Viva Bush* : Hispanic campaign kickoff

[AspenRose]

I was half-paying attention to the local area news (Albuquerque) night before last and heard that the "Viva Bush*" Spanish-language campaign, targeting Hispanic media outlets in the Southwest and Florida, will be kicking off soon.

What, in your opinion, is the best way that Kerry can counteract the "Viva Bush*" Spanish-language ads, etc.? Especially interested in hearing from Latino/a DUers. KERRY CAMPAIGN, TAKE NOTE!

As an aside: Kerry was in ABQ yesterday and saw him on TV briefly with Bill Richardson. The local area Reich-wing morning show host called it a "lovefest." Sour grapes, eh? I heard Kerry kicked major booty on the topic of education.

[gWbush is Mabus]

1. Letterman - "My LAtino friend over here"

Can he say that???

[AspenRose]

2. Aaaargh

Are you referring to Bush* saying that on Letterman?

I saw something about it on another thread.

Geez, he's adopting the same kind of attitude seen on "blackpeopleloveus.com" (e.g. "See! I have soooooo many Latino friends! I can't possibly be racist!" *pat on head*).

Some people are going to laud that imbecile * and then turn around and ask, "So, what's Kerry doing to get the Hispanic vote?"

[webtrainer]

3. I know what Lalo Alcaraz would say . . .

[murphymom]

4. It's not a one-size-fits-all population

You've got urban folks, rural folks, people from different countries with different cultures, new arrivals with language problems, families that have been here for generations.

Recognize the problems that Hispanics have, but don't assume that all Hispanics are impoverished migrant workers and bus boys who can't speak English. My Hispanic husband had grandparents who immigrated here from Mexico and did agricultural labor, but he's a college graduate with his own business, doesn't speak Spanish and probably had more in common growing up with the Anglo kids he went to school with than recent immigrants fresh from the border. As a population Hispanics just as upwardly mobile as anyone else and I don't think would appreciate being talked down to.

I think Kerry can resonate well with Hispanics on education, jobs, neighborhood safety, family-oriented issues.

[cally]

5. Interesting article in today's SF Chronicle on this issue

War looms large in Latino vote
Iraq seen as 'X factor' that could turn tide for either party


Latino voters, one of the most coveted constituencies in America -- and once a slam-dunk for Democrats -- have increasingly joined the ranks of the GOP, thanks to a president who speaks Spanish and translates his name as "Jorge." But experts say President Bush's efforts to reach out may not offset one of the big unknowns of the 2004 election: how Latinos will vote based on an issue that has directly affected their communities, the war in Iraq.

"It is the X factor," said Harry Pachon, president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Los Angeles.

"It isn't a war that is removed from everyday life," Pachon said, noting that Latinos represent 12 percent of the casualties in Iraq.

Latinos "look at the faces and the names (of the dead), and it's ... Hernandez, Gutierrez, Sanchez," he said. "It's Latino boys and girls dying out there.''

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/05/05/MNGUL6FVHO1.DTL

The has lots more interesting information.

[AspenRose]

6. THANK YOU Cally,

THIS is the direction I was trying to go in, posting this thread.

I know it would help for Kerry to get the backing of influential movers and shakers in the community (LULAC, Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, etc.). I'm wondering if his campaign has begun that process.

And I realize "the community" is big and transcends race, nationality and regions. I have seen quite a few Dominicans in New England and hear Spanish more than French in southern New Hampshire. I grew up in San Antonio and live in New Mexico. I'm just hoping Kerry's campaign is astute in picking this stuff up...

because I am getting SICK and TIRED of seeing Bush* the Poseur.

From the article:
"A recent Los Angeles Times poll of California found Kerry favored by 58 percent of Latinos surveyed to 36 percent for Bush.

Polls show Kerry with a significant advantage among all voters in California while Bush is far ahead in his home state of Texas, another state with a large Latino voting bloc. But the strategies the candidates are using to win over Latinos in California are the same ones they will use to reach these voters in states where the contest is close, such as New Mexico, Arizona and Florida."

See, I don't know if using the same strategy is wise. You tell me. Florida is predominately Cuban, and usually conservative/republican. NM and AZ are predominately Mexican. What about the PR vote in the Northeast (Vieques, anyone)?

This requires political savvy...