Obama–Hugo Chavez is “a Threat, However, a Manageable Threat”

DENVER.- Barack Obama arrived without any rush and with an absolute conviction that he can become the first African-American president in the history of the United States.

I have dealt with him in two previous occasions before, during the presidential debates, and, thus, the impression he gave me did not surprise me–peaceful, centered, with a good internal balance.

He always gives the feeling that before speaking up, he thinks about everything a fraction of second more than the rest of the politicians.

There are politicians that hide their weaknesses and pretend to appear stronger than what they are. Not Obama. He accepts his vulnerability. That attribute is what allows him to connect with the people and voters, especially with the younger crowd.

When I asked if his wife, Michelle, believed he was in danger during the campaign, he reckoned without hesitation the big influence she has on him. “(Obviously I think, first off, that) she would have banned me from entering the race for the presidency,” he told me. “I think that everyone had their concerns in a way, but I believe the Secret Service protection is excellent.”

The objective of this 20-minute interview with the candidate was to see how much he knew about the Hispanics in the U.S. and in Latin America. And, without a doubt, he has done his homework.

He affirmed that one of the first things he would review, in case of making it to the White House, would be the raids and the deportation of illegal immigrants issues.

“I do not believe in apprehending a mother, separating her from her son, and deporting her, without measuring consequences, is the American way of doing things,” he mentioned.

Obama did not want to compromise, as proposed by Hillary Clinton, to send an immigration law reform to the congress within his first hundred days at the White House. It is not realistic when he has to solve first the war in Iraq and the current economic crisis. However, points out: “What I can do is guarantee an immigration law reform proposal within my first year.”

Obama has never traveled to Latin America in all his 46 years. He does not support the FTA between the U.S. and Colombia, and possibly would suspend or renegotiate the FTA that has existed with Mexico since 1994. However, his foreign policies for the region go further than that. “There is a natural connection between the United States and Latin America,” he commented.

“When the war in Iraq ends, we will be able to focus our attention (on Latin America),” he emphasized. And then he took out a long list of the things he wanted to do in order to not forget the region (as President Bush did on September 11 2001).

“I would start a dialogue with our enemies in Cuba and Venezuela…Cancel traveling restrictions to those who have families in Cuba… I want to merge with countries such as Brazil to search for cleaner ways of energy… I approved the TLC with Peru, but I’m against the one with Colombia until I have confidence that union leaders are not being murdered there…This kind of paramilitary activities must stop,” affirmed Barack Obama.

– And Hugo Chavez? Is he a national security threat for the United States and the rest of the continent? I asked him.

“Yes, I believe he is a threat, however, a manageable threat,” he replied. “We know, for instance, he could have been involved in supporting FARC, affecting his neighbor. That is not the kind of neighbor we want. I believe it is important, through the O.A.S. or through the U.N., to begin sanctions expressing that kind of behavior is not acceptable. What I have pointed out is that we must have a direct diplomacy with Venezuela and with every country in the world.”

Obama studied Spanish in high school and for two years in college. “My Spanish used to be OK,” he reckoned. Though now he has forgotten it almost completely. “Yo hablo poquito español, pero no es very good,” he dared to say in both languages.

During a recent speech about Cuba, he only pronounced the word “libertad.” And, helped by a teleprompter, he just finished the recording of an ad in Spanish for Puerto Rico.

In his presentations he tends to say the phrase “si se puede (yes, we can).” However, Obama is conscious that mispronouncing a few words in Spanish is not enough to win ten million Latin voters for the presidential elections in November and the good will of 550 millions of Latin-Americans.

And in order to try to demonstrate that he would be a President of action, he wants to make his first trip to Latin America very soon: “I would love to go… before November.” It would be his first step to the south.

“There Are Zones Where The Wall Makes Sense.”

The low, inefficient, and improvised effort of Obama’s campaign for Hispanics would explain the poor results of the senator from those voters. In fact, Senator Hillary Clinton obtained more Latin votes than he did during the primaries in every state. But, some believe that it is because of the tension between African-Americans and Hispanics that has existed for decades.

“I think it just has to do with the fact that Latinos less know about me than about Senator Clinton,” explained Obama. They do not know, he added, that he has worked with the Latin community in Chicago, he supported the efforts to legalize the undocumented and enhance the educational programs.

However, what they do know is, as a senator, he voted in favor to build 700 miles (1.100 km) of wall at the frontier with Mexico to prevent illegal immigration.

-If you become President, would you stop the construction?

“I want to know that works first…”

-Does a wall work?

“I do not know just yet…”

-But you already voted to build the wall.

“I understand. I voted to begin the construction of the wall in certain areas of the frontier. I believe that there are zones where it makes sense and it can save lives, if we prevent people from crossing deserted areas that are very dangerous.” (It is estimated that around 400 people die there every year.)

Mexico Is His Priority

According to his comments about Venezuela and Cuba (“I doubt Fidel could have written his most recent journal. He is too sick to do it.), the ones that have generated more news; the relationship with Mexico is the first one that Obama wants to fix. “It is very important to approach the Mexican government, in a way that this administration has not (that of G.W. Bush), to discover what they need on the other side of the frontier to promote economic development and the creation of employment,” he mentioned. “More jobs there means less undocumented individuals that come to the United States,” he emphasized.

So far, this year, more than a thousand people have died in Mexico as a consequence of the wars between drug cartels. Obama knows it and believes that U.S. consumption is also part of the problem. “I would not legalize marijuana, but I do think we have to reduce the quantity (of drugs) in the U.S.”.

A very influential Hispanic

Jorge Ramos

The author of the interview is the anchorman of Noticiero Univision, that is seen in the U.S. and in 13 Latin American countries. The Mexican journalist has won various Emmy awards and has written six books, among them “La Cara de America”, “Atravesando Fronteras”, “La Ola Latina”, “Morir en el Intento”, and lastly “El Regalo del Tiempo.” He was named by “Time” magazine as one of the most influential Hispanics in the U.S.