Crowd erupts during Obama speech -- but it's over mention of Clinton

An interesting and surprising little thing happened Sunday while Barack Obama was speaking (in English) to the National Council of La Raza in San Diego.

It was, according to The Times' Louise Roug, a fairly standard Obama stump speech before the crowd of more than 2,000 members in the Convention Center, where the Republican Party nominated Sen. Bob Dole 12 years ago.

Obama said the gorgeous weather reminded him of his native Hawaii. He criticized the current stand on immigration reform of his Republican opponent, John McCain, who gets his chance to address the group Monday morning when he will stress his economic growth proposals, especially for small businesses, and criticize Obama's plans to raise taxes.

The crowd was very respectful of the Democratic nominee-to-be, who easily leads among Latinos, according to polls. And Obama also talked about giving tax credits to small businesses that provide health insurance for employees.

It was then that the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause and warm cheers. But not over Obama's policy proposal.

What ignited that outburst was the mere mention by Obama of the name Hillary Clinton, his vanquished party opponent.

She wasn't there, of course. But in absentia the Democratic Party's loser got a noticeably warmer response than the winner, perhaps a reflection of that lingering party unity thing that was taken care of up in Unity.

Or maybe they were just being spontaneously friendly.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Comments

[CC]

Or maybe Clinton planted people there. It isn't like she hasn't done it before...

[Earthbound]

Get a clue, please, LAT. Every single time Obama compliments Clinton, the Democrats cheer at the show of unity. Try to get that, and quit trying to make it seem like we Latinos don't adore Obama - we do. Don't read or report on polls if you don't believe them, sheesh!

[bb]

We'll see if Obama is secure enough in his slim resume and his ego under control enough to allow Hillary Clinton, the candidate with the popular vote, on the ticket-
Just because it would be good for the country and the party doesn't mean Obama, the ulitimate politician, will do the right thing.

[J. Marroquin]

Many Latinos don't trust Obama - or other black candidates, for that matter - because Latinos and blacks tend to spend a lot of time keeping score, to see which group has a larger piece of the pie; everything from corporate executive positions and public office to gang turf is scrutinized. When the going gets tough, It's not hard to imagine that Obama's social policies may favor those of his own cultural background at the expense of Latinos. The poll numbers you cite notwithstanding, it is widely perceived that Anglo politicians such as the Clintons and McCain will not favor one group over another.

[mshill]

I honestly believe that he is jealous of the Clinton's like the rest of the establishment in Washington...Why is that do you suppose? Is it because the Clintons have tried to do for the common man, that the rest of them can not do...

I have figured with what the Republican senator said about us we was a country of moaners...I believe he spoke for the rest of them when he made that remark...The Clintons especially Bill, knows what it is to struggle...And Hillary came along, and became a champion of the poor or middle class...

The rich loves being rich! They do not want anyone else to have anything..Champion of causes never receive awards from their peers...but gossip and tales...

Obama is an elitist....His ego is to big for him..When you go up, you must come down, and what goes around, must come around...He is to young to have such ways..

He should have stepped down and said to Hillary, I will be your VP...let me learn from you...I will follow you, and then let me be president....that would have been the wisest choice Obama could have made...But the Media swelled his head beyond what is normal, and we are going to be stuck with another Bush elitist....When we got McCain and Obama, we got two more Bushes made from stick and stones, or the same egotistical pea brains.....Big is not better...

[Masha]

Oh Hillary, we sure miss you! Te queremos...

[LawrenceNY21]

Hispanics wont go for McSame, especially when Hillary is going to be campaigning for Obama. And if Hillary is chosen to become VP, FORGET ABOUT IT!

[BringHillaryBack]

The DNC needs to WAKE UP and realize they backed the wrong horse!

Obama peaked too early, his credibility is shot, and he's shown in the last 6 weeks he has no idea what he's doing. We need the most qualified candidate as our nominee!

[Patrick]

They approved the mention as they approve the unity in the party that it represents.

[kp1]

Hey DNC, are you *sure* you've got the right candidate???

[Catherine]

Obama has that “new boyfriend” syndrome. Lots of excitement and he looked damn near perfect in those early days. You know, when you get to project on him all those traits you’re looking for beyond cute and smart - character, depth, humor, a moral center.

As time goes on, he’s no longer the shiny new thing. He disses your best friend (behind her back of course), you begin to see his smarminess when he sucks up to your boss and he just doesn’t fit in or get your family’s zany, noisy humor - and he’s stopped trying. The ultimate deal breaker - you learn that he’ll do or say anything to get what he wants.

You know the type - you’ve dated him or perhaps it’s your daughter or a good friend. He just never lived up to the promise of those first, early days. Best to heed the advice you’ve given or gotten - Lose him quick and move on.

So many of us miss Hillary Clinton.

[Wyoming X Dem]

A crowd of less than 200 and Hillary CLinton gets the acclaim. When is the DNC (that should be the poverty-stricken DNC) going to get their heads out of their, well...you know and figure out that this GUY is never going to get elected. They have sold their souls and thus far...the Devil has not brought in much money , has not obtained a "Double Digit" lead that every pundit on TV said he MUST have after Hillary "Suspended" or his campaign would have to be considered to be in big trouble and oh yeah... that "UNITY" thing? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[shampoovta]

This is why the DNC dose not want a roll call at the convention in Denver that may reveal what is really up, Doc.

Thats what the foot ball stadium crap is about. BO and the DNC are staging the unity they can't actually acquire.

[eliana]

Hillary Clinton's recent announcement that she'll be peddling $50 tee shirts with an obnoxiously inspirational/bitter slogan is both annoying and pathetic. Besides, if she's got to sell stuff, it might as well be cool, or practical, like a Husband GPS Tracking System to keep an eye on Bill, or a handy watch that tells you when it's time to concede...
http://www.236.com/news/2008/07/13/hillary_clintons_20m_mental_re_7691.php

[SadStateOfAffairs]

I don't know where your getting your information that Barack "easily" leads in the Latino community. I live in the area, was at the convention center and I saw a scant and pathetic turnout for the "presumptive" nominee. In fact, the media reported "thousands lined the streets". I would estimate the crowd outside between 200-300, many of whom were protesters. San Diego is Hillary country. Party Unity My A$$! PUMA!

[JTurner]

Go Hillary! Support The Denver Group for an honest Democratic convention in Denver.

[sjtruth]

The excitement is still there for Hillary Clinton who is the better choice for Democratic Presidential nominee, and the only candidate who can win for the Democrats.

Obama was "selected' not elected, by a DNC kangaroo court. Senator Clinton has only suspended her campaign and still retains her delegates.

Puma is a group of Democrats and former Democrats who "Just Say No Deal" to Obama. We are growing, we arre strong, we are organized and our number one goal is to elect Senator Hillary Clinton the next President of the U.S. Our next goal is to deny Obama and the corrupt DNC the hijacking of the election.

Join us at justsaynodeal.com, clintondems.com or one of the hundreds of other sites that have organized in this common goal.

[yvonne]

Viva La Raza!
The only chance for the Democratic Party to win in November is for SD's to elect Hillary as the nominee in August.
As a latina, I and mi familia and amigos will NOT be voting for NObama, we cannot trust him or his racist associates.
This article proves that the people still want Hillary!

[Always4Hil]

Of course they cheered louder for Hillary(just the mention of her name)..they like millions of us would still prefer Hillary Clinton be our nominee, she was elected while Obama was selected! Hillary in 08 or McCain in 08..never flip flop Barack! Go PUMA's:-)

[toby]

You guys REALLy love calling Clinton the "Democratic Party's loser".

That's the third time I've read that on this blog in a week.

.

[susan blaco]

Until I saw your photos, I assumed your Ginger Rogers comments were due to you being young. I guess you're too old or too male to understand Hillary's analogy. Although Fred got most of the credit and acclaim, Ginger did everything Fred did except she did it backwards and in high heels!

(Yeh, right. But that's been written so often. Life goes on.)

[Shtuey]

One in three Democrats polled have said they won't vote for Obama, that's up from 1 out of 5. The number of Democrats who want Hillary on top of the ticket (according to CNN) went up from 35% in May to 43% in June, and that is continuing to trend up. Hillary supporters, and members of the PUMA/Just Say No Deal Coalition raised at least $10 million for Hillary in a week to help retire her campaign debt. That's more money than twice the amount of money the DNC has in the bank for the general election. Down ticket Democratic candidates are distancing themselves from Obama.

We want the elected candidate, not the DNC/RBC selected fraud Obama. WE WANT HILLARY!

P.U.M.A.! I am one of 2.5 million PUMAs (and growing) JUST SAYING NO DEAL to Obama.

[ScarletRed4Hillary]

This is what happens when the DNC selects a candidate of their own choosing instead of listening to the will of the people. Hillary has the most popular votes contrary to the DNC's efforts to change the rules to suit their chosen one. Hillary is the peoples choice and naturally will receive a greater response than the one who is being forced upon us. I wouldn't be surprised if cheers at the mere mention of Hillary becomes the wave of the future. It seems like there is trouble ahead for OB and the DNC. Delegates and Super delegates please take notice.

[Lana]

Louder and louder, the PUMA roar. How come only the DNC isn't hearing it?

[LAMusing]

Obama has flip flopped on FISA, NAFTA, public financing, etc. He'll toss anyone under his big bus. So his position on immigration (like every other position he states) is likely to change.
Why settle for a Hillary wanna-be? It's not over until the convention. There is no legitimate nominee. Check out The Denver Group for info. And go to justsaynodeal for hundreds of Democrat websites that do NOT support Obama.

PUMA!!