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July 16, 2008


What's So Bad About Pandering, Asks CNN Reporter

"'Pandering.' According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to pander is to: ''provide gratification for others' desires.' So is that what John McCain and Barack Obama are doing with Hispanic voters? If you follow coverage of their speeches at three Latino events -- the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, the League of United Latin American Citizens and The National Council of La Raza -- the answer would be yes," says CNN's Juan Carlos Lopez. "Is pandering to Hispanics any different from pandering to other groups? Why isn't there a similar outcry when candidates address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on the future of Israel? Or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People? Isn't that pandering? Hispanics are coming of political age, and probably face a dilemma. But which is better -- being pandered to, or ignored?"

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Barletta Issues Challenge to Business Owners on Illegal Hiring

"Mayor Lou Barletta, whose bid to unseat a 12-term congressman is based largely on his reputation as an anti-illegal immigration crusader, is trying to keep his signature issue alive even as voters turn their attention to the troubled economy and sky-high gas prices. The three-term Republican mayor on Tuesday announced his latest effort to rid Hazleton of illegal immigrants. Even so, he conceded that immigration may have been eclipsed as an issue in his campaign to oust Democratic Rep. Paul Kanjorski in a blue-collar, heavily Democratic district in northeastern Pennsylvania," the Boston Globe reports. "Nevertheless, Barletta is still trying to keep voters focused on illegal immigration. And Democrats indicated how seriously they are taking Barletta's challenge Tuesday by airing the first television commercial by either party in the general election battle for Congress."

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La Raza Says They Are the Immigration Debate Arbiter for 2008

"The president of the nation's largest Hispanic rights organization says the group will serve as referee for the immigration debate and back it up with what members expect will be record Hispanic voter turnout in November. 'It is time to take back the debate,' Janet Murguia, president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza, said in closing NCLR's annual convention - an event that saw both presidential candidates come to appeal for Hispanic voter support and try to explain their immigration positions," the Washington Times reports. "In the run-up to the convention, Ms. Murguia announced letters had been sent to both presidential campaigns asking the candidates to denounce those in their own party who she said have injected "hate" into the issue by campaigning against illegal immigrants."

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"La Raza" Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means, Group Maintains

"The angry mail has been pouring in today from folks who take issue with our reporting that Barack Obama -- addressing the National Council of La Raza -- made the translation of "la raza'' as ''the people.'' He was right. But let's explain. Literally, yes''la raza'' is ''the race.'' But what it means: ''my people, my community,'' as in ''my peeps,'' or the Italian ''paisanos.'' As a Spanish-speaker myself, I can attest: this is one of those phrases (think outside the box) where the literal translation isn't accurate," says Carla Marinucci with the San Francisco Chronicle. "'La Raza' as it is used by organizations, disc jockeys, musicians, and in common conversation doesn't translate into -- as many of the critics in my mailbox suggest -- an Arayan Nation-style racial supremacy reference."

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