Alejandro Sanz and Paulina Rubio at "The Concert For The Children" in Buenos Aires, May 17. They both support Barack Obama. (Emiliano Lasalvia/AP)Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin endorsed Hillary Clinton yesterday — but when it comes to rallying Latin stars, Barack Obama has so far
taken the cake.
A pageant of celebrities including singers Alejandro Sanz, Don Omar, Paulina Rubio, Lila Downs and Voltio; and actors John Leguizamo, Kate del Castillo, Jessica Alba, George Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Luis Guzmán, among others, appear in “Podemos con Obama,” (We Can with Obama) a video released by his campaign yesterday.
Over 20 Latin music and film stars have come out to support Obama’s candidacy on the eve of the presidential primary vote in Puerto Rico on Sunday.
“The creation of ‘Podemos con Obama’ has been a labor of love resulting from the hope that Barack Obama has inspired in myself, my family, friends and artistic colleagues for a better America — both for ourselves and in the eyes of the rest of the world,” Levin said in a press release.
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) listens to Felicitas Rosel during a discussion on home ownership at the College of Southern Nevada in North Las Vegas, Nevada May 27, 2008. (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)The video, "Podemos con Obama," or "We can With Obama," features such Puerto Ricans as actor John Leguizamo and hip hop artist Don Omar, and international pop stars Alejandro Sanz and Paulina Rubio. Actors George Lopez and Jessica Alba also participated. (
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gNe8KKpguBeOEpFymdOifdQK12yAD90VJI7G1)
Produced by Andres Levin, the video was inspired by one he made earlier this year Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am, titled "We Are The Ones," and unveiled just before the Democratic primaries in Texas and Ohio in March. Both Alba and Lopez also participated in that ad.
The video opens with Spanish text that says President Bush was re-elected in 2004 by roughly 3.5 million votes, and that 8 million Hispanics who were eligible to vote did not.
"Your vote makes all the difference," the video says before Sanz appears playing guitar.
Senator Barack Obama thanks Felicitas Rosel (C) and her husband Francisco Cano after visiting their home in Las Vegas, Nevada May 27, 2008 (Steve Marcus/Reuters)"
Podemos Con Obama", which can be accessed via Podemosconobama.com, features Paulina Rubio, Don Omar, Alejandro Sanz, Yerba Buena, Brazilian Girls, Lin Manuel Miranda (of the Broadway musical "In the Heights") and many other artists and actors including George Lopez and Jessica Alba. The video was released in advance of Puerto Rico's Sunday presidential primary.
The song's chorus is a chant of the presidential candidate's last name, interspersed with the talent saying things like "Obama is our future," "Obama is education, youth," "Obama is the end of this war in Iraq," and "I identify with him."
Senator Barack Obama listens to Francisco Cano and his wife Felicitas Rosel while visiting their home in Las Vegas, Nevada May 27, 2008. (Steve Marcus/Reuters)
video available here:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/05/podemos-con-oba.html