Eduardo Verastegui, producer and lead actor of the 2007 American film Bella, met with Senator John McCain on October 17 in Miami, where they discussed the human rights at stake in this presidential election. Now Verastegui is using his star power – and more – to help McCain and Governor Sarah Palin win the votes of Latinos.
Verastegui said, “I am endorsing Sen. McCain for president because of his commitments to end abortion, protect traditional marriage and fix immigration law.
On Gov. Palin’s leadership, he said, “I love her. She’s a great role model for women.”
Verastegui has spoken at several McCain-Palin rallies. In Miami, the capital of Latin America and the first U.S. city where Verastegui lived, he campaigned for John McCain with McCain’s Senate allies Joe Lieberman and Mel Martinez, as well as Florida’s former governor, Jeb Bush and Governor Charlie Crist.
Verastegui said, “There I was, just an actor from Hollywood, not even a politician.
“I said more than 45 million babies have been killed by abortion in America and more than 200,000 Latino babies are killed by abortion each year. I told everyone that we need to put an end to this and, when I finished, I went to John McCain and I said, ‘Senator, thank you for your commitment to life. I’d like to give you something.’ I gave him a Miraculous Medal blessed by Pope Benedict XVI and he was amazing. He said, ‘Thank you so much! Look what I have here in my pocket.’ Then Sen. McCain took a medal out of his pocket that he carries everywhere and it was a Blessed Mother Teresa medal. He said, ‘Eduardo, now I am going to keep both.’
Verastegui also gave McCain’s wife, Cindy, a Miraculous Medal. He said, “I was touched when I found out that the McCains adopted one of their daughters from Mother Teresa’s orphanage in India. There is nothing more beautiful than to give children homes with families who will love them. I hope that one day that I can do the same.”
Verastegui gives out Miraculous Medals because he believes the Blessed Mother promised Saint Catherine Labouré that “all who wear it will receive great graces.”
As Americans prepare to vote, many think their country is in crisis and Verastegui agrees. Therefore, he said, “It would be a disaster if Senator Barack Obama is elected president.”
Verastegui believes that unless Americans elect a president who will defend fundamental human rights, no one can expect a sound economy, health care or national security, including immigration reform.
Thus, he said, “Obama speaks about ‘change,’ but what change are we talking about? Fidel Castro spoke about change in Cuba. Hugo Chavez talks about change in Venezuela. A lot of other charismatic dictators promised change, but look what happened to their countries.”
Verastegui explained, “Obama’s change agenda is very, very dangerous. This is a historic moment. Whoever wins the presidential election will affect this country and the world for decades.
“Obama doesn’t represent the values of our Latino community. He has never done anything for us. He doesn’t know who we are.”
Verastegui mentioned his amigos and filmmaking partners, Alejandro Monteverde and Leo Severino, who exemplify the American dream. Monteverde became a U.S. citizen; married former Miss USA Ali Landry; and Bella won the Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award. In 2007, President Bush recognized him as a Mexican immigrant who achieved success through innovative sacrifices, education and work. Severino is the son of modest Colombian immigrants who concentrated on his studies, then excelled as a Hollywood attorney and eventually established Metanoia Films with Verastegui and Monteverde.
Discussing abortion, Verastegui said, “Alejandro, Leo and I can make hundreds movies like Bella and they will save many babies, but it’s never going to be as powerful as a president nominating judges who observe constitutional law.” McCain is committed to nominating constructionist judges, so Verastegui emphasized that “we are just one Supreme Court justice away from overturning Roe v. Wade.”
However, Verastegui warned that Obama threatens to codify the Roe v. Wade decision by signing the proposed Freedom of Choice Act, which would strip Americans of their right to protect innocent human lives, even from the savagery of partial-birth abortion, during which the abortionist pulls a baby from his mother’s womb, stabs his skull and vacuums out his brains.
Verastegui is pleased that McCain supports the protection of traditional marriage through state amendments legally defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
To the contrary, Obama told LGBT activists, “But my job, as president, is going to be to make sure that the legal rights that have consequences, on a day-to-day basis, for loving same-sex couples all across the country, that those rights are recognized and enforced by my White House and by my Justice Department.” Obama wants to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act and this implies that he intends override the traditional marriage laws passed by numerous states.
On immigration, Verastegui tells voters that McCain took a big risk in Congress for Latinos while Obama abandoned them. Due to popular demand, McCain revised his reform policy. His presidential proposal includes security for U.S. citizens and innovations that would allow migrant workers to legally enter America according to market demands for their skills. Knowing the concerns of Latinos, Verastegui said, “McCain told me that he will reform the law so that it upholds human dignity of all immigrants and protects their families.”
Verastegui concluded, “The right to life is the most important thing to me, so I want to do whatever I can to support the best candidates. That’s why I support McCain-Palin.”
Eduardo Verastegui produced videos about Obama’s policies in English and Spanish. They are online at http://www.obamamustsee.com/ and http://www.durarealidad.com/.
