AP: Democrats Court Hispanics (with radio, TV ads) During World Cup

[DeepModem Mom]

Democrats Court Hispanics During World Cup
Jun 08

....The New Democrat Network is starting a $2 million Spanish-language campaign of radio and television ads urging Hispanics to get involved in the political process. The five-month effort begins with ads during the World Cup soccer games that begin this weekend in Germany....

***

The TV ad shows an empty soccer field as an announcer says: "For years now, we've been awaiting this moment. Our country is again ready to return to being the great nation that all of us always dreamed of. Get involved. It's up to you."

The ads will run on Univision, Telefutura, Fox Sports en Espanol and Futbol de Primera, the radio soccer network of well-known broadcaster Andres Cantor. Cantor -- know for his trademark exclamation "GOOOOALLLLL!" -- will be featured on an early radio ad.

The radio ad will air in 70 markets nationally and the television ad will focus on six states and nine major markets -- Albuquerque, N.M.; Denver and Colorado Springs, Colo.; El Paso, Texas; Las Vegas; Orlando and Tampa, Fla.; and Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz....

***

Strategists from the Democratic group suggested that the current immigration debate has motivated many eligible Hispanics to register to vote, making this year a critical time to connect with potential voters.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/08/D8I41B480.html

[slackmaster]

1. Pandering to Hispanics on immigration failed for Cruz Bustamante in '05

Not to mention the disastrous results it had for former California governor Gray Davis shortly before his ouster

It didn't help Francine Busby in her recent run for the California 50th District in the House of Representatives.

How short our collective memories are. But I suppose a good mistake gets better with age and repeated use.

[fasttense]

2. Well put slackmaster. n/t

[jackbourassa]

10. Are you kidding?

Pandering to hispanics? Are you drunk? You think we can win the southwest without hispanics? So now the hispanics are the enemy, huh? So we should let the Republicans continue to court them unabated and continue to win over their support. You realize had Kerry won the Hispanic vote at the same rate as Clinton had in the 1990s (or Gore in 2000), we would have picked up 3%. Which incidentally is the difference between what Gore and Kerry won received. What can you deduce from that? That the reason we went backward in 2004 is because we lost support among Hispanics. So we should dismiss the south (because they are a bunch of rednecks) and now we should dismiss the hispanics - who make up 8% of the total VOTING population, and 15% of the TOTAL population.

Great strategy. With friends like you, who needs the RNC.

I think this whole immigration debate has turned some DUers mind to mush.

Whoever is behind this - I SAY WELL DONE!!!!!!!!! It's about time someone did something smart.

[slackmaster]

13. Let's count the logical fallacies in your post

Are you drunk?

Argumentum ad hominem. That's one.

You think we can win the southwest without hispanics?

Straw Man. That makes two.

So now the hispanics are the enemy, huh?

Another Straw Man. Three.

So we should let the Republicans continue to court them unabated and continue to win over their support.

Straw Man number three, the count is now four.

With friends like you, who needs the RNC.

Another ad hominem.

Whoever is behind this - I SAY WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!

And a Conspiracy Theory.

That' six without even bothering to pick apart the middle.

[ckramer]

3. Democrats, you want the Hispaniscs' votes?

Put the damn world cup matches on ABC and stop charging these poor folks enjoying world cup soccer!

Watching WC soccer is an inalienable right!

You make them happy, they will vote for you.

The most unhappy thing at this moment is the poor voters need to pay to watch WC!

[justice1]

4. It is a smart move.

They are simply telling people to get involved in the process, which I don't believe amounts to pandering.

[slackmaster]

5. Don't be surprised when the results don't turn out the way you'd like

My Cassandra complex is acting up again.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. Down the memory hole

If I recall correctly, more Hispanics voted for Ahnie in the special election than they did for Bustamante -- most of the rest voted for Bustamante. Virtually nothing for Davis.

Besides, I've been at the local naturalization services registering voters and have overheard Rebpublicn recruiters (speaking in Spanish) telling new citizens that Democrats kill babies and that the Church condemns any entity that condones KILLING BABIES! The Catholic Church still has a powerful hold on the Mexican population (witness everything from knotholes in trees to toast being worshipped because there is a likeness of La Virgin). It's why most register Republican around here.

[justice1]

7. I live in Nebraska, what do I have to lose?

[documaker]

Why do you call it 'pandering'?

When we have people coming to us we know our voices are being heard. When people have to pander to us we have power.

[slackmaster]

15. Any "get out the vote" message from a party always looks like pandering

To the identifiable group to who the reachout is being directed. It's impossible for such an initiative not to be seen as an advertisement for the party that is sponsoring the message. Let's be honest here - The effort is not really being made to be as inclusive as possible, rather it's an attempt to tip the political balance on one particular direction. The subtext of this kind of evangelism is "We know what your interests are, and we support them better than Brand X party, so vote for us."

People aren't stupid. They know when they are being pandered to.

[High Plains]

8. Good move. The Hispanic vote is historically Democratic.

They gave Bush 44% in 2004, which, ahem, is less than the country as a whole did. And that was a high water mark. They gave Bush 35% in 2000.

The Republican hate fest around illegal immigration is certain to bring more Hispanics back home to the Democratic Party.

[nevergiveup]

9. If the GOP was running these ads many of us

would be bitching "Why didn't the Democrats think of this". I think it is smart.

[jackbourassa]

11. Exactly nevergiveup...it's a smart move

Slackmaster is just being stupid.

[mitchtv]

12. I agree, why ignore all those voters

and potential voters. More reach 18 y/o every day

[slackmaster]

14. I'll repeat it one more time slowly for jackbourassa

As I said in reply #5 - Don't be surprised when the results don't turn out the way you'd like.

You have failed to learn from history, very recent history, that the political views and voting behavior of Hispanic Americans does not conform to standard, essentially racist assumptions about how they think. Do not rely on them to share all your views or to vote as a bloc. Many of them carry socially conservative, religiously based values such as opposing abortion and gay marriage. As any ethnic group (of which "Hispanics" comprise many) becomes more integrated into society, their attitudes as individuals shift in accordance with their economic status and lifestyles. When they start businesses they start voting pro-business. When they get victimized by crime they vote for law and order. When their kids enter schools that suck, they start voting for school bonds. When they become homeowners they support tax limits like California Proposition 13.

To put it as simply as possible, Hispanic Americans are as diverse as the population at large. Of course getting more people involved in the political process is inherently good. I have no argument with that part of this discussion. The problem with your thinking and that of many others is that you make the mistake of assuming that getting more brown-skinned native Spanish speakers on the voter roles will necessarily work in favor of Democrats. I've been actively watching California politics for more than three decades and I've seen many a Democrat fall on his or her face because of that misperception.

My Cassandra complex remains intact and robust. You won't believe me, and when history proves me right again you won't remember this thread.