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Este informe no está disponible en español. Hispanic Link News ServiceConventions' Show-And-Tell: Democrats Edge GOP On Latino Numbersby CYNTHIA L. OROSCOAugust 27, 2000 Showtime's over. With the conventions behind them, presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore have 10 weeks to convince Latino voters that theirs is the ticket that will be most inclusive and effective over the next four years. In spite of an unprecedented push by the Republicans to showcase Latinos, as well as African Americans, at their convention this month, the Democrats retained the numbers edge. Their convention featured 28 onstage appearances by Latinos, submerging the 11 showcased in Philadelphia earlier in the month. National Convention Committee CEO Lydia Camarillo, California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and U.S. Rep. Robert Menéndez of New Jersey were among eight who addressed Democratic delegates in prime time. "As Latinos, we tell those who speak of compassionate conservatism -- in English or Spanish -- that what we need is opportunity, not compassion," Menéndez told delegates during his Aug. 16 address. Eight-year-old Juan Carlos Hernández opened the Democratic convention two days earlier, singing the national anthem. Actor Héctor Elizondo led the Pledge of Allegiance the second night, and Jimmy Smits offered praise for Gore the third night. At least three times as many Latinos filled seats as delegates at Los Angeles' Staples Center than in Philadelphia. (Keep in mind that the Democratic Party's total delegate count was 4,369, more than double the Republicans' 2,066 delegates.) Figures showing how well Latinos were represented as delegates at each convention depended on who was doing the counting. Three published tallies, including those on their own delegations by the Republican and Democratic national committees, showed:
A Hispanic Link survey of five states with large Latino populations showed wide party variance. California sent 23 Latino delegates to the GOP convention and 129 to the Democratic one. New York sent only two Latinos to Philadelphia and 32 to Los Angeles. By percentage, Latino delegate representation in those states was:
While California Assemblyman Abel Maldonado addressed the GOP convention for six minutes in Spanish, none of the Democratic Latino presenters spoke entirely in Spanish. A few -- including Menéndez and DNC Vice Chair Roberto Ramírez -- did blend some Spanish into their comments. Ramírez, a New York state assemblyman, also addressed the issue of the U.S. Navy presence on Vieques. "To be a Democrat from New York means to fight to end military exercises that harm the environment and risk the lives of people who live on the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico," Ramírez said. Some delegates waved signs that read "Peace for Vieques/ Paz Para Vieques." Los Angeles events celebrating Latino leaders and culture included a luncheon honoring U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (Calif.) and other Latinos in Congress, a DNC-sponsored fiesta for seniors and families, a Latino Committee 2000 block party featuring Celia Cruz -- who also performed at the GOP's Un Nuevo Día event in Philadelphia -- and Loretta Sánchez's Hispanic Unity USA fund-raiser at Universal Studios. Also, Bustamante held a Hispanic Entertainment Showcase featuring performances by Enrique Iglesias, Los Lobos and comedian Paul Rodríguez. Outside the Staples Center, local groups of Latino immigrants, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, El Rescate and the Central American Resource Center -- along with labor and environmental groups -- staged demonstrations to draw attention to several issues. These included the plight of those who die trying to cross the Mexican border into the United States, amnesty for illegal immigrants and sweatshops that exploit immigrant labor. As in Philadelphia, many of the protest groups worked with the Direct Action Network media outreach group. Cynthia Orosco is a reporter with Hispanic Link News Service in Washington, D.C.
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