Ted Kennedy Pushes Immigration Reform and Obama on the El Piolín Radio Show

The El Piolín radio show, the most popular Spanish-language radio show in America (strike that - see the update below - it is the most popular radio show in any language nationwide), with millions of listeners in California and nationwide, gave a BIG buildup for Teddy at 7:40 a.m. California time with a three minute pre-produced bio calling him "the best senator in America" highlighting Kennedy family history and his leadership on education, health care and immigration reform. Here are my notes:

- Teddy comes on, jokes that after hearing that he wants to come on the show every day after hearing the intro. Says he's challenging Arnold Schwarzenneger (a McCain supporter and Kennedy in-law) to an arm wrestling contest to decide which - Obama or McCain - will be president, and he wants show host Eddie Sotelo to be the judge. Sotelo agrees.

- Kennedy talks about the fight for immigration reform he waged "and at my side from the beginning was Barack Obama."

- "Obama's the one that can unite America to make this and other changes happen. He unites old and young, East and West, to bring change."

- Sotelo translates his words.

- Kennedy: "Only two senators marched for immigrant rights on May 1, 2006, one in Washington and the other in Chicago. I marched in Washington and Barack Obama marched in Chicago. He was not afraid to stand up when others wouldn't."

- Obama has led in health care for children, in education and jobs.

- "Obama will lead the change and I will be there at his side."

- "70,000 Hispanics have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 11 percent of all the casualties in this war have been Hispanic. The Hispanic youth are patriotic and have served this country."

- "I'm committed to coming back on the immigration bill and Barack Obama will be with me. He is the one candidate who has said that he can do this in his first term. There's too many people that are living in the shadows. Men and women of dignity who love their families who love their faith. I'm on their side and Barack Obama is on their side."

- Sotelo continues translating for his listeners.

- Kennedy pushes his event for Obama with US Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-California) at East Los Angeles Community College, 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. Makes a "personal invitation" to the listeners to attend.

- "I'll do my best to be there after my show," says Sotelo.

- Kennedy stresses again that we need Obama to make the changes we want.

- Sotelo begins a series of gag questions (it's a comedy show) for Kennedy, saying, "Senator, please finish each sentence..."

- "My most embarrassing experience is...?" Kennedy: "Singing 'Jalisco' on your radio show. I didn't sing it with all the technique it deserves. I've been practicing. Then he sings a few bars."

- "My biggest regret is...?" Kennedy: "I haven't had enough time on the El Piolin radio show." Says he wants to be a co-host "to improve the ratings."

- "I have a question for you, Eddie: Will it be the Piolin-Kennedy show or the Kennedy-Piolin show?"

- Sotelo: "Kennedy-Piolin because we really respect you and you're the greatest senator."

- "Building a wall across the border is a...?" Kennedy: "I have been against the wall. It makes no sense. For every wall you have that's 40 feet someone will have a ladder that's 41 feet and someone will have a tunnel beneath it."

- Sotelo and a woman that co-hosts translate again.

- "Hispanics who have the opportunity to vote and don't, they are...?" Kennedy: "They are not looking after the interest of their children and their families because by voting they can make a difference for the wellbeing of their children and their families."

- "We now have a backlog of Hispanics that want to be able to vote. The fee for naturalization has gone from $350 to $800. And if you want to become a citizen the administration now makes you wait a year and a half. That's absolutely outrageous and intolerable. And Barack Obama is working on that with me, too."

- More translation.

- "Senator, if Mr. Barack Obama becomes the next president of the United States who would you recommend as Vice President?"

- Kennedy: "As soon as he gets the nomination I'll call you on your program and we'll have 'a secret conversation on the air' and you'll let me know your choice and I'll pass it on to him."

- Asked to sing "Jalisco" again. Sings a bar. "All the best, my friends."

- Sotelo: We appreciate that you sing to us, Senator. We're going to work hard together. Ends with an upbeat gospel version of "God Bless America.... My home sweet home."

You simply cannot pay for advertising like that, nor underestimate its impact on the vote next Tuesday particularly in California.

Update: As for Sotelo's ratings, The Washington Post has reported that he "beats Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh and Tom Joyner every weekday morning, according to Arbitron ratings."

Update II: And here's video of Kennedy with Obama on Univision Spanish-language television.

The original version of this story was published at The Field.

Comments

[FedupwithMexico]

Obama will lose cause he's an idiot!

[clr2]

ILLEGAL Immigration reform: Secure the borders, deport all ILLEGALS ALIENS, HEAVILY fine those who hire ILLEGALS, and return to the original intent of the 14th amendment and do away with anchor babies. We spend BILLIONS to educate and provide health care to people who don't belong here. We need to use this money on our own citizens.

[altohone]

Kennedy rocks.


I'm glad some Democrats haven't forgotten how the DLC'ers betrayed our values.

[vbond]

I thought Hulk Hogan's endorsement was huge.

It was... it is.

This is gigantic.

Gigantic.

[gabbyone]

Barack Obama did not march in Chicago...that is a lie. He was only an observer. I was downtown that day and here is his comments on his own website....Podcast Transcript:

Hello, this is Senator Barack Obama and today is Thursday, May 4th, 2006.

On Monday, I traveled from D.C. to Chicago to witness a monumental event. There were 400,000 people marching on behalf of comprehensive immigration reform in this country. There were rallies all across the country but Chicago was one of the largest. I had the opportunity to speak to the people who were gathering at Union Park before they marched over to Grant Park. Four-hundred thousand people, mostly of Mexican origin, but large numbers of people from other countries - Nigerians and Pakistanis and Indians and Filipinos - people who've come to this country for the same reason that immigrants have been drawn to this country for generations: the notion that they can pursue and better life for themselves but, most importantly, for their children, if they work hard and apply themselves.

[lovethesinner]

Pare mis hermanos, y hermanas latinos:

Vota Obama! Para ustededes, y sus ninos y nuestra futura.

Si, se puede!

En Engleis:

To my latino brothers and sisters:

Vote for Obama! For yourselves, your children, and our future.

Yes, we can!

Obama in '08

[midtown]

Of all the reporters on the web, none has his finger on the pulse of the Latino world as much as Al Giordano does. And he's honest.

[dtd]

I thought I knew everything about Senator Obama's bio, but I didn't know that he was only one of two Senators to march for Latino immigration rights on that particular day. Fabulous! I can add that my list of important information for my canvassing this weekend in Northern, VA. I'm an African American and proud that I have witnessed my community in Arlington, VA turn into one of the most diverse and economically flourishing communities in the nation because of the influx of Latinos, Asians and Africans from all over the world. I support Senator Obama, in-part, because he shares my vision that we can NOT build a wall around America; that we we can only remain a leader in a global economy by bringing in more people from other nations, NOT keeping them out! We are a nation of immigrants and will remain a nation of immigrants, and if we try to isolate ourselves from the rest of the world, we do so at our own peril!

[FatJoe]

I heard Obama on Piolin a morning or two after Iowa and he was super-charming with Señor Piolin Sotelo and his callers, especially one guy who was in trouble with his wife.

[Henry2008]

So Obama is sending Kennedy with the following message: "Vote for me and we will give you amnesty".

[Pieface]

If Obama winds up with the nomination, he's going to owe Ted Kennedy & family big time!

[BionicWoman]

Ted Kennedy was expelled from Harvard for cheating. He left his mistress to die in a frozen river - rather than get her help - because he was worried about his career. The only reason he still in the senate is that he is a Kennedy. There is nothing he could say that I want to hear.

[Henry2008]

Vote for Obama and we will give you amnesty. This is the message that Obama wants Kennedy to sell to Latinos.

[cynara]

Awesome!!! I am glad to hear that Obama has got his Latino outreach act together... Your right, that interview will do more to reach Latinos than any paid advertisement. Obama just might have a fighting chance in California yet!!