Archive
Thoughts From The Office and the Campaign Trail
Ok, so I am talking about another office.
Last night I finished watching the series, “The Office.”
The reason I mention this is because 1) I am sad that I have to say goodbye (yet again) to Jim and Pam and 2) it reminded me once again of how simple, and yet happy–life can actually be…outside of politics.
With 41 days left in this primary, I have been reflecting a lot on this entire process. Not just as a candidate, but as a woman of color who is trying to balance ego-mania and imposter syndrome, all at the same time.
Late at night, after a long day of work and RubioNM35, my favorite thing to come home to is another episode of this funny sitcom–coming at us from Scranton, PA. (Which by the way, today is the Pennsylvania primary)
I can’t lie. I sometimes ask myself, “couldn’t you just have worked in an office supply profession?”
Life would be so. much. easier.
When I first decided to run back in November, it was a tough decision and one that I did not take lightly. As an alumni of Emerge New Mexico, I have learned and toted that insane statistic of, “women must be asked seven times to run for office.” For yours truly, it took about 30,000,000 times.
And I finally said yes–on the condition that I would run on my own terms. As an organizer, there was no way that I would compromise my values just to win an election and I have remained solid in that promise.
Here is the thing. I am the candidate to beat in this primary. So it is no surprise that rumors are swirling about what sort of attacks will come my way during the end of this primary election season. And c’mon? I shouldn’t be surprised, right? It happened to my good friend and candidate during the non-partisan Las Cruces Municipal races back in November–when hundreds of thousands of dollars of out-of-state money, trickled in, trying to defeat her and other progressive candidates in these races.
Let’s be real. I certainly expect it to happen in an election cycle like this one–where Republican’s have no viable presidential candidate and have no other option but to invest in state and local races. They will also try to do it in a primary, particularly supporting candidates that are less progressive than I am. Yes. Even in a democratic race. They obviously have the money for it.
Being politically involved in my community for most of my life, I understand that this is a game to a lot of people. Furthermore, this game is insanely expensive and in under 41 days, you will begin to see what that amount of money looks like and what it will buy. It will be disgusting.
You will also see what they will do to me–and many other good people like me, just as they have done to those that have come before me. As sad and upsetting that might be, I will be ok. I have family, friends and supporters who know what I stand for and are committed. Win or lose. We will all survive this–and so will every other woman who ever decides to take on this very hard and yet important role. We need you.
Then….together, we’ll change the shit out of politics for the long run. And for good.
So yeah, this work is not easy. It is nothing like another funny episode of The Office that you can just watch for 20 minutes and turn off until the next evening. But this phase in my life is certainly an episode–and sometimes a very funny one, with chapters just waiting to be written. But I will be the one to write them.
Until then, the campaign continues and the stories of folks in the community must be heard and acted on.
(I also promise not to take so long to write next time.)
But for now…
Below are some pictures of some very important events with family and friends in both my personal and campaign life from the last few weeks. These people mean so much to me and are the rock that I need for this very challenging and yet exciting process.
Follow me and all the things here on my blog at The Rubio Dispatch or on Twitter at @anrubio or on Instagram at @anhellykah
Immigrants Advocate While Democrats Infiltrate: Politics As Usual When It Comes To Talks On Immigration Reform
Yesterday in Roswell, the Alliance for Peace and Justice, a group of activists promoting equality for Roswell and all New Mexican’s, organized a vigil outside of New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce’s office. With over 60 activists in attendance, the Congressman was presented with a letter urging him to support their cause for immigration reform. In the letter, the Alliance states,
Over the past decade we have doubled the number of border agents and vastly expanded border security spending, and now by every measure our border is more secure. Now a common sense roadmap exists that includes responsible enforcement and a citizenship process making us even safer, and our economy stronger. To spend any more money militarizing our border would be fiscally irresponsible, and hindering the debate on immigration reform for the sake of ideology would be morally irresponsible.
While the group may not be able to sway the Congressman’s decision to support a pathway to citizenship, yesterday’s day of action gave a great showing of solidarity and support for the ongoing talks happening thousands of miles away in Washington. But while we’re on that subject of Washington, who is in charge of the fate of 11 million “aspiring” American’s, let’s talk briefly about how politicized this immigration issue has become.
As an activist watching the Senate debate the bill and now urging the House to take action and put the bill up for a vote, I can’t help but wonder about the suspicions I have had about why we’re still talking about this. I’m usually blaming the Republican’s for the gridlock in Washington, but now I’m not so sure if they’re entirely to blame.
Yesterday’s day of action by the Alliance for Peace and Justice was a vigil to urge Congressman Steve Pearce to support a humane and just bill that allows for a pathway to citizenship for 11 million immigrants already here. But for a minute during this vigil, the action turned into political theater when local Democrats infiltrated the vigil by campaigning against Congressman Pearce. Here all along, I was worried over the opposition to the issue, nativists and/or Tea Party activists showing up to defend their political puppet, Steve Pearce. But instead, what we saw was a carnival of self-involved Democrats, jabbering about “democratic values” and ignoring the fact that this was a non-political event, to demonstrate the need for reform for countless immigrants living in our communities here in New Mexico.
Although this parade of politicization didn’t last long, it did leave me with a very lasting impression of what I was already struggling to accept, but never wanted to admit to. When it comes to issues of immigration or any other issue around social justice, neither party really cares. I’ve been an immigrant activist for 15 years and in all those years, we’ve come so close to reform, but in the end it’s always shot down. Why is that? Sure, let’s blame the Republican’s for everything but Democrats are responsible too.
Immigration reform is not a game. Eleven million aspiring American’s are not here for your political enjoyment. Our issues are not here to keep you all entertained. But it sure is keeping you employed, huh?
Democrats: This is why American’s choose not to vote. This is why your base chooses to sit out important elections like in 2010 and 2012. Realize this when 2014 comes around because you all are going to be given the shock of your life when you lose another major election.
We certainly expect pandering from the right. I guess we should start to expect it from the left as well.
Supporters of Marriage Equality Kick Bigotry In The Ass…Again.
So what do you do when the highest court in the land rules that married same-sex couples are entitled to federal benefits as well as the freedom to marry in states that already allow it? For most cities across the country, you move on, right? I mean, the Supreme Court of the United States of America just made some pretty good and compelling arguments in support of equal rights.
Well. In Roswell, New Mexico…issues like this don’t just go away quite as easily, or as quietly, as the rest of the nation. Earlier this week, many of us got word that the Roswell City Council had been considering a resolution that would define marriage as only between a man and a woman. Savino Sanchez, Jr, Associate Pastor at Church On The Move, an evangelical church in Roswell, and the Chair of Roswell’s Police Committee, introduced this resolution (despite the higher court’s recent ruling).
Oh! Did I mention he did not attend tonight’s hearing?
Before tonight, there had been massive confusion regarding the resolution. Yesterday we heard that it had died in committee, but there was talk that the resolution was still on tonight’s agenda. To add to even more confusion, only five members of the council showed up tonight and there needed to be six to reach a quorum to resume with the business on the agenda.
So what was going on exactly?
*scratching head*
Roswell Mayor Del Jurney explained that “due to changes to rules for city hearings, the agenda for tonight’s meeting had to be made public before we had an up or down vote in committee. That is why this resolution was on the tonight’s agenda and will remain on next Thursday’s agenda, but there will be no vote on this resolution. This resolution is dead.”
Great news! So what are we still doing here?
Mayor Jurney was compelled to hear out the concerns of those present and asked that people who had signed up to speak, should do so tonight, next Thursday or both.
Roughly, forty community residents were present at tonight’s hearing in support of marriage equality. One by one, residents from the city of Roswell, provided personal and passionate stories for their support for equal rights. Allies, such as Sara Mitchell, stood in front of the five council members, visibly disturbed by this resolution.
Mitchell said, “the reason this resolution angered me was because it is a waste of your time and our time. This resolution is pointless and is intentionally malicious.”
Like her, countless other individuals stood up and stood firm, passionately voicing their concerns, mainly in disbelief that something like this could come out of the city of Roswell, a city in which many advocates have grown up in, love dearly, so much so that they’re raising their families here. How could a city known for its history of embracing the idea of “extraterrestrials” and life on other planets, now have difficulties coming to terms with humans and their love for one another?
Tonight’s meeting was an inspiration to many advocates across the state. Mainly because for a community like Roswell, located in a region where you feel like you need a passport to come down here, proved tonight that there are forward thinkers who go to such lengths to make positive change.
As Sara Mitchell pointed out after the meeting, “I was proud to be in the same room with so many passionate, well spoken, equal rights activists. Whoever put forward this resolution, like-minded people should note that the citizens of Roswell will not let their town become known for hate, ignorance, and marginalization. I don’t need my marriage affirmed at the price of denying others equal rights.”
SE New Mexico: The Drunk Uncle Who Is Never Invited To New Mexican Family Dinners
What story can I use from my own life experiences to apply to my organizing in hopes of connecting with the community that I’m trying to serve?
For the last 15 months, that’s a question I’ve been asking myself on a daily basis. I’ve been working on my story of self and it’s been a major challenge. As an organizer, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to work on because it’s a story I want my community to relate to and this is critical.
After months of thinking about my own story, it finally came to me a couple of weeks ago during my first class with Emerge New Mexico in Albuquerque. I won’t elaborate on the specifics because I don’t want to give too much away, but the focal point of my story is me, sitting in front of the television at the age of nine years old, watching George H. W. Bush give his State of Union address and me translating what he’s saying to my monolingual, Spanish-speaking parents. As a nine year old, translating the English language to my Spanish-speaking parents isn’t unprecedented. Many families, who come from immigrant ancestry, either generations ago or just recently, experience this all the time. It’s not a unique situation. It does happen and in some places, it really pisses a lot of people off.
Roswell, New Mexico is one of those places.
As much as I love southeastern New Mexico, I can’t help but become overwhelmed with frustration knowing that a small fringe, help to define who we are as a community to the rest of the state. Although more than half of Roswell’s population is Latino, according to the 2010 United States Census, and many of which speak Spanish, there is also a zero-tolerance attitude for diversity among a very small group of people living along the the Pecos Valley.
Today, my friend approached me and told me that his mother had an appointment at a doctor’s office here in Roswell. His mother was shocked to find some questionable propaganda hanging from the door and walls of this particular doctor’s office, mostly geared to our Black President (shocker) but also a range of questionable English-only paraphernalia Neither one of us was exactly sure how bad things were, so we decided to take a drive this afternoon, down to 1600 SE Main Street in Roswell. Here, in Suite 3, is the office of Dr. Jackie Graham, MD and at the entrance of the office is this sign, which states,
We do not speak Spanish in this office. If you do not speak English or have a qualified translator to help you, we have some requirements you must meet before being seen:
– find a translator that speaks English well and will come to your appointment.
– learn the language
If you cannot do either of these
– see another physician.
My apologies for the picture and its poor quality. I took the picture with nervous hands, scared that someone from the office would come out with a loaded gun. Because you know? We liberals are all out to get your guns.
On the right hand side of the flier is a very poor Spanish translation of what is stated on the left in English.
Dr. Graham, if you or your staff need any help with that translation, please feel free to contact me and I can help you out with that, ok?
Which brings me to my point. Although I truly believe that my community has great potential because it is represented by a very diverse and wonderful group of citizenry who embrace the diversity that exists within our great state of New Mexico, we, unfortunately, also have some racists. While some will be pretty blatant about it, others will go in the direction of Brad Paisely’s “Accidental Racist” mumbo jumbo and attempt to “defend” their racism and make excuses for it.
Bottom line is that racism exists in our community and people should be called out for it.
Let’s take Alaska Republican Congressman Don Young, for example. Just a few weeks ago, he described workers at his father’s farm by saying, “My father had a ranch; we used to have 50-60 wetbacks to pick tomatos.” He later apologized for using the slur, but defended it by saying, “it’s a term that was commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in Central California.”
By the way, if you’re sitting there not sure which word Congressman Young used as the “slur,” then you’re part of the problem.
Listen, I would love to live on the planet you’re living in if you think that racism died back in the 1960s.
It didn’t.
What I am writing to you today is real and it’s happening in our own community. A small minority of people in Roswell, wish to have things the way they were back in the day…when people of color and women were suppressed and old, white men made all the decisions.
This country is diverse and will continue to evolve into a more diverse nation as more immigrants come into this great nation. There are tens, if not hundreds of languages being spoken in this country each and everyday because every nation on earth is represented in our communities, and that is a beautiful thing. But while I think this is incredibly awesome, we have the Dr. Graham’s of the world who are frightened by this idea of an “invasion of foreigners,” who will trounce on the greatness that is “Americuh” and turn it into the third world country they left behind.
This is false.
Because it’s the Dr. Graham’s of the world, who remind me every day, that while they spew their hate, intolerance and ignorance, it’s also a dying fad. There will be a time when our children and grandchildren will never understand or comprehend how any of this could have even been possible because they will not define a person based on their race, color, gender, language, sexual orientation or creed. Instead, they will define a person on the content of their character. A philosophy that may not hold true today in Dr. Graham’s office, but does in the hearts and minds of countless others in our community, which will hopefully sustain our humanity for generations to come.
New Mexico Senator Tom Udall Visits Roswell, Hosts Roundtable With Farmers And Ranchers Affected By Drought
As Congress takes a break from Washington, DC, many are returning to their home districts to talk with constituents on a variety of issues. Today, New Mexico Senator Tom Udall was in Roswell, hosting a roundtable with local farmers and ranchers currently struggling with the, I’d say, devastating drought facing the entire state.
Honestly, I was not fully prepared for this discussion. I am in no way an expert on the issue of oil and gas, farming, ranching, nor the dairy industry for that matter, so most if not the entire conversation was a bit daunting.
A common theme amongst those in attendance was a passion for the work. Regardless of my own person feelings on the environment and what we should be doing to slow down the effects of climate change, I had to admire their conviction. Of the ten or so in attendance, all had been farming or ranching their entire lives or their families had a long history of holding down their respective lands. Experts in their respective fields, I’d say. While there were hints of forward thinking in terms of technology, efficiency and lowering carbon footprints, it was also clear that the same tired old ideas of yesteryear are still in play when it comes to energy here in southeastern New Mexico.
Regarding energy, for example. A local farmer from Roswell, who explained that he wears a variety of different hats, including expertise in gas and oil, said that, “if we get away from producing coal, it will be a huge cost increase that cannot be solved.” Senator Udall did not provide a response to this, but I immediately felt discomfort with this comment. I’m immediately reminded of what the priorities are for this region of the state when it comes to any energy plan.
Livelihood vs. Climate Change
Just last year, President Obama was in Maljamar attempting to sell his comprehensive energy plan and sort of catering to gas and oil here in southeastern New Mexico. But since his reelection in November, he’s not only talked about climate change, but he’s also prioritized it, both in his inaugural address and at this years State of the Union. So my question is this. How do you sell the effects of climate change and the deterioration of our environment to local gas and oil people who depend on this as their livelihood?
Especially here in southeastern New Mexico?
To find a successful solution to climate change, policy makers need the backing of those who attended today’s roundtable with Senator Udall. But to be on board also means supporting an applicable piece of long-term policy that will make a significant difference and not just an attempt to squash an issue temporarily with some watered down piece of policy. We can no longer continue to ignore this idea that perhaps oil and gas have contributed to our current drought challenges. It is the incredibly large elephant in the room, except no one with real political power is willing to point that out. Especially in this part of the state.
We don’t have a drought just because mother nature decided to take a break. We have a drought because we, as a society, have done very little to produce alternatives to energy. Instead of finding solutions to help pull ourselves away from our dependence on oil and gas, we continue to increase and at a very rapid speed, which in turn directly impacts our land. Unfortunately though, we don’t talk about climate change in these parts the same reason you don’t bring up the gun issue. People get real upset. At today’s roundtable with Senator Udall, there was desperation from those at the table, who were worried. Not so much about what may come from this drought, but how much more government may interfere with their businesses if the issue become much more serious.
The question remains. To what extent do we push the limits on the environment before we can finally say, “it’s time to do something?” Around here, no one is willing to take a stab at that question which will be very problematic for any future debate on energy.
Why Worry About An Outward Bigot, When It’s Your Own You Have To Worry About?
Imagine how much more effective our New Mexico Legislature would be if “legislators” in Santa Fe, were actually “legislating” bills that help create, oh, I don’t know…jobs, maybe? Instead, our legislators, who are currently in their second week of a 60-day legislative session, are dealing with the Governor’s attempts to once again, continue with her ongoing attacks on immigrants.
This is the third year in a row New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez will go up against immigrant activists and public safety proponents, targeting drivers licenses and attempting to repeal a law allowing undocumented New Mexican residents to obtain drivers licenses. For the third year in a row, Governor, you will be stopped.
But at what expense to the rest of New Mexicans who need to work?
Governor Martinez is in no way interested in any compromise, which Democrats in the Senate and House have attempted to do the last two years. While I am in no way in favor of the compromise being put forth by some legislators in the Senate and House, it is, by far, a much greater attempt for middle ground than the absolute repeal of the law. But that’s what the Governor is committed to. Full repeal of the law and going back in time.
This law allowing undocumented immigrants to acquire a drivers license, was brought forth to a vote and was made into law back in 2003 — way after 9/11 and way before this Tea Party, uber-conservative wave that swept the nation the year Susana was elected. The purpose of the 2003 drivers license passage had nothing to do with the state declaring “safe haven” for undocumented immigrants, but instead it allowed for a much safer and less-costly situation for New Mexicans paying for auto insurance. When you have a drivers license to drive in this state, you can acquire insurance, which not only reduces costs overtime for insured drivers, but you don’t have to deal with high costs that come with uninsured drivers during an accident. It’s a win-win.
Except for the Governor. Her only goal is to follow other anti-immigrant and in my own opinion, push very anti-Latino policies, in order to reach national political prominence. To do this, she is playing the role of “enforcer” and following the likes of Governor Jan Brewer in Arizona who will ignore the Federal Government to do her own thing in her own state, despite the numerous attempts, on both sides, to find compromise.
Susana Martinez became popular because she was 1) Latina 2) endorsed by Sarah Palin at the height of her own popularity during that “wave” I mentioned earlier and 3) she was a Latina going against her own.
Why have the anti-immigrant bigot do it when you can get an ambitious Latina to do it herself?
I’m absolutely appalled at this ongoing witch hunt the Governor has towards immigrants. More frustrating is we have to endure it once again, for the third year in a row. We have to have a meaningless debate rather than focusing on real issues affecting all New Mexicans.
Next week, many immigration activists, including myself, will be in Santa Fe, protesting this attack on immigrants and pushing our leaders and legislators to do the right thing: vote against the repeal if and when it comes to a vote. However, if legislators plan to move forward with a compromise, fine. But in the end, the Governor is not going to go for it. She wants the repeal and she will bet her entire legacy on it.
Let her. It will make her re-election bid that much more wonderful for the rest of us, who are going to work hard to make her a one term Governor.