The Emerging Influence Of Hispanic Voters

More Than Nine Million Latinos Are Expected To Vote In The Presidential Election This November

(CBS)  Even though California college student Diego Janacua can't cast a vote in this year's presidential election because he's not yet an American citizen, he's helping to register other new voters and doing everything he can to make sure Latinos make it into the voting booth.

Univision, a Spanish language network, is also working to engage Latinos in the American political process, CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes reports.

First, registering people for citizenship and then, signing up new voters.

"Our audience needed to be informed," said Univision anchor Teresa Quevedo. "Not just informed, not about what is going on around them, but that they can empower themselves - that they have a voice and that voice can be heard if they vote."

And heard in bigger numbers than ever before - there's been a steady increase in Latino voters since 1980 when just under two and a half million voted for president. That number had more than doubled by the 2000 election, but this year, the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute expects at least 9.3 million Latinos to vote in November.

"We can no longer be called the sleeping giant," said California State University professor Jaime Regalado.

Their political power has been predicted before, but Professor Jaime Regalado told Hughes this is the year Latinos will finally become empowered.

"If it's going 20 percent, 25 percent - one of four or every five voters...that's huge!" said Regalado.

While President Bush captured a Republican record 40 percent of the Latino vote in 2004, the latest Pew Hispanic Center poll finds the number of Latinos who identify themselves as Democrat has surged from 47 to 59 percent.

And the candidates are fighting for those votes, with everything from Spanish language television ads to mariachi music and Mexican food at campaign stops.

To Diego Janacua, and those who hope to inspire more than an occasional stop at a taco stand, it's about changing attitudes.

"It's not more of a Latino or ethnic issue, bit it's more of just being an American, I guess," Janacua said. Latinos are starting to feel like they're Americans."

Americans, who can make a difference this November.

[mattcbsmatt]

haa ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is ILLEGAL

[w90c3uw]

Americans have introduced a House Bill with 56 co-sponsors to create a Cesar Chavez National Holiday. Goggle the AFL-CIO website for national actions and detailed historical facts.
I''ll vote for the candidate that puts Cesar Chavez on my calendar, March 31, his birthdate. I say my vote is not for sale with tacos! My candidate with be proved in the fire of community organizing for the ordinary workers. ....en la lucha...

[seangallegos]

Matt,

Not all latino''s are illegal immigrants. In case you forgot your American history, the western part of the North America was Mexican territory. Since the middle 1800s, my family has resided in California and Texas. My family has fought in WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam war. You need to learn your U.S. history.

[cbsblogger]

Influence obtained by illegal immigration? That means illicit influence.

[likeitis5050]

Since the middle 1800s, my family has resided in California and Texas. My family has fought in WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam war. You need to learn your U.S. history.

Posted by seangallegos

It''s the illegals that stand to gain the most...for nothing. Your family, as well as millions of other legal immigrants worked and took pride in becoming American...it''s the free loaders everyone should be working to extract...I mean every American. And every American should be taking it personal that 20+ million are about to get everything for nothing without having to do a thing to earn it...just the way the Democrats want it to guarantee another population of Democrats that can keep them in office without doing anything to earn it. And it makes little difference whether Obama, Clinton, or McCain get in...they are all cut from the same cloth...and will usher in amnesty come he11 or high water.

[incog-nito]

The American people need to come to grip with the fact that none of the presidential candidates intend to do anything about the immigration issue. Not Clinton, not Obama, not McCain, not Romney. In fact, they all believe (privately) that it''s good for business to have low-priced labor. And who are the most influential campaign donors? Big business. Immigration, legal or not, combined with outsourcing have the effect of driving wages down which, of course, is good for business. Whether it''s good for the American worker, well, you decide.

[standlee5]

I''ll vote for the candidate that doesn''t want a "piece of the action".

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by seangallegos at 09:01 PM

Unfortunately, too many Americans think that when the Southwest was taken from Mexico, that from that day on, there were no more Latinos living there. The Latino population was in reality a Mestizo population. They are the descendents of the original inhabitants of this continent. When the US put up new borders, those borders meant very little to a people who had been migrating up and down the region for thousands of years. But white Americans will hear nothing of their intrusion on the lives of others. They are convinced that the doctrine of Manifest Destiny gives them a superiority over all, and that the rest are the actual intruders.

As for the comment about free loaders from the KKK member in another post, it might suprise the pig that most free loaders in the welfare system are white people. But KKK members rarely are concerned with facts.

[rudy654-2009]

Oh, and for any other racist''s information, this article is about US citizens who are Latino become a larger part of the voting scene. It is not about illegals, because neither legal or illegal residents can vote. What a bunch of idiots.

[standlee5]

And what is it the Latino vote wants. More free healthcare, maybe SS for all their freinds and family in Mexico, free tuition at any school in the country.

[wright5579]

What''s going on in America today is nothing short of an invasion. Why is it not politically correct to say that I don''t want the United States invaded by the people of another country? Stop corporate greed and a company could pay American workers a decent pay to do the work illegals do now.

[tbweb]

Legal Hispanic immigrants and U.S. Born Hispanics have a gut check decision to make! Both are legal U.S. Citizens and are strongly family oriented. However they must prove they are true Americans and not break the law harboring and supporting illegals. Its a hard decision for Hispanics, it will be interesting to see what the final outcome will be. Currently is appears they have decided to break the Law!

[marcpcbs]

Does a person have to prove citizenship in order to vote for president?

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by dumbshun at 02:27 AM

Oh, you don''t know of any other immigrants that carry other flags through our streets??? You are a freakin idiot, besides a freaken racist. Every year, the Italian community, the Irish community, the German community, the Czech community of descendents of these countries parade through the streets with both American and their country of origin''s national flag. EVERY YEAR!! Do you protest them doing this? Of course not, you bigoted filthy racist.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by tbweb at 01:49 AM

What incoherency! You cannot be both a citizen and a legal resident. There is a distinction. DUH! Go back to school and learn!

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by standlee5 at 11:53 PM

You really ought to think of brain surgery. Because you are really stupid. Didn''t get far in school, did you? It was really hard for you, huh? But thanks to welfare, your mother got you to school everyday.

[ontheleft]

I have an interesting observation to make. I live in a voting precinct where easily 60% or more of the residents are Hispanic. I once worked as a poll worker in the precinct. Very few, probably 5% or so, of the voters on the rolls had Hispanic surnames. Sure enough, very few Hispanics showed up to vote and the ones that did were obviously born here.

I live in the Midwest which has experienced the greatest influx of illegal immigrants of any area of the country in the past decade. I''m always amazed how the local politicians try to court the Hispanics when most of them can''t even vote.

[closethippy1]

I live in the Midwest which has experienced the greatest influx of illegal immigrants of any area of the country in the past decade. I''''m always amazed how the local politicians try to court the Hispanics when most of them can''''t even vote.
Posted by ontheleft at 03:25 AM : Feb 04, 2008


I lived in Wisconsin between 87 and 92 and then went back to visit again in 2006.
Goodness, what a change. The bar I used to frequent back in the days is now half American and half Mexican. It was really odd to see both groups taking one side of the bar for themselves.
It seems as if they were keeping separate from each other but other than that I didn''t hear anyone complain about it.
The best part of it was when I happened to walk by a group of Mexicans sitting by the bar and they invited me to a free beer. Well, it turned out to be FIVE free beers. I had to beg them to stop buying me more.
I don''t remember anyone else ever doing something like that for me, ya know.
Legal or illegal I think they''re good folks, family oriented and we should help them out.

[mcvet]

This is a Nation of Immigrants, but I don''''t know of any of the other immigrant groups-Italians,Greeks,Germans,French,Ch
inese,Jews,Russians,Japanese,etc, ever DEMANDING as the Latinos are doing now. Why should we cave-in to the their Demands?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by dumbshun at 02:27 AM : Feb 04, 2008
+ report abuse

People like this are so sad. It would be funny if you didn''t know they were serious. Yes this is a nation of Imigrants and the SPANISH were here before ANY of those mentioned in this post. For a people to use the democracy we have to gain influence is something as old as the country itself. It is strange that these folks didn''t object when the Religious Reich was doing the EXACT same thing as the Hispanics. Strange they never say the same things about cuban''s in Florida either. Guess it''s the same tired old Nazi garbage...they are okay if they hold to the party line. Sieg Heil Bush.

[jack3213]

Two things to keep in mind: The economy is not in a recesion. And, Clinton will take from your wages if you deny the governments plan for health care. Wake up.

[underdogus]

MEXICO is the WORLD''S no.9 exporter of crude oil, shipping an average of 1.7 MILLION barrels per day in 2007, and a TOP-THREE supplier to the US wich buys roughly 80% of MEXICAN EXPORTED OIL...

[quetzal0666]

Aztlan.........................

[hypnotoad72]

Two things to keep in mind: The economy is not in a recesion. And, Clinton will take from your wages if you deny the governments plan for health care. Wake up.

Posted by jack3213
------------------------

So all those home foreclosure signs and "STORE CLOSING, EVERYTHING MUST GO!" are proof all is truly well in the land?

[quetzal0666]

Hey Maybe the future Latino President of the USA,
was Conceived in Mexico,
and His mom is walking across the Border. no?

that would make an awesome movie........

[mytheo-2009]

Mexico''s GDP rivials that of the USA. I don''t understand why they don''t just stay put and fix their own country. Our entitlement programs cant take any more. What do you suppose they will do when we go under? Illegals are killing the golden goose.

[mctooold]

Viva Juan McCain!

[mctooold]

That''s it! I''m getting pregnant and fleeing to France where my baby will be a legal citizen of France and then I can stay there! What? No other country but the United States of Amnesia allow this practice? Shocking!
Viva Juan McCain!

[mctooold]

Hey Maybe the future Latino President of the USA,
was Conceived in Mexico,
and His mom is walking across the Border. no?

that would make an awesome movie........

Posted by Quetzal0666 at 09:30 AM : Feb 04, 2008

I''m sending that idea to the striking writers union immediately! Great concept(ion)!

[apolloknowsa]

All countries on the planet control their legal immigration. What does Mexico do to Guatemalan illegal aliens? Brutalize them at the border, arrest them, beat them...if they come in and give birth, they aren''t Mexican citizens...

And now La Raza (the race), which, by its very name declares that it is a racist organization, tries to claim that enforcing existing law in the USA is racist? No. According to the US Constitution, Congress has the authority to control immigration. Not La Rza!

[quetzal0666]

Posted by McTooOld at ...

Immaculate Idea huh!!!!

[tbweb]

Posted by rudy654 at 02:49 AM : Feb 04, 2008,,,

It looks like you are the one who needs reading and comprehension, the word "resident" you are suppose to be correcting me on is not even in my Post! Read my Post again, its below! duh back to you, learn how to read!

====================================================

Posted by rudy654 at 02:49 AM : Feb 04, 2008

What incoherency! You cannot be both a citizen and a legal resident. There is a distinction. DUH! Go back to school and learn!

Posted by rudy654 at 02:49 AM : Feb 04, 2008

====================================================

Posted by tbweb at 01:49 AM : Feb 04, 2008

Legal Hispanic immigrants and U.S. Born Hispanics have a gut check decision to make! Both are legal U.S. Citizens and are strongly family oriented. However they must prove they are true Americans and not break the law harboring and supporting illegals. Its a hard decision for Hispanics, it will be interesting to see what the final outcome will be. Currently is appears they have decided to break the Law!

Posted by tbweb at 01:49 AM : Feb 04, 2008

[pacific_c]

Dare to compare the current congress for voting records.....

Senator Clinton has missed 105 votes (23.5%) during the current Congress. ....
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/c001041/....

Senator Obama has missed 168 votes (37.7%) during the current Congress. ....
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/
.....
Senator McCain has missed 251 votes (56.3%) during the current Congress. ....
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/m000303/

[quetzal0666]

Legal Hispanic immigrants and U.S. Born Hispanics have a gut check decision to make! Both are legal U.S. Citizens and are strongly family oriented. However they must prove they are true Americans and not break the law harboring and supporting illegals....


Let me get this straight.
we are to turn a relative in if he / she wants to come and spend the night or deny them a room?
or decide hey, youre persona non gratta.

did not Hitler start off like this???

jejejje....
so funny.........

[sjbj2322]

People can be so bigoted or just plain ignorant. I am not hispanic but I thank my lucky starts for the opportunity I had to learn more about the politics of Latin America. US and European Capitalism forced the suffering of so many in Latin American countries while at the same time filling their people with visible images of how it could benefit them if only they were able to get to America or those other lands but let''s face it - we''re closer. It was the same goal that inspired my European ancestors to seek this land. And lest we forget and start blaming Latin American countries for not taking care of their own...well guess what - the same was said by my ancestors who fled Europe to come to this land. The only significant difference was in the time span in which they came. Yes, something must be done but what must end is standing in judgment of people who do not want to be illegal, who do not want to have to hide from the law, who truly want to be able to embrace all this country can afford with their pride and dignity intact. No - let''s just keep seeking ways to line our own pockets at the expense of others. Yet if one must stick to the issue of economics, consider this. How much are you willing to pay for the fresh fruit and vegetables, the clothes on your back and so many other commodities that these people produce often at near slave wages so you can snub them and scream - Send them back.

[wardoglrs]

Immigration by the numbers the horror


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ

[bodge62]

OBAMA LOOSES JOBS FOR LATINIOS!
Ms. Obama, VP Chicago Hosp, that charges minorities 6 times as much, isn%u2019t cold hearted enough, she also caused hundreds to loose their 11.hr jobs, to be more efficient she said! In 05, elected to the BOD Westchester-based TreeHouse Foods, she received $12,000 and $33,000 from a subsidiaries, in Nov announced closing its La Junta, plant, that claimed the jobs of 153 workers, most of them Hispanic! Huge blow to a rural town jobs paid a starting wage of $11hr, Company pays top execs like MICHELLE OBAMA tens of millions a year while destroying middle-class America. Raises the question not only about corporate values but about Barrack Obama''s own values. Specifically, while he bashes Wal-Mart, why does his wife, make $45,000 and up a year serving on the board of Chicago comp that pays her a very hefty amount of money while laying off mostly minority workers in economically deprived areas? No. 1 customer is Wal-Mart???

[bodge62]

Senator Obama going to say to republicans when asked why he favors granting drivers'' licenses to illegal immigrants as Obama has admitted twice in debates? About Obama''s present position that undocumented workers will not be covered in his healthcare proposal, yet when he was running for the Senate he said that children of undocumented workers should get the same healthcare benefits that citizens get? when they begin to ask him about negotiating in unstructured summits with the leaders of Iran, North Korea and Cuba without preconditions? What will Senator Obama say when Senator McCain asks him why he said in 2004 that he did not know how he would have voted on the Iraq war authorization and that his view of the Iraq war was not different from President Bush''s? What will Senator Obama say when Senator McCain compares Obama''s votes to fully fund the Iraq War in the Senate to Obama''s rhetorical opposition to that war? What is Senator Obama going to say when Senator McCain questions Obama''s claim to be "the most qualified person in America to conduct the foreign policy of the United States"? What is Senator Obama going to say when Senator McCain says that Obama is not one of the most qualified members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to lead this country in today''s dangerous world but instead one of the most absent? Senator Obama has not conducted a single policy hearing as chairman of the subcommittee on European Affairs of the Foreign Relations Committee?

[l00ker]

Feeling like an American means more than enjoying the American bounties; it also means being loyal to the laws, history, Constitution, ways and mores of American society. And marching through American streets, clogging them with giant foreign flags, does little for receiving a hearty American welcome, and citizenship on top of it. Americans should rid the country of any two bit politician, who panders to these traitors, who would as soon steal the identity of a legal citizen for one of their fellow line jumpers, than obey the laws, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

[kansas1946]

Whenever you hear about that nonsense that "my ancestors are immigrants" so it is OK to allow 20 million illegals into this country so far, laugh.
My ancestors came here also, but they came here legally. They didn''t sneak across the border. Many of them came through Ellis Island and the indignity that was Ellis Island. Checked like cattle for diseases and many sent back. There are millions of people from around the world waiting in line to get into this country. They wait their turn, they don''t bully their way in and then scream discrimination.