We are Calling on the DSCC to Protect and Promote Racial and Ethnic Diversity as Essentials Elements to the DSCC Agenda

December 20, 2008

Hon. Robert Menendez, Chairman
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
120 Maryland Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20002

Dear Senator Menendez:

We are pleased with the Senate Democratic Conference for selecting you as chairman of its campaign committee. Over the course of your career you have been and continue to be an inspiration to countless Latino men and women, beyond the State of New Jersey, who seek full and significant inclusion in the American political landscape. You sir, make us very proud.

As you settle in to your new post as head of the effort to elect Democrats to such an august body, we pray that you consider the following observation:

In light of the recent election of Senator Barack Obama to the White House, some in the media as well as various political circles are suggesting that the election of the first African-American to the highest office in this nation signifies a new political paradigm with respect to race and ethnicity. In essence, the argument goes that because of Mr. Obama’s race we are now in a post-racial era and as such any effort to press-on with a “diversity agenda” in our governmental institutions is redundant, pointless and unwarranted. WE COULD NOT DISAGREE MORE.

Throughout the 2008 election cycle, the DSCC worked hard to elect Democrats to the United States Senate by promoting fundamental Democratic ideals such as fairness, equality and freedom. We salute the DSCC for its efforts in preserving and expanding the Democratic majority. However, we were surprised to learn that the DSCC has made neither reference nor overt effort to enhance the number of Latino hires by the DSCC as either senior staff or temporary political contractors. Moreover, we were equally troubled to discover there are not many Latinos or Latinas in staff leadership positions for the members of the DSCC.

We believe that just as President-Elect Obama has made an effort to have a cabinet that is reflective of all Americans so should the DSCC. An atmosphere of civility and mutual respect towards ethnic, racial, religious and other differences is indispensable to an institution that values all Americans. We believe in that old axiom of the message being the messenger and vice-a-versa. However, beyond the appointment of a Latino at the helm albeit a most distinguished and remarkable leader such as your honor, the institution itself needs to make a greater effort to include Latinos in the leadership and rank-and-file staff as well as its political contractors.

We would prefer that diversity efforts at the DSCC extend to more than just the appointment of Latino surrogates during campaign season; hiring Latinos as entry-level staff; and, non-funded partnerships with Democratic organizations whose aim is to service and engage Latino constituents. We are speaking here of a sense of obligation on the part of the DSCC to enrich ethnic diversity and foster the representation of the full spectrum of significant political viewpoints, intellectual perspectives, gender, sexual orientation and yes, racial and ethnic diversity. We are not seeking to have the DSCC impose any artificial "balance" or an “ethnic” quota system. We are asking the DSCC to commit itself to a policy of inclusion, respect for difference, and fairness in its hiring practice and the selection of contractors.

The New York State Latino Democratic Committee (NYSLDC) was formed earlier this year to serve as a platform for the mobilization and deployment of a rapidly growing social network of civically minded, service-oriented, and politically engaged Latinos from across New York State. Our aim is to invigorate concerted civic action, gain greater access to political/policy “think tables” and consequently bring about the change for which our community longs.

Our ultimate goal is to prompt open, transparent and responsible conversations regarding how political power might be shared in order to provide for the greater good of all – including Latinos. Therefore, we are calling on you as Chair of the DSCC to expand the mission of the DSCC to include the protection and promotion of intellectual, political, religious, gender, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic diversity as essential elements to the DSCC agenda. In that vein, we would like to extend ourselves to you and to lend our voices to any effort that you commission in pursuit or our shared ideals.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. If you need further information, we will be glad to provide the same upon request.

Sincerely,

Carlos Ramos, Jr., Co-Founder
New York State Latino Democratic Committee


cc: Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members