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Carolyn Kaster / AP
President Barack Obama walks with Cesar Chavez' widow Helen F. Chavez, left, and Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers, as they tour the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument Memorial Garden on Monday.
KEENE, Calif. – Taking a break from fundraising in California, President Barack Obama traveled to this vast, rural Northern California reserve to designate the home of Cesar Chavez a national monument.
The National Chavez Center at La Paz, where labor leader Cesar Chavez lived and organized the first successful farm workers union, is now recognized by the federal government as a national monument.
“Today, La Paz joins a long line of national monuments – stretching from the Statue of Liberty to the Grand Canyon – monuments that tell the story of who we are as Americans,” the president said, surrounded by rolling hills and brush as he addressed an outdoor audience of 6,600.
The designation means that the site, which contains Chavez’s carefully preserved office and a memorial garden with his grave, will be tended to by the Department of the Interior, which is charged with coming up with a management plan for the site within three years of the designation.
President Obama commemorated labor leader Cesar Chavez Monday by designating his home a national monument.
During his remarks President Obama praised Chavez as a leader who was able to galvanize a movement in the 1970’s for the rights of an underrepresented group: Latino farm workers.
Chavez was the head of the United Farm Workers of America whose motto was “Si, se puede,” which inspired Obama’s own 2008 campaign motto, “Yes, we can.” Chavez’s work also inspired Obama when he was a young community organizer in Chicago.
Chavez died in 1993; he was 66.
“It was a time of great change in America but too often that change was only expressed in terms of war and peace, black and white, young and old,” Obama said. “No one seemed to care about the invisible farm workers who picked the nation’s food, bent down in the beating son, living in poverty, cheated by growers, abandoned in old age, unable to demand even the most basic rights.
“But Cesar cared,” he continued. “And in his peaceful, eloquent way, he made other people care too.”
Later Monday, the president planned to return to the campaign trail to raise money in San Francisco.
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Leave a Comment:
What's next-a Cesar Chavez national holiday??? Obama's pandering for votes knows no bounds.
He is trying to kiss the hispanic voters butt to get votes right now. Why did he wait for an election year to all of a sudden to start doing all this? What is next a native american federal holiday to get their vote too? Lets make Geronimo b-day a federal holiday.
“Today, La Paz joins a long line of national monuments – stretching from the Statue of Liberty to the Grand Canyon – monuments that tell the story of who we are as Americans, as I pander to the Latin community” the president said.
Pandering was the first thought I had too. The timing of several actions by him makes it pretty obvious. I suppose he will announce 2 days before the election the total withdraw from Afghanistan.
It's scary when presidents actions are dictated by campaign managers.
That being said, Cesar Chavez was awesome.
If he wanted to really pander to them, maybe he should better enable businesses to hire them instead of harming these companies. Latinos, like the rest of us want jobs, not Obamas handouts.
One criticism of Chavez though, is that he made too much money as the head of the WFW, and ran it very undemocratically at a $125,000 a year salary. Many say he lost touch with the common man.
One criticism of Chavez though, is that he made too much money as the head of the WFW, and ran it very undemocratically at a $125,000 a year salary. Many say he lost touch with the common man.
The Democratic President is shamelessly catering and pandering to United Farm Labor Union votes and the 'Hispanic' voters.
Is there any question as to who benefits from socialist programs and lack of border enforcement?
Is there any American citizen still wondering why the US government has the US southwest borders wide open ?
We have a shameless, unqualified idiot as president. We need to kick him out of the White House... Please!!!
the whole country has far too many monuments that honor people for petty little things they have done,
but there are no monuments erected in my honor,
i think my laundry basket should get a nomination to be a monument,
it has a lot of things in it that would tell as much history as the average monument that get erected any more.
Un effing believable. What a waste of taxpayer money.
Was Univision there asking about Fast and Furious?
Put this in your pot and melt it obummer. Here is another reason why:
President Obama touted it in 2010 as evidence "manufacturing jobs are coming
back to the United States,” but two years later, a Michigan hybrid battery plant
built with $150 million in taxpayer funds is putting workers on furlough before
a single battery has been produced.
This guy HAS TO GO!
Another example of Obamas' pandering to big labor and hispanics.Next week he is suppose to be at the opening of the new "Frito Bandito" museum in San Diego!Se!Su!
Sucking up to the habla vote. Next a monument in SFO for the gays changing the name of the Coit Tower.
Even the legal Hispanics won't vote for an Illegal like Communist Obama . . . LOL!!!
Even though every poll shows Obama leading with the Hispanic community, it takes a liar like you to post your crap. A true right-wing bozo.
Well (enuf-uuuu) IT TAKES ONE TO NO ONE. You must no that cause you are one.
What the heck is wrong with all you immature fools. Pathetic Republicans. Nasty vile comments only need apply when it comes to Republicans. Get a life you uninformed racists.
What is wrong with you that you can't see Obama pandering for votes??? Why has he waited weeks before the election to now do this?? Not racist and certainly not uninformed! He can't run on his record so he is doing everything he can for votes.
Let's make sure we get this right. A negative comment about a black person and the commenter is a racist. But a negative against a white and that is free speech.
obummer is more "black" when he is addressing a black crowd and less black when he addresses a more mixed crowd and the commenters are racist?
Oh name calling now but it was you the democrats that started that fool.
What a Crock of S###,
Cesar Chavez was a Communist,
just like Obama
Cesar Chavez was not a communist. He was a the leader of the United Farm Worker Labor Union waging a bitter conflict against the Teamster Union that also wanted to represent the farm laborer. Chavez won, and the rest is history.
Obama is not a communist. His ideology is just confused as the result of indoctrination from labor union operated public schools.
Then what is your Obama.
@!$%# that @!$%# and you....sayin....
What a Crock of S###,Cesar Chavez was a Communist
just like Obama
Can you name in a little detail one issue he fought against? You seem to know so much about him. Put your money where your mouth is simple mind. I sure we have here one of the least informed on purpose.
You Republicans would embarrass a group of Neanderthals (that is a caveman to you really ignorant Republicans-see above).
What i call someone like you isn't in our DICTIONARY . You sound just like a PROGRESIVE.
Look at the expression on the 2 ladies faces. The lady nearest look disgusted and the other I can't believe this fool wants my vote.
Sorry ladies, I'm embarrassed for you, too!
What a Crock of S###,Cesar Chavez was a communist
just like Obama
Limbaugh Lap Troll hard at work! Do you understand any on your own? Are you hand fed your information? Limbaugh got your ear? Fox your source of information even over local news?
anyanything*
Hahahahahahaha!! Talk about a TROLL!!!! Hahahahaha!!!
Aren't you intelligent. You have no clue.
ROGER THAT !sampley
Thanks to President Obama, Cesar Chavez, who worked and died trying to protect those who could not protect themselves, will offer an example to future generations. And the sucess of his work will bring hope to others.
As for the racists who have now once again voiced stupidity and hatred againsst Latinos and our president, they are simply stupid and lazy.
Obviously havent read a book since the Three Little Pigs. OUr nation needs and deserves better.
Just do what I do when racists regurgitate their trite mind garbage -- send our President's campaign more money.
Not one Republican posting here has read El Cortito by Maurice "Mo" Jourdane. That would be too much reality for them.
Still waiting for the Che Guerva residence christening...
Wrong country
let's see.
leak details of classified security operations to win over Jewish voters. check.
evolve in support of gay marriage six months before elections. check.
give 3 million illegal immigrants a pass to stay in the country three months before election. check.
announce cesar chavez national monument one month before election (between fund raising events in Hollywood). check
pack teleprompter for TV debate with Mitt Romeny. "@$%^& I knew I forgot something!"
Ain't no teleprompters in a live debate, as you know jon.
Can't wait for the azz-wipin' Ryan's gonna' hand Biden.
When's that next presidential "debate"? Too early to classify it as a wipeout?
he is shameless ! he is one pandering s.o.b.
Name a living politician who doesn't pander, that's what campaigns are-pander fests
Hows about dealing with something that matters,,, like the REAL unemployment number or perhaps that pesky 16,000,000,000,000 debt, thats right 12 0s is a lot of cash,
WASHINGTON NEEDS A CHANGE, its too late and we are screwed, but we need to totally gut washington and start over if we ever want to get out of this mess.
Obama said, "Today, La Paz joins a long line of national monuments—stretching from the Statue of Liberty to the Grand Canyon." Apparently, Obama doesn't think there are any national monuments west of the Grand Canyon...
They didn't study history and national landmarks of the Mainland while he was being tutored on The Islands.
The UFW is run by his sons. It's basically a sham. While Chavez did improve the working conditions of Farm Laborers,(you now see porta pottys, sanitation stations and drinking water at harvesting locations). The Union itself has become a joke. This has been the legacy of so many Unions. They start of with good intentions and end up practicing the very thing they claim to be against, "Greed".
Looks like most of you don't know that 70% of latinos support Obama. They can see a lair when they see Mitt, they are smarter than any of you trolls.
Negros ??? Are u in a time warp ?
Aren't the repubs evil old white folks ? They're not ? The way they diss minorities and so intolerant to change and diversity, u could've fooled me.
How Ironic he does this a few months from the election. Really stumping for that Hispanic vote huh Barry?
This comment is directed to all Republican & Democrats of every race-male or female except the Hispanic vote. If you have not realized Nobama doesn't give a crap about our votes you have had your head buried in the sand for the last year or so. He has exclusively been pandering for the Hispanic vote & does an occasional "oh the rest of you vote for me too" speech.
He doesn't want or vote so DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM!!!!! In the states where ID doesn't have to be provided to register how many ILLEGAL'S do you think will vote? If you're not registered REGISTER! NOBAMA MUST BE TAKEN OUT OF OFFICE & SHOWN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY ARE VOTERS TOO!!!!!
Sorry to burst your political campaign, but you're fighting an uphill battle.
Looks like most of you don't know that 70% of latinos support Obama. They can see a lair when they see Mitt, they are smarter than any of you trolls.
Anyone that knows the history of politics understands why this is coming about at this time. If a Republican was in office and needed the Latino vote he very well may do the same thing. It is all in the timing when it was decided to do this, that smacks of pandering for votes. Why wasn't this done in the first year of office if it was so important? The same reason he didn't do anything with his idea to stop deporting children here through no fault of their own (but remained here when they knew). These were his hole cards, and ace up his sleeve. Like I said those of us that know politics and how it works fully understand what is going on here. You are right, Latinos will see this for what it is.