Dear Source:
To those delegates from the VI who endorsed Obama, I thank you for reflecting the wishes of all of us who voted for him and gave him the largest margin of victory of any state or other territory. Needless to say, I am also thrilled that Barack Obama is the presumptive nominee of our party for President of the United States. However, I have some concerns about two of our delegates.
I sent an email to Delegate Christensen's office urging her to endorse Obama because as an elected official, I believed she should reflect the desires of 90% of the territory.
On May 21, James Lenny, responded, "In Congress, Delegate Christensen represents the federal concerns of all residents and visitors to the Virgin Islands – not just the Territory's Democrats. The Delegate has also explained, in several different forums, the reasons why she endorsed Senator Clinton and her plans to fully support the Democratic Presidential Nominee. However, as previously mentioned, your E-mail will be forwarded to the Delegate's attention."
I am not aware that visitors to the Territory constitute Christensen's constituency, and I am also not aware of any reasons she has publicly given since our primary for not changing her endorsement to Obama.
On May 28, I saw on Democratic Convention Watch that Kevin Rodriguez who initially endorsed Clinton but changed his endorsement to Obama the same day that Carol Burke did in early May, had changed again to Clinton. I made many inquiries. One disturbing bit of information I received was a question about whether Kevin Rodriguez lives in the Territory. I checked the 2006 phone book and called. The message said the number was no longer in service. I checked the 2008 phone book and found no listing. Later that day, I found an Associated Press interview of Rodriguez in Puerto Rico:
"This week, he [Rodriguez] announced his support for Clinton again. "I decided to switch because that's my right," he told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "I don't want to say why I decided. It's not about me … It's about America and what's best for America."
The chairman of the U.S. Virgin Islands' Democratic party offered a different reason. "At this desperate crunch time, anything should be expected, especially when political persuasions, promises and offers are made," said Cecil Benjamin, adding that he had no proof that Rodriquez was being pressured to change his vote. "I'm disappointed," he said. "I believe that we must stand by our convictions." Benjamin said a super delegate's vote should reflect the opinion of those they represent. The majority of Rodriquez's constituents are Obama supporters, he said. The Illinois senator is popular in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he won all three pledged delegates at caucuses in February. Six super delegates will go to the party's national convention in August. As of Wednesday, four backed Clinton and two favored Obama. Asked whether he might switch allegiances again, Rodriquez replied: "I don't know."
So, my questions are these: Does Kevin Rodriguez still live in the Virgin Islands? If he does not live here, can someone explain how he could be one of our delegates to the Democratic Convention?
Dena Langdon
St. Thomas
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
