Time to make deals with McCain ... just in case

I was part of a Tuesday teleconference by the Hispanic outreach folks with the Obama campaign for bloggers. I am a blogger, but I’ve tried to tell these good people that I am also a print columnist to English and Spanish language newspapers across the country through the Scripps-Howard News Service.

I hope they have heard of Scripps-Howard and also Hispanic Link News Service in Washington, D.C. Charlie Ericksen, my professional mentor, was one of the founders of Hispanic Link in 1980 to provide news on Latino and non-Latino issues from inside the Beltway. It provides commentary to Scripps-Howard for distribution besides sending out its own newsletter.

Charlie has been in the news business since 1948 and was friends with the late, great Ruben Salazaar, columnist of The LA Times and owner of his own radio station. Mr. Salazaar was martyred for his people and profession almost four decades ago in covering a Hispanic protest against the Vietnam War. He was hit by a tear gas cannister fired by police. It punctured his head. A U.S. postal stamp was issued in his honor earlier this year.

I write all this seemly unimportant background in the beginning, because it is important for all of us to learn about our roots in this profession. And Charlie has been a great teacher as a person and editor. But in yesterday’s teleconference, I could detect a definite lack of know-how in reaching out to the Hispanic press or authority to reach out as needed to the Hispanic press. We also intermingle with Anglo and other readers. Besides my print columns, many of my blog readers are Republican and conservative. I can tell from the anger in some responses – but far from all -- when I write about 287g and ICE raids.

The guys who ran the teleconference are definitely good fellows and their passion is in the right place. But the question asked by my good friend Marisa – publisher of http://www.latinalista.net/ – showed a terrible flaw in the Obama’s campaign’s attempt to connect with Hispanic voters.

She asked why we couldn’t just sign up for e-mail press releases from the campaign with the regular press office and officials available to the mainstream, still white-dominated, mainstream news media.

The answer to her question was one of uncertainty but a promise to do future teleconferences and contact e-mails and sharing of phone numbers by the Hispanic media outreach folks.

I’m really a nobody in the Hispanic media and mainstream one as well. Yet I still do write for both. I’ve sent two e-mails asking to get on the Hispanic media e-mail list of regular updates on the Obama campaign, particularly but not limited to what he said to NALEO on Saturday. And these poor guys still haven’t followed through, or the people they've assigned the task haven't follow through.

I don’t consider any of this situation their fault. I go to where the buck stops, as Harry Truman always stated. The candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, still does not understand the Hispanic electorate and how to communicate his message to it.

And it will cost him the election.

That means we as Hispanic advocates need to make sure our people are politically covered. Set aside your political affiliations and start working with both campaigns. Get answers and guarantees on a variety of issues that include comprehensive immigration reform.

We need relief on the first day of the first term of the new president from the 287g deportation program and ICE raids of workplaces. That can be done with a simple phone call from the Oval Office or signing of an executive order. At least I hope. If we can get that promise from McCain, then were are being wise in hedging our bets.

Now the Obama people point to polls that give the senator a big lead in the Hispanic vote – something like 62% to 28%. But all that McCain needs to win the presidency is another seven percentage points to match GW Bush’s take in 2000. That’s definitely doable, particularly if people like Gen. Clark keep speaking out for him.

Political analysts are pointing to the West as the region that will determine the election. That gives McCain an edge without even considering California, Oregon or Washington. And if he picks Mitt Romney as his VP – and Romney has been campaigning hard for that spot -- then McCain will pick up more votes in that region.

While some Latino advocates downplay McCain’s visit to Mexico and Colombia this week, it means a lot to me that he’ll view the Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. She is the protector of the Hispanic people. She has reached into hearts and minds for almost five centuries. I am praying that she’ll do the same with Sen. McCain on the humane treatment of her people. She has the power. And his act of paying respect to her means a lot to me as a Mexican-American and someone who has been deeply involved in raising money to keep open the doors of a church dedicated to her and the Hispanic people in Nashville, TN.

Respect is something that has been missing from this nation in the treatment of Latinos – citizens and particularly undocumented workers and their families. The mainstream news media virtually ignores our issues except if the event is negative. Political panels on TV rarely include us.

So any act to go with words means something in this intolerant environment. Meanwhile, Obama remains one step and one week behind McCain’s schedule. He is just going to Europe and the Middle East to visit leaders. McCain can say: “been there, done that ... several times.”

Monday, Obama had to clean up the mess on patriotism left by Gen. Clark in his appearance on Meet the Press. Still, Clark is not backing away from his comments. So Obama ended up mostly defending McCain and not propping up himself in what was supposed to be a major speech about his patriotism.

These failings are also reflected in the Obama outreach to Hispanic media. Most Latino writers want to herald his credentials and worthiness to be president. But the lack of questions on the teleconference – I asked about President Uribe of Colombia and Marisa asked about access to the main press office for the campaign – denoted a lack of excitement among Latino writers about Obama. For me, I felt a sense of resignation and disappointment. And it's not these guys fault.

It is kind of like you see in Division A college football. The programs like USC, Florida and LSU have the support from the top of school leadership and across the alumni to field the best squad. They also have the best coaches and recruit the best players. Finally, deep pockets make sure all the equipment and facilities are the best.

From Obama's Hispanic outreach efforts so far, it is apparent that the candidate is not willing to provide that kind of support to woo the Latino electorate -- despite the good and passionate people involved in his Hispanic efforts. That means he doesn't respect the Latino electorate enough, just like the mainstream media on its Sunday morning TV political shows.

Sen. Hillary Clinton’s endorsement is not going to be enough to keep McCain from getting those seven additional percentage points from the Hispanic electorate.

So I encourage my fellow advocates and journalists to connect to both campaigns and ask the needed questions to get relief from 287g and ICE raids on the first day of the new president’s term.