Adelfa Callejo, Welcome To The Spotlight

From New York Daily News reporter Michael McAuliffe's pool report. He was with Sen. Clinton today for a round of satellite interviews.

She was asked by KTVT in Dallas about a Latina backer who said that black politicians never do anything for Hispanics. Her name is Adelfa Callejo. Apparently she’s 84.

[The question: "She recently told us that African-Americans never help Hispanics when they gain power and influence and that she would never vote for Sen. Obama, and now quoting here she said 'Obama’s problem is that he happens to be black.' How do you react to those comments?"]

The newscaster quoted her saying “Obama’s problem is that he happens to be black.”

Clinton: “Well obviously I want us judged on our merits. I believe strongly that the fact that we have an Aftrican Ameircan and a woman running for the Democratic nomination is historical and I’m very very proud of that . I want people thought to look beyond, look beyond race and gender, look at our records, look what we stand for, look what we’ve done and I think that;s what most voters are looking for.”

Q (paraphrase) Is this something you reject and denounce?

“People have every reason to express their opinions. I just don’t agree with that. I think that we should be looking at the individuals who are running.”

Q - Do you still want her support, though?

Clinton laughed and said, “You know This is a free country. People get to express their opinions. A lot of folks have said really unpleasant things about me over the course of this campaign. You can’ take any of that as anything other than an individual opinion.”

“I would urge all of my supporters and Sen. Obama’s supporters to stay focused on the two of us,. Don’t vote on race don’t vote on gender, vote on the qualifications each of us present for the presidency."

Q- But you criticized Obama for not rejecting the support form Farrakhan,

“I don’t see any comparison at all with what you’re referring to and I don’t know the facts of what you’re telling me over the TV. So I’m just going to repeat that I want people to judge us on the merits.”

Comments

Wow. That's actually worse than anything Farrakhan has said. I guess Hillary has a different standard for Jewish people than black people.

Posted by Mike | February 27, 2008 9:02 PM

Oh, c'mon, don't be too hard on Hillary.

At least she both rejects and denounces being held to the same standards as everybody else!

Posted by RKA | February 27, 2008 9:02 PM

I guess she actually did like Obama's answer last night since she's, you know, saying the exact same thing he said.

Posted by Jeff Larson | February 27, 2008 9:06 PM

And its this sort of thing that make me disliker her so much.

Posted by Steve | February 27, 2008 9:16 PM

Wow--she didn't denouce OR reject.

I doubt this will be covered in the MSM, but it is very frustrating to me to hear this. Obama has to account for every AA personality, but Clinton lets this slide, and those trying to drum up anti-semitic slurs against Obama will certainly let this slide too.

Posted by Beth in VA | February 27, 2008 9:17 PM

I actually got elected twice. There were extreme members of the community, who I had never met and with whom I had no relationship, and who openly supported me. I had better things to do with my time than denounce and/or reject them.

They were attracted to something in me, not the other way around.

Its not insignificant in my opinion, that Farrakhan, a former black separatist now advocates participating in the system. How does that reflect negatively on Obama to uplift and transform a core belief in this former dark soul?

Posted by paulc | February 27, 2008 9:22 PM

I guess that since she feels she's already lost the Black vote, she doesn't have to renounce, denounce or reject.

I don't give a fuck how old that woman is - what she said was categorically racist, and how Clinton doesn't separate herself from that immediately is further evidence that she will take ANYONE's support.

(Also, note that she didn't say anything about Billy Cunningham after he said he'd back her. So, Ann Coulter and other wingnuts can say that they'll support Hillary, and yet, no Russert questions on that. What gives?)

Posted by Scientific | February 27, 2008 9:24 PM

May as well add that it is "historic" to have an African American or female nominee, not "historical".

Posted by TH | February 27, 2008 9:27 PM

One more thing - this is what she gets for being an opportunist in that moment last night. If she'd simply stood idly by and watched while Obama dealt with Russert's inanity, she'd have come out all the better for it, and she wouldn't likely have even faced this inquiry.

Just goes to show everyone that once again, for all her "experience", she's a remarkably shitty politician. Sure, she has a great hold of all the policy details and her ambition's second to none. But obviously, there's a lot more to it...as she's discovering.

Posted by Scientific | February 27, 2008 9:29 PM

Damn, TH, I was going to point out the same thing. Grammar police!

Posted by Jack | February 27, 2008 9:35 PM

No DENOUNCE or REJECT????

Two Faced! Anything for a vote... Will she'll be rallying the KKK next?

Posted by Mary | February 27, 2008 9:45 PM

THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!!! FOR HILLARY!!!!

Posted by idiotic | February 27, 2008 9:51 PM

It's typical of her. She didn't denounce or reject all the right wing people like Ann Coulter saying they would vote for her. I'm guessing she likes the votes more then speaking out against it.

Posted by anne | February 27, 2008 9:55 PM

paulc,

we already know that Farrakhan is somewhat prejudiced (rightly or wrongly). why couldn't we just assume that Farrakhan is supporting Obama for no other reason than because he's a black man in a good position to win the Presidency?

i'm not saying this is a GOOD reason to support him, but i don't think its implausible.

Posted by BA | February 27, 2008 10:06 PM

This reminds me of the debate when Russert jammed Biden about his early comments about Obama being "clean and articulate." Obama chose that moment not to pile on, but to give "testimony" that Biden had been on the right side of Civil Rights his entire life. It was gracious, generous and extremely presidential. The same core values and characteristics do not exist with Clinton.

Posted by RealB.G. | February 27, 2008 10:06 PM

WTF??? Farrakhan is a major public figure who influences a whole lot of people. The woman who made the comment about Obama is not.

Every reporter in the U.S. could go out and get a dozen negative remarks each from voters about Obama's race or Clinton's gender in a few hours, and the two candidates could spend all their time responding to demands to denounce and reject these people's support from now until the convention.

It's insane to equate Obama's response to Farrakhan's encomium with Hillary's response to this woman's sourly racist comment.

Maybe Clinton should release a statement that she denounces and rejects the vote of anyone who supports her because Obama is black, and Obama should release one that he denounces and rejects the vote of anyone who supports him because she's a woman.

And then maybe we could all get back to talking about, you know, which of the two of them WILL DO A BETTER JOB IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

Sheesh. Sorry for shouting, but this is beyond ridiculous.

Posted by Swift Loris | February 27, 2008 10:12 PM

One more thing - this is what she gets for being an opportunist in that moment last night. If she'd simply stood idly by and watched while Obama dealt with Russert's inanity, she'd have come out all the better for it, and she wouldn't likely have even faced this inquiry.

She can't help it. She feels like she absolutely has to go for a kill even when standing back and doing nothing would be the wiser course of action.

It's the same thing that got her into hot water in Debate #2335, when Obama was asked how he could be breaking from the Clinton administration when he had so many ex-officials working in his campaign; he was stumped for a moment, and Sen. Clinton should've let him simmer. Instead, she just *had* to speak up, and that gave him the perfect opening to play off her misstep.

And it's the same thing as her harping on the plagiarism nonsense opened her up to charges that she's done the exact same thing. She should've been gracious and classy last night when Russert went down that moronic path and just said something like, "You know, we all get supporters who hold views we may not necessarily agree with, but I've worked with Barack and I know he doesn't hold those sorts of views and he's a good advocate for people of all religions." Would've scored her major kudo points. But this is a pattern with her.

Posted by jbryan | February 27, 2008 10:16 PM

Swift Loris,
Watch the video of this woman:

http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=[e-mail]

This is not some random woman on the street. Adelfo Callejo is a significant Latina activist in Texas. She isn't the profile of Louis Farrakhan but she certainly has the profile of the Independence Party in NY that she supposedly denounce in 2000.

Posted by Elrod | February 27, 2008 10:19 PM

WTF??? Farrakhan is a major public figure who influences a whole lot of people. The woman who made the comment about Obama is not.

She seems to be a local community activist of at least some public significance.

Posted by Callimaco | February 27, 2008 10:22 PM

Sheesh. Isn't one Tim Russert enough?

Clinton is not responsible for this woman's opinions. Obama is not responsible for Farrakhan's opinions. End of story.

Posted by CG | February 27, 2008 10:23 PM

I'm a strong supporter of Sen. Obama who, moreover, has decided that I could not under any circumstance vote for Sen. Clinton because of the way she has conducted this campaign. Simply put, I don't want my country governed that way.

ON THE OTHER HAND, what in the world was she supposed to say here? "I'm sorry, I don't approve of the way this woman thinks so I don't want her vote." ??? There is a big difference between a private citizen, who is entitled to his/her own opinion and to express or not express those opinions, and a public figure or institution like Farrakhan, Coulter, the Tennessee GOP, or the NY Independent Party. Private citizens don't "endorse", their opinions don't *stand* for anything or sway others' opinions. It's valid to ask a candidate whether they welcome the support of a public figure or institution; it's ridiculous to ask them to comment on or screen the motivations of individual, private voters.

Senator Clinton stated clearly that she disagreed with the viewpoint expressed, using the woman's statements as an example: "I just don't agree with that" and "don't vote on race, don't vote on gender" What more could - or SHOULD - she have said? Senator Obama spoke about the same thing early on - acknowledging that some people wouldn't vote for him because of his race and that some would solely because of his race, but he didn't want voters to decide, in either direction, on that basis.

Posted by Elizabeth | February 27, 2008 10:24 PM

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (since everyone seems stuck on full names these days) has a basic problem: she can only see black and white in a multi-color world. This world-view extends to her intellect: wooden, inflexible, unteachable. Farakahn is different from her supporter and Cunningham because Farakahn has long been cast out as an anti-semite and anti-semitism and racism are two different things in her out-dated paradigm. America has simply outgrown Hillary and that's a good thing. And lest I forget, she seems to have made the mistake of thinking everyone saw Barak as "black" as she does. Consequently, she does not see the real threat to her campaign that Barak represents. Most Americans look at Barak and increasingly see: African, White, immigrant, diaspora, etc. She molded herself as the all-female candidate versus his black candidacy only to see the only people still with her are people who look just like her: old white females. Barak deftly avoided pigeon-holing himself as "The Black Candidate" much to Bill Clinton's chagrin. Hillary ran into the arms of the white old female pigeonhole and has increasingly alienated anyone who is not white, old and female (just listen to how many times she mentions it instead of being the 44th POTUS).

Posted by Obama Supporter | February 27, 2008 10:31 PM

Elizabeth,

There wasn't anything wrong with what she said after she was told of the woman's comments. The problem is that what she said wasn't the position she took on Tuesday night. If she hadn't gone into a tear about how these things need to be not just denounced but rejected, no one would care. Obama's response to the Farrakhan question was similar to the one Clinton gave -- I don't endorse those views, I didn't ask for that kind of support, I reject these kinds of divisions and I don't think that's how people should vote, etc. And if Clinton had backed him up on that, no one would care now what some woman in Texas things. Instead, she used it as an opportunity to attack him.

Posted by jbryan | February 27, 2008 10:34 PM

Interestingly, for those of you who say that the private voter is distinguished from Frakahn, you ignore the fact that the powerful radio hate-monger Bill Cunningham is endorsing Clinton and she has not rejected/denounced his endorsement. What say you?

Posted by Obama Supporter | February 27, 2008 10:52 PM

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/memo2.pdf

Posted by mp | February 27, 2008 11:18 PM

You are comparing apples and oranges --or not even--

What does a supporter's personal views have to do with a very public figure like Farrahkan that uses public forums and media to constantly express anti-semitism and that whose
ENDORSEMENT carries enough weight to appear in all of the MSM?

Clinton doesn't even know who this person. There are plenty of idiots and biggots supporting any candidate? But who knows them? Do you? Who on earth knows this woman?

*Think* before you write. Have you ever in your lives heard of this lady? On the other hand...How many of you has never heard of Farrahkan?

On the other hand, Farrakhan is a VERY PUBLIC figure and a soul-mate of Obama's pastor and spiritual leader, Jeremiah Wright who
sermon "The audacity of Hope" become Obama's book title.

LOL at such a thin "gotcha" try. Totally absurd; as most of the comments above. This says more about you than about anything else.

Can't believe Marc Ambinder even wasted his time writing a note on this....

Posted by Nod | February 27, 2008 11:30 PM

You are comparing apples and oranges --or not even--

What does a supporter's personal views have to do with a very public figure like Farrahkan that uses public forums and media to constantly express anti-semitism and that whose
ENDORSEMENT carries enough weight to appear in all of the MSM?

Clinton doesn't even know who this person. There are plenty of idiots and biggots supporting any candidate? But who knows them? Do you? Who on earth knows this woman?

*Think* before you write. Have you ever in your lives heard of this lady? On the other hand...How many of you has never heard of Farrahkan?

On the other hand, Farrakhan is a VERY PUBLIC figure and a soul-mate of Obama's pastor and spiritual leader, Jeremiah Wright who
sermon "The audacity of Hope" become Obama's book title.

LOL at such a thin "gotcha" try. Totally absurd; as most of the comments above. This says more about you than about anything else.

Can't believe Marc Ambinder even wasted his time writing a note on this....

As for the first comment by "Mike" if you think this is worse than anything Farrahkan ever said then either you have no clue what Farrakhan has ever saidd or you agree with with him and hence are as racist and anti-semitc as he is.

Posted by Nod | February 27, 2008 11:32 PM

Read before YOU write Nod. As stated earlier: "Interestingly, for those of you who say that the private voter is distinguished from Frakahn, you ignore the fact that the powerful radio hate-monger Bill Cunningham is endorsing Clinton and she has not rejected/denounced his endorsement. What say you?"

Posted by Obama Supporter | February 27, 2008 11:38 PM

Can't believe Marc Ambinder even wasted his time writing a note on this....

Well, to be fair, Marc didn't do a whole lot of writing ;)

Posted by Jeff Larson | February 27, 2008 11:41 PM

Thanks, jbryan - I'm still stumbling over the
private person/public figure or organization distinction. She was saying (as best I could figure) that he should do something more - absolute rejecting - in response to a public figure's 'endorsement' of him. And if she was asked about her reaction to the 'endorsement' from Ann Coulter or this Cunningham character, then she should certainly be held to the same standard. -- But it still seems apples and oranges with respect to the situation with Mrs. Callejo.

I do, however, think that Clinton's jumping in on the question about Farrakhan and trying to do an "I'm-holier-than-thou" bit on it was petty and mean spirited and too, too typical of her whole approach to the campaign. I was delighted when Obama turned it around so neatly.

The REAL hipocracy related to that interchange is that she wasn't being entirely truthful about her own actions. Someone posted on Talking Point Memo the NY Times account of what happened when she appeared before the Independent Party when she "sought" their endorsemen. She did criticize them for anti-Semitism and extremism but nevertheless, "Mrs. Clinton added that she welcomed the endorsement of the party, but said emphatically that she would not accept it if the party supported Patrick J. Buchanan for president." So .... it wasn't really a formal denunciation or a rejection of anything except association with Pat Buchanan, apparently. Sigh.

Posted by Elizabeth | February 27, 2008 11:53 PM

For those of you who think that Adelfa Callejo is some nobody, you should Google her name. You will discover that she has been one of the loudest, most outspoken rabble-rousers in Dallas for many years, who always shows up to spew her racist and ethnocentric garbage whenever a television camera is around. I would not call her a leader in the Hispanic community in Dallas--really more of a provocateur.

Posted by Bob Stoller | February 28, 2008 12:12 AM

Clinton hadn't previously heard Callejo's comment when she was asked about it by the reporter (and told him as much--see transcript above). According to her campaign, she has now verified that Callejo said what she was quoted as saying and has "rejected and denounced" the remarks.

Obviously, you don't want to alienate a supporter--especially if they're as prominent as this one is claimed to be--by denouncing and rejecting them, only to find out they were misquoted.

NOW can we get back to talking about something of significance??

Posted by Swift Loris | February 28, 2008 12:15 AM

I hope this comes back to bite her in the a$$.

Posted by Phil | February 28, 2008 12:46 AM

the issue of the above mentioned lady not being a public figure would be significant, if it were true

but it is not so: she is indeed a public figure, albeit of local significance

http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=[e-mail]

it is simple: your words get local news coverage, you are a local public figure.

the issue with Hillary rejecting her or not and denouncing her or not is important because she tried to score cheap points on this subject in the last debate

hence this story is yet another proof for why me and many other don't like Hillary, despite her many qualities: she is a hypocrite.

this makes the story relevant, not the fact as old as politics that all politicians, anytime, anywhere, get support they'd be better without.

in conclusion, she is a hypocrite and that's why she's losing.

Posted by davidv | February 28, 2008 1:12 AM

There's a second video from tonight's news broadcast ...

http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=[e-mail]

That one lays out the whole controversy and contains the Clinton campaign's response.

Posted by Callimaco | February 28, 2008 1:33 AM

CORRECTED LINK for the second video noted above.

http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=[e-mail]

Sorry for the mixup!

Posted by Callimaco | February 28, 2008 1:36 AM

Adelfa Callejo has a long history of bigoted remarks in major publications--both in Dallas and nationally, like a 1997 New York Times article. Either Clinton's campaign didn't know about a thing called the internet and a website called Google, or they willingly accepted the support of an influential bigot and hoped no one would notice. Bad news either way for Clinton.

Posted by The Bag of Health and Politics | February 28, 2008 1:47 AM

The Bag of Health and Politics -- I think your link is broken. Is this the one you meant?

http://healthybagofpolitics.blogspot.com/2008/02/hillary-clinton-proves-to-be-coward.html

Posted by Callimaco | February 28, 2008 2:01 AM

Obama supporter says "Senator Clinton's problem is that she's a woman." and Obama says it's freedom of speech and doesn't say anything else but denounce and reject after the face would it be okay? I somehow doubt it. Senator Clinton also rejected the comments, not the support.

Posted by melissa | February 28, 2008 3:34 AM

I guess she actually did like Obama's answer last night since she's, you know, saying the exact same thing he said.

Posted by Jeff Larson | February 27, 2008 9:06 PM

Perhaps you missed the part where Obama slickly pushed Hillary's pusillanimous linguistic hectoring right back in her face by the way he conceded that he "both denounced and rejected" Farakhan. Sure, its a stupid litmus-test sort of issue to raise in a campaign, but Clinton is the one who pushed it to absurd levels right in front of the whole country; I enjoy seeing her hoist on her own ridiculous petard.

Posted by Ken Duerksen | February 28, 2008 6:54 AM

I guess she actually did like Obama's answer last night since she's, you know, saying the exact same thing he said.

Posted by Jeff Larson | February 27, 2008 9:06 PM

Perhaps you missed the part where Obama slickly pushed Hillary's pusillanimous linguistic hectoring right back in her face by the way he conceded that he "both denounced and rejected" Farakhan. Sure, its a stupid litmus-test sort of issue to raise in a campaign, but Clinton is the one who pushed it to absurd levels right in front of the whole country; I enjoy seeing her hoist on her own ridiculous petard.

Posted by Ken Duerksen | February 28, 2008 6:54 AM

"Clinton is not responsible for this woman's opinions. Obama is not responsible for Farrakhan's opinions. End of story."

Then why did Clinton imply he was during the debate? She can't have it both ways. Though naturally, being Hillary, she assumes she can.

Posted by Helter | February 28, 2008 7:45 AM

anything to make the white b*tch look bad,it must be the great obama is not black,look at how many blacks have held office and you will see they do throw hispanics under the bus.but so much for the truth,obama the second coming off christ is here

Posted by lee swinton | February 28, 2008 9:19 AM

"the powerful radio hate-monger Bill Cunningham"

Powerful? This wingnut had never heard of him until two days ago.

I guess he might be regionally "powerful", and if it's an important enough region ... but please. This guy's no Limbaugh - he's not even Savage.

Posted by Knemon | February 28, 2008 9:26 AM

"anything to make the white b*tch look bad,it must be the great obama is not black,look at how many blacks have held office and you will see they do throw hispanics under the bus.but so much for the truth,obama the second coming off christ is here"

Gotta love that old-time racism.

Posted by JPark | February 28, 2008 10:00 AM

Helter: Yes, Clinton's a hypocritical politician trying to score cheap rhetorical points. Meh. Must be a campaign afoot. This is a silly non-issue and it doesn't matter what Clinton or Obama say about it.

Posted by CG | February 28, 2008 10:55 AM

"the powerful radio hate-monger Bill Cunningham"

Powerful? This wingnut had never heard of him until two days ago.

I guess he might be regionally "powerful", and if it's an important enough region ... but please. This guy's no Limbaugh - he's not even Savage.

Posted by Knemon | February 28, 2008 9:26 AM

Okay, how about the name "Ann Coulter"? Has that name popped up on your wingnut radar? Does she have the same name recognition as "Louis Farrakhan"? Shouldn't it be easy for a candidate with any shred of liberal sensibilities to "reject and denounce" Ann Coulter's "support"?

Posted by BalRog | February 28, 2008 11:19 AM

When blacks politicians fight for fair housing it also benefits Hispanics. When blacks fight against racial profiling it also benefits Hispanics. When blacks fight for civil and human rights,education, health care and comphrensive immigration it benefits Latinos.

Black civil rights and politicians fights for civil rights benefited gays, women, disabled and the poor. The woman is just ignorant and that is what Hillary failed to point out.

Farrahkhan also made ignorant comments which he apologized for. If all of you would go and read more on Farrahkhan you will be suprise to find out the people he is most hard on are black men.
You we see that he tells black men to take care of their families. He tells black men that the reason that they are not respected is because they don't respect themselves. He told black men at the Million Man March to clean up your neighborhoods, take care of your children,get an education, vote, stop being consumers and start producing, stop buying what you want and begging for what you need (meaning start investing in things that matter),stop buying drugs, stop killing, mentor a child and join and organization that uplifts your community.

These are the reasons Pastor Wright honored him. While, I don't believe in anti-Jewish remarks what Pastor Wright and FarrahKhan like many Americans get upset about is the uneven approach to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. We can do better.

Posted by hhatchet | February 28, 2008 11:45 AM

Only psycho's would go on line and pretend that Hillary has the support of cunningham or Coulter. These were ugly retorts made by these peculiar right wing figures when Mc Cain did not cosy up enough to them. Only a psycho would believe these people vote for or support Hillary now or ever. these are cold day in hell type comments and should not be given any credence.
Obama got caught out the other night leaving the door open for Louis F's supportors. He took pains to say he has denounced Louis F's comments in the past. He was trying to thread a needle and he looked too slick by half and russert and Clinton called him on it. Did it depend on what the meaning of is is for Obama?
Louis F is vehemently anti- jewish and anti-israel. he is a national figure.
This texas woman doesn't begin to compare.

Posted by Michael C. | February 28, 2008 12:24 PM

Reading some of these blogs shows me that we have some very sick people walking freely around our precious America. Where did these people come from? Has America been invaded by aliens? There is so much hate, surely God is not pleased with you people. You cannot handle the truth. I live in Texas and I agree with Mrs Callego. Blacks use people.. all people (even their own, if necessary) to get ahead... then they are dropped when they are no longer needed like hot potatoes! That is not a racist statement...that's a fact! The problem with you crazy mixed up people is that you can't hear the truth and if you ever listened to the truth you couldn't handle it because you are demonically possessed. All very sick comments filled with hate. God is surely not smiling on America.....And you wonder why you are facing hard times. You worship idols...you can't see the forest for he trees blocking your sick eyes because you are deceived fools!

Posted by porsha | February 28, 2008 12:24 PM

Only psycho's would go on line and pretend that Hillary has the support of cunningham or Coulter. These were ugly retorts made by these peculiar right wing figures when Mc Cain did not cosy up enough to them. Only a psycho would believe these people vote for or support Hillary now or ever. these are cold day in hell type comments and should not be given any credence.
Obama got caught out the other night leaving the door open for Louis F's supporters. He took pains to say he has denounced Louis F's comments in the past. He was trying to thread a needle and he looked too slick by half and russert and Clinton called him on it. Did it depend on what the meaning of is is for Obama?
Louis F is vehemently anti- jewish and anti-israel. he is a national figure.
This texas woman doesn't begin to compare.

Posted by Michael C. | February 28, 2008 12:24 PM

Hmmm, this doesn't look like a Clinton campaign press release. How did it end up on Marc's blog?

Posted by J.B. | February 28, 2008 12:25 PM

porsha: I reject and denounce your statements. I want to shower after reading them.
There is no earthly rationale for what you've just written about people. I kept thinking there was a joke you were playing. What frightening ideas you have.

Posted by Michael C. | February 28, 2008 12:31 PM

HHatchet:
At your request i just read wikipedia's entry on Louis F.
Rather than make me like him more, the outline of his beliefs and statements are very scary:

defending hitler as a great man?
blaming jews for lesbianism, homosexuality, hollywood, and the rise of the IRS?

he was censured by the congress. that makes him a very unusual kind of hater.

Posted by michael C. | February 28, 2008 1:03 PM

To NOD:

Fist of all HRC knows very well who this Adelfa Callejo is. As matter at the beginning of the interview on her campaign plane, HRC was asked if she knew who Adelfa Callejo was and she nodded in agreement.

Second of all, Adelfa Callejo is not some street bum but a powerfull figure in the Latina Community and specially Dallas.

Also equally important is the fact that HRC is trying to put a wegde between the AA and Hispanics communities. In the LA debate she said that undocumented aliens are stealing jobs from AA and driving down wages.

Posted by Gallegos | February 28, 2008 1:29 PM

Porsha:

Your are one sick person. Even a shower would not cleanse you as suggested.

Since you do not seem the capacity to discuss in a civil manner, you should refrain from it.

Besides i truly believe that it is you that GOD is not smiling upon.

Posted by Gallegos | February 28, 2008 1:38 PM

That is not a racist statement...that's a fact!

LOL. If you say so...

Posted by J.B. | February 28, 2008 1:59 PM

CLINTON = WEASEL

Posted by Mark | February 28, 2008 2:10 PM

The Clintons will do whatever it takes to get back into power. There is no shame in them, and the power they yearn for is slipping away, therefore they have adopted a slash and burn policy. Since we we can't get it we'll destroy your chance.

Posted by sicnarfe | February 28, 2008 2:22 PM

The Clintons will do whatever it takes to get back into power. There is no shame in them, and the power they yearn for is slipping away, therefore they have adopted a slash and burn policy. Since we we can't get it we'll destroy your chance.

Posted by sicnarfe | February 28, 2008 2:22 PM

Thanks Callimaco. That is the link I meant. My link was broken. I must've failed to put the quote mark in after the url, which I do from time to time.

Posted by The Bag of Health and Politics | February 28, 2008 6:04 PM

Before yesterday i respected the latino community but after Adelfa Callejo remarks i now have a resentment towards them. About a year ago My 30 year old cousin was MURDERED by a hispanic in houston texas. The murderer was never caught because another hispanic gave police bogus information. Well my eyes are wide open about hispanics now!!!

Posted by Kirby Alexander | February 28, 2008 6:05 PM

Wow Every day Hillary is out there campaigning reminds me just how Big of a careless snake she is

Hillary the hypocrite

Posted by ashley | February 28, 2008 6:31 PM

Really sickening how people can be so naive about free speech and react with such hate and racism. This hispanic activist simply expressed what she saw to be the problem in plain words in a plain way. And just because you don't like what she said doesn't mean it isn't true. I've never seen so many supposedly educated journalists misinterpret and blow out of proportion what a person, who is a minority, who has a right to speak out, has said. A much better debate would have been--is it true?

If an African American had said the same thing about a white person or anyone else, people would have smiled and took the comment in a totally different light, as they should have here. What the African-American community should be saying is "thanks for the heads up and telling us what you think we are doing wrong so we can fix it." That is graciousness, that is class. Not this "racist" bs. The African American community is no more perfect than any other, and politicians will be politicians, regardless of race.

What you are all saying is that any racial party can be criticized except African-Americans. Hispanics take their fair share of hits. The Native Americans, on whose lands we all live because we took it from them, and whose deaths we cheapen and marginalize with this kind of petty censorship and cries of racism, were persecuted horribly, the government paying $200 a scalp, and still are. Another big myth is the myth of the white person. Most white people have native American blood and at some point in time their relatives told them to claim white to have a better life, due to the poor conditions for native Americans. This is sad. This is also true for whites with African American or hispanic blood that appear white enough to be called white. So when you call someone white, they may not be. Others may have mixed blood from other races. And conditions for other minorities have not improved at the same rate as those for African Americans, who rightly have been outspoken and horribly oppressed. Every time someone says "This is a nation of immigrants" African Americans of slave descent should cring, as do Native Americans. Not everyone immigrated here.

And, "The Atlantic", if you are going to quote someone, do it accurately. The 84-year-old woman spoke candidly and honestly about the feelings those in her community had voiced. She also said that blacks had not helped "there" in her region in Texas, which was why, in that region, they would not in her opinion vote for a black candidate. If you have any sense of journalism, you should at least amend your article so it reads properly. She did not at all claim to speak for all hispanics. And it might be added that she may know a thing or two after living for 84 years. Some of the comments really railed on her for her age, as if that isn't a form of discrimination.

It may be unfortunate that some hispanics might feel this way, but they may have a just grievance.
I believe it's a mistake by Obama's camp not to listen to such complaints with seriousness and try to do something to make things different. If some whites hadn't listened to African Americans along these lines and endured the complaints and criticisms with grace and diplomacy and compassion and said, "Okay, I'm sorry you feel this way. What can we do to help?" then things would be much worse for minorities.

The African American community has had to fight so hard to get where they are today, and it has had to be a very focused movement, but there is room for grace and inclusion for all minorities. No one wants a president that will not look out for all minorities, in fact, all people, as equals, and I think that this woman gave Obama the perfect chance to exercise his diplomacy and grace. Similar problems will likely occur in dealings with other nations, and it would have been a great chance for him to show that he could handle criticism and rise above it. I know his wife may still be in victim mode, but Sen. Obama seems to be past all that, which has been the key to his success and popularity. A kind response, a chance to fix things is the right approach. Some of the conservative press comments were absolutely ridiculous,talk about racism against Latinos. She has a right to speak out against what she feels is wrong, as blacks have spoke out against whites. It hurts, doesn't it, when the shoe is on the other foot? But it can be healing for both parties to talk.

If Native Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, and other minority ethnic groups cannot voice dissent against the black community for fear of lawsuits and everything else, why would anyone want to support them? There is more than one minority group in this country and African Americans have to realize that as the race cards are played, there are repercussions and they may not always "do the right thing", just as whites and so many others have not in the past. But being big enough to accept criticism with compassion is a sign of strength and competence and basically, "being brought up right."

Think twice before you jump on the media bandwagon. These journalists are not as educated as you might think.

Posted by mena | February 28, 2008 7:54 PM

HRC has many faces.Most of them are bad. She had her chance to say she rejected Adelfa's support on tape. She chose to do it the sleazy way. I have lost all respect for her after this one. I have made up my mind to vote for BHO. Shame on all the faces of HRC.

Posted by snacpac | February 28, 2008 8:13 PM

porsha, you should not try to speak for all latinos. you are a shame to your race.

Posted by snacpac | February 28, 2008 8:21 PM

Adelfa (Adolf, I guess her parents knew) Callejo has been this way all of her life. I litigated a case against one of her flunkies - she has spent her entire career creating a divide with blacks. In the last election every republican was thrown out of office in Dallas because the young blacks and latinos rejected the leadership like Callejo and voted in unison for the Democrats.

In the a case against her she had her flunky claim all senior citizens who live in nursing homes are mentally ill and their votes should be voided. It took 6 years and three appeals but she finally lost the appeal and never stole the election.

This women is evil. I am glad the nation finally knows the evil which is Adolph Callejo.

BObby Wightman-Cervantes
www.balancingtheissues.com

Posted by Bobby Wightman-Cervantes | February 28, 2008 10:01 PM

this is common amongst enslaved or colonized people. it is referred to as colonial mentality when a indigenous people identify with the colonizer.

Posted by Gerard | February 28, 2008 11:03 PM

Hello Everyone!!

I'm Puerto Rican, when i look at my mom and dad one is "black", one is "latin", confused with Mexicans here in Califonia. Nothing wrong with that, my other latin friends are too, nature of the beast. Very proud of my backround, and the inclusive nature of Puerto-Ricans. I love America and I love my Mexican brothers and sisters, I wish that we would not fight other "minorities" to see who comes in 2nd. Be that women, blacks, latinos, etc. John McCain even rejected the far right talk show hosts that tried to demonize Barack "Hussien" Obama. The Lady in question cannot be blamed for her feelings, though I hope that she learns from the storm she created, and grows in compassion. The poor seem to always be pitted against each other. I do not like Clinton reaping rewards from something so negative. I think that women voting for a woman is positive, (my 7 year old daughter tells me she is voting for Hillary because she is a girl,no amount of tickling her has changed her mind) Black folks voting for a Obama is great, he is a great guy and they are proud. Voting against them based on gender and race is WRONG. I'm a Democrat that voted for Obama but will support Hillary in full if she is the one who wins the Democratic nomination.

Posted by Antonio Diaz | February 28, 2008 11:29 PM

I don't know anything about Texas, or the brown-black tensions that may exist there. But if I were advising the campaign, I would suggest having Sen. Obama go and sit down with Ms. Callejo. He should dispel any notion that she should be denouced or rejected, point to her decades of public service, acknowledge the tensions in the community, and give a short speech on why they must be overcome. Try to heal the rift. It may seem risky, but no matter how she personally responds I think the campaign wins. She may greatly appreciate having her personal reputation rehabilitated, and in gratitude agree with the message. Obviously this would be a tremendous step forward for the campaign in the Texas Latino community. She may remain bitter, but if she does it will put a spotlight on the uglyness of her feelings, and it still helps.
And there may be costs to letting it go. It may threaten the strength of the pro-Obama Latino vote, allows the division to fester, and that could help the Clinton camapign.
Just a thought.

Posted by Gregory Kulacki | February 29, 2008 12:07 AM

Hilary knows this woman in Texas because she was a strong supporter last Friday at one if rally's.She was on stage with Hilary Clinton.This lady whose name is Adelfa Callejo is a Hispanic leader in Texas.So , Clinton is not going to hurt her chances for Tuesday , March 4th.especially with the Hispanic community which is her stronest supporters in Texas. This is a double standard for Hilary.It is wrong! I am a strong supporter of Obama and I feel Hilary should be put in the spot light just like Obama on her supporter.I am for Obama because Hilary flip flops too much.She voted for the war and now wants the vote back , she voted for the new bankruptcy law that has caused so much hardship on people and now she regrets it , she voted for the "No child left behind act" and now she regrets it , and she voted for NAFTA and now she regrets it.This is a lady that is supposed to have 35 years experience. Let's see she is claiming 8 years in the white house as First Lady , 12 years as first lady in Arkansas when Bill was Governor , and years as a lawyer and registering people to vote , or and I forgot she is doing her second term as a junior senator in NY.Where is the experience? I did not know you could claim your husband job.Let's see 20 years as first lady combined and she can state that! Well Babara Bush and Laura Bush better get in this race!

Posted by Ebony | February 29, 2008 3:59 AM

Oh, I forgot when she ran for Senator in New Yprk she told people that she would bring 200,000 jobs but did not produce as promised. She claim that she thought Al Gore was going to win the presidency and that is why she said that!

What a liar! Now she is promising 5 million jobs to the American people if she is president.Think people before you vote! Remember she voted to put the bus in the ditch which I am referring to the war.

Posted by Ebony | February 29, 2008 4:06 AM

It is very sad that Ms. Callejo's lifetime of good work on behalf of her community has been tarnished by her racist, deeply ignorant comments.

Posted by Jenny | February 29, 2008 8:06 AM

What years of good service - name something anything - her entire life has been devoted to keep Latinos hating blacks - I have known her since 1986 - I have never known her to be anything but a divider and racist.

Bobby Wightman-Cervantes
www.balancingtheissues.com

Posted by Bobby Wightman-Cervantes | February 29, 2008 9:00 AM

The article 'Ghosts of racism' By UT Professor Michael Phillips, author of the book White Metropolis was published in the Dallas Morning News, April 9, 2006. Professor Phillips is quoted in the article as saying: "Mainstream Mexican-American politicians such as Jesse Diaz viewed black gains in administrative appointments at the Dallas Independent School District as coming at the expense of Mexican-Americans, claiming that "the oppressed have become the oppressor." On February 26, 2008 the Fort Worth star Telegram published the article 'Democrats' racial divide becoming ever more evident' written by Star-Telegram staff writer Jay Root.

I coined the phrase "the oppressed have become the oppressor" as I then described race relations between Dallas' blacks and Dallas' Latinos. To what degree this is now the case is up for debate although recent racial tensions and race relations between black and Latino students at Seagoville High School and Skyline High School indeed gives a brief snapshot of this picture. The general media won't give this issue the attention it deserves although Dallas' Latino media has aired and printed many stories on this issue to their credit.

Adelfa Callejo will always be highly regarded as a lady who has championed the cause for many Latinos in the North Texas Region. She may have a pointed way of getting her point across but I sincerely believe Mrs. Callejo's comments were not meant to be primarily based on race. I believe her comments were based primarily on the same foundation I base my opinion on this subject matter. You go beyond race in this issue and rely on the facts on the ACTIONS of some within Dallas' black leadership who have a history of facilitating the obvious disparities that exist between blacks and Latinos in Dallas and Dallas County.

Indeed,"The Oppressed Have Become The Oppressor." -- There may be a few die-hard Latino politicians out there who would want the general public and general media to believe there is a love-fest out there between our respective communities. But go out to the many barrios within Dallas proper and surrounding Latino communities within Dallas County and ask La Raza on the streets for their take on this subject and you'll see Adelfa has ample support from an abundance of Dallas' Latinos.

Posted by Jesse Diaz | February 29, 2008 9:05 AM

The article 'Ghosts of racism' By UT Professor Michael Phillips, author of the book White Metropolis was published in the Dallas Morning News, April 9, 2006. Professor Phillips is quoted in the article as saying: "Mainstream Mexican-American politicians such as Jesse Diaz viewed black gains in administrative appointments at the Dallas Independent School District as coming at the expense of Mexican-Americans, claiming that "the oppressed have become the oppressor." On February 26, 2008 the Fort Worth star Telegram published the article 'Democrats' racial divide becoming ever more evident' written by Star-Telegram staff writer Jay Root.

I coined the phrase "the oppressed have become the oppressor" as I then described race relations between Dallas' blacks and Dallas' Latinos. To what degree this is now the case is up for debate although recent racial tensions and race relations between black and Latino students at Seagoville High School and Skyline High School indeed gives a brief snapshot of this picture. The general media won't give this issue the attention it deserves although Dallas' Latino media has aired and printed many stories on this issue to their credit.

Adelfa Callejo will always be highly regarded as a lady who has championed the cause for many Latinos in the North Texas Region. She may have a pointed way of getting her point across but I sincerely believe Mrs. Callejo's comments were not meant to be primarily based on race. I believe her comments were based primarily on the same foundation I base my opinion on this subject matter. You go beyond race in this issue and rely on the facts on the ACTIONS of some within Dallas' black leadership who have a history of facilitating the obvious disparities that exist between blacks and Latinos in Dallas and Dallas County.

Indeed,"The Oppressed Have Become The Oppressor." -- There may be a few die-hard Latino politicians out there who would want the general public and general media to believe there is a love-fest out there between our respective communities. But go out to the many barrios within Dallas proper and surrounding Latino communities within Dallas County and ask La Raza on the streets for their take on this subject and you'll see Adelfa has ample support from an abundance of Dallas' Latinos.

Posted by Jesse Diaz | February 29, 2008 9:05 AM

Porsha - you said "God is surely not smiling on America" and I believe you're right. With racist, hate filled people like you in America can you blame him?

I am Hispanic and I live in Texas. I've been volunteering for the Obama campaign every single day along side people of all races, ages and religions. I also have friends who fit in all those categories and have never witnessed or experienced any "blacks" using anyone else.

Why is it that Hillary supports have gotten so vicious lately? I was at an early voting location putting up an Obama sign and someone was actually rude to my 5 year old who wanted to be my "helper" and carry the sign.

We had all of our Obama signs taken, as in STOLEN, from in front of our volunteer office and replaced with Hillary signs. Before you jump to her defense you should know that it was witnessed by a Hillary supporter. I contacted her local campaign office and was told that they can't control what their volunteers do. I've since been told that it's happening all over Houston.

Maybe you Hillary supporters should take a step back and take a good look at what's happening. Your negativity is hurting your candidate! For those of you who are just plain racist don't bother. Nothing will change your tiny little minds.

Posted by Hispanic in Texas | February 29, 2008 11:25 AM

Ignorance at 84.

Adelfa Callejo and people like her are part of the problem of Latinos. They listen to stupidity such as that and then think that black are there problem in this country. Last time I checked blacks were not the ones sitting at the border with guns trying to keep them out of our country.
They love people like Clinton but don't understand why is really behind their demise in this country. Blacks and Latinos should be working together and this ignorant 84 year old "leader" doesn't realize that there are people form her country darker then Obama. Thank god ignorant people like that are dying off.

Posted by Dyan | February 29, 2008 2:13 PM

Ignorance at 84.

Adelfa Callejo and people like her are part of the problem of Latinos. They listen to stupidity such as that and then think that black are there problem in this country. Last time I checked blacks were not the ones sitting at the border with guns trying to keep them out of our country.
They love people like Clinton but don't understand why is really behind their demise in this country. Blacks and Latinos should be working together and this ignorant 84 year old "leader" doesn't realize that there are people form her country darker then Obama. Thank god ignorant people like that are dying off.

Posted by Dyan | February 29, 2008 2:15 PM

I just don't get it. Adelfa Callejo will not support Obama because Blacks never did anything to help Hispanics. So Obama bears the brunt of Callejo's percieved shortcomings of an entire race of people and should be judged on that record.

Why is Hillary not held accountable, as a member of the White majority, for actually creating the environment in which Hispanics would have needed support and help from oppressed Blacks???

Posted by Just Capri | February 29, 2008 2:38 PM

I thought you were supposed to become wiser as you get older. Callejo is a bitter old hagg who's time has long since passed.

Posted by Nia | February 29, 2008 6:38 PM

I have to tell you Senora, tengo verguenza
de usted. Para una persona tan respetada, y de
su edad tener un comentario tan ignorante me
soprende.
Usted es una persona segun con experiencia, y sabio, pero me preocupa su atitud y sus palabras en este tema.

Es por esta razon exactamente que mi voto es
ahora para Barack Obama. Usted confirma, que la
experencia no completa la persona. Mas sirve una
persona que hable sobre temas con intelegencia y
discreto. Que piensa las cosas bien, antes de
hablar y tomar accion.
Barack Obama es unico**

Posted by Margardner | February 29, 2008 10:08 PM

Adelfa is actually Cuban. Aristocratic Cuban. They hate black people and used to run a horrible country that was a vehicle for sugar cane and mob money. They are also proud of their European bloodlines. This means that she should not in fact be considered a member of the "Hispanic leadership", but rather an old racist white lady who speaks Spanish.

Posted by Knew Her When She Was White | March 1, 2008 2:57 AM

@Porsha and Mena and others,

Please tell me how Blacks have oppressed Hispanics. Have we stolen your lands, validated you and your culture, and imposed foreign religions on you? Did you know that there are Black Latinos and Hispanics? Did you know that Mexican gangs in Cali gone around "ethnically cleansing" the Black neighborhoods they are moving into by executing "anyone Black". Mexico has a cultural distain for Blacks...why? Cubans lived by a strict racial caste system until Castro where "Blanco’s" had enslaved Africans for centuries. Please show me Blacks have harmed the economic or social stability of Hispanics. I could show you where the social/economic troubles of Latinos have brought much distress to the black community...think of the Medien Cartel and the fact the Columbia's and Mexico's drugs syndicates (along with cointelpro) destabilized the Black community right after the Civil Rights movement! I could show you where Hispanics have murdered Blacks based on nothing but Race, misconstrued Black culture (think Santeria and reggaeton)yet have benefited from the struggle of Blacks, have been considered "family" and where include in our movement (there were Latino Panthers and Che Guevara had a strong relationship with Blacks. What can you say besides your own limited view sponsored by personal Prejudices? I tell you what, if you can tell me of any movement started and maintained by Hispanics that benefited everyone I'd be so pleased, or even tell me how you tried to improve whatever issues you perceive with Black? If not that’s a serious statement of character and hint to your true belief in God! As it stands now both Blacks and Latinos that have tension with each other or dead wrong (that includes me until recently) and you get more sympathy and support from the Black community than you know. Oh before anybody starts talking about Native people, question why the Native people of Mexico or other Central and South American countries don't challenge the legacy of conquest in their own counties but speak about Native rights here. I'm all for repatriating land to the Natives of North America, what does that have to do with Hispanics? Historical the dominate Mexican tribes didn't get along with the Native tribes of North America.

Just something to think about!

Posted by Yolanda | March 1, 2008 10:15 AM

Hispanics were not the slaves of this country Blacks was, When my grandmother marched with Martin luther king I did not see any Hispanics beaten and and mangled by attack dogs everything blacks have gain in this country have hispanics and other immigrates have benefited from. No Blacks do not hate hispanics,Blacks do not hate white people that's why dispite of all this country have putusthru we keep moving on!!

Posted by janet | March 1, 2008 11:24 AM