Dems pick first Hispanic for convention keynote
WASHINGTON (AP) — Marking a first for Hispanics, the Democratic party has chosen the mayor of San Antonio to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.
The party announced Tuesday that Mayor Julian Castro would deliver the high-profile, prime-time address on the convention's opening night. First lady Michelle Obama will also address the convention delegates — and a television audience across the country — on the same night, Sept. 4.
Castro, 37, is the youngest mayor of a major U.S. city and the first Hispanic selected to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic convention.
President Barack Obama is banking on Hispanic support in battleground states like Florida, Colorado and Nevada as he seeks to break away from Republican rival Mitt Romney. The race remains deadlocked just over three months from Election Day, though polls show Obama with a sizable lead over Romney among Hispanic voters.
The late-summer party conventions will set the tone for the fall campaign blitz. Obama will accept his party's nomination in Charlotte, N.C. the first week in September, while Romney will get the Republican nod in Tampa, Fla., a week earlier.
As keynote speaker, Castro will step into the same role that propelled Obama into the national political spotlight. Then a little-known state lawmaker running for Senate from Illinois, Obama delivered the convention keynote in 2004, winning wide praise from Democrats as a rising star in the party.
Castro, in a video announcing his selection as keynote speaker, made his case for Obama's re-election, arguing that the president had begun to turn the economy around.
"We've come so far over the past three and a half years under Obama's leadership," he said. "And I know he's not done yet. We got a lot more work to do."
Democrats have also announced that former President Bill Clinton and Elizabeth Warren, the party's Senate candidate in Massachusetts, will have high-profile speaking roles at the convention on Sept. 5.
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will speak in prime time on the convention's final night during an event at an outdoor arena in Charlotte that is expected to draw a crowd of tens of thousands.
The party announced Tuesday that Mayor Julian Castro would deliver the high-profile, prime-time address on the convention's opening night. First lady Michelle Obama will also address the convention delegates — and a television audience across the country — on the same night, Sept. 4.
Castro, 37, is the youngest mayor of a major U.S. city and the first Hispanic selected to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic convention.
President Barack Obama is banking on Hispanic support in battleground states like Florida, Colorado and Nevada as he seeks to break away from Republican rival Mitt Romney. The race remains deadlocked just over three months from Election Day, though polls show Obama with a sizable lead over Romney among Hispanic voters.
The late-summer party conventions will set the tone for the fall campaign blitz. Obama will accept his party's nomination in Charlotte, N.C. the first week in September, while Romney will get the Republican nod in Tampa, Fla., a week earlier.
As keynote speaker, Castro will step into the same role that propelled Obama into the national political spotlight. Then a little-known state lawmaker running for Senate from Illinois, Obama delivered the convention keynote in 2004, winning wide praise from Democrats as a rising star in the party.
Castro, in a video announcing his selection as keynote speaker, made his case for Obama's re-election, arguing that the president had begun to turn the economy around.
"We've come so far over the past three and a half years under Obama's leadership," he said. "And I know he's not done yet. We got a lot more work to do."
Democrats have also announced that former President Bill Clinton and Elizabeth Warren, the party's Senate candidate in Massachusetts, will have high-profile speaking roles at the convention on Sept. 5.
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will speak in prime time on the convention's final night during an event at an outdoor arena in Charlotte that is expected to draw a crowd of tens of thousands.
"We've come so far over the past three and a half years under Obama's leadership," he said. "And I know he's not done yet. We got a lot more work to do."
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Excuse me Mr.Castro, but where have we come in the last 3-1/2 years?
Who are you speaking to, and at whos expense?
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Obama and  leadership is an oxymoron.. And you espouse much the same.
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The donks are still pandering for that illegal alien invader vote.
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Vote fraud is spelled D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T
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http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/29/mississippi-naacp-leader-sent-to-prison-for-10-counts-of-voter-fraud/
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http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/29/2920287/vote-helper-chose-them-all.html
 @BadKarma Aw, came over to play more games? Here ya go:
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Indiana Secretary of State convicted on 6 counts of felony voter fraud (Yeah, it's Think Progress but they link to the press on it)Â http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/02/04/418963/indiana-secretary-of-state-convicted-of-voter-fraud/
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Republican Candidate's long dead girlfriend is voting:Â http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/2012/07/25/20120725pinal-supervisor-hopeful-enright-quits.html
Just another quasay socialist/communists spewing liberal talking points.
No thanks.... might as well bring Slick (Bill) Willy in as a keynote speaker as a smokescreen to hide real agendas.
Too late... America is on to the liberal policies which have done nothing but stall this nation's recovery.Â
 @Patriot "might as well bring Slick (Bill) Willy in as a keynote speaker as a smokescreen to hide real agendas." and in your opinon what is the "real agenda"?
@ducati Maybe Bill can pass out cigars to all the young pages? fitting
@ducati Just another quasay socialist/communists agenda.
Well, good for him. He's not  up for re-election then apparently. Those pols in tight races will be staying as far away as they can from President Kryptonite.
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"We've come so far over the past three and a half years under Obama's leadership," he said. "And I know he's not done yet. We got a lot more work to do."
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Crap. I woke up this morning in Parallel Universe again. Darn it. At least the unemployment level is down to Bush/Clinton levels and the debt has been halved and less people are dependent on food stamps than ever before and jobs are being created faster than the economy can absorb them.Â
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 @ein_verit More like the audacity of dopes.
Here comes open season on hispancs. Nice reading the comments here.
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@Efff Off @Droid Ivan Where is it?
Well, you could either have Hispanic representation at your convention or you could have a convention where you demand that Hispanics "self-deport". I wonder which one will work better?
 @kennewickman I think everyone who's ancestors who came here by boat should deport. Leaving Native American Indians and what belonged to Mexico in tact.
@truthmunster @kennewickman
With the growing body of evidence that the first Americans came here in boats or canoes before the Bering land bridge was ice free, do you support depopulating the entire Western Hemisphere?
As for Mexico; it achieved its independence from Spain in 1821, hardly an ancient Native American culture.
The "Progressive" Party...!?! I wonder why it has taken this long to allow...oh that's right...falling in the polls and needing some $$$ to pay for the convention. Did you hear about the lack of money to pay for the stadium?
How do you spell P-A-N-D-E-R-I-N-G?
@ByeByeBarry If it was a Republican convention it would be pandering. Since it's the Democrats it's multi-cultural inclusionj.
Oh, and I would like to point out, it took the democrats this long to allow a hispanic keynote speaker. I doubt the Washington democratic party will do the same since the party is increasingly becoming white, affluent, and anti-affirmative action.Â
I lived in San Antonio for several years, and I can tell you that Julian is a pretty face with an air head. Dumber than a box of rocks. The only reason he's done so well is that he kissed the hand of Congressman Gonzalez, a very powerful democrat in Texas.Â