[ Pinata Politics ]

By Elias L. Garcia

Special to The Capital-Journal

Every two and four years we witness a societal phenomenon known as the political election cycle. You know, the time when individuals running for political office come into your neighborhood and try to talk you into voting for them because they possess the best values, qualifications and vision for the future.

Oh, yeah, they also trash their opponents, usually by lying about their records or making up rumors, and some even go as far as buying their own polls to show how well they are doing in their races.

All of this has not been lost on the Hispanic community. As the U.S. Hispanic population continues to rapidly increase, this group is becoming more of a prize catch for politicians --- new and old. The question for politicians has become: How do I access this large pool of voters? What has evolved is a process in which politicians are taught the dynamics of the U.S. Latino population. They learn our culture and our language, then let their spin doctors weave their magic until a candidate becomes fluent in the practice of Pinata Politics.

What is Pinata Politics? For those who don't know what a pinata is, it a papier-mache object shaped like a doll or animal and filled with candy and toys. Kids take sticks and beat the pinata until it breaks, spilling out all its goodies. While it sounds unruly, it is also a lot of fun. When else can kids get permission from adults to beat the heck out of something, break it and wreak chaos reaping its bounty?

Now comes Pinata Politics. It manifests itself through many forms. It is a theory, a mindset, a principle, a strategy. It is also nothing more than glass mirrors, smoke screens and facades. Pinata Politics mimics, imitates, goes through a lot of maneuvers and motions, but never has anything to say.

Pinata Politics is a discipline, an art form, a talent that some politicians have mastered. It is about using every spin of the pinata to sell the product, i.e., the candidate. Never mind the candidate's philosophies, record or stance on issues. Pinata Politics is about nothing more than marketing a candidate's image, molding it into some fun looking shape, applying colorful wrapping, spinning it, and making it difficult to hit. The strategy is to provide enough distraction from the real issues to get elected.

The chilling part is that Pinata Politics has developed into more than just photo ops showing the candidate eating a taco, shaking hands at a fiesta, clapping at the sounds of mariachi music or holding a beautiful little Hispanic baby. Pinata Politics has evolved deep inside the Latino matrix and exists at a level where political spin doctors/candidates can now sell their wares in our own Spanish language.

Some even have gone as far as to attempt to slip some poisoned politics into their pinatas, and much like the poisoned apple in Sleeping Beauty, their intent is to lure us into a deep, deep slumber, also known as political apathy.

What do practitioners of Pinata Politics hope to gain or expect from us? Our votes? Do they really think that just because they eat a taco, hang out at a fiesta, tap their foot to our music, cradle one of our gorgeous babies and speak our language --- that they are worthy or deserve our vote? What about the old saying that actions speak louder than words?

What is the candidate's record of commitment to the Latino community? Where is his message of support? Friends, if it is not there, if you cannot see it or feel it, you won't find it in insincere smiles, handshakes or empty promises, whether they are spoken in either English or Spanish.

Pinata Politics is hollow and shallow, a holograph of a candidate designed to loot the bounty of the Latino community --- our votes. Afterward, there are those who then turn to beat on the Hispanic community via xenophobic legislative initiatives like driver's license laws and unreasonable immigration policies, even seeking to deny our children their constitutional right to an education.

So, as Election Day draws near, let's make some important distinctions regarding pinatas, politicians and voting. Pinatas are a fun activity of no consequence. Voting is a serious matter with plenty of consequences. Attempts to make contact with a pinata is difficult --- mainly because you are blindfolded. When voting, you have plenty of vision to make the right choices. Pinata politicians are a figment of someone's imagination. Serious candidates have serious records of service that speak for themselves.

Be cautious of the peddlers of Pinata Politics. Support candidates we know have always been in our clear view: candidates whom we can see, and who see us; individuals whom we have heard and who hear us; people whom we have reached out to with our concerns and who, in return, have touched us with their leadership and genuine concern for the people.

Let's all make a pact for the future. Let's all make a promise to each other to keep pinata antics out of politics and keep them in their place where they belong --- at children's parties.

Elias Garcia is executive director of the Topeka Human Relations Commission.

Copyright 2002
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