Election 2008

Every four years politicians and parties utilize every medium of communication to persuade citizens. They try from different angles to demonstrate that they are the best choice, the best candidate for the respective position and that their opponent doesn’t give the size. They have different publicity agencies working overtime, developing strategies and saturating the communication media with propaganda. This year there are four different parties “Partido Popular Democratico” (PPD), “Partido Nuevo Progresista” (PNP), ”Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño” (PIP) and “Puertorriqueños por Puerto Rico” (PPR). It is crystal clear that we were and still spectators of a huge “fight” between parties, especially between the PPD and the PNP; evident media battles through radio and TV commercials.

At the beginning we were able to see that the PPD, through commercials, respond the attack PNP propaganda which took advantage of the accusations of the currently governor, Anibal Acevedo. However while they fought back those accusations they also used the medium to improve the image of the candidate for the governor position, Anibal Acevedo. After that, they started to use commercials to create a negative image of Luis Fortuño, an example is the commercial that express that he is currently being managed like a puppet by some people of within his party, by Thomas Rivera Schatz for example. As a direct consequence the PNP place Anibal as a liar using pieces of the debate 2004 where he was saying things and promising things that for a reason he couldn’t fulfill after assume his position as governor. Right now PPD message creates the need of a change in which they should have full control of the executive, senate and legislature ; creating the image that he will do better if the people vote to give him a group of his own party, he needs that support in order to “make the real change”. Within few days before the election we can see that both parties have change most of their commercials, where the majority are trying to demonstrate a view of progress and a better future. In some of them they are trying to integrate the youngster to the movement using elements that they like, an example is the music.

While the PPD and the PNP throw themselves with everything in an interactive campaign in which they answer, sometimes within minutes, each other the PIP and the PPR use their commercials to present part of their convictions, beliefs and part of their platform. Some critics discussed with Davila Colon the quality of some of the commercials where they concluded that the PPR was delivering commercials with higher quality, less expensive than the others; but at the same time with a concrete message. This is because there are focusing in a simple concise message without creating controversies, not being and ideological party his composition integrates persons that believe in the commonwealth, independence and statehood and that they should unify and vote “for them for Puerto Rico”.

These have being a very dirty play between the two major parties, the PPD and PNP, both have lost their posture and have treated themselves without respect. People have to make a choice, but before doing that they have to open their minds, they have to avoid having a blind fanatic mind, so they can think with sanity and good sense. They have to put on a balance and decide what they want and need in order to have a better future, for our country, for our families and for ourselves. It is hard to choose when they all are using rhetoric in their discourses and try to persuade the people that are suffering. But to be an excellent politician you have to be more than a good orator you have to work for the best of his country. We are facing a unique election with four parties, three of them ideological, with great exposure and appealing to the economic situation but also to the ideals creating and excellent struggle not easily to be analyzed. Some pessimists may think that we should pick the one that is going to harm the less our society and our economy. Even thought is our time to decide!