Is it a surprise that Latino immigrants have a more positive outlook on life in the United States than Latinos who are born in America?  

If you are surprised, you might want to watch a segment or two of Spanish language news- the kidnappings, economic recession where people have no water, food or access to medical help, nacro-traffickers, and internal wars.  

The Associated Press-Univision poll found that: 77 percent of foreign-born Hispanic parents believe it will be easier for their children to find a good job, compared with 31 percent of U.S.-born Hispanics.

Article: Hispanic Immigrants Pin High Hopes on Life in US

President Barack Obama has lost the most trusted man in the Hispanic media. 

Univision’s Jorge Ramos, an anchor on the nation’s largest Spanish-language television network.  ... “He has a credibility problem right now with Latinos,” Ramos said. “We’ll see what the political circumstances are in a couple of years, but there is a serious credibility problem.” 

Ramos has been called the Walter Cronkite of Spanish-language media, an unparalleled nationwide voice for Hispanics.

Entire Article

Radio Bilingüe and Vida en el Valle news outlets highlight Jerry Brown’s non-existent campaign to Latinos, which is reflected in recent polling.  

Radio Bilingüe
Rubén Tapia
Noticiero Latino, Los Ángeles

13 de agosto de 2010

“Por su parte el candidato demócrata Jerry Brown, actual Procurador de California, a poco menos de tres meses de la elección aun no se dirige a la comunidad latina en español; esto le critico Héctor Barajas, vocero de Meg Whitman durante un debate en el programa Línea Abierta de Radio Bilingüe.

“‘La única persona que se esta comunicando con la comunidad latina es Meg Whitman, porque ¿dónde están los hechos, dónde están los anuncios, dónde estaá la pagina de Internet en español para comunicar los puntos de Jerry Brown?’”.

English Translation:

“For his part, Democratic candidate Jerry Brown, the current Attorney General of California, with less than three months in this election has yet to address the Latino community in Spanish; Hector Barajas, spokesman for Meg Whitman, criticized this posture during a debate on “Open Line” on Radio Bilingüe.

“‘The only person who has communicated with the Latino community is Meg Whitman.  Where is the action, the announcements, and where’s the internet page in Spanish communicating Jerry Brown’s points?’”  


Vida en el Valle
Martín E. Martinez
11 de agosto de 2010

"Brown está pidiendo a los sindicatos que hagan el trabajo sucio mientras él está prácticamente inactivo. Él realmente no ha hecho campaña y solo se ha dedicado a criticar y atacar," dijo [Hector] Barajas.

“Brown is asking the unions to do his dirty work, while his campaign remains inactive.  He is not campaigning, the only thing he is doing is attacking and criticizing,” said Barajas

...

"Hasta el momento todavía estamos eperando ver cuáles son sus planes de campaña de Brown; hasta pareciera que estas elecciones no le interesan. En este aspecto Whitman le lleva una gran ventaja ya que ella se ha dedicado a acudir a todo el estado tratando de ganar el apoyo de la gente, tanto latina como de cualquier otra raza," dijo Barajas.

“Up to now we are still waiting to see Brown’s plans, it seems like this election doesn’t matter to him.  In this respect, Whitman has a great advantage and is dedicated to campaign throughout the state to win the support of Latinos and all Californians,” said Barajas

...

Respecto a los ataques a Whitman sobre el teme de inmigración, Barajas aseguró que los comentarios de los sindicatos son totalmente falsos y con ello solo buscan confundir a la comunidad latina.

Regarding the immigration attacks against Whitman, Barajas noted that the union ads are completely false and only seek to confuse the Latino community.  

###

Jerry Brown Refuses To Debate Meg Whitman In Fresno
A Spanish Language Forum

Fresno Bee:

“Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman -- who was in Lemoore on Tuesday to talk about job creation and announce a new endorsement -- called again on her opponent, Attorney General Jerry Brown, to debate her in Fresno.

“Brown, apparently, is still thinking about it.

"‘There's been progress, but no official decision one way or the other,’ spokesman Sterling Clifford said.  Asked whether that progress was toward a yes or a no on the debate, Clifford only said it was ‘progress toward a decision. I don't know what the decision is or will be.’"

Read Entire Article: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/08/10/2037211/gop-hopeful-stops-in-lemoore.html


Jerry Brown’s Spanish Language Reluctance.  “Brown has said he'd participate in 10 debates, but that doesn't include the Oct. 2 encounter at California State University, Fresno. His reluctance is curious. The debate (partly sponsored by The Bee) would be broadcast in Spanish to Univision affiliates throughout California. You'd think Brown would want to reach out to the 3.6 million Latino voters whose ballots could determine the outcome of this election. Asked about Brown's reservations, campaign spokesman Sterling Clifford said that ‘our debate negotiators are working on it.’”  (Editorial, Brown should stop avoiding Fresno debate,” Fresno Bee, 8/13/10)

###

 Jerry Brown Underperforming With Latinos
The Field Poll & SurveyUSA Highlight Brown’s Latino Problems

SurveyUSA Poll:

Latinos

Meg Whitman:  40%
Jerry Brown:     52%

SurveyUSA Election Poll (August 12, 2010, Release #16937): “Among Hispanics Meg: 40%, Jerry: 52%”

The Field Poll:

Latinos

Meg Whitman:  39%
Jerry Brown:     50%

The Field Poll (July 7, 2010, Release 2340): “Latinos are also a traditionally solid Democratic voting bloc and account for 18% of likely voters.  However, Brown’s lead among this group is just eleven points, 50% to 39%.”

###

From the NY Times:

For months now, Jeb Bush  has been listening as President Obama blasts his older brother’s administration for the battered economy, budget deficits and even the lax oversight of oil wells.

“It’s kind of like a kid coming to school saying, ‘The dog ate my homework,’ ” Mr. Bush, this state’s former governor, said over lunch last week at the Biltmore Hotel. “It’s childish. This is what children do until they mature. They don’t accept responsibility.”

In fact, instead of constantly bashing the 43rd president, Mr. Bush offered, perhaps Mr. Obama could learn something from him, especially when it comes to ignoring the Washington chatter. “This would break his heart, to get advice that applies some of the lessons of leadership my brother learned, because he apparently likes to act like he’s still campaigning, and he likes to blame George’s administration for everything,” Mr. Bush said, dangling a ketchup-soaked French fry. “But he really seems like he’s getting caught up in what people are writing about him.”

“I mean, good God, man, read a book!” Mr. Bush said with a laugh. “Go watch ESPN!”

La Opinion: Whitman Appeals To Latinos:  

http://www.impre.com/laopinion/noticias/la-california/2010/6/17/whitman-apela-a-los-latinos-194503-1.html

“The Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman debuted today two Spanish language television commercials that will air during the France-Mexico game this morning and then at various times on Univision, Telemundo and Telefutura.”

5-Minute Introduction Video: Una Nueva California

30 Second Ad: Different Kind of Candidate

30 Second Ad: Jobs

Latino approval for Barack Obama drops again from 69% to 64% to 57%.  Highest drop among Spanish speaking Latinos: 21% drop.

From Gallup:

"Hispanics' approval of President Barack Obama's job performance slipped to 57% in May, after falling from 69% in January to 64% in February. ... After Obama's State of the Union speech in January, several leading Hispanics and Hispanic groups criticized Obama for not devoting more attention to immigration reform in the speech -- and, more specifically, for not fulfilling his campaign promise of making comprehensive immigration reform a top priority. As one Hispanic activist wrote at the time, "For those looking for a strong statement in support of comprehensive immigration reform, the speech was a big disappointment." Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez was also publicly critical of Obama after the speech."

This trend wil continue: Deficits, government waste, high unemployment numbers, foreclosures, and an oil spill have all highlight the difference between the President's rhetoric and leadership.   

Gallup: http://www.gallup.com/poll/139379/Hispanics-Approval-Obama-Drops-2010.aspx

Steve Winn lays out his view that “Americans are afraid” and he’s gets angry in an interview with CNBC.  

From his interview: “Washington is unpredictable these days.” “No one has any idea what’s next…the uncertainty of the business climate in America is frightening, frightening to everybody, and it’s delaying the recovery.”

Here it is: 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/37392344

Is it the lack of leadership or are the environmentalists to blame?  The arguments goes like this: The environmentalists have pushed offshore drilling further and further into deep waters- the current spill is 5,000 feet underwater and can only be reached with robots (mechanically), had drilling occurred in shallow waters, if a leak occurs, access to shut off the spill would be easier to reach and manage.  

There is also a question of not having a contingency plan, what happens if something goes wrong?  Well, more than a month later, 798,000 gallons a day is being spilled into the ocean, potentially making this the worse spill in the nation’s history- worse than the Exxon Valdez in Alaska.  

No preparation, no contingency plan, drilling in deep waters, and with the President on vacation- this is starting to becoming Obama’s Katrina.  

If nothing is done soon, the central image of an oil spill, a leak that is out of control, might be carried into the 2010 election.  

“According to a new USA Today/Gallup Poll, six in 10 think the federal government has done a ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ job of handling the oil spill.”

Ruben Navarrette has an interesting story regarding the frustration by those in the region:

“The state that has been most heavily impacted by this environmental disaster is Louisiana. According to Gov. Bobby Jindal, more than 100 miles of Louisiana coastline are in the spill's path. Jindal is furious at the Army Corps of Engineers, which until Thursday had refused to grant permits to allow the state to build sand barriers that might slow the spread of crude toward the shoreline. Jindal had threatened to sidestep Washington and push ahead with those plans on his own regardless of the consequences. The governor has been bold and tenacious in defense of the people of his state, showing real leadership.

“Contrast that with Obama, who seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach.”