Creator of the ‘Don’t Vote’ Ads Decides to Vote

Created: October 29, 2010 17:07 | Last updated: July 31, 2020 00:00

Remember Roberto DePosada, the Republican president of Latinos for Reform who released an ad urging Latinos not to vote in Tuesday’s election, because the Democrats had betrayed them by failing to pass immigration reform? Well, it turns out he didn’t take his own advice: He voted absentee in Virginia on Wednesday.

He said his action wasn’t contradictory with his “don’t vote” message because he skipped over voting for Congress — his district is represented by Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who is favored to win. “When you look at the substance of the ad, the website, when you look at the press release, we are very clear,” de Posada told TBD. “Go vote for governor or whoever, just don’t vote for those who betray you.”

Of course, that wasn’t the message he put in his ad. “Clearly, the Democratic leadership betrayed us,” the ad states. “And now, when they need our votes, they are at it again with more empty promises. Aren’t you tired of politicians playing games with your future?”

When DePosada tried to explain why the ad wasn’t strictly anti-Democrat after Univision announced it would not run it, he also failed to mention he only wanted Latinos to skip voting for Congress. “Immigration reform is not a Republican or Democratic issue: Both parties have failed the Latino people on this issue,” he said. “Don’t just give your vote away because it’s expected.”