Young Latinos for Obama or Nada
New America Media, Commentary/Analysis, Louis E.V. Nevaer, Posted: Feb 12, 2008
Barack Obama may be attracting many young Latino first-time voters – but if he doesn’t win his party’s nomination, they may not vote a second time.
More than four out of five Latino first-time voters under the age of 30 who voted for Barack Obama on Super Tuesday say that if the Democrats nominate Hillary Clinton, they will not vote at all in the presidential election in November.
“It’s like rooting for your team during the playoffs,” said one 20-something first-time voter, a New York Puerto Rican male. “If my team doesn’t make it to the Super Bowl, yeah, I’ll watch the game, but my heart’s not in it.”
For the majority of urban Latino youth, if Obama doesn’t make it to the November election, they’ll watch the returns on television that night, but they won’t bother to vote.
The week after Super Tuesday, my company, Hispanic Economics, was hired by the Obama campaign to conduct surveys of 655 Latino voters under the age of 30 who supported Obama in New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Arizona. Rather than asking whom they would vote for in a hypothetical race between Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama and John McCain, voters were asked, “If Obama is not nominated, and in November it is Hillary Clinton versus John McCain, are you likely to bother to vote at all?”
When phrased this way, more than 80 percent of Latino first-time voters under the age of 30 who support Obama said, “No.”
This bodes well for the Republicans, since the nomination of Hillary Clinton, described by some of these Latino males under 30 as “unappealing,” “establishment,” “prehistoric,” and “bigoted,” could compel the much-vaunted “youth” vote to stay home on Nov. 8.
Public Interest Research Groups, known as PIRGs, have made tremendous efforts in mobilizing young voters through the Student PIRG’s New Voters Project. The results of this and other “get out the youth vote” campaigns have been impressive. What happened in Florida is typical of what is happening across the nation: Youth voters have more than tripled this year.
CNN exit polls and Federal Election Commission (FEC) figures confirm that the number of voters in the Florida primary aged 18-29 tripled among Republicans, rising from 41,970 in 2000 to 134,425 in 2008. For Democrats – the enthusiasm Barack Obama has generated is the driving force – the rise in voter turnout is more impressive: Democratic voters aged 18-29 in the Sunshine State catapulted from 38,639 in 2000 to 151,595 this year.
But it is not clear that young voters will be the “tipping” point for the Democrats in key battleground states, such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida come November – if Barack Obama is not on the ballot.
The prevailing attitude among young Latino male voters reflects a sports mentality: If your team is out, your interest drops off dramatically until the “next season.” Latinas, meanwhile, compared voting to jury duty – “Do it now and you won’t have to bother in November.” In both cases, these attitudes undermine the notion advanced by Latino pundits heralding the emergence of “Latino power.”
Three factors undermine the ability of Hispanics to impact national elections in the United States. First, a large number of Hispanics are actually Latin American immigrants who are not citizens, and ineligible to vote. The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that two thirds of Latin American immigrants are here illegally, and the immigration reform crisis has slowed down the pace of naturalization since Sept. 11, 2001.
Second, the surge in the Hispanic population in the United States is fueled by Latinos’ higher birth rates: One third of all Latino population growth since 2000 is a result of new births. Although U.S. citizens by birth, the Census Bureau reports that about 80 percent of Latinos will be too young to vote come November.
The third, and perhaps more instructive insight, is a lack of understanding of the political process. The electoral process, with its caucuses and primaries, delegates and superdelegates, is confusing enough for veteran voters. For first-time voters, it is even harder to understand.
One quarter of Latino youth surveyed in New York and Chicago believed that the primaries were the actual elections. “The person who wins the most votes will be president,” one respondent, age 22, said. “It’s just that the last election is in November.” Fifteen percent in New York believed that if they voted on Super Tuesday, they “were done voting” for the year, as if elections were similar to jury duty: do it now, and it’s done until next year.
“The Latino presence is more and more visible on our streets and in our neighborhoods, but less visible in the political process,” Roberto Suro, former director of the Pew Hispanic Center, explained. “Because of a combination of lack of citizenship, a big youth population and voter apathy, only one-fifth of Hispanics went to the polls in 2004. In other words, it took five Latino residents to produce one voter.”
And what if that voter is not interested in showing up if his or her candidate isn’t on the ballot?
“I’m for Obama all the way. It’s about time we got some color in that too-White-House,” one respondent said. “But if it’s a choice between Hillary and McCain, then I don’t care – they both look too damn clammy for me.”
For the “Obama or Nada” Latino youth, if he’s not the Democratic nominee, far too many are prepared to sit this one out, and wait for the 2012 season.
Related Articles:
The Latino Voting Paradox
La Opinión Endorses Obama and McCain
Youth Weigh in on Primary Battle
Page
1 of 1
|
User Comments
MichaelJones on Feb 25, 2008 at 10:47:52 said:
In America there are Latinos doing the same thing, using a maternal grandparents address not only to continue living in America, not only to have a job in America, but to vote as well if they feel they can get away with that if they had been present during a US Census taking.
Feelings, Oh so should this fairy tale overshadow the master Hans Christian Andersen born in Odense, Denmark in 1805, a social misfit create this world of engaging fantasy. May 1835, Andersen’s first four fairy tales were published under the title Eventyr, fortalte for Børn (Fairy Tales, Told for Children). This is the behind the scene Barack Hussein Obama [Arab-Black-American(?)] - Devil mask (click below), see this fairy tale is true. Of course theres a question mark following American cause when blacks leave behind a Legal Residence from Kansas to any state they use their maternal grandparent address making it appear as though they are Legal Residents and have the right to vote and get out and protest thinking they are Black so why shouldn\'t they participate in the Black Voter Sufferage thus making themselves coherse. What a fairy tale offers is near the same, depiction of everything on a scale of cohesion and being sureal maintaining the theme. How relevant are those Black citizens, are learning they have no Legal Residence likened to the Jews in Europe that were persecuted by all Europeans as they had no homeland they could claim, No Legal Residence, while Zionists were their brotherens to aid their lifestyle only to be slaves uder the German regime feared by Russia once Germany got free of their bondage. So it is, Blacks claim America as a homeland but preach for the African Blacks so they belong in America, few go to Africa and preach for the American-Blacks so they belong that is the issue here as African-Blacks seem to feel they dominate the Black Kingdom (Superior of a Black Race) and should therefore not offer their Africa to American-Blacks regardless if they are children or adults they make no cohesion of Blackness as have candidates for Presidency like Barack Hussein Obama whom would have had a African Heritage had his parents not had a maternal grandparent in Hawaii to lean on and take advantage of before they were married and then they had the nerve to get a divorce leaving Barack Hussein Obama Jr. as the misfit Black child of the universe. He has a right to complain but he should complain not to the American people because he is Black, he should go to Afric and complain that he thinks he is American cause of his maternal grandmother, his Islamic-African-Black Heritage and his love of Africa as a boy during his five years in school in Jakarta, Indonesia where he did have a half-Indonesian half-sister who is married to a Chinese-Canadian and a Indonesian stepfather. We cannot deport Barack Hussein Obama Jr. for his inappropriate behavior its to good for American-Blacks to imagine what a fairy tale dream is when they are half nots of African and wonder what if they had Africa instead of America to care for. Do they care or are they just antagonists without a heart working to only feed their families and to belong to the Black gender pushing the white dust from beneath their feet only to realize they drown in their own sweet sweat. Why should the Superior Black-Africans offer Afirca to the American-Whites if they see the America-Whites as the unwanted peoples, unwanted rulers, unloved mates of the Black-Americans.
\'I never dreamed of so much happiness when I was the Ugly Duckling.’
Quote: Hans Christian Anderson
Leaping Pierrot, a papercut by Andersen
By kind permission of Odense City Museums, Denmark
The Little Match Girl, Hans Christian Andersen 18 November 1845
Opening page of the manuscript of \'The Little Match Girl\', which Andersen wrote on 18 November 1845.
Copyright Det Kongelige Bibliotek (Denmark)
Devil mask, papercut by Andersen
Copyright Det Kongelige Bibliotek (Denmark)
Devil Mask Papercut by Hans Christian Andersen
www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/andersen/images/devilmasklge.jpg
Wake Up America, the only fairy tale is not property of Barack Hussein Obama Jr. & his misguided wife that has just grasped what America is during an election process, as Hans Christian Anderson had the feeling of being separated from all of society because of his fairy tales. Don\'t be amused by failures, these are the challenges of Africa a great nation with so many Black-Africans that would honor the chance to walk American streets relating to how they feel it back in Africa working. Black females get this from the Radical Black-Americans, they begin to fit in like Bonnie was to Clyde they the collapse which is the realization they are American and somehow find their mate is white and separated from their race by more than just miles. No love as God should realize the fairy tale is over the dream is misconceived and the Blacks are egotistical because he made mankind in his likeness and not have the same dream as a distant relative that would clap at African success when it happens, who succeeds the White-Americans or the Black-Americans or the African-Blacks or is this the turning point in politics where a love can be found of a White-American and a Black-American or does this African fairy tale get white washed. There is beauty in the world, let there be love in the world no more Radical Black Movements, No More Zionist Dreaming, Freedom For The Jews, No More Black-Africans Making Their Business Off Black-Americans, No More Lebanese Hezabolla Overthrowing Israel, No More Hamas Commandments, No More Al-Quada, No More Suicide Bombers, No More Insurgents.
Who\'s lying, the State of Hawaii, the University, Obama\'s, Hawaiian Voter Registration, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, African Delegation, African-Americans, Civil Rights Activist? The lie was begun by a infraction of the truth, Legal Residence in Hawaii by his parents that divorced two years after they married in 1960 which makes Obama Jr. born in 1961 a unwanted child near bouts leaving him to his mother to manage, a woman from Kansas that sends him to school in Indonesia for five years then has to bring him out to send him to stay with his grandmother in Hawaii, tell me did his parents want all that trouble. It is written to American school records, Obama\'s father was not a American attending the University in Hawaii and so why shouldn\'t he divorce Obama\'s mother and return to Kenya. The master plan for the economic attack against America masterminded by Al-Quada, how does this Islamic learned kid differ from anyother kid the terrorists educate besides he has no suicide bomb apparatus strapped to him its all a secret plan to attack America from within, he is brainwashed and does not realize he has been trained.
Luis Davila on Feb 19, 2008 at 19:38:22 said:
I think that J Cir's point of view is a bit narrow minded. I think that Obama's message is more than just "playing Robin Hood." I do not believe that Hillary can galvanize young people the same way that Obama has. It would be a shame to loose the engagement level among young people that the Obama campaign has able to put together.
davilaluis.wordpress.com
shano on Feb 17, 2008 at 23:15:55 said:
For those who say Obama would be bad for the middle class, or for the working people, history does not support this. Democrats have ALWAYS, without exception been better for the middle class in America-in every sector. From schools to income, a Democrat is always better.
The real mystery is how the GOP of Republicans can get these good people to vote against their own economic interests! America needs a strong middle class, and the GOP betrays them every time they get into office.
Obama is a great Democratic leader, and will be a great President.
Obama '08.
CarlosnLA on Feb 13, 2008 at 18:31:52 said:
This whole arguement of HOPE and CHANGE is nothing new! It has been resonating over and over again during goverment transformation eras or election years not only here in the US but around the world for decades now. I"ve heard it form Castro, JFK, MLK, LBJ, Nixon, De Gortari, Carter, Reagan, even from the Bushes and the Clintons and Hugo Chavez. I've even heard it in movies like Evita and so on. It's an OLD trick to just get your vote or support or just falsely inspire people to win them over to your side. But I guess it's NEW to those young people who are hearing it for the first time and we all know how stubborn-headed they are...OH Boy, here we go again.
J Cir on Feb 13, 2008 at 07:45:55 said:
Remolinos,
If you can't see the socialist mechanics behind Obama's plans for the "equity and fairness", then you're either sadly blinded by "inspiration" or you buy into the un-American concept of continually fleecing taxpayers.
My wife and I have a beautiful, 12-month old daughter who - hold onto your hat Remolinos - is 50% ethnically Mexican. (And, yes, my wife is ethnically Mexican and an American citizen...and her family is 100% legal. So much for my alleged "fear of color", my "Brother".) I am passionate about my daughter's well-being and her welfare, and Obama's utopian plans will do my daughter's future more harm then good.
I take a step forward every day working to create a safe and loving home for her. I take nothing from the government to achieve that, while over 30% of our income is ripped away from us with every paycheck. And despite our financial committment to eventually send our daughter to private schools to avoid the underachieving and wasteful mess that is the public school system, I will still be forced to subsidize public schools, even though I will choose not to purchase the "product".
Apparently, we're all in this together, as you so rhetorically parrot. That sounds suspiciously like something political "luminaries" like Marx, Mao, Castro, Chavez, or Stalin would utter. This is one of the greatest threats coming from a Rock Star, flavor of the month politician like Obama. He makes women swoon, relieves the pent up guilt felt liberal White elites, and compels college kids to put aside their bongs long enough to cheer him along like he was the second coming of the Beatles. But beneath his charming and smart exterior and his myopic vision of equality for all is a nefarious ideology that will drive this Nation away from Capitalism and more toward Socialsim.
Federal power in this country is already massive and unwieldly. The last thing the US needs is for even more authority and power to be consolidated in Washington. You claim the cycle of poverty for people of color (presumably regardless of immigration status) contines unabated. Is that necessarily the fault of the American government? Since the 1960's, how many hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on welfare and programs to alleviate poverty? To what avail? And Obama's solution? Spend even more of the taxpayers money!
My "Brother", the time for change is indeed now. Regretfully, the change expressed by your Saint Obama who you so blindly fawn over is one sure to shackle the US with a greater tax burden and will place an a substantial restraint on the great economic dynamic that a Capitalist society thankfully creates.
Remolinos on Feb 12, 2008 at 21:45:39 said:
J Cir's comment is not the truth. Obama is the only inspirational candidate in the race, and the nation -- and the world -- need transformational leadership, not a return to a comfortable past (if only for those not struggling). Young people understand this and they are the future. It may be time for the old fogies to listen to their children for a change.
Clinton is a blast from the past. Her and Bill's era was welcome relief from the 80's Reagan and Bush period of outright neglect. Props for that. But they did not transform the nation to one in which everyone had opportunities, in fact the cycle of poverty for most families of color simply continued unabated.
To claim that Obama's message of unity and addressing the problems of neglect is "socialism" and "naive and idioted" as j Cir stated, is simply a statement of fear: fear of equity and fairness, fear of color, fear of taking a step forward out of one's own comfort zone. Don't be afraid, brother, we are all in this together, and it's the only way that we will some day, some way, move forward. As Obama has said: "the time for change is now... we are the the change we have been waiting for..."
Listen to your children, they may be wiser than you think.
Si se puede
J Cir on Feb 12, 2008 at 10:55:25 said:
“I’m for Obama all the way. It’s about time we got some color in that too-White-House,” one respondent said. “But if it’s a choice between Hillary and McCain, then I don’t care – they both look too damn clammy for me.”
Gee, that sure sounds like a racially tinged comment. What an incredibly naive and idiotic statement.
Like many and likely most White American citizens, race (or ethincity) matters not to me regarding the competency and legitimacy of a political candidate. The only things that matter are a candidates policies, intellect, and a passion for upholding the tenants of the US Constitution.
What scares a lot of voters who see Obama for what he is - a leftist to the point of being a socialist, seemingly thrilled to play Robin Hood by robbing from the "rich" and giving to the "poor", promoting what will certainly be a mismanaged money pit that would be government run health care, and wetting his pants when pandering to the Hispanic demographic by ignoring the will of American citizens and advocating for another disastrous amnesty - is that more and more would-be voters are supporting Obama because of his persona, not because of policy positions. Which leads to imbeciles claiming they'd vote for Obama because of his skin color...regardless of Obama's policies which will penalize those who've reached the middle class and above.
Obama survives because of his ability to leverage class and racial politics. Obama may claim to be a "uniter", but only divisiveness can result when the government residtributes wealth instead of helping less fortunate American citizens help themselves.
A vote for Obama is a step backward in American Democracy.
Ka Wah Chan on Feb 12, 2008 at 09:32:26 said:
Sure! once the Democratic presidential candidates (a white female and a black guy) throwing a bunch of cash to the sky, money dropping down to the street to attract the folks to pick up the welfare that's all.
-->