The Latino generational divide

The Kennedys aren't the only political brood riven by the hard-fought Democratic presidential race. In Texas, where polls now show the March 4 contest a tossup, father-son splits have emerged in two prominent Latino families.

The Houston Chronicle noted over the weekend that while Hillary Clinton can claim the support of U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz and state Sen. Eddie Lucio -- both longtime officeholders -- Barack Obama has the backing of state Reps. Solomon Ortiz Jr. and Eddie Lucio III.

The story was one of several recent pieces spotlighting the generational divide within the Latino vote in Texas, which apparently is one of the key reasons Clinton's once-large lead in the state has vanished. You can also read about this trend here and here.

How much will it help Obama to make significant gains among younger Latinos? The Pew Hispanic Center reports that of the 3.6 million Latinos eligible to vote in Texas, 31% are between the ages of 18 and 29.

Of course, there have traditionally ...

been large gaps within both the Latino community and among young folks between "eligible to vote" and actually signed up to do so.

As the Clinton-Obama race plays out, ad executives are watching another competition: dollars spent on Spanish-language political commercials.

Advertising Age reported today that in the walk-up to California's Feb. 5 primary, the candidates funneled nearly $2 million into spots targeting Spanish speakers. And broadcasters say similar spending in Texas could top that figure.

"I've been in Spanish television since 1985, and this is most active season I've ever seen," Enrique J. Perez, senior VP-sales for Telemundo Station Group, told Advertising Age. "For the first time, Hispanic media is being planned side by side with general media."

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Hafu]

Dear "jacksmith"

Please don't call people who support Obama idiots.

It not about the candidates, it about the people. The people need to move up. The politicians will soon follow.

[S]

Dear 'jacksmith"

You are an idiot if you think that Hilary can claim her husband's accomplishments as her own. Didn't Hillary herself ask to be judged on her own merits? Are you stumping for Bill or Hillary?

[OBAMA LOOSES JOBS FOR LATINOS]

OBAMA LOOSES JOBS FOR MINORITIES
Ms. Obama, VP Chicago Hosp, that charges minorities 6 times as much, isn’t cold hearted enough; she also caused hundreds to loose their 11.hr jobs, to be more efficient she said! In 05, elected to the BOD Westchester-based TreeHouse Foods, she received $12,000 and $33,000 from a subsidiaries, in Nov announced closing its La Junta, plant, that claimed the jobs of 153 workers, most of them Hispanic! Huge blow to a rural town jobs paid a starting wage of $11hr, Company pays top execs like MICHELLE OBAMA tens of millions a year while destroying middle-class America. Raises the question not only about corporate values but about Barrack Obama's own values. Specifically, while he bashes Wal-Mart, why does his wife, make $45,000 and up a year serving on the board of Chicago comp that pays her a very hefty amount of money while laying off mostly minority workers in economically deprived areas? No. 1 customer is Wal-Mart???
Obamas attack on middle class and minorities- The Crowns and employees of their family-run holding company have given at least $195,000 to Obama's presidential campaign. Maytag shut the Galesburg plant after Labor Day 2004 Union member say senator did little to save jobs in the blue-collar town of 37,000. Obama connection to Maytag: Lester Crown, company's director’s records show, has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Obama's campaigns. Maytag shut the Galesburg plant after Labor Day 2004.
Black voters are choosing black candidate based on skin color not merit and not what he can do to help our failing country. What a serious shame...we are giving away another election. Thank the media! Obamas speeches address just black voters. The same person who claims he is not running on race? It sure isn’t experience or who is best to run this country. Don’t believe it will work in the general election He truly had divided voters since SC win. No one is so naive as not to think that black resentment towards whites could render Senator Obama unelectable. NOW IT’S TIME FOR THE MEDIA TO SCRUTINIZE OBAMA LIKE THEY HAVE DONE TO EVERYOTHER NON-BLACK CANDIDATE. MEDIA HAS FAILED AMERICAN VOTERS

[robinia]

Dear Obama Looses Jobs For Latinos;

I think you meant Obama LOSES Jobs For Latinos; You know, as Hillary continues to lobby for affordable health care, may I suggest and recommend you go to night-school or adult-education GED prep courses and learn how to spell. They are free and perhaps YOU might retain the very job you think Obama is going to take away from you. Well, that may be true, but at least learn how to spell your user name correctly. I'm embarassed for you.

[robinia]

P.S. To the one called "Obama Looses Jobs for Latinos".

No offense but...........

Lose is a verb..............win/lose

Loose is an adjective...tight/ loose

Keep blogging Einstein.

[Chantay]

No offense to the blogger that thinks Obama's going to take Latinos jobs, but how many Hispanics in the L.A. basin did you think voted for Mayor Antonio Villagairosa because of his political platform, compared to how many voted for him because he was Latino? You have an outstanding point, however some knives have two edges. Gracias and Thank you!

[Chantay]

Mr. Obama "LOOSES(?)" Jobs for Latinos; Middle-class jobs are middle-class jobs. Are there jobs for whites? Are there jobs for Asians? Are there jobs for African-Americans? Are you not concerned across the board for blue-collared workers across the board and NOT solely Latinos? You, who accuse Obama of potentially taking jobs away from Latinos have the same "racist" rhetoric by not including other ethnics and races who may also be in danger of losing their jobs...NOT ONLY LATINOS. You are not a special ethnicity that other ethnic groups cannot relate to. Check your spelling, moron, it's LOSE not LOOSE! So YOU GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE!

Thank you~Gracias

[Clinton supporters need to learn english]

Usually I have this problem when I read comments from those people that Clinton campaign is paying to post all around the Internet. Not only the posts are offensive (calling people that diverge of their ideas idiots, for example), but they are usually written in something that resembles English.
And also there are those comments saying that Obama is an undercover muslim, or the antichrist, or he is a drug dealer, or his brother is the african king of Bululand and he is going to steal all our taxes money to send to him, and some other non-sense of the same kind.
Well, that is very sad. First, because they underestimate American electors (like when they thought that picture of Obama on a traditional african costume will make people reject him). Second, because they keep the same old politics of lies, personal attacks, and no-substance that terrorized DC for the last 16 years. And Third because their reasons to do so are just plain evil.
Well, I see part of the press as well saying that is time to attack Obama with made up stories and lies, because the Republicans WILL DO THAT. See, that is a blatant lie! McCain is not the usual type of Republicans that are of the same breed of Mafia-Nazi storm-troopers from where the Clintons and their politics came from. McCain has been saying that he will only question Obama's experience and, otherwise, keep the debate on their different proposals to rebuild America. He said he won't do like the Clintons and lower his level to the dirty-mafia-like politics.
So, if Obama stands the lies, the made up stories and all the Clinton army of paid liars and warmongers, he will do just well in November, as, usually, he destroys Hillary when they keep the debate on the proposals only, as she got no proposals, besides the old catch phrase: "ready on the first day". I ask: Ready to do what? To overspend as Bill did, and destroy our economy on a way we are feeling right now? Because this economic crisis is not result of Bush's economic politics (he had none), IT IS A RESULT of Bill Clinton CORRUPTION and OVERSPENDING, which made him a millionaire while on the White House.
So, I am a Republican, and I am voting for Obama if he gets the nomination. However, as all the other "Obama Republicans" I know, if Hillary gets the nomination I will have to vote for McCain just to stop the Clintons' evil to take over DC again. I am just part of the 50% of the Americans that HATE and REJECT the Clintons. That is why Obama is leading McCain on the national pools for November, but Hillary is trailing. Because Hillary starts with half of the nation AGAINST her.
So, I know you are paid to post that schizophrenic gibberish, but, at least, learn how to write proper English, so we can understand what you are trying to say...

[SimpleRep]

Mr. Frederick,

To the blogger named "Obama 'LOOSES' Jobs for Latinos". I know what he's trying to say, but there are so many grammatical errors in his comments, along with mis-using commas, semicolons and syntaxes, that it really doesn't get his point across with much clarity. 'LOOSES'?

[Robinia]

Not only is there a "generational division" in the Latino community, but here are some stats according to a 2006 census survey that there is a "divide" period within the community itself within the U.S. population. Approximate descendants from;

Mexico................29,000,000

Puerto Rico.......... 4,000,000

Cuba................... 1,500,000

El Salvador......... 1,400,000

Domincan Rep..... 1,200,000

Spain....................1,200,000

Guatemala..............900,000

Colombia.................800,000.....to name a few.

Likewise, of the 44.3 million who profiled themselves to be Hispanic ethnically, racially they profiled themselves to be;

white......................23,200,000

black...........................616,953

asian/hisp...................154,000

What about the other approximately 20,000,000 Hispanic/Latinos? Obviously they think, rightfully so, that Latino/Hispanic represents both the race and ethnicity.

So why then do Americans group, white, black, Hispanic, Asian as four major groups when lobbying for votes, when when the latter two are as complex and diverse as can be? We focus SO MUCH on the differences, that we diminish the unifying attribute of our similarities. Can't we just be AMERICANS at least for one moment in time?

[Robinia]

Furthermore;

Forgive me for being kurt, but when people bleed, or go to the bathroom, whatever comes out are the same colors no matter what race or ethnicity.

Bottom line, yes we are white-Americans, African-Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans or Latinos. Should we not refocus and start using definitions of American of European descent, Americans of African American descent, Americans of Asian descent, or Americans of Latino descent? By looking at one another we ALREADY know we are different and "ain't" the same. To continue to use the "Latino vote", the "African-American vote" and/or the "Asian-vote" continues to fuel the ongoing problems with race we have in our nation today.

The problem is, to focus on being American and all the similarities that go with it is to "forget" where you came from. True, but focusing on distinct cultural heritage and celebrating them to its fullest guarantee food on the table, job security, clothing for the children, health care when one is ill, affordable gas prices, and quality education for our youth? Wake-up America! Like it or not, we are not a melting pot but a SALAD BOWL. Each vegetable and spice is distinct and flavorful You take one element out, say a tomato, or the lettuce, or the salt and pepper, and something just doesn't taste right. Together it is delicious and may I add, GOOD for the health.

Isn't there a generational divide" in every American ethnical and racial group anyways?

[Robinia]

Mr. Frederick;

One last thought to my "trivial" comments. Americans like Helen Keller, Jose Feliciano, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. What notion led them to believe that they were white, Latino, and African American? Nature or nurture.

If they were to "see" would they see their obvious differences. Their similaries? They overcame thier given obstacles to contribute to society. THE SIMILARITIES! Get it?

Regarding your title of "Latino Generational Divide". To some degree, isn't there a "generational divide" in all our American cultural groups?

You know, there is already the underlying tension that goes within living a multi-cultured and multi-ethnic society as is. Should the press and media do something, being your professions have the power and the influence now, to reinvent or remind us of our common desire to be Americans despite having different "evolutions" that eventually brought our parents, grandparents and present individuals to this country? Latino-vote, Asian-vote, African American vote, PLEASE!