Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles, CA) was meeting with President-Elect Barack Obama earlier today to discuss the U.S. Trade Representative position. Apparently, Becerra has some concerns about moving his wife and his daughters to D.C. I believe that they live in the Eagle Rock area of Los Angeles. I have actually met Congressman Becerra before, and he was approachable and seemed sharp. As for his legislative record, you can read about that here.
I do know that his wife, Dr. Carolina Reyes, is a superstar in the medical field though. She’s a Harvard Medical School graduate, and she is a visiting associate professor of fetal medicine at USC. She’s a respected ob/gyn, who has served on a variety of boards dealing with public health issues. You can read about her here. Actually, I think that she should be considered for a health and human services position. Dr. Carolina Reyes is a woman that our young Latinas can look up to. Perhaps with some encouragement from our community, she will consider the move to Washington, D.C. with her husband.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rep. Becerra’s site, Speaker Pelosi, wife Dr. Reyes, and Congressman Becerra at swearing in 01/04/07
9 responses so far ↓
1 Anna // Dec 4, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I had never heard of Dr. Carolina Reyes before. These are the kind of people I like to read about.
2 Michaelr // Dec 5, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Why is the Obama Administration even considering Xavier Becerra for U.S. Trade Representative? Doesn’t the name Carlos Vignali ring any bells? Carlos Vignali was a cocaine dealer who got caught delivering 800 pounds of cocaine to a distribution hub in Minneapolis in 1994. He was convicted that same year and his sentence was commuted after serving less than half of his 14 ½ year sentence. Xavier Becerra led the charge to have Carlos Vignali’s sentence commuted by then President Bill Clinton, even though the Justice Department pardon attorney Roger Adams recommended that Clinton not commute the sentence. It was determined that Carlos Vignali satisfies none of the appropriate grounds for commutation identified in Justice Department regulations, according to the report submitted to Bill Clinton.
So Xavier Becerra proceeded onto Plan B. Horacio Vignali, Carlos Vignali’s father, a so-called businessman and developer began donating large amounts of money to Xavier Becerra political campaigns. He then shifted gears and gave Hugh Rodham, Hillary Clinton’s brother $204,000 to lobby for his son’s release. Xavier Becerra received $174,000 for his part from Horacio Vignali. Carlos Vignali’s sentence was commuted after U.S. Attorney Alejandro Mayorkas began to lobby in his behalf for release. It has been widely rumored that Alejandro Mayorkas was handsomely compensated for his public support to provide clemency for Carlos Vignali. Alejandro Mayorkas now serves on the Obama Justice Department transition.
The federal judge who sentenced Carlos Vignali later complained that the commutation was inappropriate.
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Xavier Becerra’s Congressional record is not worth bragging about; however it is now very clear that he has used his elected office to further enrichment himself. As a U.S. Trade Representative he will be engaging with global representatives seeking to further favor their trading status with the United States. And as business goes, he who has the most cash usually wins the contract. Does the Obama Administration need to emulate the trading tactics of the WTO? And spend time and money covering up potential scandals in the making because it is feeling forced to appoint as many Latino politicians as possible to its administration. We need the best and the brightest to fix all the problems caused by 28 years of federal corruption and collusive Corporate American interference. And Xavier Becerra doesn’t belong in that group.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-becerra5-2008dec05,0,785432.story
3 webmaster // Dec 5, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Michaelr,
Maybe Becerra is tacitly indicating that he’s going to be a drug policy reformer. It would be great to see someone would stand up to this “war on drugs” and see it for what it is worth, but then again, if he’s benefiting from the current arrangement, I don’t think that it is likely.
You might want to see this article in the NY Times though:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/us/politics/05becerra.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=becerra&st=cse
As someone wise has told me, behind every great fortune, there is a crime. Without serious campaign finance reform, I don’t see how we can find leaders who are clean from any of this… or can we?
4 DoctorH // Dec 5, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Michaelr: You didn’t mention U.S. Attorney Alejandro Mayorkas other lobbying efforts with “I’m Always for Sale,” L.A County Sheriff Lee Baca to commute Carlos Vignali’s sentence. And don’t let it go unmentioned that Antonio Villaraigosa wrote a number of letters lobbying for Carlos Vignali. But you’re right; this was all pushed by Xavier Becerra to begin with, and he got well paid to do it. There’s also the incidental fact that George Torres, (Mister Mexican Mafia/Numero Uno Supermarkets CEO), and his older brother Manuel, along with Steven Torres, and George Luk of the Los Angeles Convention and Exhibition Center Authority, Steve Carmona, a former commissioner with the Los Angeles Central Area Planning Commission, all big donors to Antonio Villaraigosa, Fabian Nunez, and Xavier Becerra got arrested last year for murder, corruption, and the harboring of illegal aliens. Boy…what timing. Do you think George Torres has made a deal? I think the drama is just beginning for Villaraigosa, Nunez, and Becerra.
5 Jesus (Hay-soos) // Dec 6, 2008 at 10:49 am
All the allegations aside aforementioned here not withstanding, what can be said of Becerra, the public servant?
My limited exposure to him has been when he ran for Mayor of LA and his frequent appearances on Univision local LA news. Let me tell you, I have been disappointed. I am so underwhelmed whenever I hear this guy speak. I’m sure Obama can find a more eloquent/capable individual to fill this post.
6 theKaiser // Dec 6, 2008 at 1:25 pm
You should always beware of the politician who spends the vast majority of their working hours lobbying in behalf of felons and Fortune 100 companies, literally avoiding the business of legislation. Xavier Becerra has missed over 733 votes on the Hill, and in fifteen years has only sponsored 63 bills. In comparison, during the same time period Henry Waxman has sponsored 139 bills, while Hilda Solis in only seven years in office has sponsored 57 bills. It’s more accurate to describe Xavier Becerra as a fixer, rather than a Congressman, and a more mundane one at that.
7 Bearguez // Dec 6, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Well at least Xavier Becerra is more productive than Grace Napolitano-D 38th Congressional District. She must spend all her time in DC at beauty parlors. Since 1999, she has only sponsored 12 bills. How do you explain that? What is she doing? Taking naps at her desk, or is she in her office watching telenovelas and can not tear herself away from the tube? I have an idea she’s selling Avon or Mary Kay products on the side. What kind of people live in the 38th Congressional district of California?
8 Michaelr // Dec 6, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Obviously people in that district don’t mind being ignored by the Federal government. We’ve been remarkably surprised the GOP hasn’t jumped on this opportunity in California’s 38th Congressional district. Anyone campaigning against her would have a field day with her record in Congress. She’s even more unproductive than Loretta Sanchez, and that takes a lot of effort to be as unsuccessful. Maybe Grace Napolitano is selling Mary Kay or Avon products on the side, because she isn’t doing very much in Congress.
9 The Gurl // Feb 14, 2009 at 10:48 am
Doctor H-where do you find facts to link George Torres to the Mexican Mafia? Where are the facts that he was a “big donor” for these fine Los Angeles politicians? George Torres has not been convicted of any of these things. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Your politicians aren’t the only shadey characters out there. Look at your law enforcement.
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