It’s Their Politics That Count

Peter Savodnik’s piece “A Party Divided?” badly misses the mark (May 14). In his effort to unearth inter-ethnic tensions, he focuses on several local Jewish congressmen as potential targets of an increasingly politically active Latino community.

The congressmen he focuses on happen to be Jewish and Democrats, but most were not elected because of their religious affiliation. What is key is that they are not Latinos. The tensions Savodnik describes could be playing out in South L.A. involving black elected officials or in the several valleys around the city with other groups.

The real story he ought to be writing is about the increasing political power of the Latino community. The critical issue is whether Latino voters and their leaders will evaluate candidates based on parochial, ethnic criteria or if they will choose their representatives based on the job that has been done or might be done and substantive issues. Whether the candidates eat tacos or blintzes, chitlins or white bread with mayo shouldn’t be the determinant of who is elected.

David A. Lehrer

President

Community Advocates Inc.