CaribWorldNews, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Oct. 16, 2008: For the third consecutive debate, the issue of immigration reform was completely MIA from the questions posed to the U.S. Presidential candidates by the moderators, all members of `the mainstream media.`

To Frank Sharry, of America`s Voice, the continued ignoring of the issue in a country where immigrant voters are becoming a large majority, `reflects a lack of understanding of the mainstream media on this issue.`

Moderators, in this instance, Bob Schieffer of CBS tv, had complete autonomy over the questions for the candidates. Schieffer was focused on domestic issues but immigration never once came up.

Instead, in the final Presidential debate in New York, a melting pot of immigrants, the focus was on `Joe,` an Ohio plumber, and the only mention of immigration came from Republican hopeful, Senator John McCain, who accused Senator Barack Obama of running negative campaign ads against him and distorting his stance on immigration.

Both candidates are spending millions on Spanish language television on this issue.

But Sharry says `the mainstream press just does not get it.`

`They are out of touch with the fastest immigrant group of voters in this country … and it is a little disappointing ... but its the reason why new and ethnic media are becoming so vibrant and important,` he told CWNN last night.

Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, while acknowledging the mainstream press` ignoring of the issue, says it will all come down to voters.

`Regardless of whether the media pay attention or not, the immigrant as a voter has an opportunity to make a difference in this election,` said Noorani.

And he is adamant that whether the Presidential candidates speak of it publicly or not, that immigration will be a major domestic issue the next President will have to deal with come January.

Caribbean Immigrant Services` Irwine Clare, however, sees the ignoring of the issue as `a good thing` for right now. He argues that for the issue to be raised and discussed in the current U.S. economy, where jobs are being lost, would only give fodder to anti-immigrant groups.

`It is a polarized issue and I don’t have a prob it was not brought up,` he added.

Both Presidential candidates have refrained from publicly discussing the issue of immigration reform, yet both are battling it out for the Latino vote in ads that focus on their policy positions on the hot button issue.

The ad battle is being played out in Florida, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada as each fights for the Latino vote, seen to be a major swing vote in the November 4th election.

Meanwhile, despite their advertising claims, the policies of both seem extremely comparable. But what is obvious is that the once pro-immigration reform stance of McCain in 2006 has dwindled to cater more to his conservative base.
Obama`s plan is as follows:

Create Secure Borders: preserve the integrity of our borders. They supports additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at our ports of entry.

Improve the Immigration System: fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal immigrants to keep families together and meet the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill.

Remove Incentives to Enter Illegally: remove incentives to enter the country illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

Bring People Out of the Shadows: support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.

Work with Mexico: Obama and Biden believe they need to do more to promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration.

Securing Borders First:  John McCain\\\'s top immigration priority is to finish securing the borders in an expedited manner. Governors of border states will be required to certify that the border is secure. Steps to border security include: