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Feedback ForumSend us your opinions, reactions, and ideas about "The Latino Vote 2008"Submissions for this question are no longer being accepted. Previously submitted comments appear below. Comments may have been edited for content or space. Poster: Vinnie Comment: This interview was really good b/c it explained some of the strategy that campaigners use to win elections. It was interesting how at first he was involved in negative campaigns. Some of the campaigning strategies that he talked about is being used by some of the 2008 candidates like the visability activities. Rod Shealy talked about how he doesn't do any negative campaigning anymore. He says running a positive campaign is more effective than being negative. Poster: Phadre Comment: I think this is very opinionated. The interviewer was very bias on her outlook of latinos. Poster: Sharon Comment: With all the rhetoric about 'illegals' why hasn't ANY CANIDATE connected the loss of millions of good paying jobs in the US, and Mexicans coming across the border illegally to NAFTA/GATT/ETC.? I'm not a policy wonk yet even I can see the connection. Also, Mexicans really don't want to leave their country, culture, and families, they come only because these unfair treaties have resulted in increased poverty in their home country. NAFTA requires,amoung other things, Mexico to suspend subsidies to subsistance farmers, yet it doesn't require the US to stop the subsidies to MEGA AGRIBUSINESS. The cost of tortillas alone has risen five fold since NAFTA. Now is this fair? NO. This is capitalism gone to far. Poster: Terry Comment: Many others here have expressed what I feel. Being anti-ILLEGAL immigration is not the same as being anti-Latino. I am now officially anti-Hinojosa. Just disgusting. Poster: Garrett from Long Island Comment: My stomach is still in knots from watching this one-sided display of illegal immigration. Americans, real Americans, are at their wits-end over this issue. This is why it has become the most important issue in the upcoming election. Americans are sick of both legal and illegal Latino immigrants refusing to assimilate into our culture. Almost every Latino I see in public is speaking Spanish, even in cases that they know English. This is insulting to us Americans. I just feel as if the Latino immigrant of today only wants to acquire our privileges, not our national pride. Poster: Garrett from Long Island Comment: My stomach is still in knots from watching this one-sided display of illegal immigration. Americans, real Americans, are at their wits-end over this issue. This is why it has become the most important issue in the upcoming election. Americans are sick of both legal and illegal Latino immigrants refusing to assimilate into our culture. Almost every Latino I see in public is speaking Spanish, even in cases that they know English. This is insulting to us Americans. I just feel as if the Latino immigrant of today only wants to aquire our privlages, not our national pride. Poster: Juan S. Comment: This show is a classic example of how the truth is bent and twisted to become absolutely false. Most Hispanics are against ILLEGAL immigration, as are most of the Republican candidates running. ILLEGAL immigrants do not pay taxes, yet use our hospitals, schools, etc. that legal immigrants and U.S. citizens pay for. Jobs are taken away from legal citizens by ILLEGAL aliens. If you are at all concerned about our economy, then we need to secure the border (keep the ILLEGAL aliens from coming into the U.S.). Legal immigration is a good thing and I support it. This show needs to state the facts and not twist it in such a way that it is false! Poster: Thomas Comment: I guess I'm not alone in my disgust with PBS and the producers of this show. My half sister is Hispanic and she too is against ILLEGAL immigration. I am a substantial contributor to PBS and I have tried to be open minded, even when I disagree with a report. Those days have ended with this report. I am very happy to see all those who quickly recognized the blending of ILLEGAL immigration with legal immigration. Illegal immigrants must commit a multitude of illegal activities to maintain illegal residency. From fraudulent documents to driving without a license and insurance to identity theft to failure to pay taxes, illegals are not just illegally here. Just because the majority of ILLEGAL infiltrators are Latino doesn't mean it is discriminatory to enforce the law. If someone is here ILLEGALLY from Denmark, they should be treated exactly the same. PBS should be ashamed of themselves for this weak attempt to slant the issue. Poster: jan Comment: I'm very, very disappointed at how biased this program was. The reporter didn't call it what it is - illegal immigration. She made false statements and presented facts in a false light, representing that Republicans are against ALL immigration, and that they're the only ones against a wide-open border. Lots of Republicans, Democrats and Independents are against ILLEGAL immigration and open borders. We need to protect our borders. That's not racism; it's called national security. My parents were LEGAL immigrants to the U.S. They gave up everything, waited patiently in line, had to pass a medical exam, learned English and got no government support. I am very offended that your program ignored all the sacrifices that LEGAL immigrants from all parts of the world have made to come to this country to become citizens. Your program was an insult to them. Poster: Juan S. Comment: This show is a classic example of how the truth is bent and twisted to become absolutely false. Most Hispanics are against ILLEGAL immigration, as are most of the Republican candidates running. ILLEGAL immigrants do not pay taxes, yet use our hospitals, schools, etc. that legal immigrants and U.S. citizens pay for. Jobs are taken away from legal citizens by ILLEGAL aliens. If you are at all concerned about our economy, then we need to secure the border (keep the ILLEGAL aliens from coming into the U.S.). Legal immigration is a good thing and I support it. This show needs to state the facts and not twist it in such a way that it is false! Poster: Derek Comment: Terrific work reporting the story and the perspective of the Latino community and its perception of the election issues and candidate positions. I would like to know why the enforcement of existing employment regulations isnt coming to the fore as the most sensible approach? Shutting down a few big contractors, manufacturers, or retailers; or assessing some meaningful fines could go a long way to sending the right message. The border fence is a joke and the money being spent on it should go to policing employers that abuse employment regulations. Keep up the great investigative work and hard-hitting reporting! Poster: J.N. Schimmel Comment: I am so disappointed that you've decided to portray the immigration debate in false terms. The opposition is to ILLEGAL immigration. Your reporter never used the word ILLEGAL and kept asking about immigration and even asked the Latino group if they felt discrimminated against. Wow. Nobody I know is against legal immigrants. Except for the native Americans we're all in that category. That's creating problems where none exists. I'm surprised you didn't edit the Urban League man's remarks. He made it very clear the it is ILLEGAL immigration that he is concerned about, and he's justified. Poster: Susan Comment: It is very clear that the Hispanic vote is of utmost importance and I just watched the show about what the Hispanic population considers important. It was stated that it was the Hispanic vote that was responsible for our current President Bush's victory. My question is if they are happy with what they created? It seems to me that there are a lot of issues that Hispanics are being wooed by but the payoff isn't there for them. I would like to ask all the large voting groups to consider some independent thinking and voting. All Democratic and Republican processes have proven over and over again to be similar in their dependency in the Corporate America modelthat seems to be ruining this country and getting rid of a strong middle class. Watching this much enthusiasm and hope for change and knowing how politics has been a sham as long as I have been a voter, since 1961, I wonder why the process is picking up the same speed that has not delivered what people in this country want, but the politicians do not deliver. Hilary Clinton, as a woman, may be the best choice, but we all know she will bargain with the corporations and has already lost her personal battle for better health care for Americans. America is the laughing stock of all the civilized world because of our poor healthcare systems--she bargained to drop her pursuit for healthcare for the corps to support her presidential campaign. How can we believe in such tactics? The Republicans will sweeten everything with appropriate words but have hardly ever delivered. In the meantime, our beloved US is becoming weak by our people being sick, uneducated and depressed. Let's really make changes and vote en masse for someone else!!! How about Kucinik???? Thanks for the opportunity to express myself. I understand that the Hispanic population is well meaning and powerful....beware of the words--watch the actions! Poster: Robert Tate Comment: Framing the immigration issue in such buzzwords as faith, family, even racism and xenophobia is doing the whole matter a disservice. Americans have lost their jobs due to corporate greed and global trade agreements (helped by administrations from BOTH parties). If they want to point a finger, don't blame immigrants. Blame those in Washington and Wall Street, and vote for progressive candidates who want to give this country back to the people -- and that's living breathing people of all races, not corporations. Poster: travis paulson Comment: In all the rhetoric I hear from ALL of the presidential candidates about controlling the border I hear nothing from any of them about controlling the BORDERS. All the talk seems to be about the border between Mexico and the United States but what about the border between Canada and the United States? I've never heard of Mexican terrorists crossing the Rio Grande or digging tunnels under our border fences to get into the U.S. so they could fly airplanes into skyscrapers, explode nuclear weapons or establish terrorist cells for future subversive acts. My experiences with Mexican people reveals that the vast majority of them are very hard workers,family oriented and are coming into this country simply to find a better life. It is the Canadian border where we see the really bad boys crossing into this country and it's a very long and wide open border and extremely easy to cross undeteced. And it's not Canadians you see trying to come into this country illegally. Apparently, they are quite content to stay in Canada! So let's be realistic about true homeland security and start hearing dialogue about both borders. And at the same time develop strategies to help illegal aliens in this country that are bettering our society! Poster: Jim Steele Comment: I consider myself pretty progressive, except on this issue of illegal immigration. Illegals are invading our country, and the system is broken. Your show didn't explain how illegals get the right to vote. That is the implication of your broadcast, since you said the growing Hispanic population is forming a substantial voting block. If this is true, the system is really broken. Republicans represent the party of big business. It is to their advantage to hire illegals for low wages. They are not happy enough to ship our jobs overseas, so they tolerate this invasion to put the rest of us out of work. They are eliminating the middle class. President Reagan gave amnesty in the '80s. This sent the message that it's okay for every illegal Hispanic to invade the US, and disrespect the law, with hope of becoming citizens. The Democrats represent the party of working people. It is in no working citizen's interest to tolerate this invasion, when illegals take their jobs for less pay. The media for the most part favors illegal immigration, for reasons I don't understand. The government needs to fix the system by enforcing current laws, building a fence, fining employers of illegals, repealing the right to grant citizenship to children born here from illegal parents, and forming a national database of citizens. How's that from a progressive from Eugene, OR? Poster: Myron Heaton Comment: In the report Friday Jan. 11, 2008 you talked about the latino groups being upset with all the talk about illegal immigration - correction - aliens. But what you did not ask is what do they want to have done about the the aliens that come accross the border without following the law??? If you provide a method to secure a car by going to a dealership and buying the car and then taking it home but you choose to go after closing and steal the car that is breaking the law. What do you want to have done with the man that steals the car??? Likewise, there is a path for mexicans to come into the country legally but some choose not to do it that way but sneek in illegally. Both actions break the law. What would they do? Just let the car thief go ahead and just let the alien go ahead??? Why don't you ask that kind of question. Once again, what would they have the country do? Poster: ML Comment: I am tired of Maria Inahosa, the over annunciation-Latino-centric-biased reporting makes me turn off NOW. It is my hope that this response is not simply tossed onto the racist bin and ignored. It is not that this subject is not important, it is not irrelevant, but I would like to see fair reporting. This may be exampled by the implication that a representative who was caught up in the Abramhoff scandal, is not only racist, but a crook. Bashing thsoe who would secure American borders and framing them as racist is reprehensible to a regular viewer, and a scar upon the reporting of NOW. Poster: Ta Neil Comment: It's not the fact that the hispanic population has grown because they illegally cross the borders but, that when they get here they learn how to play both sides of the coin. They learn about slavery, chattel slavery, and Jim Crow as well as modern day slavery. They know the language to use to get white voters attention. They also know they are higher on the racial caste system and exploit it. They exploit my culture in all aspects(appropriation without appreciation)but are quick to play master by demonizing blacks. These people are only a powerful force because it is believed (has been normalized that is) hate is power. Assimilating white supremacist patriarchal capitalism provides power and status. These people aren't stupid. Hate what the white man hates without looking like a monster and you've got it made. Poster: Ted Slatten Comment: Frame and phrase your work correctly, please! It is NOT about “immigration” it’s all about “ILLEGAL immigration!” American’s are not against legal immigrants; we are angry with loose immigration policies. As a people we do not like queue jumpers; plain and simple. And I’ll speak first had – it cost me thousands of dollars, and a lot of anxiety for both my wife and myself, to process her entry legally. Poster: Ron Comment: I was crestfallen at your report this week on LA-TEEEEn-o (as pronounced by your reporter) issues in this presidential campaign. You inferred that Barak Obama pandered on the issue of immigration. Your own sound bite of Obama speaking to the issue caught him defining his position against encouraging ILLEGAL immigration. What's your point? Are you, Broncaccio and Lila Azam Zanganeh, implying that any candidate not willing to look the other way and encourage ILLEGAL immigration is not worth our vote? Do you really think that all of the hispanic and other-origin immigrants here, today, legally, are in support of your position? I AM a moderate democrat, never voted republican. I AM a descendant of the First Commandante of the Presidio at Yerba Buena (now known as San Francisco), Joachin Moraga, and yes, he was a LA-TEEEEEN-o. I am also the descendant of european hispanics (Portuguese) who came to Ellis Island in 1895. I have NO problem with immigration in general, nor hispanic immigration in particular. I DO have a problem with anyone and everyone who obfuscates the issue of LA-TEEEEEEn-o immgiration with ILLEGAL immigration. I hoped that you would do better with this issue. Sincerely, Ron Sutcliffe Poster: steve skrukrud Comment: I suppose big business and liberal shows like yours won't be happy until all unions and good paying jobs are replaced by people wiilling to work for five dollars an hour. You should be educating people on the real dangers of letting illegals into this country.As far as i'm concerned someone who wants to give amnesty to illegals and let more in are traders to their own country and condemming our citizens to a third world way of life. Poster: Noel Hinners Comment: We do enjoy watching NOW. We are, however, highly disturbed by the alant you put on the subject tonight. In particular,tonight's interviewer failed totally to distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants. Failing to make that distinction warps,read biases, the discussion. Many of us favor LEGAL immigration. Do not fuzz up the discussion with your own politics. Poster: judith Comment: All American citizens,are entitled, and should exercise their right to vote, including latinos. But, these latinos, if they are truely Americans, should be voting for what is good for this country, not their ancestry,or nationality. And having forign countries export their poverty, and crime issues to this country, through the encouragement of illegal immigration, is not good for our country. These new so called imigrants, illegal or not, who retain their old country of orgin loyalties, do not help our country, and are a great burden on our economy. These people need to return to their own countries and put their work on improving their own homelands. This country is only a great country, because our ancesters, including my Italian grand parents, gave up their alligences to their former homelands, they learned English, and they put this country first, not Italy. It is our common English language, and assimulation into our society, that has kept this country a great country for more than 200 years. Poster: cedric johnson,sr Comment: As a youngester growing up in okla I remember the Black families who followed the harvest starting in the Southwest and ending in the farwest returning home around the holidays. As Black people moved up the economic ladder enough to escape stoop labor,Hispanis filled that void and were welcomed by our governments and our employers and topraised for their work ethics. We need a program to deal with this highly racially charged issue of illegal immergration.We could have a program that will encourage them to come forward and register in order to gain a legal status.This would not apply to felons.Some would call this amnesty,be that as it may one thing is for sure you,we are not going to round millons,heard them into cattle cars and send them back to whence they came.However we could do to them as we did the Japanese during war 11 and put them in some internment camp in some God forsaken hell hole where they would be out of sight and out of mind.I do not buy the statement that they take jobs from the rest of us. Cedric Johnson Muskogee,OK Poster: CT Comment: Maria Hinijosa is incredibly racist in portraying anyone who is not embracing illegal immigrants as racist. She uses the word immigrant to encompass both legal and illegal immigrants, and in doing so, she states clearly that she believes the law to be immaterial. It is exactly this sort of distorted reasoning that is causing many law-abiding Americans to be suspicious of all Hispanics, because she paints Hispanics with the view that the law does not matter, not immigration law, not speeding laws, not stopping for red lights or stop signs, not reckless driving, not safety and environmental laws, not criminal laws. It is that culture of lawlessness that good Americans reject, not an ethnicity. She is hopelessly racist, and she is seeking to submerse all Hispanics in that racism. In doing so, she is drowning them. Poster: Thomas Andrew Comment: I respectfully but strongly disagree with your reporters claim that Americans are against immigration or anti-immigrant, they are not. Though they are very concerned about ILLEGAL immigrants. It is dishonest and extremely bias not to make that very important distinction. Americans have always welcomed immigrants to come into this country, but they expect them to knock on the front door first. America and Americans are suffering a great burden financially from this open door policy. What is so unreasonable about that? I am self employed, a Democrat, living in the Northeast and I am personally being affected by this problem. Thank you for trying to be more objective with your reporting in the future, Sincerely, Thomas Andrew Poster: Daniel Benavides Comment: The way your interviewer asked her questions clearly should her latino bias. I can only assume PBS has the same bias for presenting this as an unbiased program. Poster: PD Comment: Great report! I just wanted to express my chagrin at Tancredo's (and many others') fear-mongering attempts to link terrorism and illegal immigration. It is amazing that nobody seems to notice the conspicuous absence of any such fear-mongering regarding the porous US-Canada border! It is legitimate and timely to discuss the impact of illegals on the economy or job security for citizens, whatever one's position may be. We can and should have that discussion in a non-xenopohobic manner. Thank You, PD,NY Poster: Charles Miller Comment: I would like the borders closed as soon as possible to all but legal immigrants. Furthermore, those already in this country illegaly sould be deported and must wait their turn like everyone wanting to enter the U.S.A. Why should the Latinos be upset if this is done? Do they expect the citizens of the U.S.A.to support illegal immigration for Latinos only? There is an established system for immigration, let us use it and have equal oportunity for all. There is a growing unemployment situation in this country which is contributing to the economic downturn. Let's consider having another Works Progress Administration WPA to employ the multitude of the unemployed to build the fences across our boarders. Poster: James Lane Comment: Hinahosa does not know the differance between illegal immigration and immigration. She kept saying immigration instead of illegal immigration. Immigrants instead of illegal aliens. It is right out of the Karl Rove playbook of blending two seperate issues together until everyone sees them as one. If we want this kind of manipulation I will watch FOX news. This is why I never donate money to PBS anymore. Poster: Henry Comment: This is for the record. Most USA jobs went to China and India. Manufaturing, tech, high paid labor etc. The Latinos only take the unwanted jobs, they work here, buy here, and leave their money they make here. Economy....Hello The chinese and Indians, spend their money in their countries, from USA jobs that went there. Poster: Ray Henrie Comment: Your Latino program tonight constantly referred to Republicans being tough on immigration. That is entirely disingenuous in that the issue is ILLEGAL immigration. I have had numerous good Latino friends over the years, and I resent the twisting of this controversy to imply a kind of racism. The fact is we have always welcomed legal immigrants. Those who come to this country need to come legally. We have to have secure borders as a part of national security. Poster: Joe K Comment: This week's NOW presentation is comparable to minicule size of the font on this feedback page. Its intent is to suppress any opposition to NOW-approved propaganda. Hispanoza (or whatever her name is) continue to purposely combine illegal immigrants with real and legitimate immigrants. If she is correct about Hispanics objecting to enforcement of immigration laws for illegal immigrant of Hispanic origin, then that makes these Hispanics racists. They want to stop enforcement of the law strictly based on the skin color of Hispanic lawbreakers. That is racism by any definition. Poster: Dorothy Latour Comment: How can the Latino population be proud of the fact that their numbers got Bush elected. It just proves they are not understanding of our system. Their arrogance and sense of entitlement left me disgusted. When my parents came from Europe, they worked hard too but they were humble enough to continually study politics and joined many civic groups but never did they criticize citizens of this country. Latino's have served the purpose of dismantling the unions which some Americans had to die to see implemented. And without the union Americans will never get a living wage. |
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