Better Know a Member

Today we’re here with Andy Sookram the Secretary of the College Democrats.

Chris Puntarelli: So Andy what do you do as secretary?
Andy Sookram: What do I do? Everything. I am a key component of this organization, that’s what I’m told.
CP:What brought you to college democrats?
AS: What brought me to college democrats?
CP: That was the question yes
AS: Brian standing on a table during student orientation during July 2007. I was looking for a pre law organization and I found college dems instead and Brian sold the organization to me.
CP: What are your future ambitions in the organization?
AS: I’m thinking…. I mean I’m already part of the e board, probably go higher, vice president, maybe president I don’t know time will tell. I need to see if the time is right in my life. The future is unknown.
CP: When we go to events you’re usually the only brown person out there. Do you think that the college democrats are reaching out enough to minorities?
AS: This is a tough one. In terms of our campus?
CP: In general
AS: I think they want us brown people. Us brown people don’t really find politics that interesting, because the families think we have to be bigger and better things such as doctors and pharmacists.
CP: recently Ian Rivera said that brown people are only doctors and pharmacists, would you like to address that?
AS: that is true, the majority of them that I know have desires and ambitions to become those things.

CP: So what do you do besides cd?
AS: what do I do? I have to choose my words wisely now. …… besides college democrats I do…… I enjoy watching sports, hanging out with friends and enjoying life.

CP: What do you think of the recent debates?
AS: I think that you know, both candidates still didn’t answer a single question. I think that Obama had to prove that independents voter that he’s the best candidate. He went into detail in his programs both domestic and foreign while McCain has been blabbering around and criticizing his campaign instead of what Obama does, which is lay out his plan. I don’t know what mccains healthcare policy is. How is he going to fund those things?
CP: do you like Barack because he’s also dark skinned?

SHENANIGANS!!!

I call shenanigans!

Something smells in here, and I’m going to have to address it.

Ian Rivera of the Hillary Clinton campaign, we’ve been constantly hearing and reading your comments about Hillary Clinton and you throwing your support behind her. Now for anyone that knows you today, we all know you as a solid hardcore Hillary Clinton supporter.

However, is it not true that you yourself were an Obama man?

Surely someone who has come out so strongly against him, in favor of Clinton wouldn’t support the man.

Why is it then Ian, that on February 15th 2007, over a year ago you stated this:

Ian Rivera wrote
at 11:33pm on February 15th, 2007

woohoo…Go Obama

Now, this is in a group on Facebook called “St. Johns Students For Barack Obama”
Only two days later you go on to say:

“Hey…it happens…poeple want to deny the ability of a young, ambitious black male who has a vision for the future of this country because of his “lack of experience.” If only they could look past that and actually listen to his ideas – he is the only Democratic Senator that has actually forwarded a plan for leaving Iraq”

Mr. Rivera, you have attacked Obama for his plan on pulling troops out of Iraq, saying it’s too soon. Why is it then that last year you were so strongly supporting Senator Barack Obama when he was the only Democratic Senator in leaving Iraq?

It seems that this isn’t the only time that you have supported Senator Barack Obama.

In the May 2 issue of AM New York you are quoted as saying:

“”Yes, Obama is really resonating with the youth,” said Ian Rivera, 19, and a sophomore at St. John’s University. “I think they’ve fallen in love with the ideas he talks about”

you go on to talk about “…the real kind of change that youth want to see.” all in the same article.

Now Ian, how do you expect anyone to take you serious when we don’t know who you really support. You say you support Hillary, yet you publicly support Barack Obama almost a year ago. Where do you stand sir?

You talk about Clinton being able to reach the Hispanic voters. You said she did this in Texas, and Arizona and New Mexico.

However, on a blog titled “Informed Students: Blog the Vote”. A blog which was talking about Hispanic voters being as valuable to the democratic party as black voters.

On March 5th, 2007 on that blog you said:

“I disagree. As a whole, The black population votes overwhelmingly Democrat, while the Hispansics – many which are conservative Catholics- vote Republican. I feel that it is too early anyway, but in essence i disagree with this thought”

Now you are completely disenfranchising the Hispanic vote. Ian Rivera… where do you stand?

On the February 2, 2008 edition of the CNN newsroom you were quoted as saying

“I have strong feelings about, you know, my responsibility in terms of taking a direct effect in this election and the way the country’s going.”

Isn’t that something Barack Obama would say?

Do Hispanic voters matter or not?
Do you support Obama or Hillary?
Do you quote Obama often?