There is a prospective Pied Piper in Nevada who's trying to swindle the entire Latino community.
His name is Robert de Posada, a professional charlatan and veteran of some of the country's dirtiest political brawls. He's also the founder of a conservative political group innocently named Latinos for Reform.
Mr. de Posada has declared himself the guardian angel of our community. And following the dictum that to save the village, we must destroy it, he's determined to convince Latino voters to skip the November 2nd election.
Through radio and TV ads, Mr. de Posada is instructing Latino voters to refuse to vote to punish President Obama for failing to enact immigration reform.
"Don't vote this November," the ad's narrator announces in Spanish. "This is the only way to send them a clear message. You can no longer take us for granted."
The cynical ploy has been condemned almost unanimously, from President Obama to Latino leaders and candidates from both parties. Univision, after they initially approved airing the ad, finally rejected it. Telemundo also said if they were offered the ad, they would refuse to broadcast it.
But Mr. de Posada's ploy is Machiavellian. And he's having more success now than if the ad had been approved, as he is getting even more attention than anticipated.
He knows full well that there is a level of disappointment among Latino voters because of the lack of immigration reform. He also is very much aware that in the state's most important race, in order for Republican challenger Sharron Angle to defeat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, there must be low turnout among Latinos.
This alleged guardian angel in is really an angel of death. Under the guise of an innocent helper of the Latino community, Mr. de Posada is in fact trying to steal our most sacred civil right, the right to vote.
We have earned this right with blood. Throughout the history of the United States, Hispanic soldiers have distinguished themselves with valor and bravery defending this country. The black granite wall of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington is riddled with Hispanic last names. And today, our community is proudly represented in the Armed Forces.
Remember this fundamental fact of democracy: if you don't vote, you don't count. Your vote is your most powerful weapon to defend the health and prosperity of your family.
Don't let charlatans like Mr. de Posada lure you into the land where nobody counts. On November 2, take your entire family and your friends to vote for clean energy champions like Harry Reid and Dina Titus. It's a sacred right.
Javier Sierra is a Sierra Club columnist. Follow him on Twitter @Javier_SC.