|
Press Release For Immediate Release,
September 30, 2004
Contact: Lorraine Quiroga,
202-833-6130
LULAC Reminds Presidential
Candidates to Consider Hispanics during Debate
Hispanic Vote Could Make Real Difference in
Election
Washington, DC-
The
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
want to remind the presidential candidates that
Latinos are still deciding who they will vote
for.
“Considering our potential political power
during this election year, the candidates need
to make a concentrated effort to include
Hispanic issues when revealing their positions
tomorrow night during the debate,” said LULAC
National President Hector Flores. “Latinos are
now the largest minority group in the nation,
making up approximately 39.4 million people with
40% of them eligible voters. Now more than ever
the presidential candidates must pay attention
to us and include us in their discussions if
they want our vote,” added Flores.
In
fact, the 2000 Presidential Election Census
Bureau Reports, the number of Hispanic voters
increased by approximately 20 percent and these
numbers continue to grow. What is interesting to
note is that in Arizona, Colorado, and Texas,
where LULAC is conducting a voter project,
approximately 50% are not registering under a
particular party. In other words, their vote
may be up for grabs.
Last
month LULAC issued the LULAC Challenge to
both presidential candidates. The purpose of
the challenge is to inform the candidates about
what issues matter most to Hispanics and
challenges them to explain their position on
what LULAC has determined to be the top ten
crucial issues affecting the Latino community.
Both
President Bush and Senator Kerry responded to
the LULAC Challenge and the results were
published in the July/August issue of the
LULAC News magazine. Both the
LULAC Challenge and the LULAC News
magazine can be found at
www.lulac.org
“There
are many issues that the candidates should be
considering when they address the public on
foreign policy tomorrow,” said LULAC Policy
Director Dr. Gabriela Lemus. “Some issues that
we’d like to hear about include: immigration,
the Iraqi war, border control, and better
policies for our Latin American neighbors.
Latinos will be watching the debates very
closely tomorrow evening and make decisions
accordingly,” added Lemus.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WHO: LULAC Policy Director Dr.
Gabriela Lemus
WHAT: Comment on Hispanic Vote and
Where Candidates Stand on Latino Issues
CONTACT: Lorraine Quiroga at 202-833-6130 or
202-365-4053
The League of
United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the
oldest and largest Latino civil rights
organization in the United States. LULAC
advances the economic condition, educational
attainment, political influence, health, and
civil rights of Hispanic Americans through
community-based programs operating at more than
700 LULAC councils nationwide.
# # #
|
