in the House of Representatives, criticized the belligerent tone used by the president. Obama has rectified this and said that he meant to say “opponents” or “rivals” instead of “enemies.”


En la hora undécima, ese momento crítico en que aún es posible evitar lo irreversible, Barack Obama ha decidido lanzar un insólita ofensiva de entrevistas radiofónicas, con el objetivo de movilizar a los votantes jóvenes, a los negros y a los hispanos.

El presidente norteamericano ha querido aprovechar los últimos cartuchos, amparado por las permisivas leyes electorales de Estados Unidos, donde no existe la 'jornada de reflexión' y donde se puede hacer campaña hasta el último momento en la cercanía de los de los colegios electorales ("Prohibido merodear a menos de 100 pies de las urnas", puede leerse hoy en los carteles bilingues que han inundado Nueva York).

"Mi nombre no está en las papeletas, pero sí lo está mi mensaje", ha declarado Obama a la emisora KPWR de California. La pregunta de fondo es: "¿Van las cosas mejor que hace dos años?". Seguida de esta otra: "¿Podemos seguir avanzando?".

El mensaje unívoco, dirigido a las masa de electores que le dio el triunfo en el 2008, se ha escuchado esta mañana en emisoras urbanas de Los Angeles, Chicago, Miwaukee, Cincinnati, Filadelfia, Miami y Honolulu. En su esfuezo por llegar a los más jóvenes, Obama se ha dejado entrevistar por el presentador de 'American Idol' Ryan Seacrest.

Michelle Obama se ha sumado al alquelarre radiofónico con su propia batería de entrevistas dirigidas a la comunidad negra, empezando por los iconos del gospel y el hip hop Harvey y Yolanda Adams, el apoyo al presidente entre los afroamericanos sigue siendo del 90%.

En las últimas horas, Obama ha lanzado también su mensaje en el programa de radio más popular entre la minoría hispana, 'Piolín por la Mañana'. Fue precisamente en declaraciones a Eddie 'Piolín' Sotelo cuando el presidente se fue de la lengua y llamó 'enemigos' a los republicanos.

Preguntado sobre el creciente escepticismo de los hispanos ante la promesa incumplida de la reforma migratoria, Obama llegó a decir: "Si los latinos deciden quedarse sentados el día de las elecciones en vez de decir 'Vamos castigar a nuestros enemigos y a recompensar a nuestros amigos'".

John Boehner, líder ascendente de los republicanos en la Cámara de Representantes, criticó el tono beligerante usado por el presidente. Obama ha rectificado y ha dicho que quiso decir 'oponentes' o 'rivales' en vez de 'enemigos'.
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