Nicolás Medina Mora Pérez
Whitnum brandishes “evidence” of AIPAC’s secret grip on U.S.
Lee Whitnum was asked about the economic hardships of Latinos in the U.S. Her answer: AIPAC is evil.
Susan Bysiewicz was asked about high unemployment among Connecticut’s Latinos. Her answer: Wall Street is too powerful.
So went the latest debate among Democrats running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Joe Lieberman: They brought talking points with them. And they stuck to their talking points — no matter what the question.
The debate, cosponsored by the Connecticut Hispanic Democratic Caucus and La Voz Hispana, took place last Saturday at the Four Points hotel in Meriden,on the occasion of Cinco de Mayo.
Judging from most of what was said, the debate might as well have taken place on Canada Day.
Sometimes the talking points did relate to the question.
“I grew up in Hartford when Albany Avenue and Park Street were having their turf wars,” candidate Matthew Oakes replied when asked about gun control, an issue especially sensitive to Latinos, who are victims of violence more often than other groups. “I know that they weren’t going to the gun shop applying, filling out forms, and showing I.D. So why are we punishing the people who are doing it the right way?”
For her part, former Secretary of the State Bysiewicz emphasized her strategy to curb the power of Wall Street. When asked about the high unemployment rate of the state’s Latino population, she complained about unaccountability in the banking industry.
“We are in this huge recession because Wall Street banks were allowed to cause an economic collapse in our county,” she said. “I have a plan to hold Wall Street accountable by putting back a small tax on the buying and selling of securities.”
Murphy, Bysiewicz at debate.
U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, the race’s frontrunner, used his experience as a public servant as a refrain.
“If this bill [the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka President Obama’s health care law] gets overturned,” he said, “it should get us out in the streets, and Latinos should lead the charge. I’m going to do what I’ve done my entire career: I’m going to lay everything I have down the line with all of you to fight back AGAINST? the Supreme Court.”
“Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid,” Lee Whitnum replied when asked about the economic hardships of Latinos. “This congressman,” she continued, pointing to rival Chris Murphy, “just pledged $30 billion to Israel — that’s $600 million that could be going to Connecticut.”
Eugenio Caro, former mayor of Hartford and a prominent member of the Hispanic Caucus, offered closing remarks after the candidate debate. He used the opportunity to comment on the performance of Whitnum, who had spent her last few minutes at the podium educating the audience on how fishing boats accidentally catch uneatable turtles and dolphins.
“Keep it up,” said Caro, looking at Whitnum with a smile on his face. “You are going places.”