We spoke for several Latinos leaders, not only those few who live in Philadelphia, but some of those 1,000 plus who came to our great city last week as official delegates from the Democratic Party from all over the 50 States.

All of them agree that Philadelphia is a great city but they also said, quietly and in confidence, that Latinos resented the fact that, politically, they were reduced, during this Philadelphia DNC 2016 that just concluded, to its minimum expression by their own party, the Democratic Party— the very one that claims to be the “Party of Latinos,” as they are of the proud African American community.

Latinos resented the fact that, politically, they were reduced, during this Philadelphia DNC 2016 that just concluded, to its minimum expression by their own party, the Democratic Party...

It is true: we don’t have to be a “Wikileaks” genius to see how the DNC not only pushed aside Bernie Sanders (who, by the way, didn’t show much care about Latinos voters either) to realize, quite clearly, that, 50 years after the Latino community was declared “the sleeping giant of the decade,” the powers that be at the DNC still think we are all still slumbering. And the party still can afford to lose us as voters come November 8, or keep to a minimum our participation on Election Day.

The assumption may be that we are awkward, ignorant, perhaps slow to realize the obvious.

We deeply resent that characterization, communicated more through actions than through words by the DNC.

The Democratic Party, and its candidate, Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, not even has given us the words, which tend to be cheap in a politician’s mouth. Check word by word her acceptance speech.

She might get a rude awakening if Mr. Donald Trump, realizing this slight of the Democratic Party leadership, decides to take advantage of it and, in this troubled-waters of presidential campaign 2016, puts together “The Trump National Latino Strategy.”

Pretty obvious, given the evident fact that, as the DNC proved in this Philadelphia National convention that finished last week, the Democratic Party doesn’t have one. Award, ignorant, and slow seems to be the DNC's approach in 2016 regarding the Latino Vote.

Yes, the “Party of Donkeys (“Burros,” as we say in Spanish— with no offense intended...)

This is how awkward it has become:

While in the previous two DNC Conventions we saw several Latino leaders speaking in prime time, several times, in Philadelphia, in 2016, when Latino Voters are larger than ever, they were reduced to almost zero in terms of their visibility on the DNC National stage.

This time, poor Julián (Castro) he was completely kept out in the shadows, invisible. The “Michael Jordan of Latino politics” completely benched by DNC in 2016...

Take Antonio Villaraigosa, for example, who spoke in prime time when he hosted the DNC in LA, in the city where he was mayor: He spoke in 2016 in Philadelphia just briefly, out of prime time.

Or the very U.S. Secretary of Housing, Mr. Julián Castro —in the short list of Hillary until a week an half ago—  who also spoke four years ago in prime time. 

This time, poor Julián he was completely kept out in the shadows, invisible. The “Michael Jordan of Latino politics” completely benched by DNC in 2016...

Not only benched, very possibly dumped months ago from the short list of running mates, as we now believe U.S. Senator Tim Kaine negotiated the number 2 spot well before the Democratic primary started last year. Was this intended to keep Latinos distracted and misled down to Hillary's acceptance speech? Alas, was Julián aware of it?

We attended the Latino Leaders Luncheon, for example, on Tuesday, at the John Wannamaker building, here in our hometown of Philadelphia, where we saw all the “National Latino Leaders” —hundreds of them, from former Obama administration’s Hilda Solis, to former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, to former Bill Clinton's Transportation Secretary, Bill Richardson—  who were kept on in the shadows, totally out of the DNC’s spotlight.

Although enlisted on paper, but not in reality, because the Democratic Party machine decided of its own accord that their appearance, not even on the side, was perhaps NOT important, precisely in an election year in which the Latino vote can be more crucial than ever.

With all due respect to “Mamá & Abuela Hillary,” as we have tenderly call her in this columns, we must say to you, in Spanish (so that perhaps your running mate, Mr. Tim Kaine, can translate for you:)

“Respeto a la Comunidad Latina de los Estados Unidos y de Filadelfia,” in the battleground State of Pennsylvania, would have increased your chances of your victory in November— which, as of this week, is still up in the air, no matter the passing numbers in the polls this week.

“PhillyRicans” (Puerto Ricans from Philadelphia), resented also the very obvious fact that the Puerto Rican financial crisis, which keeps millions in poverty, didn’t receive either even ONE mention in all the official DNC speeches, have a better way of saying it:

“¡A Puerto Rico se respeta!”

By the way, when are you coming to AL DÍA News to speak to our Editorial Board, as we invited you well in advance the Pennsylvania Primary?

Fear the ground-swell —a true political Tsunami this coming November the 8th, 2016— that might, or might not, be building up, as a result of this chain of obvious errors by yourr handlers, Hillary.

As fellow Democrats, we feel the responsibility to advise you this ample time in advance, just in case no one else is doing it in your inner circle— and you still want to crush Donald Trump in November.

By the way, when are you coming to AL DÍA News to speak to our Editorial Board, as we invited you well in advance the Pennsylvania Primary?

The invitation is still standing and it would be even nice if someone in your campaign takes a minute to acknowledge it, 5 months after it was sent.

Understand this from Latinos:

We appreciate courtesy, not only giving it but also receiving it.

The old American way, we always expect a little bit of reciprocity, Hillary.