The Hispanic Strategy Center has been formed to create a strategic 2006 outreach plan for the Hispanic Community. The Hill reports that the group was formed because those involved believe that minority outreach at the DNC won't get the job done:

“To the extent they are looking at the Hispanic vote they are doing it within the context of each state’s plan,” she said. “That didn’t go over really well with a lot of Hispanic and minority leaders around the country. State parties have been an obstacle to the real inclusion of minority groups. … There wasn’t room for what the Hispanic Strategy Center is about.”

But Luis Miranda, the director of regional and specialty media at the Democratic National Committee (DNC), explained that because the African-American, women’s and Hispanic outreach programs are part of the 50-state strategy, they are now housed in the chairman’s office, giving them greater access to committee resources.

Argh, just look at that last paragraph... substitute the name "Damon LaVera" with the name "Luis Miranda" and this is the exact same response we were given. One exception of course: When the DNC talks to the LGBT Press about the American Majority Partnership, they include LGBT outreach as part of the AMP, when they talk to the straight press about the exact same thing in the exact same way, they conveniently forget to mention us by name.

Still I think there is an important lesson to be learned here. Knowing that outreach to the Hispanic community is crucial in 2006, these folks have shifted their time, energy, and money to a new group that is going to be able to get the job done. Perhaps it's time that the LGBT community to stop banging our heads against the wall trying to fix the DNC and focus on the many organizations that are doing good work on our behalf.

Hat tip to Ramon Gardenhire for sending this my way...

Posted by David at May 5, 2006 02:27 AM