W.H. Tailors Health Reform Message for Hispanics

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

(The White House)

The White House is expanding its push for health care reform to Hispanics with a Spanish-language version of its "Reality Check" health care Web site.

The site provides all of the videos featured on the English version, with the option of adding Spanish subtitles. There is one more video from Luis Miranda, the director of Hispanic media for the White House, who in Spanish introduces the site and lays out President Obama's arguments for comprehensive reform.

Earlier this month, the White House invited 10 Latino news media outlets to a roundtable discussion with the president according to New America Media, to talk about health care as well as other subjects including immingration, the economy and education.

"Latinos are by far the largest group of uninsured," Mr. Obama reportedly said. "Passing reform that addresses the vulnerability of this community is a critical pillar for a new economy."

According to the White House, 34 percent of the Latino population lacks health care insurance. Latinos are also one of the fastest-growing groups of voters in the country.

The Obama White House has engaged in aggressive outreach to the Hispanic community and has held at least one bilingual press conference, the White House points out.

"We should have a conscious strategy of communicating through Hispanic media," White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told the Washington Post. "It's one of the fastest-growing groups in the country."

Immigration, one of the topics most directly linked to the Hispanic community, has been put on the backburner while the president and Congress address other issues like health care reform and climate change legislation. Mr. Obama has said, though, that he expects to see a draft for immigration reform legislation by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the White House will host an immigration discussion on Thursday with advocates, faith-based groups, businesses and law enforcement officials, the Associated Press reports.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

5 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by JohnLindsayJr October 15, 2010 6:38 PM EDT: This past week, Katie Couric reported that the "health of Latino immigrants is better than some American groups."

That is only partly true.

The longer they stay in America, their health declines.

Check out the following 6-part video series.

http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/video_clips.php

Aldymac: Illegals can get all the insurance of any kind they want simply because the dems want their vote, for proof all you have to do is attend any health clinic in the country. The illegals have it better than citizens.

JL: I fail to see how "waiting for hours at a municipal health dept."...to see a physician...is better than what American citizens receive.
Absolutely absurd.

cdgolier: They are the largest group of uninsured because they chose not to pay for it not because they can't afford it, look at how many actually pay for car insurance or renew their tags.

JL: Heh heh heh!!!
One of the most grammatically incorrect statement I've ever read.

D-r-u-m-r-o-l-l....poor Whites are the largest group of uninsured people in America.

And by the way, how come Red States are generally poorer than Blue States?
More fatter than people in Blue states?
Less educated than people in Blue states?

Higher smoking rates than Blue states?
Have substantially higher rates of domestic violence than Blue states?

Higher number of under-weight babies than Blue states?
Higher rate of teen deaths?; Reply to this comment


by Aldymac August 18, 2009 4:50 PM EDT: Illegals can get all the insurance of any kind they want simply because the dems want their vote, for proof all you have to do is attend any health clinic in the country. The illegals have it better than citizens.; Reply to this comment


by cdegolier August 18, 2009 1:16 PM EDT: They are the largest group of uninsured because they chose not to pay for it not because they can't afford it, look at how many actually pay for car insurance or renew their tags. Don't get in an accident in California.; Reply to this comment

by Livinontheedge August 18, 2009 1:08 PM EDT

This ought to get the rights panties in a bunch.

Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 August 18, 2009 1:23 PM EDT: by endurorob August 18, 2009 1:13 PM EDT
Why? Because the White House is catering to criminals?

would you mean reconciliation with the GOPees in Congress on HealthCare Reform? comaradeski.