A Rising Star Out of Texas

That's funny. The sense I get is that Obama doesn't like to listen to criticism. And, in the last three and half years, I've piled on plenty of it over his heavy-handed immigration policies.

"I know that you and I probably have a different view of it," Castro said. "But I believe that (Obama) has been the most effective advocate that Latinos have had in the White House when you actually look at policy. The fact that 9 million more Latinos are going to have health care coverage, that's a huge issue. On immigration, I know there has been criticism for the issue of deportation. But he has put policies in place that are sensitive to the life that an immigrant has led in the United States by prioritizing the removal of people with criminal backgrounds."

Meanwhile, I noted that it doesn't hurt the Democrats' cause that the alternative is so unappealing.

"It's clear that the Latino community has significant reservations about Mitt Romney," Castro said, "because he has embraced far right policies on immigration and aligned himself with folks ... who have not been friends of the Latino community."

Personally, I was curious about what Castro thought a historic breakthrough like this meant to his mother, Rosie, who was an activist in the Raza Unida Party in the 1970s and who raised twins who pursued careers in politics. Julian's brother, Joaquin, is a Texas state representative who seems a shoo-in to win the race for a new congressional seat.

"I hope she's proud," Castro said. "The folks in that generation worked very hard so that future generations could realize our dreams. And so for her to see that the dream she had for her family and the United States is coming true thanks to the accomplishments of her sons, that feels very good to me."

Me, too. And, I imagine, it will also feel pretty good to the millions of Americans who will soon get their first glimpse of Julian Castro. It won't be their last.

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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com.