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Should Latinos vote for the independent candidate?
Submitted by SHNS on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 15:15.
Should Latinos vote Republican again?
Just kidding.
Without question, today's Latino voter has become a much more sophisticated constituent.
Having been disillusioned with the Democrats for a long time, in the 2004 presidential election a record 40 percent of Latinos voted Republican.
That was an increase from the 35 percent in the 2000 election (another record).
Without the additional 5 percent of Latino support, Bush might still be riding horses in Texas.
Latinos proved they could make a difference at the polls and we waited patiently to see if our Latino agenda would finally get action and we'd finally stop being labeled the "Invisible Minority."
After all, Latinos are a vibrant, growing community on the move. We contribute to society, have a strong work ethic, are patriotic and have great family values. But despite our contributions, we face major challenges.
We have the largest percentage of working poor; schools are failing to educate 50 percent of our children and our health disparities are growing. If white folks suffered the magnitude of our problems, politicos long ago would have called for a state of national emergency. Surely the Bush administration would take action for us.
Alas, years later our problems are worse, and with the demonizing of the undocumented immigrants, all Latinos essentially are being victimized with the increase in hate crimes. No politico is confronting this surge in racism against us.
We've surpassed blacks in population. Now we have the dubious distinction of being this country's "Largest Invisible Minority."
Every president since John F. Kennedy -- Democratic and Republican -- bragged about appointing more Latinos to top positions than the previous administration. But to paraphrase Stanford professor Debra Rhode:
"Giving a Latino a position of power is not the same as empowering Latinos."
What's the big deal about this being a history-making election? This is not about a white woman or black man or even another white man becoming president. This is about us. Who is finally going to act on our specific concerns?
The Latino/black divide is real. And Sen. Barack Obama contributes to it when he says, as he did after a recent primary: "I saw crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children alike."
Latinos are not going to vote Republican in anywhere near the numbers of the last election, but that doesn't mean we're returning to the Democrats hat in hand. A December poll by Impremedia sounded an alert for all politicos.
It reports that in the top five Latino states, 58 percent are registered Democrats and 20 percent are registered Republicans. But then it shows that a record number (15 percent) have now registered as independents or members of another party. Even more revealing is that 37 percent do not report a preference for either a Democratic or Republican candidate.
Our sophisticated voter today is becoming more pragmatic. We're fed up with voting for the lesser of the two evils.
The record number of Latino independents brings us to Ralph Nader and his running mate, Matt Gonzales. Yes, Nader's hated -- by the Democrats -- but no one pats him on the head and gives him platitudes. Believe me, Democrats may sound dismissive, but they're terrified of him. That gives Latinos a place for leverage.
Nader is a player. What about Gonzales? He is a lawyer and a former public defender. He was a longtime member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and a key leader in raising the minimum wage. Gonzales is a heavyweight, too.
It will certainly take guts for a majority of Latinos to vote for them. But we also know that Nader is an uncompromising champion of the disenfranchised and isn't controlled by big special interests.
Are we throwing away our vote if we vote for Nader? No more than we have on previous presidents.
Isn't it time to talk to Nader and Gonzales and find out if they see us?
(Jose Armas is an award-winning writer/publisher living in New Mexico. He can be reached at armas(at)swcp.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
Ralph Nader
Ralph, More power to your ideas. Keep working to end this insane war and bring our people home. You've been out there making speeches, doing interviews and writing articles and have written at least three books in the last 6 years. And you've been writing weekly commentary on the things that really matter, at http://www.nader.org .The question is where has the Press been on these important matters you discuss? where have the "Talking Heads" been on corporate crime and the profiteers of this war? The population is too busy being entertained and watching Sporting events to get involved, they take the EASY route and don't bother to think, settling instead for snippets and quick slogans. Knowing what's going on in a Corporate controlled State takes WORK. Thank you Ralph, for all the good things you've done to protect the PEOPLE of this Country. Amazing how quickly they forget, or perhaps they just don't know. Almost everyone's lives, or that of friends and relatives of theirs, have been improved and made safer because of you, Some wouldn't be alive today, if not for Ralph Nader! Their minds have been intentionly bombarded with with Corporate propaganda and the Democrat Party scapegoating machine. Obama and Clinton, and that phoney Terry McAuliffe should be ashamed of their comments regarding you. They continue the DNC scapcoating myth. thank you for your great service to this Country. More power to your ideas. http://www.votenader.org....All the rest of you out there, buckle-up! ....
GonzaleZ
Matt GONZALEZ, 2 Zs
Spelling as a Political Topic
Alas, Matt spells it with 1Z and 1S. An artifact of migration?
Gonzalez is spelled with two Z's
No, Matt's last name is Gonzalez with TWO Z's
http://www.mattgonzalez.com
Do your homework, Rita.
Race is not the issue
Nader/Gonzalez' approach is far more nuanced than those of the major parties. NAFTA has undermined both Mexico's rural economies and America's manufacturing economy. There are legitimate grievances on both sides, and we need to move beyond making Americans feel like racists for wanting to protect their communities – and Mexicans and other latinos feel like aliens for wanting a decent life for their families – and start looking at how our government's choices hurt us all.
– The best choice for families and communities on both sides of the border will be the least attractive choice for powerful corporate interests. Nader/Gonzales are worth your serious and critical attention.
Vote Nader-Gonzalez 2008
Mr. Armas,
Thanks for a fair evaluation and consideration of the Nader-Gonzalez ticket. It is great to hear that many voters, especially Latinos, are opening up their minds to a third party candidate who actually will represent them. Obama, Clinton, and McCain do not represent change. They are beholden to and serve only their parties and corporate interests. The 2 parties have controlled our gov't long enough, and only feed us empty promises. Your point is great that a 3rd option is necessary if only to provide leverage against the 2 major parties. I would offer that the Nader-Gonzalez is more than leverage, though. It is a better option for most voters, but especially those disenfrancised by the 2 major parties. Think and vote outside of the box! Vote for real change! Vote 3rd party! Vote Nader-Gonzalez!
This column is a must-read
In fact, I'm blogging about it right now over on marciaford.blogspot.com. I've been keeping an eye on independent Latino voters for some time now, partly because Latinos are often caught between a rock (the Democratic Party) and a hard place (the GOP) but also because the research I did for my book on independents convinced me that we would soon see a rise in the number of Hispanics who were registering/voting as independents. When I was writing the book a year ago, I could find precious little solid data on independent Latino voters; now the kind of information I needed back then is readily available.
Jose, I hope this column gets lots of attention, because it so succinctly sums up the dilemma facing the Hispanic voter. The two maor parties seem helpless and/or dismissive when it comes to addressing Latinos' needs and concerns. Nader/Gonzalez may well be your best option. I echo your sentiment: Are you throwing away your vote if you vote for Nader? No more than you have on previous presidents.
I'd love to hear from independent Latino voters for a bonus content article I'm doing for the book's web site (http://www.wethepurpleonline.com). You can contact me through my independent voter blog (also the title of the book), We the Purple (http://marciaford.blogspot.com).
Nader for President?
Much as I respect Nader and his work and respect for the poor, his elevation to the highest office in this land cannot happen...Even if all latinos here voted for him and also brought their cousins who are getting ready to jump the border! It is the nature of American democracy that whoever gets elected has to be on the side of money. America is capitalist by nature just as Russia is comunist and this is not going to change overnight. If Nader becomes President then what will happen to all the millionaires? Where will they make and spend their money? America is structured such that there must be poor and rich and so I am sad to say that Nada is just fullfilling the scriptures of his party by jumping into the foray but well...it just will not happen.
Matt Gonzalez
Matt's mother is Mexican and his dad is a Mexican American so technically voting for Nader/Gonzalez is voting your conscience and putting a Latino in the spotlight. Interesting how both candidates are the children of immigrants to the USA. So much for the anti-immigrant rhetoric!!!
Immigrants
I don't believe that has anything to do with Illegal Aliens(illegal immigrants, undocumented immigrants, invaders, or wetbacks). GOT IT?
How and why are they here? Legallity is the issue.
Recently the President-Prime Minister of Ireland pleaded with George Bush to let the 1.5 million illegal aliens from his country stay here in the United States. Bush?
Me two words: HELL NO!
When will we stop voting for
When will we stop voting for the lessor of two evils. I will vote for Nader/Gonzalez.
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