Dear Represenative Nydia Velazquez,
I write this as one of your constituents in Brooklyn NY.
Today it is being reported on national news that on a conference call with Hillary Clinton you asked her a question with a statement that I found extremely offensive and has no part in this campaign or in the Democratic Party.
Especially on a night when our nominee will most likely win the nomination and our pivot for the general election begins.
I have been living in New York since 1995 but grew up in New Mexico, and Texas. I have many Latino friends and family members from Puerto Rico, Mexico, and South America not to mention the continental United States who have supported Barack Obama.
Today you said you said that Latinos would not vote for Barack Obama unless Hillary Clinton was on the ticket. Not only is this offensive, but it is factually inaccurate, and divisive. Not only is it an insult to Latinos, but also to your constituents, and to the presumptive Presidential Nominee.
Both Hillary and Barack have run amazing campaigns and both have had supporters from every walk of life. In New Mexico Hillary won the state by half a percentage point and Barack would not have been able to do that without support from Latino voters there. The highest elected Latino official in the US, Bill Richardson, endorsed Obama.
Parts of your district went overwhelmingly for Barack Obama. So I found it very offensive for you to suggest that Latinos would not have the foresight to decipher between the major differences between Barack Obama and John McCain unless Hillary Clinton was on the ticket.
I would support Hillary if she was the nominee without Barack on the ticket. And I will support Barack if Hillary is not on the ticket. The comments you made today have no place in our party. As a Puerto Rican woman I would hope that you are able to support our nominee even if Hillary is not on the ticket regardless of your biased comments.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
James
Nydia's website www.house.gov/velazquez/