Ads Promoted Bush's "Clear Skies" to Hispanics But Did Not Disclose Extra Risk for Hispanics
The discontinued ad campaign that promoted President Bush's Clear Skies initiative to the Hispanic community, a sought-after group of voters, omitted key information about air pollution that is particularly adverse to Hispanics living in California.
Contrary to the message in the ads that Clear Skies would "create purer air, better health and a more brilliant future in the United States" the initiative, in fact, would allow U. S. power plants to discharge additional amounts of sulfur dioxide, mercury, and nitrogen oxides than permitted under the existing Clear Air Act. Sulfur dioxide and the other pollutants are associated with diseases such as emphysema and asthma that disproportionately afflict Hispanics and other minority populations.
In California, the large percentage of the state's 11 million Latino residents who live in the Central Valley and to the south already must breathe the state's most polluted air.
The targeting of the ads to the Latino community had clear political overtones. As one GOP pollster said, "You have a president from Texas, with political advisers who wake up every day trying to get 40% of the Latino vote."
The ad campaign was cancelled amid allegations it may have violated a law that prohibits federal agencies from spending money for "publicity or propaganda purposes" on legislation pending before Congress.
For a party trying to win love from this country's Hispanic population, the Republicans sure have an odd way of displaying their commitment to issues important to minorities. The bottom line is that Republicans truly worship only one god: Money, and Hispanics historically haven't had that much of it. What Republicans seem to want is for Hispanics to vote Republican and then disappear so the party can continue with the business of government of, by, and for Rich White Men. Could the GOP be any more transparent??
