From TPM on August 16th:
Loretta Sanchez: Half Of House Dems Could Vote For Hillary At Convention
In an indication that the Democratic Convention could unintentionally give an appearance of Democratic disunity, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez of California is predicting that up to half of the House Dems could end up voting for Hillary Clinton under an open roll call. "I felt she was the most experienced and the best candidate and I still feel that way," Sanchez added -- though for the record, it should be noted that Hillary herself has said she personally plans on voting for Obama.
Under the haze of a new East Bay area morning, I flipped on MSNBC to hear a preview of what to expect during today's session at the convention. The usual Morning Joe drivel of plunging poll numbers for Obama and usual two-step of Mika B. playing Colmes to Scarbourough's Hannity made for great ambient noise over the buzz of my electric razor.
The subject of angry Clinton voters came up in discussion and that certainly piqued my interest, I love seeing a goofball or two. One of the more vocal leaders that are still trumping up that "I'm leaving the sandbox" narrative is my former representive from Garden Grove, Loretta Sanchez. Scarborough played up the fact that she's hurt and wishes that Obama would approach her and recruit her interest. She has yet to endorse Obama and she still plans to shout Senator Clinton's name during the roll call vote.
I was stunned.
I would think between the time the quote from TPM was taken and now, she would've had a better disposition coming into the convention especially with the speaking role she will have tommorrow. It wasn't too long ago when Representitive Sanchez herself was met with the same resistance that Barack Obama is met with today.
The increasingly hispanic population that resided in the Orange County, California neighborhood of Garden Grove were being ruled under the iron fist of Representitive Bob Dornan. Dornan was a cornerstone of OC politics and represented everything terrible about it. Here's a remarkable gem from the Dornan files:
Don't use the word 'gay' unless it's an acronym for 'Got Aids Yet?'."
...and that's when he's well behaved! The six term incumbant Dornan had the most conservative voting record in the house and if that's how he felt about gay people, imagine the anger he directed toward hispanics! The residents of Garden Grove both hispanic and non-hispanic sought to find change in who spoke for them because they felt Dornan was not an accurate representitive of their neighborhood anymore. Loretta Sanchez bravely became that change agent in her neighborhood as she challenged Bob Dornan for his seat. The moderate Democrat had a modest upbringing graduating from Katella High School with a unionized machinest for a father and a secretary for a mother. Sanchez was a financial analyst until she became involved in politics. Like Obama, Sanchez entered her race with little experience and conservatives were constantly questioning her status as an American citizen.
When she went on to defeat Dornan in an ugly campaign, Dornan alleged that Sanchez committed voter registration fraud by registering illegal immigrants. An investigation concluded that 624 votes were cast by non-citizens, but it wasn't enough to overturn the decision and Sanchez became the first Latina to represent Orange County in Congress. It was a remarkable time for Sanchez as she overcame so much to reach her goal.
She didn't do it with a fragmented group, she managed to reach her goal through a united constituency that wanted change. How dare this Blue Dog Democrat try to lead the charge to put Senator Obama in the same corner she was in back in 1996?! When you spend your time in Washington, you seem to lose touch from your humble beginnings. Fellow Dems weren't hanging experience over your head when you were running Ms. Sanchez. You met your fair share of adversity in your years Ms. Sanchez and I'd only hope that would strengthen your conviction, not let it weaken.
Ms. Sanchez, I have never met a politician so bold as to proclaim in front of the national media that not only do you feel that you need to divide this party during what should be its finest hour, but you feel its necessary that the leader of this party needs to approach YOU?! Loretta Sanchez, who are you? You don't represent the change you once stood for anymore, you've not only managed to forsake the reason you ran, you've become your opponent in that 1996 race.
Loretta Sanchez, you are becoming Bob Dornan. Vocal, misguided and annoying. I sincerely hope you rethink your position when you get on that stage and when you cast your vote. Remember, DailyKos is committed to electing more and better Democrats. Beware or your district might need a change agent, and this time, it's for you.