New Mexico Dispatch: How Will Swing State Veterans Vote?
Latino Army veterans are coveted swing-state voters on both sides of the Obama/McCain divide. Below, two retired Vietnam vets in Albuquerque explain why they're voting for different candidates.
In an area of Albuquerque known as the "War Zone" for its high crime rate, retired Army infantry officer Juan Santiago Delgado sits on top of a refurbished motel bed in the New Mexico Veterans Integration Center, a transitional home for veterans down on their luck. Delgado has been deeply affected this year by rising gas prices, food costs, and medical bills. "It's affecting all of us," he says. "The new president has got to have some damn balls and do something for this country, not just talk."
In the nearby barrio of Barelas, fellow Vietnam veteran Juan Jose Pena agrees that finances will affect how he votes. "The economy trumps everything right now," he says. Pena, a 62-year-old freelance court reporter, earns a pretty good salary in a state ranked 3rd nationwide for the number of people living below the poverty level—but spends most of it supporting family members who can't support themselves, and ignoring a needed spinal surgery he says he can't afford to have. But if regaining economic health is so important to both men, so similar in so many ways, why are Delgado and Pena planning to vote for opposing presidential candidates this November? That's a question both campaigns are trying to answer—fast.
Both McCain and Obama have mobilized heavily in the swing state of New Mexico, where a cross section of some of the most important voting constituencies is found: military veterans, immigrants, and Hispanics.
Though voter registration in New Mexico favors the Democratic Party 50 to 33 percent, "the days when the Democrats could just assume they would get 85 percent of the Hispanic vote, those days are over," says Brian Sanderoff, an independent pollster.
In 2000, Al Gore won the state by a mere 366 votes; President Bush won by a few thousand in 2004. In a state with more than half a million registered Hispanic voters—almost 40 percent of the New Mexico electorate—whichever candidate can woo voters like Delgado and Pena is a good bet to win the White House. "The Latino-Hispanic vote will literally swing the state, whether it be blue or red," says Ivette Barajas, Spanish communications director for the Republican Party of New Mexico. "It's a very important vote, and both parties are recognizing that."
Democrats face a tough challenge from Republicans trying to court Hispanics in this border state, where much of the community is socially conservative. Republicans hope McCain's record on immigration reform, his understanding of Latino-Hispanic issues as a senator from a neighboring state, and his pro-military rhetoric (in a place that has several defense-related industries) will capture the Hispanic vote this year.
"I'm voting for McCain because he spent five years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi and knows the importance of a strong military," says Delgado. "Obama is a senator, but he doesn't have all the leadership qualities that are needed to do something about our current situation."
To reach voters like Delgado, this spring Barajas and the Republican Party of New Mexico helped launch PoliticalVida.com , a conservative-leaning website aimed at giving Hispanics throughout the nation a place to talk about issues important to them—and to learn more about the Republican Party.
But the issues that the Hispanic community in New Mexico face cut across party lines; like everyone, it is affected by the nation's economy.
"The economy is probably the driving issue these days given gas prices, the cost of food, and everything escalating," says Gabriel Sanchez, a professor of political science at the University of New Mexico. "That, and folks holding the Republican Party accountable for the economic times we're in is probably swaying a lot of folks, not just Hispanics, back toward the Democratic Party."
"It all depends on how the candidates are able to posture themselves," says Fernando de Baca, former chairman of the Republican Party of Bernalillo County. "In the Hispanic community, assuming that they turn out to vote, and we have to assume they will, they're going to have a tremendous influence on the outcome. There's no doubt in my mind."
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Do people of the Hispanic heritage really want the so-called comprehensive immigration reform? Do Hispanics who came to America legally, want to adopt a massive AMNESTY that would swamp this nation with millions of more foreign nationals who would take their jobs.
People of other nationalities who came into America, by honest means need to think about the consequences of their future as well as citizens and permanent residents. Some in the neighborhood of 12 to 30 million illegal aliens have arrived in America, with their extended families.
Your job, your families future and putting food on your table, will just as much an impact on you American dream as anybody else. All legal Hispanics should demand that their Democrat leaders sponsor the federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088). This will stop predator employers from exploiting any more cheap labor, as it will be mandatory for them to verify their hires on a Federal government data base.
The pro-illegal immigration special interest groups, are using propaganda and just straight lies, to distort the costs and mis-management of the SAVE ACT. But who ever steps into the Oval office is going to pass a gigantic AMNESTY, which will cost all taxpayers billions of dollars to support those illegal immigrants already occupying our nation.
For a disturbing report on how much our government, is already skimming of workers pay check read this (www.eagleforum.org/sources)
This might change your mind about any future AMNESTY. Our political parties are not considering the future for all Americans, but to pander to power-brokers in their corporate offices. Join a anti-illegal immigration organization like NUMBERSUSA.
Because they are our only guardian against a future of floods of foreign nationals, crashing our border. If any Amnesty becomes law, then millions more will come.
The middle class already overburdened with war appropriation funds, is still force to pay for the education, free health-care and Federal, state welfare handouts for illegal criminals. SIGN UP FOR THE SAVE ACT(H.R.4088) enforcement 'ONLY' law at www.numbersusa.com.
SIGN JUDICIAL WATCH, A LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS PETITION, TO RESCIND ALL 'SANCTUARY CITIES & STATES. www.sanctuarybusters.org/?source. www.numbersusa.com to Petition the SAVE ACT. For immigration facts not propaganda or lies,
PASS THIS ON COPY, PASTE & DISTRIBUTE FREELY
NM seems always to have voting problems; they are last in the vote count tallies, they always have a few dead dead folks arise from their graves to vote, youth voters, etc. If I am not mistaken ACORN has showed their head in NM as well.
Someone please inform Mr. Delgado, that voting republican will bring him more of the poverty that he is now experiencing at the present. MCCain has NOT SUPPORTED bills for veterans much less active duty military. He also needs to understand that 5 years as a POW does not make him an expert on the military, just on being a prisoner.(And, he was not a very good one) Then he should be asked who he feels, are the 3 most famous presidents. I will bet my next retirement check that one of the three that he names will be Abe Lincoln. Then ask him how much experience Lincoln had before he took office. Not any more than Obama!
By the way, I served 30 years with US Army with 2 tours in RVN. After my retirement I attended Baylor University and graduated with a degree in POl. Sci. I do not mean to rag on Mr. Delagado, but right now NO ONE, but Mr. Delgado, can get himself out of that shelter, he needs to remember his Officer and combat training.I am 66 years of age and blame no one for where I now find myself. I do not need a President with balls, cause I have two and use mine.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) clearly states the duties of a POW while in captivity. You give your Name, Rank, Serial Number and Date of Birth. Then your primary duty is to escape and be a real pain in the ass to the enemy. John Sidney McCain, while a POW, made radio broadcast for the enemy Doing this was and still is a violation of the UCMJ. If john McCain had been a POW from WW II he would have been courtmarshaled and sent to jail for aiding the enemy.
I can not vote for McCain in my opinion he as and is disrespecting many (1000s) of POWs how have served with GREAT HONOR which eclipses McCains service but are never mentioned. Those that never cooperated and gave only NAME, RANK, SN, and DOB.
He disrespects those that gave Name, Rank, SN, DOB, and thier lives before they would.
Delgado is ignorant, that is clear. After 8 years of FAILED POLICIES by the Bush administration, and while Delgado is living in a veterans center, he does not understand how the economics of our country works. If these people will not or cannot read and learn, I'm afraid there is no hope for them. HOW ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND CAN VOTE FOR JOHN MC CAIN IS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING.! I'm VOTING FOR BARACK OBAMA.
I read John McCain's book, "Faith of My Fathers," wherein he ADMITTED giving information about the U.S. military to America's enemies. JOHN MC CAIN is NO HERO -- he BETRAYED his country. I read the book many years ago and as I recall, he said that he was not tortured. But since then he has talked about torture a lot. Some other veterans who were also POWs in the same camp as McCain said that they do not believe that he was tortured.
Had John McCain picked Joe Liberman or someone else of equal stature as his running mate, he would now be double digits ahead in the polls. Sarah Palin may have energized the lowest common denominator of the conservative base, but in so doing, she has alienated the undecided voters who will make the difference on November 4. The more they see of the thinly educated, barracuda, pit-bull, hockey mom and her retinue of family members, the more she grates on their nerves. Joe Liberman may be totally lacking in theatrical skills, but by dint of his knowledge and unblemished record, he would eventually have won over the conservative base and most undecided voters as well.
Also, the fact that McCain allowed his surrogates to foist Palin on him (clearly, she was not on his short list) betrays a lack of leadership. John McCain may yet win the presidential election, but if he loses, it will be largely because of Sarah Palin.
Some members of the military and veterans seem to think that they must vote for a military man in this election. After all, they honorably served their country, but they weren't locked up in a POW camp. But if you really look at McCain's voting record in the Senate, you will find that he has voted time and again against veterans' benefits. Go to Vietnam Veterans Against McCain. Read the accounts of how he assaulted family members who wanted POW/MIA records kept open so they would have some hope of finding their loved ones.
Just look at the current state of our military. Too many soldiers have been called up and re-upped, including our National Guard. Then we have the terrible fiasco at Walter Reed. What will McCain do? Start more wars. He already tried with Georgia.
I hope ACORN shows up in every state in the nation. People have had enough, and the number of Obama supporters shows it.
USMC Vietnam - Thank you for your service to your country. I am deeply grateful to you, not only for that, but for having the courage to speak the truth for the benefit of those who can't see through the lies. Semper Fideles
The number of Obama supporters are because of ACORN. Could that be an alternative reality? ACORN has a long track of registering voters twice, registering dead voters (in NM), illegal voters, under age voters, etc. Anytime a voter can be disturbed from his eternal dirtnap to vote, the act alone has to be considered the mark of a real patriot. Democracy in action!
I hardly think the so-called 'hockey-mom' who doesn't know what the "puck" is happening is the real cause of mccain's demise...He only has himself to blame. He is not of presidential timber...
Is there a factual website available to research ACORN? Just looking for the truth, Jimmy
http://www.rottenacorn.com/activityMap.html
New Mexico
Sept. 18, 2008, Judicial Watch Blog
This week officials in New Mexico's most populous county (Bernalillo) notified federal authorities that more than 1,000 fraudulent voter registration cards were submitted to the clerk's office. ACORN, which pays workers for each registration, is the prime suspect since it has handled thousands of new voter registrations in New Mexico since January. County workers subsequently discovered that at least 1,100 new registrations list Social Security numbers for people already in the county's database of registered voters, names of registered voters with different birth dates and addresses that don't exist. -Judicial Watch
2005 - Four ACORN employees submitted as many as 3,000 potentially fraudulent signatures on the group’s Albuquerque, New Mexico ballot initiative. A local sheriff added: “It’s safe to say the forgery was widespread.”
-journals.aol.com
2004 - An ACORN employee registered a 13-year-old boy to vote. Citing this and other examples, New Mexico State Representative Joe Thompson stated that ACORN was “manufacturing voters” throughout New Mexico.
- journals.aol.com
New Mexicans, especially Albuquerque residents, have dealt with the radical leftist group ACORN on multiple occasions in the past. ACORN led the charge in imposing a higher minimum wage in Albuquerque (before the Legislature and Congress imposed their own wage laws).
- riograndefoundation.org
Jimmy - pull your tinfoil hat down further, you're susceptible to the rays.
Please, astound me with all your cases of massive, coordinated voter fraud. Oh, I know, I'll be waiting awhile...
I am amazed that when confronted w/reasonable arguments you "progressives" revert to slander. If the polls and polling places and anything to do with voting, are not fully transparent, what good is democracy? I have simply pointed out irregularities. One accusation adn the accuser is suspect, two in the same area, is the product of the first being elevated, but around the nation? Hey, if it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck....get THE POINT?
I never accused anybody of anything, I merely point out that which causes friction in the process. The fact that you read into my post something different tells me who is wearing tin foil on his head. Grow up and learn what is around you, AND the art of civil debate. Please!
No, Jimmy. You are perpetuating a straw man argument, which, if you follow the path of reason as you claim, you ought to know. So, you, (a) are perpetuating this straw man on purpose, or (b) are a nutcase. I was giving you the benefit of the doubt by suggesting the latter, but clearly, I was mistaken. You are unethical.
This whole damned sight is a straw man! Presently company included.
Again, when faced with reasonable arguing points you and the numbed progressive pseudo intellectuals of this site revert to childish slander expecting the rest to bow in venerated awe of your post.
Your outright loathing of any competing ideas discredits you.
I urged you to present your evidence of voter fraud, and you haven't. Are you incapable?
Come back when you have evidence that Mickey Mouse has ever voted. Or, to give you the benefit of the doubt again, what about the absentee frauds? Got any evidence of systematic, coordinated absentee voter fraud?
So, go ahead, I'll urge you once more: present your evidence, like the reasoned individual individual you claim to be.
Jimmy writes: "Your outright loathing of any competing ideas discredits you."
No, Jimmy. My outright loathing of the unethical perpetrators of discredited ideas makes me competitive.
Although, I personally am so far to the left, that even the even the democrats appear to me to be "right-wing," I certainly hope that they win this election. If they don't, I fear that this country, indeed the entire planet is in serious trouble. The war that the conservatives have rekindled against the Muslim nations is already likely to last for years, if not centuries. Hopefully, Obama can do something to ease the tension.
This war is really a continuation of the holy wars that began so many thousands of years ago. And unfortunately, it appears that religion has shown itself to be the biggest catalyst of hatred that the human race will ever see.
I invite you to my website: www.FreetheGods.com. There you will find a political discussion forum where political ranting is highly encouraged, especially opposing viewpoints!
