As we are less than a hundred days until the November elections, I decided to come up with a new blog policy. I have decided I want my endorsement to mean something, rather than just endorsing any old Democrat. As a leader in the Latino/a community and as a blogger, this blog serves as a forum for those who feel they have no voice. Therefore, it is my responsibility to go the extra mile for all the races that not only affect me but also the Latino/a community.

If Democrats learn nothing else from the 2008 election, winning elections and earning the Hispanic vote are one and the same. Failing to change our strategy affects both the national election and down-ballot races. Branding, messaging, and relationship development are cumulative exercises, and for an audience as neglected and segmented as Latinas/os are, the work to register, persuade, mobilize, and turn out these voters should have started the moment the candidates announced. Sadly, only one statewide campaign, Linda Chavez-Thompson, candidate for lieutenant governor, have taken on themselves to take this message to heart.

Democratic leaders and strategists can no long be complacent in investing significant resources in relevant research, effective message development and meaningful civic engagement. Hispanics did not move towards the Democrats as a result of intensive mobilization efforts or through the delivery of a coherent message by the party or progressive organizations. Instead, Hispanics treated the 2006 and 2008 elections as a referendum on the status quo that swept the Democrats to power.

My endorsement will be based on the campaign as a whole, not to candidates who just give lip serve and then never to be heard from again until the next election. Throughout this election I have met a few candidates who are willing to listen and adopted ideas I provided to their campaign. Oftentimes, there are gatekeepers tend to do more harm than good by closing the lines of communication between the politicians/candidates and their constituents. This will be a contributing factor when I make my endorsement. I firmly believe in the principle that, when everyone is given a say, the best ideas ultimately prevail.

Maybe, in some small way, this can serve as an alternative way of endorsing Democrats for other bloggers. I am not saying we should not vote for those who did not get endorsed. I look as this as way of placing elected politicians and future candidates on notice. If they continue in their wayward behavior, they run the risk of losing in the primaries.

I would like to reiterate the reason for these standards. This is the only way that we can put an end to the recycling of a failed strategic framework that has only delayed the branding and civic engagement efforts needed to increase the Latino/a vote.

Hispanic voters are ready for change and the true fire of change burns within us. My endorsement of a candidate should let Hispanic voters feel confident about voting them and a message to other Democratic candidates they must show they have the strength to take the next step forward to accept and cultivate an environment for Latinos/as to achieve political empowerment.

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Tags: civic engagement, democratic leaders, Elections, hispanic vote, latino voters, linda chavez thompson, strategists, Texas |  Print This Post |
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