Students participate in Democratic convention

The rustic-looking, mustard-colored banner hanging six feet above stage right at the first ever Webb County Democratic Convention depicted a shadowy profile of Barack Obama, head down and eyes closed as if in prayer. From far away, the text read either “Laredo for Obama” or “Laredo por Obama.” Either way, the point was clear.Party big wigs, volunteers, and regular citizens filled the Laredo Civic Center ballroom the morning of Saturday, Aug. 23 to discuss the Webb County Democrats’ primary objective: straight ticket voting. Guest speakers included Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas, local Democratic Party Chair Sergio Mora, and State Senator Judith Zaffirini. During his turn at the podium, Mora emphasized the difference Laredo voters will make in November’s presidential election. “The goal is to turn Texas blue,” said Mora. “For that to happen, South Texas has to turn out in record numbers.”The crowd of roughly 60 people eagerly greeted Zaffirini, who reminded them how Laredo’s Hispanic majority has defied expectations during her career. “When I first ran twenty years ago, people told me the Mexican-American ‘machos’ won’t vote for a woman. Let me just thank you ‘machos’ for having voted for me ever since,” she said.The senator then called upon Laredoans to defy the experts once again. “Now, as I travel, I hear people say the Hispanics won’t vote for an African-American. Let’s prove them wrong once more,” said Zaffirini.In addition, Zaffirini touched on her relationship with President George W. Bush during his years as Governor of Texas.”The George Bush who served us as governor is not the George Bush who failed us a president,” she observed. “I say that with regret.” Zaffirini concluded her remarks by emphasizing the importance of straight ticket voting for Webb County Democrats. After her remarks, Mora directed attendees to look for the area of the ballroom marked with their precinct number. From there, the members of each precinct would then elect a chair and a co-chair. Chairs and co-chairs were to be sworn in and given further instructions for how to go about campaigning in their neighborhoods. Several university students attended the convention, including Oscar Centeno, who wished more of Laredo’s Obama supporters would volunteer locally. “Talk about Rolling Thunder,” Centeno said in reference to Operation Rolling Thunder, an Obama campaign initiative aimed at getting Texas’ Obama enthusiasts to volunteer in other states. “I found some high school friends who actually volunteered, but they went to Virginia or somewhere else, and I was mad at them because they could’ve helped out in the community here.”Also in attendance was Lee Treviño, president of TAMIU’s chapter of Omega Delta Phi. Treviño wants to see more political activity at the university.”We just want to see more student participation and that they [university administrators] support actually getting our students involved, no matter who their candidate is.”