DEMOCRATS AND DIVERSITY ???
by Leo E. Laurence; Member, S-P-J National Committee on Diversity
As democrats convene in Denver to formally nominate Sen. Barrack Obama for president and Sen. Joseph Biden for vice president, journalists need to look at whether or not diversity plays a role in the convention, and on the campaign trail.
So far, it seems to be muted.
By diversity, our SPJ's National Committee on Diversity includes ethnic minorities (Latinos, etc.), and also Gays & Lesbians plus the physically and mentally disabled.
The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials has been holding voter forums around the country to listen to what Latinos have to say about the presidential campaign.
They found that even within the Latino Community, the demographics are widely diverse, varying in age, gender, national origin and sexual orientation.
Many were concerned about he wars in Iraq and Afphanistan; not only with the loss of life, but also worried that the cost of the two wars is taking funding away from important, domestic needs. They were also concerned that the immigration debate - and escalating attacks on "illegal aliens" (inaccurate phrase, only a court can call someone illegal) - has significantly increased the overt discrimination against Latinos, including those who are citizens.
There are 1.2 million more Latinos who are eligible to vote now than in the last presidential election. Latinos are so large a political force that they might decide the margin of victory in important battleground states like New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Florida and even in California.
Also, the party seems to be ignoring the Gay & Lesbian vote, which is also growing significantly. Or, at least the media seems to be ignoring it as a voting block.
While Gays have historically voted for democrats, there is some concern as to whether the party is "really" committed to gay civil rights. Indeed, on one of the key, current issues in the Gay & Lesbian Community - gay marriages (which the California Supreme Court recently legalized) - Sen. Obama is opposed. He prefers the lesser status of domestic partnerships, an alternative that the California high court said violates the equal-protection clause.
Sen. Obama, however, had spoken - if only briefly - in opposition to California's statewide Proposition 8 on the November ballot. It will invalidate the state's high-court ruling.
Also, Sen. Obama has not pushed opposition to the military's discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy prohibiting Gays & Lesbians from serving openly in the military. It was approved by former President Bill Clinton, making him quite unpopular with Gays. The policy has been used to literally kick out thousands of gay service members, including many fluent in the Arabic language, needed so desperately in the Middle Eastern wars.
While Gays & Lesbians will probably continue to vote for democrats, unless the party and its candidates speak out on these issues of importance to their community, there may be far fewer who volunteer to work on the campaign.
The federal government is also preparing to significantly strengthen the famous Americans-with- Disabilities-Act. This is extremely important to the disabled community, but the democrats have been silent about it on the campaign trail.
These diversity issues need to be covered by journalists working the campaign, both nationally anhd locally.
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For comment, contact Leo E. Laurence, J.D. at (619) 757-4909 or e-mail at leopowerhere@msn.com