Unfortunately we often confront in Latin America the sad electoral reality of having to choose for the least bad candidate for president. For a while we thought we might have to do the same in the United States, the most powerful and wealthy country in the world.



Initially our editorial committee was divided on whether we should endorse John Kerry or George Bush for president, or whether we should endorse anyone at all. But our final decision was unanimous, even if we had some reservations. The decision was based on the needs of our readers. The key question was: Which one of the candidates will be better for our immigrant Latino community?



George Bush made an immigration reform proposal almost a year ago. Gente de Minnesota endorsed this proposal. We believed that among all the proposals, some Democrat and some Republican, that Bush’s proposal had the most probability of being passed by congress. Although Bush’s proposal wasn't perfect, we reasoned that something was better than nothing. The other proposals had no chance of passing in a Republican controlled congress. Not only did Bush’s proposal never made it anywhere, but neither his administration, nor his party ever pushed it hard enough. Millions of undocumented Latinos in the US still have to fear on a daily basis the possibility of being deported and seeing their families go hungry back home. If Bush gets reelected we can’t see that Bush would accomplish any meaningful immigration reform.


John Kerry has promised to propose immigration reform in his first 100 days as president. We don’t know if we can trust him on this promise, but we believe Kerry will be more likely to pass immigration reform than George Bush. Bush only promises temporary work visas. Kerry offers some of these workers the opportunity of becoming citizens some day.



A substantial majority of Latinos oppose the war in Irak. George Bush started the war, and John Kerry voted to support it. Kerry is proposing that we increase troops in Irak. But the Bush administration has poorly managed the war, even if they started it with good intentions. Kerry could at least get more support from our allies, and would have more credibility internationally. Kerry could help to reduce the very dangerous levels of Anti-American feelings that Bush has caused all over the world.



Bush had four years to reform health care. Hundreds of thousands of Latinos don’t have health insurance, and health care costs have increased so dramatically over the past few years that many Latino businesses can’t afford to offer their employees insurance. Bush’s health proposals have good provisions; but what did he do in the last four years to implement them? Health care costs increased dramatically over the past four years, and the number of Latinos without health insurance increased substantially. We trust that Kerry will give health care more of a priority than Bush.



The only worry we have about John Kerry is his economic proposals. We hope Kerry will follow Bill Clinton’s economic policies. Clinton believed in free trade and kept taxes low, creating one of the most impressive periods of economic growth that this country has seen. Kerry’s rhetoric has not matched that low tax, free trade philosophy. We hope Clinton will advise Kerry on economic issues.



In summary we endorse John Kerry for president, but with the understanding that we’re keeping him at his word on his promises on immigration reform, the war, health care, etc… It is also with the understanding that we must remain alert, and vigilant to verify if these promises will remain only promises, or hope for a better future in our community.