Univision News

Gonzalez, pictured with Univision political editor Jordan Fabian in March 2011, explains why he joined President Obama’s campaign. (Facebook)

By JORDAN FABIAN
Channel: Politics

Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas), a top Latino member of Congress, spoke to Univision News on Wednesday about his new role as a co-chairman of President Obama’s reelection campaign. 

Gonzalez, 66, also serves as the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, but is retiring from Congress at the beginning of next year. We asked him why Latinos should support the President again in 2012, the upcoming Arizona Republican primary, and whom he sees as future Latino political leaders. Gonzalez also answers the question of whether he thinks he’ll see a Latino president in his lifetime.

For an edited transcript of Gonzalez’s interview, read below the break.

Univision News: Congressman, many Latinos including members your own caucus, have been vocal with complaints about President Obama’s first term: disproportionately high unemployment among Latinos, the lack of progress over immigration reform. Why come out in support in such a public way?

Rep. Charlie Gonzalez: I’ve always been very supportive of the President. There are times that we, as members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus — many of us did think that maybe a different tack should be employed, but it’s the same objective.

If you really think in terms of the Latinos who have come out in favor of Obama, we still have the same goals. There may be a difference in strategies, or whatever, but the truth is, he still is the one that is committed to pursuing policies that will benefit Latino communities, whereas his opponents are clearly demonstrating that what they would engage in and promote does not serve the best interests of our communities.

It really comes down to something as simple as that.

UN: The Republican candidates are in Arizona today to participate in a debate. Arizona has been one of the most heated battlegrounds over the immigration issue. What do you expect to hear from the candidates tonight on that issue and others, such as the economy and housing?

CG: We can start off with what’s going to be a great focus because it is going to be Arizona and we know about SB 1070. We know what they have done with Latino studies in schools. It’s truly a hotbed of anti-immigrant legislation and sentiment. The question is will the Republican candidates pander in an attempt to attract that particular kind of thinking, which is destructive and divisive?

What I see is, that is what they will be doing in that particular venue. And it’s sad because I know it’s more or less red meat for a red state-type electorate. But that’s not good for this country and it really is bad for Latino communities, not just in Arizona but throughout this country.

Like all communities, Latinos are very concerned about the recession and what progress we are making. If you look at what’s being proposed by all the Republican candidates at this point, this doesn’t include a blueprint for inclusion of all Americans who want to pursue the American dream.

UN: Will Obama win Arizona in November? And what effect will the political environment have down ballot, especially in Senate and House races?

CG: I think Arizona is winnable. What has happened is that the rhetoric has become so unreasonable that people know that you cannot continue down the path of what the Republican Party is espousing without hurting your communities at large. Not just the Latino communities, but the entire state. I think Latinos are going to be energized recognizing that they are the target of a lot of this overheated, unreasonable rhetoric.

You combine that, and I think that President Obama can carry the state. The better the president does in any given state, it does have down ballot consequences, which means members of Congress. It could mean the United States Senate in certain states, but also in our state Houses and Senates, which are incredibly important for Latinos to increase their numbers in those particular bodies.

UN: Democrats have talked about flipping Arizona from red to blue, or at least purple, by harnessing the support of Latino voters. Do you think your home state of Texas will come in to play for Democrats in the next election?

CG: This is one of these things when we say “coming of age” and we mean it literally. In the state of Texas, the Latino population is so young that again, we don’t have based on age, the numbers. We have great overall numbers. But when it comes to eligibility to vote based on age, we are not there yet.

The question is, when do we reach that critical mass? Is is four years or six years or so on? I believe that Texas is on it’s path to be voting Democratic, not just at the national level for president but I can see Democrats being elected to statewide offices.

Because of the redistricting litigation going on right now, we could see tremendous increases in Congress. But that is going to be up to the courts, and maybe eventually the Supreme Court.

I do see Texas moving in a Democratic direction based on the Republicans’ total lack of understanding of the community and the fact that whatever reason, they have demonized the immigrant. It’s not reality-based, it’s short-sighted and it’s incredibly destructive.

UN: If Latinos break hard for Democrats, independent analysts have said that they run the danger of the party taking them for granted. What do you think about that?

CG: Well no. I was brought up in a political family and if it’s one thing my father taught me, it’s the substance of what you are promoting.

The president and the Democratic Party, if you look at our agendas, we will go head to head with anything that the Republicans put out there. If you look at the Republican platform, that should tell you all you need to know about who is promoting the best interests of minority communities in this country. And it’s not just minority communities, it’s everyone.

We don’t take anyone for granted. We should never take anyone for granted, especially Latinos who can be very, very independent in the way they think and the way they act. You have to convince them of the substance of what you are promoting.

I don’t think the Democratic Party is taking anyone for granted and it’s reflected in our agenda.

UN: You’re stepping down as Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairman and retiring from Congress at the beginning of next year, but you’re still on the campaign trail. You were campaigning for [congressional candidate] Joaquin Castro recently. Who are some of the rising Latino stars in politics that who can take up the mantle from the older generation?

CG: Gosh, that’s what’s so encouraging. We have such a deep bench of up and coming Latinos. I can speak for Texas, even in my city [of San Antonio] alone, we have Joaquin Castro, the mayor Julian, his twin brother [and fellow Obama co-chair], I’ve got great state representatives, José Menéndez, Mike Villareal, Trey Martinez-Fischer, I could just go on and on with rich talent, [congressional candidate and state Rep.] Pete Gallego.

Just great talent. Out of Texas alone, we could do great things. And if you look at other states, California, New Mexico, Nevada, we’ve got great young people that are ready, willing, and able to promote the Latino communities.

These are tremendous leaders. They are definitely Latinos but what they bring to the table is the benefit and an asset for this entire country.

UN: Will we see a Latino president in your lifetime?

CG: Well, I’m 66 and I expect to live a long life! So if you think in terms, well you’re going to live for another 20 years, I could do that easily. If I live another 25 years, I could pull that off, my mother is 94.

The thing is this: Will I see a Latino? In my lifetime, I believe we are going to see, at a minimum, a vice president who is Latino and the next step is the presidency of the United States.

It will be done on the basis of merit. Our fight has always been for inclusion. We want to be leaders of this country.