there is a tilde over the “n” in “espanol” in that phrase.
Who would have thought, just a few months ago, that the primary presidential candidates for the presidency of the United States would be addressing issues of specific interest to the Hispanic community, and that they would be doing it in a forum broadcast by a Spanish-language network in which their comments would be translated en español? Who would have thought?
It took the Republicans longer than the Democrats to fit it into their schedule, but finally it happened. At last, Latino voters were able to hear directly from the main candidates of both political parties what their positions are on the issues that most affect them. On Sept. 9 from Democrats and Dec. 9 from Republicans, Hispanics were able to get a firsthand account of why these presidential hopefuls think they deserve the Latino vote.
It was said that candidates, particularly Republicans, were taking a political risk by participating. Their presence in a Spanish-language debate or forum would alienate their more conservative base, some suggested. Of course, none of the candidates themselves would admit to it. Some people feared that my co-anchor, Jorge Ramos, and I would pin them against the wall, that their hard-line positions on immigration would end up backfiring on them in front of an immigration-friendly audience. But in the end they survived.
Our carefully worded questions were designed to get straightforward answers from the candidates as to how they plan to deal with some of the most pressing issues surrounding the immigration debate. But none of them was able to clearly articulate what, as president of the United States, he or she would do with the almost 12 million undocumented immigrants already living in the country, or whether U.S.-born children who have undocumented parents have the right to not be separated from their family. The candidates did not change their position on immigration, but what did change is that the often hostile tone of the immigration debate became kinder and gentler, if only for 90 minutes.
Sen. John McCain was very brave to admit that maybe, just maybe, the rhetoric that surrounds the immigration debate has alienated some Hispanic voters, making them feel that Republicans don’t care about their vote. It was an acknowledgement that the argument against undocumented immigrants is affecting legal residents and U.S. citizens of Hispanic descent. That could, in part, explain why only 23 percent of Latino voters identify with Republicans, according to a recent poll by the Pew Hispanic Center. Thata marked decrease from the more than 40 percent support Republican president George W. Bush got in 2004.
One of the most important things the forum accomplished is that for whatever time it took the candidates to prepare for it, they had to learn about who we are. They had to be briefed on how many Latino voters are out there, where they live, what they care about, what makes them tick. For the 90 minutes that the forum lasted, the presidential hopefuls had to sound like experts on Latin America and focus on the delicate balance of presenting their hard-line immigration proposals while showing compassion for immigrant families. For an hour and a half, the candidates had to make an effort not to refer to undocumented immigrants as “those illegals.”
The only presidential hopeful who chose not to participate in the Republican forum accused his colleagues of pandering. This debate “offends the spirit of democracy,” said Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo. But what better way to celebrate our democracy than to make sure that all voters are well-informed when it comes time to make the very important decision of whom to vote for?
I, for one, am very content. Santa Claus does not have to worry about bringing me a present this year. I got an early Christmas gift, and I got it from none other than 14 candidates for the presidency of the United States. For years my professional goal has been to contribute to the political empowerment of the Latino community. The twin forums were a big step in that direction. Finally, Latino voters are in the presidential campaign radar.

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(Maria Elena Salinas is the author of “I AM MY FATHER’S DAUGHTER: LIVING A LIFE WITHOUT SECRETS.” Reach her at www
.mariaesalinas.com)
© 2007 by Maria Elena Salinas
Distributed by King Features Syndicate