San Antonio mayor will be first Latino to deliver keynote speech at Democratic convention

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
9/4/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

37-year-old Julian Castro success story likened to President Obama's

He's being hailed as the new face of the Democratic Party. Thirty-seven-year-old Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio, Texas, will become the first Latino to deliver the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention this week in Charlotte, North Carolina.

san Antonio Mayor Julian Castro's humble beginnings have been likened to U.S. President Barak Obama's.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Parishioners at St. Paul Catholic Church in San Antonio to commemorate the occasion held a breakfast taco rally this past Labor Day Weekend.

"It's a great step when you look at the progressions that happened with the parities that have gone from not recognizing the Hispanic community to having somebody in the very front, you know, being the keynote speaker," parishioner Larry Ybarra said. "That's like a thousand percent improvement over the last several years."

Castro's humble beginnings have been likened to U.S. President Barak Obama's. Castro and his twin brother, Joaquin, grew up in San Antonio. Before becoming mayor, Julian Castro represented this working-class Mexican-American neighborhood on the city council. His brother Joaquin is a state representative in Austin and a Democratic nominee for Congress.

The boys were raised by their single mom Rosie, who encouraged them to stay out of trouble and excel in school.

Local Tea Party activists say there's another similarity between Obama and the Castro brothers.

"I see a very clear similarity between the upbringing that Mr. Obama had in a nontraditional home and being mentored by radicals and the same thing with the Castros being brought up in a nontraditional home by their mother, who herself was a member of the Raza Unida Party, which was very, very radical," activist George Rodriguez says.

Raza Unida in the 1970s was a civil rights organization that campaigned for better working, housing and education opportunities for Mexican-Americans. Castro's mother was one of its leaders in South Texas, breaking barriers by organizing voter registration, getting out the vote and putting new Mexican-American candidates on the ballot.

Julian Castro shrugs has played down the notion that Raza Unida was a radical cell.

"If somebody calls trying to get people to vote radical, then that's quite a difference from the United States, because the democratic process is about the biggest blessing we have in this country," he said.

Alluding to actor Clint Eastwood's speech at the Republican convention last week, Castro told the crowd that when he speaks at the convention, he "won't be talking to any empty chairs up there."

He says his speech will tell his version of the American dream and explain why he supports Obama's re-election.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit nervous - it's something new," Castro said. "But by the time I get up there on Tuesday night, I'll be ready."

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
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Keywords: Julian Castro, San Antonio, mayor, Democratic convention

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

DarthJ
8 months ago
Unorthodox liberals like this man are the ones ruining Texas. And if he's a member of the La Raza ("the Race") group, that means he wants to supplant all non-Hispanic people in the State of Texas. How's that for Racism?
Claire
8 months ago
Please explain what makes Raza Unida Party radical? All this article states is that they worked for better working, housing and education opportunities. Don't we want that for all Americans? And aren't both sides, Republican and Democratic, trying to get out the vote? That's not radical. Please explain!
Madison
8 months ago
I was surprised that San Antonio's Mayor Julian Castro said these words in the DMC Keynote Speech: "When it comes to letting people marry whomever they love, Mitt Romney says, No." (See 17th paragraph of his speech in this link: http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/news/juli-n-castros-speech-democratic-national-convention-full-220822248--politics.html?orig_host_hdr=news.yahoo.com&.intl=US&.lang=en-US).

If he's Roman Catholic, he is not following the church's stance on gay marriage. See: http://www.americancatholic.org/News/Homosexuality/default.asp
The article on U.S. Bishops Urge Constitutional Amendment to Protect Marriage states:
"The Catholic Church opposes gay marriage and the social acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex relationships, but teaches that homosexual persons deserve respect, justice and pastoral care. The Vatican and Pope John Paul II are speaking out against the growing number of places that recognize same-sex marriages."
As a registered Democrat, I am not too happy with these social, political & liberal views. I believe one should be mindful of God's laws not man's laws in order to get the popular vote. I'm so disappointed when a politician doesn't stand up to his faith & the church's doctrines just to gain power. After watching Paul Ryan's speech, I believe he's standing up more for his conservative morals, values & Catholic faith. That's a game changer for me. Principles over Power takes courage. God help our country's leaders both locally & nationally. Morals & values are sliding down, FAST.
Margaret
8 months ago
I wish these pro abortion, pro gay marriage politicians would list their religion as "other". They bring scandal to the Church. Worse still, by their claiming to be faithful Catholics, they encourage other Catholics to ignore God's law and Church teaching.

I don't care who's running against Castro's brother in Congress, I'm sending them a donation.
Emma
8 months ago
I'm waiting for an answer from the Latino Politicians? I want to know why none of them ever mention the exploitation of minor migrant aka child farm workers? I want to know why Obama did not support the CARE ACT? While Michelle tells us all to give our children more fruits and veggies, her husband refused to address this issue. Corporate mega-farms defined as "family farms and the 'parents' ". Why are they sweeping this under the rug? Why does Obama listen to advisors re. women's issues while at the same time turning a blind eye to these children who are SLAVES?????? And, why aren't these Latino Mouthpieces speaking out for these children??? Hypocrites. www.theharvestfilm.com/

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