Category Archives: Las Mujeres

Thursday: Leticia and Little Joe in Houston

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He’s been a very public supporter of Wendy Davis and Leticia Van de Putte at his concerts, so, it is great to hear that Jose Maria de Leon Hernandez–Little Joe–will be in Houston on Thursday to rally support for Van de Putte.

Little Joe (and his brother Johnny who now lives in California) has deep roots in Texas political culture and has always been up to the task of rallying the people for anything having to do with voting, legislation, and even public health issues like diabetes. He’s still a prominent voice for change and progress, especially in the Mexican American community.

Here are the details for the rally and performance:

Houston THURSDAY 5:30pm
CWA Hall, 1730 Jefferson St., Downtown Houston
Featuring a performance by Little Joe!
Other speakers TDB

 

Saturday in Houston’s Northside: Loteria The Vote!

Click image to enlarge. This sounds like a fun event–Food, Music, Voting! Democrat for Lt. Governor, Leticia Van de Putte, will be there to shake hands and speak. Now, this is democracy!
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Wendy Davis: Nuestro Momento (Ad)

Even Wendy adds some Español to this positive ad. Check it out.

Van de Putte: Rape is Always Rape

In her latest ad, Leticia Van de Putte calls out Dan Patrick’s opposition to abortion even for rape and incest, as well as votes against funding for the backlog of rape kits. Whether it’s women, Latinos and immigrants, or school kids, Dan Patrick is wrong on every issue. Give it a watch and share it!

Did You Check Out Cristela?

Cristela_ABCI’ve gotta admit, I didn’t know what to think in the run-up to the premiere of Cristela, the new ABC show about the trials and tribulations of a Texas Mexican American woman who wants to be a lawyer–in comedic format, of course.

Everytime we’ve had a show about Chicanos or other Latinos, our hearts have either been broken by the TV execs or by a show’s lack of funny. I still remember my first heartbreak when AKA Pablo starring Paul Rodriguez was cancelled a few episodes in. Ultimately, while Chicanos ate it up, the big bad gringo execs and audiences didn’t catch on; if anything, they were offended by it. Whodathunk it was produced by the great and legendary Norman Lear, right?

Well, enter Cristela, in what is considered a history-making show by Mexican American, Texan comedian Cristela Alonzo. The synopsis:

The series will chronicle the life of a Mexican-American law school graduate who must balance her chance to live the American Dream by working as an unpaid intern at a law firm, with the concerns of her family, including her sister (a call center operator at a cable TV company who wants her to get a real job), her brother-in-law (who sees her as a freeloader and wants her to find another place to live), and her mother (who wants her to settle down).

The show has everything Chicanos and other Latinos might experience:  Extended families, judgmental old-school mom, politically incorrect gringo boss, and above all, everyday struggle. In other words, it is like the beginnings of Roseanne, except with a mostly Latino cast, backed up by some zany gabachos.

One episode in, I’m sold (click link to watch it online). I can identify with a lot of what the show offers that the Huxtables, Seinfeld, and Friends never attempted to offer (I still liked those shows, though). I’m pretty sure a lot of Chicanos and Latinos of my generation can identify with it and will enjoy it. Mostly, I’m glad that a bunch of Latinos are employed in Hollywood because of Alonzo’s efforts.

Let’s face it, we don’t have a lot of Latino programming on TV, especially quality programming. Cristela has a lot of potential to gain a wide audience. And that’s what it needs. Latinos are just part of the equation for this show’s future success. The viewership needs to be diverse; and not just because it is a good show, but because it really is an opportunity to learn. But mostly, to laugh. There aren’t a lot of new shows out there that make us laugh.

As funny as Alonzo is, there’s also Fluffy (Gabriel Iglesias) to add to the laughs.

So, if you missed it last night, you can still watch it online.

 

Honoring a Democratic Shero

lanemurielI spent a little time at Harris County Democratic Party today to celebrate the retirement of Muriel Stubbs as a Party volunteer. After sixteen years of helping with just about anything that needed to get done at the HQ, Muriel has decided to slow down a bit and enjoy her books, her friends, and her family.

A retired teacher who spent some of her career in the Port Arthur schools (where she also had Janis Joplin as a student), Muriel arrived in Houston in the 90s and immediately began to volunteer for Democrats, as well as other clubs and progressive efforts. It is no wonder that today, September 19, has been proclaimed Muriel Stubbs Day in Houston by Mayor Annise Parker. The proclamation was read and presented by Harris County Democratic Chairman Lane Lewis.

stubbsdayI met Muriel years ago during my time as a Friday volunteer. She is a wealth of historical and literary information and always managed to blow us away with all sorts of facts and tidbits about her life. After a long career in the classroom and 16 great years at the HQ, Muriel has earned her rest. She is definitely one of my sheroes.

Congrats and abrazos for Muriel!

Dan Patrick’s Record on Latinos

Thanks to the good folks at the Texas Democratic Party, there’s a list of comments made by Dan Patrick about Latinos and immigrants. Let’s not forget that this would be representative of an Abbott-Patrick administration if Latinos don’t show up at the polls. Is it any surprise that Patrick has refused a debate with Democrat for Lt. Governor Leticia Van de Putte at tonight’s Univision Town Hall?

Another reminder:  Watch a frank discussion about the future of Texas featuring State Senator Leticia Van de Putte on Friday, 9/12 at 6PM. Watch it online here.

Background On Dan Patrick’s History of Disrespect Towards Hispanic Community

Patrick Said Number One Problem We Are Facing Is “Silent Invasion Of The Border.” At a campaign speech in October 2006, Patrick said, “The number one problem we are facing is the silent invasion of the border. We are being overrun.” [The Texas Observer, 2/24/2006]

Patrick Said Texas Faces “Hardened Criminals, Not Illegals Here For A Job…They Threaten Your Family. They Threaten Your Life. They Threaten Your Business. They Threaten Our State.” At a January 2014 forum, Sen. Dan Patrick said the question of border security was tied to violent crimes in the U.S. He said an improved immigration policy was necessary because the state had been facing “hardened criminals we arrested from 2008 to 2012—not illegals who were here for a job … but hardened criminals—141,000 we put in our jails just in four years in Texas. They threaten your family. They threaten your life. They threaten your business. They threaten our state,” he said. [Off the Kuff, 1/21/14]

  • Chairman of Associated Republicans of Texas Said Patrick’s Rhetoric “Sounds Like Thinly Veiled Racism.” In February 2014, New York Times reported Hector De Leon, Chairman of the Associated Republicans of Texas, stated that the issue of illegal immigration “can be addressed by not engaging in rhetoric that sounds like thinly veiled racism.” [New York Times, 2/7/2014]

Patrick Said Immigrants Are Bringing Third World Diseases With Them Such As “Tuberculosis, Malaria, Polio and Leprosy.” In February 2013, The Monitor reported Dan Patrick said of unauthorized immigrants, “‘They are bringing Third World diseases with them.’ Although Patrick cited ‘tuberculosis, malaria, polio and leprosy,’ a state epidemiologist later rebutted his statement and said there was no evidence of that.” [McAllen Monitor, 2/19/2014]

Patrick Painted Immigration In Dire Terms, ‘There Are Terrorists and Drug Runners Coming Into Texas And Sheriffs Are Being Asked To Stop Them With Only .45 On Their Hip And A Shotgun In The Trunk.’ In February 2013, The Monitor reported, “At times in his political career, Patrick has painted illegal immigration in dire terms. ‘There are terrorists and drug runners coming into Texas and the sheriffs in 15 border counties are being asked to stop them with only a .45 on their hip and a shotgun in the trunk,’ he told a Houston business group in 2006, according to the Texas Observer.” [McAllen Monitor, 2/19/2014]

Patrick Said We Are Going To Be Overrun By People Who Have No Sense Of Our History, Our Culture, Or Our Language. Dan Patrick said, “We are going to be overrun by the masses coming here. By 2050 we could have over one hundred million people with no sense of our history, no sense of our culture, no sense of our language…Your property taxes will never go down as long as a fourteen-year-old can show up at the schoolhouse and we pay…And that student is destined to drop out anyway.” [TEXAS MONTHLY, 1/2007]

 

6PM: Watch Leticia Van de Putte Town Hall Online

From the Inbox:

Catch the Live Stream 9/12 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at http://univision41.univision.com/noticias/en-vivo/

letidcSan Antonio, TX — Tonight, Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor will keep her commitment to earn every vote and participate in a town hall with a live studio audience in San Antonio. The town hall will be hosted by Univision and Mi Familia Vota with the participation of the San Antonio Express-News, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

During the town hall, Leticia will take questions from journalists and voters, and will share her vision for the future with Texas’ spanish-speaking Latino community. Dan Patrick chose not to address the priorities of the statewide Latino community.

Univision Town Hall & Press Availability with Leticia Van de Putte
Who: Leticia Van de Putte
What: Town Hall – Cara a Cara con Leticia Van de Putte
Host: Antonio Guillén, Univision 41 Reporter
Panelists: Ricardo Pimentel, San Antonio Express News; Dr. Katsuo Nishikawa, Trinity University Assistant Professor; and Jesse Degollado, KSAT News Reporter
When: September 12 at 6PM – Livestreamed on http://univision41.univision.com/noticias/en-vivo/
Online: We encourage Texans to follow on Twitter using the hashtags: #caraacara #vivaleticia
 

 

Wendy Davis Launches Education Ad

Feel free to share.

Save the Date~ Aug. 1 – All About Ann in Houston

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HOUSTON, TX – On Friday August 1, Annie’s List and Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, in partnership with a number of local elected officials and organizations, will bring “All About Ann”, HBO’s documentary about former Texas Governor Ann Richards, to Houston for FREE!

Beginning at 8:00PM with live music, food and drinks, join us at Discovery Green’s Anheuser Busch Stage and enjoy this wonderful documentary about Texas’ only female Governor as we all work hard this fall to have Wendy Davis as the second woman in the Governor’s House!

Drinks will be donated by 8th Wonder Brewery and Mayor Annise Parker will introduce the film.

State Senators John Whitmire, Rodney Ellis and Sylvia Garcia, State Representatives Senfronia Thompson and Armando Walle, Mayor Annise Parker, Ambassador Arthur Schechter, Hon. Debra Danburg as well as Annie’s List Board Members Licia Green-Ellis, Eileen Olson, Kathy Overly and Amber Mostyn are just some of the proud hosts of this event.

RSVP at www.pptexasvotes.org/AllAboutAnn. If you are interesting in joining the host committee to help cover costs of the event or are interested in a table at the event, please contact Shelby Hansen at Shelby@LillieSchechter.com or 281-224-4525.

“All About Ann”: Fiesty, fiery, fearless, a force of nature . . . and funny as hell. These are just some of the words used to describe Ann Richards, one of the most charismatic American political figures of the last 30 years. This portrait chronicles the life of the liberal Richards who rose to power in a conservative state, effecting sweeping state reforms while becoming a beloved national icon.

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