According to the 2010 census, the number of American Hispanics grew 43% in the last decade to over 50 million. By 2050, Hispanics are projected to number 132 million and represent 30% of the population. As that population evolves, so does their political power. A new report by the Pew Hispanic Center shows that since 2008, America’s Latino voting population has grown 22% since 2008. But what are the cultural and political implications of these now well-understood statistics?
Bill goes beyond the numbers with two of our nation’s most popular and influential journalists: Univision’s Jorge Ramos and María Elena Salinas. A Spanish-language U.S. television network, Univision has the largest audience of Spanish-language television viewers, according to Nielsen ratings.
Ramos, says The Washington Monthly, is “the broadcaster who will most determine the 2012 elections,” while The New York Times calls Salinas “the voice of Hispanic America.” In a candid and comprehensive discussion, Ramos and Salinas discuss their responsibilities both as reporters and representatives of their culture, their aggressive journalistic approaches to both President Obama and Governor Romney, and their strong takes on immigration issues that mean so much to a potentially-decisive voting bloc in 2012.
“We are changing the face of America. It’s not black and white anymore. We’re changing the way we eat. We’re changing the way people dance, the way people speak. And we’re changing the way people vote.” Ramos tells Bill. “No one can make it the White House now without the Hispanic vote — that’s completely new.”