This Nation piece lists some of the key issues for left-leaning Latino voters for the 2008 election as discussed at the National Latino Congreso, and they're not all the ones we've been hearing about. Sure, there's the Iraq War, but what voter's not concerned about that? And as was emphasized in the Democratic debate on Univision last month, immigration and education are up there, too. But so are environmental topics, especially as they relate to increased risk factors in poor communities; access to resources like clean water, air, and soil; and public health concerns. And perhaps more importantly, issues like US-Cuba relations and trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA top the agenda – subjects that rarely come up in debates. When they do, the front runners are pretty meek. At the Univision debate, only Kucinich spoke in favor of doing away with NAFTA. Only Dodd and Gravel pledged to end the embargo with Cuba, and Richardson offered lackluster support on the condition that Castro releases political prisoners.
But it seems doubtful that they'll be able to sidestep trade deals and Cuba forever. Among many of the Latinos I've talked to both here and in Latin America, NAFTA/CAFTA is a major concern, one that many feel is at least part of the reason for increased northward immigration. And it's not a concern that can be isolated from immigration; it should be considered as part of that discussion, as well as any discussion about the American economy and labor. Clinton says NAFTA needs to be "adjusted," which is interesting since it was Bill who signed it into law in 1993. Obama voted against CAFTA and has expressed concerns about NAFTA, but also supports expanding it to Peru. Edwards says it should be renegotiated, and he's challenged the the other leading candidates on their records. The subject hasn't gotten a lot of attention, but even when it does, it's always as an isolated issue rather than rolled into a broader platform.
--Kate Sheppard
