The state of the Dem race, according to my parents- Afro-Latinos in Florida.

Some months ago, I posted about what my parents, two non-English speaking Hispanics of African descent in Florida thought about the Democratic race. Today, MLK day, it's time to update DU on what they are thinking:

Dad (Dominican, 53 yrs old, mulatto, can't vote but sympathizes with the Democratic Party and with the Latin American left)- Dad is truly suprised, because he didn't think Barack Obama would make it so far, because "the idea of a black president in the United States is simply ridiculous" according to him. When Obama won Iowa, my dad was angry. Angry, because "that guy Obama got lucky, but he's not going anywhere, and if he does, he'll get shot". He is particularly surprised with the demise of John Edwards's candidacy- that was "his" candidate (good candidate who happens to be a white male, the only one with a true chance to win the elections for the Dems according to him)- he still cannot believe Democrats are split between Clinton and Obama. He's happier now that Clinton won two states in a row, because "Hillary is white, and even though she's a female, she's got the Clinton last name and Republicans suck so bad she might win". Dad is much more open now to the possibility of Obama as Hillary's vice-president, saying that "maybe they- whites in the Democratic Party- will give the VP spot to Obama, and maybe one day he makes it to the presidency". Predicts Clinton/Obama will be the ticket. Also, my dad likes to make fun at Bill Richardson- thinks that Bill was crazy to think Americans "were going to pick a half-Mexican as president"; for him, "even Obama as president makes more sense than that".

Mom (Puerto Rican, 58 yrs old, black, has voted Republican in 02, 04 and 06, but will vote Democrat in 08; Mom is a typical centrist, just that she's a social conservative and a fiscal liberal)- Mom is also very suprised with Obama's success, but she's very proud of him and wishes him the best. In fact, she would like to see him as president, but thinks it won't happen now. She always though John Edwards was a phony and is glad to see him basically gone, although she is surprised Obama has done much better than him. Mom thinks Clinton and Obama are very similar, and that they will make a nice team. She thinks Hillary will win the nomination, although she fears the Republicans will beat the Dems in November- she thinks "a woman and a black man on the same ticket is very risky in a country like the US".

That's the view of two Latinos in Florida.

Sometimes social class and profession trump race or ethnic background...

Thank you.

One thing I dearly miss and often avoid thinking about -- as it's too painful -- is how much my Mom loved Hillary Clinton (this was during her time as First Lady; she passed in 2000 before Hillary won her Senate Seat) and how happy she'd be to see her making a successful run for the Presidency. I trust we'd be on the phone five, six, seven times a day talking politics.

I suspect she'd like Obama, too, but she'd be jumping up and down with glee at the thought of Hillary in the White House.