Emerging Hispanic majority: How do we capture/retain their votes?

[prolesunited]

Jorge Ramos was on CSPAN this morning and raised a number of interesting points. Demographically, it's a given that the Latino population will soon comprise a huge voting block and it's obvious that candidates are becoming more and more sensitive to their needs.

Here's some info on the book and the author

The Latino Wave
How Hispanics Will Elect the Next American President
by Jorge Ramos

From bestselling author and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jorge Ramos comes a pivotal new book that explores the current and future power of the Latino vote in American politics.

The face of the American voter has changed dramatically. With the growth of the Latino population in the United States, there has developed a voting block with the potential to determine the outcome of elections throughout the nation. Hispanics in America, both native-born as well as newly arrived immigrants, will forever alter the way this country votes, and even how the nation views itself.

With its staggering population of close to 40 million and growing, Latinos became the largest minority in America in 2003. The monumental effect Hispanics will have on all areas of American culture, especially politics, will be acutely felt as the road to the 2004 presidential election heats up.
http://www.harpercollins.com/catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0060572019

His site
http://www.jorgeramos.com/english1.htm


Questions:
What issues are important to Hispanics?
Do you think they are more likely to vote D or R? What factors influence that?
How can we better reach them?
How can we get greater voter turnout?
What other ramifications will this demographic shift have in the U.S.?

[markses]

1. WE.....THEIR (Your phrasing says it all)

Sad, really.

[prolesunited]

2. HUH?!?!?

I'm not trying to make it sound like an us and them. I'm talking about demographics and in this situation there are two different groups. I certainly don't appreciate the implication that you're making.

Point me in the right direction then. How could I have been more sensitive in posing the question?

[kentuck]

3. I don't know where the previous post was coming from....

I never saw it as an us vs them...??

But, in response to your question, we have to encourage Hispanic candidates to run against Repubs and we have to make sure they win when they run....as Democrats.

[prolesunited]

6. I was responding to markses

I thought his comment WE and THEIR was implying that I had some sort a racist attitude. That's why I asked for a clarification.

People ARE people and have the same basic needs and desires. However, each person's culture has an influence on who they are and what they value. For example, extended family might be important in one culture and perhaps education is of highest value in another.

I realize you cannot paint individuals with the same broad brush but you can certainly look at trends and patterns among certain demographic groups. That was all that I was saying.

[qanda]

8. If you heard Jorge Ramos on C-SPAN this morning

Then perhaps you would understand the phrasing. All he kept saying was "we control the outcome of the election". And "they better pay attention to us and our needs or they will lose". How else do you respond to someone who puts things in those terms?

[prolesunited]

13. Yes, that's exactly how Ramos, who is Hispanic,

was phrasing it so I didn't think it would be offensive. Sorry if any was taken.

pbl, what did you think about his comments? He seemed quite well-spoken and fair. I liked how he handled the callers who were upset that many retained their language and customs.

I really don't get that line of thinking. My parents gave up their culture and identity so you should, too. :shrug: Why do people get so upset when others are fluent in more than one language?

[Kanary]

4. Issues, *Issues*, ISSUES

Quite simple, really....... When DEMS get back to addressing the *Real* needs of the people, the people will respond.

Kanary

[spooked]

5. Hispanics will vote for Kerry because he is Catholic

Catholics are a whole different breed of Christian than those Fundies..We have a heart and we stick together through thick and thin! And KERRY will definately get our vote.

(Just practicing my freedom of speech, btw)

[Kanary]

7. Yes And No

Many Hispanics are becoming fundies.

Can't rely on some of the old stereotypes any more.

Kanary

[prolesunited]

9. No, you can't

and that was one of the points the author was making. Although as a voting block, they have traditionally gone Dem, they tend to be more conservative on social issues.

As a whole, the family is the center of their lives so the "family values" rhetoric resonates. Also, they tend to be against abortion and gays. This is where the GOP is capturing their votes.

[spooked]

12. Bush lost all credibility on Family Values

when he didn't even show up at his daughters' graduations.
He could have gained some major points there, but instead showed himself to be the small-minded person that he is.

[JayS]

14. He went but it was private ceremonies. n/t

n/t

[prolesunited]

15. Do you have a link for that?

I heard that he wasn't going to either and one daughter skipped it altogether. What kind of private ceremonies were there?

[JayS]

16. I don't know about Barbara or forgot it if I heard...

...but Jenna was going to have a small ceremony with the UT President and a few other officials. I don't have a link though. One of my friend's kid is friends with the twins and they mentioned it at lunch.

[AspenRose]

11. True

A lot of hispanics I know are Baptist (in Texas).

[AspenRose]

10. More on the topic at this link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x543715

It mainly speaks about Cuban voters, but scroll down to the very bottom and view the table....FYI

[JayS]

17. Sophisticated TV spots wooing Hispanic voters

I posted this this morning.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1746677&mesg_id=1746677




June 8, 2004, 9:20AM
Sophisticated TV spots wooing Hispanic voters
Bush, Kerry campaigns know Latinos in swing states could decide election
By KIM COBB
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2614840


The scene opens with a doting, older woman sitting at a table with her curly-headed grandson as she lovingly pastes photos of family members into a scrapbook.

"Grandma," the child asks in Spanish, "what's a Democrat?"

For the next 30 seconds, this television advertisement pitches the Democratic Party against a backdrop of strategic symbols in Hispanic culture -- family tradition, respect for the elderly, military service and educational achievement.

It's slick, entertaining and indicative of a more sophisticated approach to woo the nation's fastest-growing pool of potential voters.

Hispanics may decide the 2004 election in a handful of swing states, forcing Spanish-language advertising -- still a novelty in the 2000 presidential election -- to elevate its content and context beyond simple English-language translation, experts say.

*SNIP*