No Latinos In Presidential Debates: Univision Goes Rogue

By Victor Landa, NewsTaco

Political insiders tend to call it the fourth quarter of presidential politics, the October debate season. Plans for that part of the game are already in progress, although mock debate practices are still weeks away, the networks that will televise the events are clearing the decks, making room and prepping the production teams. Spanish language broadcasting behemoth Univision has a problem with those preps. This was reported in Variety:

Univision’s Randy Falco today sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, expressing disappointment that no Hispanic journalists were selected as moderators of the upcoming presidential and vice presidential debates. Instead, the commission selected Bob Schieffer, Jim Lehrer, Candu Crowley and Martha Raddatz.

With all the attention paid to Latino voters, and how Latinos could sway key swing states, and how many (but not all) Latinos watch Spanish television, it makes sense that a Latino journalist be included among those pegged as questioners  and/or moderators for the debates.

In fact, Univision’s Falco went as far as suggesting that another debate be added to the list and that Univision would be glad to host said added debate (you may read self-service into this offer, it’s hard to ignore).

The debate commission’s reply: no thanks.

So now Univision has signaled that it’s “going rogue.” Politico reported:

 Univision anchor Jorge Ramos will invite President Obama and Mitt Romney to a Univision-sponsored presidential debate, a network spokesperson told POLITICO.

Univision has yet to determine a date for the proposed debate, but will forward formal invitations to both campaigns soon.

The invitation comes after Univision’s unsuccessful attempt today to get the Commission on Presidential Debates to host a “forum” moderated by a Univision anchor that would address Latino issues. In a letter to the Commission, Univision president and CEO said that he was “disappointed” in the Commission’s decision to not include a Latino moderator. (All four moderators selected by the Commission are white and come from English-language networks.)

Not that this presidential campaign season lacked drama…