Op-Ed: The importance of McCain’s Latin America trip - Alex Burgos

As a result, the trip accentuated another sharp contrast between McCain and his opponent – Latin America policy under a President McCain will be based on a lifetime of experience, meetings and friendships with regional leaders, and a long Senate career working on these issues versus Obama’s campaign cramming session. 20In just three short days, McCain managed to show mo re interest in Latin America’s future than Obama has demonstrated in his entire life.

From a hemispheric viewpoint, this difference will matter to the people of Latin America who are closely watching our presidential campaign and pondering relations with the next U.S. president.  From a political standpoint, it will matter to Hispanic voters in the U.S. concerned about their families’ homelands.  As anyone who regularly tunes it to the nightly news on Spanish-language TV can attest, current events in Latin America matter greatly to Hispanic viewers.

With that said, Hispanic voters are notoriously hard to pin down on the issues.  Some are deeply concerned about Latin America policy, others are not. Some see immigration as a litmus test, while others rank it as a low priority.  However, one common characteristic I have noted over the years is that all Hispanic voters look for evidence from presidential candidates that they didn’t suddenly discover their community and also have a track record of working on issues they care about.  As I have advised my fellow Republicans, the most fundamental step candidates can take to win the hearts and votes of Hispanic voters is simply showing up and expressing an interest in reaching out to them.  If that interest is supported by a long history of doing so, half the battle has been won.  What comes out of their mouths – the substance – is the other half of the equation.

At this stage in their Hispanic outreach efforts, there is a key distinction becoming increasingly evident – like McCain, Obama is talking the talk, but only McCain has walked the walk.

Contrary to the belief that McCain’s audience during his trip was solely Hispanic voters, by visiting Colombia and Mexico, McCain emphasized the economic and security issues that affect all of us who reside in the Western Hemisphere.  First, as the economy struggles, McCain reiterated that the solution is not to retreat from global commerce or backtrack from existing partnerships.  Approving the languishing free trade agreement with Colombia and building on the gains we’ve achieved through NAFTA are essential for our short-term and long-term economic future.  Free trade is a mainstream economic issue for all Americans, whether it’s discussed on a U.S. factory floor or in the foreign markets we seek to open to our products.

For those inclined to believe national security is fading as a campaign issue, we also received an emotional reminder of how closely America’s destiny is tied with Latin America’s security.  Shortly after McCain departed Colombia, Americans at home were captivated by the Colombian military’s successful rescue of long-held FARC hostages, including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three American contractors.  To its credit, the American media gave this remarkable story the attention it merited, reminding us of all the U.S. has invested in the more secure and prosperous Colombia we have today, as well as what hangs in the balance in ensuring the region’s long-term security.  Much is also at stake in helping Mexico combat its vicious drug gangs through the Merida Initiative.

Finally, on the cultural and political front, we have one more example of how McCain’s trip was a well thought out visit that will help endear him to more Hispanic voters.  Last week, a Gallup study showed that while “Americans who say religion is an important part of their daily lives support John McCain over Barack Obama for president,” one of two notable exceptions to this finding was Hispanic Catholics, who “appear to be strong Obama supporters regardless of whether they report being personally religious.”

During McCain’s visit to Mexico City, he toured the Basilica de Guadalupe, Mexico’s holiest Catholic site, where he laid a wreath of white roses at the altar and received a blessing from its monsignor.  To conclude a policy-heavy trip with a meaningful activity like this demonstrates his respect for our neighbors to the south and honors their rich culture and religious traditions.  It also shows that the U.S. and Mexico are allies and friends, with a relationship built on mutual interests and values.

To some analysts, the conventional wisdom might lead them to believe that unless you are talking about immigration, there is little else that Hispanic voters care about in this election.  In reality, McCain is sending a compelling message to this community on a number of fronts – in the U.S. and from abroad.  That this most recent trip was the product of his own wishes, without prodding (as is the case with Obama’s upcoming Iraq trip), and in the face of widespread skepticism shows he understands how to continue making inroads with Hispanics.

More importantly, McCain’s Latin America trip proves that his mind is not just focused on the next four months of campaigning but also on the next four years of governing. When candidates show their presidential credentials as McCain did in Latin America, it can resonate for the duration of the campaign and beyond.