I am finding the term “Clintonistas" being used more often. In the past the term “Clintonistas” was used as a stereotypical and racist attempt to label all Latinos as leftist liberals, something to which I am sure the Cuban community, for example, would object. Latinos, like any other ethnic group, are represented by diverse races, cultures and political beliefs. As a Latina and former Clinton appointee I refuse to be labeled with a term that evokes visions of leftist Sandinistas. First Mary Maitalin coined the term in 1992, I took her to task then in my op-ed piece in the New York Times. Last week Tom Brokaw used the term in Meet the Press. Now the term is used by a Latino. What have we come to; when slurs, coined by Republicans, engineered to make all democrats look like communist are repeated by one of our own? Did we not suffer enough slings and arrows in the Presidential campaign?

Is Lieberman a better "Democrat" than Rangel?

What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? We are in a time, when our country has voted for change. The election stands for nothing, unless we can change major policies. There will be no change unless we can stick together. Senator Joe Lieberman was publicly disloyal and yet what were his consequences? Did we take away his committees? No we didn't and yes we could of! The President Elect wanted us to be magnanimous and so we were, to the chagrin of many loyal democrats. Congressman Rangel is having an accounting problem, granted with larger implications, but nothing has been proven. Is the house going to punish Congressman Charles Rangel when the Senate left Senator Joe Lieberman in charge of his coveted Homeland Security committee? Our party needs to remember who are our friends and who is the enemy. Division is our enemy, I hope we don't let strangers dictate our family business. "Uncle Charlie" as he is known is one of our own, family. In my family when someone is under attack we show our support.

Latinos Dissed Again

First the Good News. We have talented Latinos, ready to hit the ground running on day one, now for the reason for this post. As you are all aware Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will be leaving her Senate post. Political junkie that I am I searched to find who was being considered for the her post. I saw Andrew Cuomo names being bandied about. I even heard from a source that former President Bill Clinton would like the post. But not one Latino name. Why was there no mention of Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez name? We have many talented Latinos I mention Congresswoman Velasquez because a dear friend told me she wanted this spot so I looked and sure enough we Latinos were left out in the cold. We are a warm a loving people with loud voices it is time to lend those voices to our bothers and sisters trying to make a difference. Let remind the Obama transition that yes they can but without Latinos no se puede! Que viva la raza!

Dismayed that Democrats & Latinos are Dissed again

On October 19th. 1992, I wrote an op ed piece in the New York Times. objecting to Mary Matalin's slur, on Latinos by being labled as "Clintonistas". Today as I was watching Meet the Press with Tom Brokaw; I was shocked and hurt to hear the old slur resurected, when he labeling all former Clinton Appointees as "Clintonistas". The Clinton Administration had many appointees of divergent ethnicities and political inclinations and views. As a former Clinton Appointee, I feel very offended and objectified by Mr. Brokaws off hand description. Clintonistas still evokes pictures of Sandinistas and Communism. The comment is especialy hurtfull given the outragous Republican charges made during the Presidential Campaign that Obama and Democrats in general are communist, like we are somehow less Americans or less patriotic if we disagree with Republican views. I hope this will put a stop to being labl ed as "Clintonistas".

Sincerely,
--Darlene Cocco-Adams Esq.
P.O Box 684 Lusby, MD 20657
410-326-7151