Post Debate Statement from Gabriela Zabalua-Goddard, editor of AARP’s Segunda Juventud on the Univision Republican Debate

The endless cycle of debates shares a troubling pattern — insufficient focus on the domestic issues that Americans of all generations wrestle with every day.

These issues are especially important in the Hispanic community, with one in three people lacking health coverage and those who are 65 and older face rates of poverty two times the national average.

In Florida, millions are facing a mortgage crisis and unstable real estate market that could impact their long-term financial security.

Encouragingly, candidates did spend a few minutes focusing on the fundamental challenge facing America’s broken health-care system — skyrocketing costs and how to contain them. The moderators also deserve credit for bringing up this issue and seeking a balanced debate.

But candidates spent no time on giving Americans, including millions of Hispanic Americans, the tools they need to achieve lifetime financial security.

Not only is this unproductive, it is counter to what Americans want to hear.

These debates are an opportunity and the candidates should take them as such and let the American people know how they plan to help all Americans improve their health and financial security.

Divided We Fail and AARP are monitoring the number of health and financial security questions asked during the Presidential debates. For more information about Divided We Fail and the debate, log onto the Divided We Fail debate tracker at www.dividedwefail.org/.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, www.aarp.org/. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “

Stumble it! | |

Other posts that may interest you

Live Blogging Univision Republican Debate » VivirLatino

SEIU’s Eliseo Medina to Attend Univision Presidential Debate - Available to Speak with Reporters Before and After

Univision Debate: Republicans Make Hard Sell to Latinos

Blogante Headlines for Tuesday - December 11th, 2007

Older Hispanics Rely on Social Security as Primary Source of Retirement Income

Roberto Lovato: The Republican Univision Debate and the Rise of the "I" Word

Cristina Saralegui to Host Show in Puerto Rico During AARPs Feria de la Segunda Juventud

Spanish-language Univision goes mainstream with Democratic presidential debate

A Latino Take on the GOP Debate in Orlando « Platicando

Romney, Giuliani and Thompson sign up for Dec. 9 Spanish-language debate on Univision