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WASHINGTON D.C. - Like many in the nation, Filipino-Americans are dismayed by the way the US presidential campaign is going. They want the Democratic and Republican candidates to stop talking about lipsticks and pigs, and begin talking about serious issues like immigration reform. Believe you me, were going to be bringing it up to both parties, declared Rozita Lee, vice chair of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations and an influential ward leader in Nevada politics. This is something important to Filipinos, its important to Hispanics, its important to all the ethnic groups in America, she tells ABS-CBNs Balitang America. We will be writing letters, we will be making phone calls and bringing it to their attention, that they really should be talking about it and we need to know each one of them feels about it because that will be very influential as to who we will vote for, Lee stressed. Lawyer Arnedo Valera, executive director of the Migrant Heritage Commission, said that while none of the top candidates have talked at length in the stump about how they plan to address the immigration problem, most of them have taken a stand in the Senate. There are three main issues in this campaign, he tells Balitang America, and these are the economy, the war in Iraq and immigration. Immigration a silent campaign issue Ang posisyon ni McCain at Obama halos pareho yan. Ang pagkakaiba lang si McCain naka-focus siya sa border security dahil sa conservative elements sa party nila. Gusto niya i-humanize ang approach sa immigration system at i-address ang undocumented immigrants pero naka-focus siya sa border security, Valera explained. Kay Obama, malinaw sa kanya ang distinction ng national security and immigration. Nandoon pa rin yong border pero malinaw kay Obama na malabas out of the shadows ang 12 million undocumented immigrants basta magbayad ng fees, taxes, learn English at kasama rin doon sa proseso, he added. Dr. Lupo Carlota, national chairman of Memphis-based National Asian-American Republican Coalition, suggested that immigration is a veritable political minefield this campaign season. The issue of immigration is very difficult, he told Balitang America. There is a question of legality, who is illegal immigrant, who is not illegal immigrant. But it goes beyond that. More important are the humanitarian and compassionate issues that need to be addressed. The position of Sen. McCain is known publicly, he told Balitang America. He has repeatedly stated his position, which is one of openness and takes note of the humanitarian concerns. But McCains position has since hardened, mainly because of internal party pressure. During the Republican debates in California last January, the Arizona solon backed off from his earlier position supporting a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Valera, whos handled immigration cases, noted the same is happening with Obama and the Democrats. He disclosed an informal survey, asking ethnic Asians and Latinos what they were looking for in a reformed immigration policy. Mas lenient yong kay Obama kasi mas liberal siya in terms of immigration. Ang tingin ko doon – product kasi siya ng mixed marriage with an immigrant. Father niya is from Kenya kaya minsan ang call niya goes to being progressive, liberal pero siyempre ngayon sumesentro siya kasi Democrats are being criticized na baka amnesty na yan he explained. The Palin question For Valera, the vice presidential race begs a closer watch for immigration watchers. He said Sen. Joe Biden has the best platform for immigrants. He is the most progressive. Sa border, for example, kinakabit niya yon because of drug trafficking not immigration. Sa kanya malinaw na ang immigrants, and America as a nation of immigrants, hindi criminal ang mga ito. They come here for economic reasons, he explained. Dapat i-legalize ang mga ito. Sinasabi niya nga sa mga town hall speeches niya, wala naman senador o kongresista na hindi immigrant ang lahi. Sa apat, siya ang may pinaka-powerful na message. But he is more worried about the Republican vice presidential bet, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin – only because unlike the three other actors, she is an unknown variable. Si Palin walang posisyon. Ang pinakamahirap niyan kapag naging presidente kasi ang posisyon niya na narinig ko at nakita ko sa research ay yong posisyon niya noong 2000 presidential elections, yong kay Pat Buchanan, he averred. Patrick Buchanan is a popular broadcaster , commentator, columnist, politician and champion of the conservative Right. He was senior adviser to three Republican presidents, from Richard Nixon to Ronald Reagan. He ran in 2000 under the Reform Party. Valera portrayed Buchanan as isa sa pinaka-anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic presidential candidates. He said as vice president, Palin could be called upon to break a stalemate in the bicameral Congress, where tackling a comprehensive immigration reform bill is expected to face a tight contest.

Despite their well-known positions on immigration, observers say its important that the candidates debate their plans in public. Only then can they be held accountable for their promises and positions after theyve stepped into the White House, whoever they may be.