Luis Rivero, Florida
As the final days of the race towards the White House approach it is clear that the Hispanic vote will be decisive. This premise is affirmed by a study published by America’s Voice, a non-profit organization. It is estimated that 9 million Hispanics, that is a 5% of the electorate, will be casting their votes for the 2008 presidential elections. Furthermore, half of the 9 millions are naturalized citizens in which Spanish is their native tongue.
America’s Voice report illustrates that in 2004 the Hispanic vote was decisive in the re-election of George W. Bush. Four years ago the actual second-term President received 48% of Hispanic votes due to a promise that an immigration reform would be executed. This promise granted him the electoral votes in Florida and the southeastern states.
Both of the running candidates understand and have understood the importance of the Hispanic vote. It is very evident with bombardment of the constant advertisement in the Spanish media. Nonetheless, even though they have saturated the waves with advertisement neither have spoken nor presented an immigration policy. In addition neither have presented a solution to the evident problem of illegal immigrants in the United States. It is as if the topic of immigration seems to be the giant elephant in the living room of which everyone simply ignores. With the decline of the economy and in times of financial crisis both candidates have spent millions of dollars to convince Hispanic voters that they are friendlier towards Hispanics than the opposition.
Yet nobody has addressed the pressing issue head on. And I ask, why don’t they address the topic? Why don’t they recognize the elephant in the living room and call a spade a spade? Perhaps it is because the very issue that guaranteed President Bush the Hispanic vote four years ago has been a failure. Perhaps both have the same outlook on the issue and for this reason they won’t speak of something they agree on.
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