Update [2005-2-16 14:17:51 by Armando]: From the diaries by Armando.
Nothing infuriates me more than the racist tactic being employed by the Republicans to label opposition to Gonzales as anti-Latino. The tactic itself is racist. It assumes that Latinos will support any other Latino, even if he endorses torture. This condescending racist attitude would paint Latinos as basically immoral and uncaring as to the issue of torture. The reverse is true. Latinos understand what the torture issue is and what it means.Senator Bingaman deserves our full support against this Republican smear. So do Latinos.
New Mexico Democratic Senator Jeff Bingaman voted against the Alberto Gonzales (R-Torture) nomination despite a sizable hispanic population in his home state, a looming campaign in '06 and the general competitiveness of New Mexico.
Now he is being targetted for having a conscience.
It would seem to me that those of us who can help should do so, to send a signal to the Dems in Congress that there is a reward to having a spine. People who live in New Mexico or very nearby could volunteer and make sure to mention your support for his opposition to Gonzeles. And those of us who don't live anywhere nearby should think about sending a little money over his way.
Maybe an Act Blue page for Senate Dems who are up this year in competitive elections and who voted against Gonzeles? (if it hasn't already been done).
Update [2005-2-16 16:12:6 by Armando]: There is no endorsement or call to support Sen. Bingaman in any specific manner or fashion. I do not have such authority, and I speak only for me.
clips of an article from www.thehill.com
make sure to notice the last paragraph, detailing the $$ situation
New Mexico Republicans may not have a candidate to run against Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) next year, but they do have an issue: Alberto Gonzales.
Bingaman, who announced this week that he will seek a fifth term, voted Feb. 3 against Gonzales's nomination for attorney general. Gonzales was confirmed by the Senate 60-36 and was sworn in Monday.
[By] Patrick G. Ryan
Sen. Jeff Bingaman voted against Gonzales, to the chagrin of New Mexico Republicans.
Republicans in New Mexico and Washington say that vote could cost Bingaman his seat. With more than 40 percent of the electorate being Hispanic, they reason, opposing the first Hispanic to become the nation's top law-enforcement officer was impolitic.
"I think that's really going to hurt him," said Cheryl Garcia, a member of the state GOP's Executive Committee. Another New Mexico Republican said the party would likely blanket the state's airwaves with ads spotlighting the vote.
Yesterday, former Gov. Gary Johnson, a libertarian-leaning Republican who supports legalizing marijuana, ruled out a race. Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) is said to be mulling over a candidacy.
"My view is that they are making a huge error, a patronizing error, among all Hispanics and Latinos, in thinking that people cannot distinguish between a principled vote on what turned out to be one of the worst examples of American foreign policy in the modern era and a person's ethnic background," said John Wertheim, chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, referring to Republicans' hoping to make political hay out of the Gonzales vote.
In his comments, Bingaman said he would normally back Gonzales, given his Horatio Alger story and Hispanic roots. But Bingaman said he was disturbed by Gonzales's support for the administration's torture and detainment policies.
He argued that "removing the bright line that has guided our troops for the last 60 years" would endanger U.S. forces.
"I think his reasoning is that he's kind of in a semi-leadership position in the Senate now," the official said. Referring to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), who opposed Gonzales, the officials added: "He's close to Reid. I think he felt like he had to be unified. But that's one of those votes that surprised me."
Jude McCartin, a spokeswoman for Bingaman, said the senator has a long record of supporting issues important to Hispanics such as health-care and education.
Republicans said President Bush's improved performance among Hispanics, as well as his success in capturing New Mexico in 2004, have apparently made their prospects brighter in 2006.
They also pointed out that Bingaman has relatively little cash on hand. According to his most recent Federal Election Commission report, the senator had $384,000 available. Campaign operatives estimate that a strong campaign would take between $2 million and $5 million.