Health Features

Obama supports US Latinos: "We're all in this together" (Feature)

By Silvia Ayuso May 9, 2009, 2:44 GMT

Washington - The presence of US President Barack Obama caused a stir Friday among members of the Hispanic community who had gathered in Washington to discuss the ongoing flu epidemic and how it is affecting immigrants. Although he barely said 'hello' and 'thank you' in Spanish, Obama reaped applause, laughs, and even a 'Viva Obama!' from an audience of around 100 at a townhall-style gathering at the White House. Top Latinos in the US government were also in attendance. Obama emphasized that his administration is working to prevent the outbreak of a previously unknown strain of influenza A(H1N1) from becoming a source of conflict and prejudice against immigrants. 'We're one country, we're one community,' Obama said in his brief address. 'Our experience with the H1N1 virus over the last couple of weeks is a sobering reminder of how vital it is that we all recognize, we're all in this together.' There have been isolated reports of xenophobia within the United States - particularly among local politicians - as well as scattered incidents of workplace prejudice. The federal government has consistently tried to avoid accusations aimed at Mexico - considered the epicentre of the epidemic - or immigrants. Unlike other countries, the United States never considered closing its Mexican border or suspending flights to and from its southern neighbour. 'I've been working very closely - I spoke to President Calderon last weekend - to ensure that we were providing Mexico with the assistance that it needed,' Obama said. 'Because one of the things that we have to understand is public health issues like this - not only is it important for all communities within the United States to be working together, it's also important to be working internationally together.' Tino Cuellar, Obama's special advisor for justice and regulatory policy, went even further, telling Hispanics that the White House was saying 'no to discrimination.' 'It is very important to remember that at this moment, despite the priority that we have to give to public health, it is also important to remember that civil rights do not stop, they move forward,' Cuellar said. 'The truth that all the American public has to understand is that this virus respects no borders, respects no ethnic or racial lines, which means that it is not a Mexican-American, Latino, Asian or African-American virus. It is a challenge that we all have to face together.' Cuellar said that people should not fall into 'traps' and urged people encountering any instances of illegal discrimination to complaints with public agencies. During the community meeting, officials answered questions from the Latino community, particularly focused on prevention and the timeframe for a vaccine. Obama celebrated this as the first townhall meeting at the White House to be 'conducted entirely in Spanish' and vowed that it would be 'the first of many' ways to reach out to the American people.

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DaveMay 9th, 2009 - 04:51:54

Since when is protecting ones country from and epidemic discrimination. What a load of crap. The truth is its politics. I guaranty you if some other country was bringing in some epidemic we would take action post haste. It is completely political. HE DOES NOT WANT to alienate the hispanic voter base. That is the REAL truth. Bush was the same way. Forget about your citizens, play plitics. The more things CHANGE the MORE they remain the SAME!

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@daveMay 9th, 2009 - 09:08:12

We are well aware that you are just another right wing idiot posting here. Are you even aware that the swine flue was imported into the USA by residents returning home from Mexico ?Now tell us what you plan to do with the ten thousands US tourists currently enjoying holiday in Mexico .Deny them entry into the USA?Are you even aware that the swine flu probably originated in an agro industrial plant owned partly by a US company ? ?What will you do about the travellers from all those other countries contaminated by it.You've probably listened too much to those retarded right wing radio loons tha blame the swine flu on mexicans ,not the virus .
Your ranting against mexicans is probably little more than the outcry of your frustrations .What is the name you use for mexicans when amongst your peers ,could it be 'wetbacks ' ?You are just a dog barking at the moon,nothing more,you offer nothing to solve the problem but confirmation of your own racial bias .Grow a life...start with a brain.

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DaveMay 9th, 2009 - 18:06:55

You have proof beanbrain. State the medical source, date and study.

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DaveMay 9th, 2009 - 18:08:05

And another thing idiot I happen to be Mexican.

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Negro?!?May 9th, 2009 - 18:23:40

get the F outta here!

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DaveMay 9th, 2009 - 19:01:00

What's the matter? Have no proof for your lies.

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@daveMay 10th, 2009 - 08:01:30

You just get all your puke from an AM redneck radio station ,nobody else but you believes such lies .I guess we'll just move on without you .But thanks for confirming the obvious:you are nothing but a stupid racist ,grasping at anything to advance your revolting ideas.What exactly is the nature of your inferiority complex that you need to cure by finding somebody else to trample on.It is common knowledge that people suffering from an inferiority complex often seek a more vulnerable target to hit on.Judging from the very poor quality of your arguments,no doubt you fit the image;now move on...

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Obama supports US Latinos: "We're all in this together" (Feature)

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