The Sanctuary's Kety Esquivel on CNN

In the wake of yesterday's Wall Street Journal post and our now-looming questionnaire, blogmiga Kety Esquivel of CrossLeft and The Sanctuary went on CNN's American Morning today to talk immigration politics...

[ Transcript ]

Kety did a very slick job of pressuring both the Obama and McCain campaigns to show Latin@ communities something solid and specific, beyond "mariachi politics" as it has come to be known. Yes yes we all know that Obama is the stronger of the two mainstream candidates on all manner of issues, but like any other politician on the brink of power he must be forcefully coerced into taking gutsy, smart political risks which may fall outside of craven Beltway orthodoxy. Such risks sometimes involve antagonizing an influential few to the benefit of the unsung many. This is how populism happens. As I see it, Democratic Party politicians are unlikely to grow a backbone until their constituents do.

Comments

[nezua]

you are so right, 'mano. in fact, this seems to me to be one of THE times you can actually have an effect on them. and i'm proud that we are working together with such able and smart and committed peoples on something like this. as a certain vato always sez, cheers!

[ZC]

Kai, you make an excellent point:
"...Democratic Party politicians are unlikely to grow a backbone until their constituents do."

Nice job, Kety, for showing such intelligent, poised backbone!

[Kai]

Right, Nez, the campaigns are somewhat vulnerable during such a time as this, and that means it's the right time to turn the screws. And yeah, I feel you on being proud of the team we've assembled, hopefully we'll just keep growing it. This has already been a helluva milestone week. As this vato also likes to say, we're on tha move! :-)

[Kai]

ZC, no doubt, Kety did a fantastic job, backbone and all. Which actually reminds me, as you know, of how I assess athletes sometimes on two major things, gaze and posture, and Kety was very strong on both of those fronts. These things matter.

[Colin]

Interesting how the interviewer almost DEMANDED Kety give the campaigns more time to respond instead of holding their feet to the proverbial fire.

Had a little trouble getting "Christian progressive blogger" down pat, too. Even the media is confused it seems, lol.