Once a rival, Castro now campaigns for Biden
Julián Castro dared to dream about occupying the White House. That won’t happen this election cycle.
But like a throng of others, he’s on a mission to do the next best thing: Elect Democrat Joe Biden and in the process keep building the political infrastructure necessary to get a Latino like himself or a Latina to the White House.
What a wild thing that would be, right? It’s the kind of dream Barack Obama dared to pursue – successfully, of course.
It’s the kind of dream that still scares so many in America, a country reeling with racial social unrest that will only end when the country looks past a person’s skin tones and embraces cultural differences.
Latinos and African Americans are a patient bunch – to a point. But social unrest has shown that patience has run out and minorities aren’t willing to wait for good Samaritans to hand them their crumbs.
The young, the old and the restless are drawing inspiration from past struggles like the 1960s Civil Rights movement but with their own unapologetic attitude.
They’ll get what they want – as they should.
And what they want now is to elect Biden and send Donald Trump packing to his gilded tower where he can spend the rest of his life licking his self-inflected wounds.
Castro, the former presidential candidate and former Secretary of Housing
and Urban Development under Obama, is busy trying to get Latinos and anyone else to vote for Biden.
He has made a few trips to Arizona, one of the nation’s hottest battleground states where Latinos’ sizable voting power will likely make a difference on Nov. 3.
I sat down with Castro on Oct. 18. Here are excerpts from that conversation:
Why are Latinos so enthusiastic about this election?
“Great enthusiasm. Joe Biden is very competitive in this state. I’m confident that here in Arizona people are ready for a change, like a lot of people throughout this country.”
Democrats did nothing on immigration. Would Biden be any different?
“Joe Biden has acknowledged it took longer than it should. The Obama administration did make progress on immigration with DACA … things like the family case management program, which instead of detaining undocumented immigrants and separating families, they were kept together… .
“What we need to do in 2021 is to build on that and make a strong push for legislation. I’m confident that Joe Biden gets that. I’m convinced there will be results.”
Why does it feel like Latinos must beg for political attention?
“The campaign and the DNC (Democratic National Committee) understand the importance of the Latino vote.
“We’re at a point where they’re investing the resources on the ground and campaign outreach and staffing.
“What we need going forward is a 365-day effort to register Latinos and to turn them out to vote … the destiny of this country is intertwined with the destiny of the Latino community.”
Which issues are most important to Latinos now?
“Jobs. Education. Equal treatment under the law. People getting back to work. Getting past this pandemic. Educational opportunity. Everyone wants their child to get a good education.
“But we have millions of Latino households of mixed family status or that are undocumented, so immigration is a concern.
“I’ve always said we shouldn’t view Latino policy solely through the lens of immigration.
“Coming from a state like Texas where my grandmother came to this country a hundred years ago and where in Arizona you have people who’ve been here for generations, I know immigration policy is one part, not the only part.”
Will racism go away if Biden is elected?
“It’ll be gone from the Oval Office. “This president has been stoking racism as a political tool very intentionally. Racism won’t go away in this country because the leadership changes, but I do believe a president can help calm the tension and take us in the right direction.”
What role do you want in a Biden administration?
“I’m not aiming for anything for the first time in a long time … focusing on my kids doing remote learning … . Right now, I just feel compelled to help candidates get elected in November.”
What will it take for a Latino or Latina to be president?
“It’s going to take a strong compelling vision.
“It’s going to take somebody who can mobilize not just the Latino community but Americans everywhere and who has the resources to do it, a name ID … it’s past time that we see more governors, more senators and, of course, eventually a president.”
How long will that take?
“Within the next three or four (election) cycles, we might have a Latino or Latina president.”
Elvia Díaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@ arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.