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Biden at Latino Inaugural: 'You underestimate your power'
Latino pride was in full stride Sunday night, as celebrities — including Eva Longoria, Chita Rivera, José Feliciano, and Rita Moreno — came out in full force for the Latino Inaugural 2013 at the Kennedy Center.
Vice President Biden made a surprise appearance at the gala event celebrating the presidential inauguration and Latino arts and culture. Every seat in the house was filled, and rose to a standing ovation, as Biden took to the stage. Biden, accompanied by his wife, Jill, and other family members, told the crowd during brief remarks, “I think you underestimate your power.” He continued, “I think you underestimate what you’ve done for America and what you’re about to do.”
He said to applause, “The fact that the Latino Hispanic community in this country was such a decisive voice in turning out in this election was noticed by the whole hemisphere.”
Rivera, legendary Broadway performer who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Obama in 2009, also heaped compliments on the commander in chief. When ITK asked if she shared any dance tips with the president for the inaugural balls he’s slated to attend, she replied while pointing to her Medal of Freedom pin, “When he gave me this great honor, I was melting of course. And I said, ‘You know, when you danced with [first lady] Michelle [Obama], that’s what we used to do in junior high school. We used to dance with the hip moving and the head behind.' ”
Rivera said Obama’s dance moves caused everyone to say, “’Yeah, look at him. He’s so groovy.’ And [Michelle Obama] said, ‘That’s the only step he’s got.’ Which I don’t believe!”
Other notables in attendance included Mario Lopez, Wilmer Valderrama, Marc Anthony, San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro (D), singer Prince Royce and famed tenor Juan Diego Flórez.
Getty Images: Eva Longoria with the Biden family
