Latino Opinion Leaders Skeptical of Obama Transition's Responsiveness, Study Says
By Diego Graglia, FI2W web editor
Not many opinion leaders think the transition is inclusive of Latinos.
Latino opinion leaders are “generally positive” about President-elect Barack Obama, but they are dissatisfied with the responsiveness of his transition team and the Democratic Party to the Latino community, according to a new study by the National Institute for Latino Policy (NILP).
The National Latino Opinion Leaders Survey was conducted between Nov. 8 and 14. Over 900 Latinos in the U.S. and Puerto Rico — community leaders, activists, government officials, business people, and members of nonprofit organizations, religion, academia and the media — took part, according to the institute, which published a summary of the study on Monday through its electronic newsletter.
When asked “if the Obama team was adequately including Latinos in the transition process, 32 percent said ‘no’, 46 percent were not sure or didn’t know, and only 22 percent said ‘yes.’ 53 percent said that the Democratic Party was not being responsive to the needs of the Latino community, as opposed to 21 percent who said it was responsive.
While immigration was an issue that likely energized Latino voters who helped Obama win in key states, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be one of the top priorities for the Obama administration — and Latinos are aware of this. Eighty-four percent of those surveyed do not believe or are not sure that Obama will propose legislation for comprehensive immigration reform in his first 100 days. Only 13 percent think he will.