DNC avoids the “I” word

For four days in August, Democrats had the nation’s rapt attention as they discussed global warming, the economy, health care, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, emerging Latino political clout and more. And while these subjects all inspire passion from Democrats as well as Republicans, most delegates visiting Denver last week left town without hearing much about an issue that divides millions of people across the nation; immigration.

“It didn’t get any attention,” said Maria Crespin, whose job kept her away from the convention but not the marathon coverage it got on cable and network television. “I don’t think they wanted to go into deep discussion on the subject because they have no answers for it,” she said. “It was the 800 pound gorilla.”

Democratic political heavyweights certainly discussed immigration away from center stage at the Pepsi Center, including the Hispanic Caucus at the Denver Convention Center. But very few of their remarks or recommendations made prime time.

“The Latino community is crucial in this election,” Michelle Obama told delegates in her convention speech. She repeated many of her remarks the next morning at the Wednesday morning Hispanic Caucus where she was warmly received by several hundred people. “Some of the closest contests in November are going to be in Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, and here in Colorado.”

Each of these states has growing immigrant populations and accompanying issues related to immigrants. Recently, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers asked the state for nearly forty-million dollars in reimbursement costs for incarcerating illegal immigrants over the last year. Colorado is not alone in this regard. Immigrants impact state costs in education, health care, public safety and other areas. Immigration is a national issue, but spoken only in whispers or side bar conversations at the Democrat’s convention.

But several thousand immigration reform advocates marching through Denver streets ...