A Test of Mettle for First Latino in White House

After I wrote about Martha Escutia’s political science class in Huntington Park and the practical advice and lessons the students received, more than a few readers wanted to know how the kids handled the last question on Escutia’s final exam. The curiosity was prompted, readers explained, by the fact that the students were Latinos and only half are U.S. citizens.

“With all this talk about Proposition 187 and out-of-control immigration,” reader John Norris of Santa Clarita called in to say, “I was curious how the kids answered that question. Where is the allegiance of these students?”

The last question asked the students to assume that they just defeated Bill Clinton in 1996 to become the first Latino President of the United States. They were asked to describe their legislative program and how they would get it past a GOP-controlled Congress. Some scenarios were included to spice up the answers: Russia sold nuclear weapons to Cuba, which, in turn, has aimed missiles at the U.S.; immigration is out of control; the Social Security system is bankrupt, and war rages in Mexico between the government and the Zapatistas.

The kids’ answers showed that they think like, well, Americans. Although most seemed to be peaceniks, more than a few wanted to declare war on Cuba, figuring that it would be popular with voters and would also create jobs. Most students wanted to control immigration and proposed higher taxes to create a new Social Security program.

The students, however, barely touched on the question’s most significant premise: that they were the first Latino President.

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Escutia, a Democratic assemblywoman who represents Huntington Park and other communities southeast of Downtown L.A., thought the final exam’s question was a fitting challenge that dared them to embrace this country’s political process.

“There are no right or wrong answers in this world,” she said. “We all must just muddle through. I wanted the kids to begin thinking sequentially and logically.”

Jose Quirate, whose parents are from Mexico, turned out to be a hawk with respect to his former homeland.

“If [a cabinet-level] assessment shows that the Zapatista rebels are fighting a true cause,” Quirate answered, “I would put extreme pressure on the PRI [Mexico’s ruling political party]. I would even go as far as use military intervention if the influx of immigrants keeps coming to the U.S.”

Maggie Bizarro noted, “God, if we’ve interfered [in] other countries, why not Mexico? The U.S. could offer military aid to the Mexican people until its country could regain [stability] in exchange for a compromise in helping [stop] illegal immigration.”

Marcos Ramos thought an expanded Mexican auto industry might stem illegal immigration. “I would try to negotiate a more effective work plan that would benefit Mexico’s and America’s economy,” Ramos said. “By creating car industries, this will make more jobs for the people who live in Mexico.”

Although they touched on other parts of the question with similar thoughtfulness, the students largely ignored Escutia’s opening premise of being the first Latino President. Thinking back, I thought it was an important ingredient because it would force the Spanish-surnamed students to make a choice: Are you a President who happens to be Latino or are you a Latino who happens to be President? Escutia thought so too.

But only a few students tried to address the premise, and they were pessimistic about it.

“Not only am I worrying about the [U.S.] citizens but also about all the immigrants who are running from their homes,” wrote Araceli Gomez. “I think we have actually reached the end of the world [based on the question’s scenarios]. The best thing I can do for the U.S.A. and myself is resign.”

And this from Giovanni Gonzalez: “It would [be] too early for a Latino to be President. I think that we are not prepared for that because most of the United States citizens would turn on me, unless by that time at least half of the United States population were Latinos.”

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Not only was Escutia unhappy with some students’ unwillingness to fully answer the last question, she growled at me. I took the final exam to see how I’d do, but I didn’t address some key parts in the question either.

I did get points for increasing defense spending by 15%, closing the Mexican border as long as war persisted in Mexico and proposing higher taxes to pay for Social Security. But I failed to mention the presidential veto in bargaining with Congress. I didn’t talk about a President’s use of public opinion. And I didn’t touch on the importance of being the first Latino President.

Maybe that’s why I only got a B- on the final exam.