The Media Double Standard on Hispanic Political Loyalties
See if you can follow this logic: If Latinos don’t vote for Republicans, it’s because Republicans are doing something wrong. But if Latinos don’t vote for Democrats, it’s because there is something wrong with … Latinos.
That assessment seems overly generous to Democrats, doesn’t it? I mean, when do they get to be wrong? Unless, perhaps, you think Democrats can do no wrong?
That seemed to be the message behind a recent installment of MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews. I was invited on the show to discuss, with guest host Chuck Todd, the surge in the U.S. Latino population and what it could mean for Election 2012. Also invited to participate was Associated Press reporter Liz Sidoti.
Anyone who watches NBC News knows that Todd, the network’s chief White House correspondent, is a pro who knows his material. Best of all, he’s smart enough not to go out on a limb and venture an opinion on a subject matter with which he’s not familiar. Sidoti, come to find out, not so much.
First let’s look at the numbers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are now 50.5 million Latinos in the United States. They account for 16.3 percent of the population. The Latino population grew 43 percent from 2000-2010, and it accounts for more than half of the growth of the entire U.S. population in that decade. There are eight states that are home to a million or more Latinos: California, Texas, New York, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, and New Jersey. California, the nation’s most populous state, is home to 14 million Latinos. But the largest increases in Latino population are actually found in states that are not typically considered heavily Latino, such as Virginia, Georgia, Arkansas, and North Carolina.
And the country will only become more Latino as time goes on to the point where, demographers predict, Latinos will account for as much as 30 percent of the U.S. population by 2050.
Todd, Sidoti, and I were all in agreement that this Latino tidal wave spells bad news for Republicans in 2012 and beyond. The GOP’s anti-Latino immigration screed has proven to be, for much of this population, a better repellent than bug spray.
If “fickle” is “condescending” to this author,
just what does that make his own remarks, such as
“The GOP’s anti-Latino immigration screed has proven to be, for much of this population, a better repellent than bug spray”
and
“Republicans tend to act in ways that are dishonest, hypocritical, simpleminded, mean-spirited, and, yes, racist”?
This article’s title refers to media double standards. Navarrette, you got ‘em.
Just because you want to milk both sides of the “white” aisle doesn’t mean you’re free of exactly that which you criticize.
Senor HYPOCRITE.
“Anyone who watches NBC News knows that Todd, the network’s chief White House correspondent, is a” tool of the progressive agenda, just like you.
Does this get me banned from HuffPo’s front page?
“Todd, Sidoti, and I were all in agreement that this Latino tidal wave spells bad news for Republicans in 2012 and beyond.”
Ah yes, the myth of the monolithic Latino vote.
Ruben’s prescription for Republicans? Pander to them by expanding entitlement programs ad-infinitum.
In case you haven’t noticed Ruben, those policies have bankrupted California and the rest of the U.S. is next.
“…the problem isn’t that Republicans tend to talk ad nauseam about border security, law and order, and national sovereignty. Those are all good things, and most Latinos support them as well.the problem isn’t that Republicans tend to talk ad nauseam about border security, law and order, and national sovereignty. Those are all good things, and most Latinos support them as well. … President Obama’s … surrogates such as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano actually go around the country bragging about how many illegal immigrants have been deported. That, too, does not sit well with many Latinos.”
Wait a minute. If Latinos don’t want illegal aliens deported, then what kind of support for border security, law and order, and national sovereignty are you talking about? I am a Republican and I like Mexicans just fine, but why is it more appropriate for us to allow in 20% of Mexico as opposed to, say, 20% of China?
I’m not even going to respond to what you said about conservatives. Others are going to, anyway, and I’ve said my share on your other posts.
Because you see things through such a narrow prism (latino, latino, latino!) you don’t even realize that the press does that to everyone, every time the Democrats lose! In 1994, the nation had a “temper tantrum.” In 2000, the election was “stolen.” In 2010, we were back to “angry at the government.”
Every time Democrats lose unexpectedly, or by a huge margin, it’s because Americans (not JUST Latinos) are “fickle” and probably “stupid.”
Mr. Navarrette when you say that, “Republicans tend to act in ways that are dishonest, hypocritical, simpleminded, mean-spirited, and, yes, racist.” that doesn’t sit well with a very high percentage of American citizens.
You are trying to use the Republicans as a scape goat to cover up, excuse, justify and perpetuate the continuous flow of illegal Hispanics into and throughout the United States of America.
That is a mistake!
Right now the majority of America’s legal citizens have more than had a belly full of the invasive hordes of illegal Hispanics and the businesses and politicians that refuse to put a stop to it.
Your articles seldom credit America or American citizens Mr. Navarrette. So it is no surprise that you do not mention their generosity, their kindness, their patience; but most importantly when it comes to the illegal Hispanic immigrant problem, their slowness to anger.
Americans are slow to anger.
Against repeated abuses Americans will forgive time after time after time until a point in time of accumulated egregious acts against them (and our country) that are so great that even the mildest mannered citizens will become enraged; they will rise up with unbelievable fury and they will destroy the offenders.
From the high taxes of English rule to the Civil War to World Wars I & II to radical Islamic Muslim terrorists, Americans will not yield to any race of people or nation that threatens their nation.
And that is exactly what the illegal Hispanic immigrants problem is doing. But, to make matters even worse it is happening with a, “So What” “In Your Face” “We Will Take Over” attitude.
Your articles Mr. Navarrette are doing nothing more than pouring salt on a terrible wound: already a growing ulceration that Americans are not going to let fester much longer. That, not the Republicans is what should not sit well with many Latinos.
“Americans are slow to anger.
Against repeated abuses Americans will forgive time after time after time until a point in time of accumulated egregious acts against them (and our country) that are so great that even the mildest mannered citizens will become enraged; they will rise up with unbelievable fury and they will destroy the offenders.
From the high taxes of English rule to the Civil War to World Wars I & II to radical Islamic Muslim terrorists, Americans will not yield to any race of people or nation that threatens their nation.”
And so, I continue to pray that one day we will react. This is not only infuriating to all average Americans but to any governmental leaders with an ounce of common sense that we will come to a point in time where push meets shove.
It cannot end well, unless spineless pols realize that Americans will not sit idly by while their dreams, their resources, their hopes and future are squandered on an increasing minority of interlopers, criminals and outright thieves.
Your articles seldom credit America or American citizens Mr. Navarrette. So it is no surprise that you do not mention their generosity, their kindness, their patience; but most importantly when it comes to the illegal Hispanic immigrant problem, their slowness to anger.
Americans are slow to anger.
If Rueben reads anything, I hope he reads this. Yes, Americans are slow to anger. But when they boil, stand back. I’ve seen it before and it’s not pretty.
We are witnessing the slow boil in Wisconsin where greedy unions taunt the voters by allowing reps to leave the state and avoid voting on a budget/collective bargaining bill without penalty. A President who sends troops into a civil war of no import to our security- mocking our constitution. A president who continues to implement a bill while thumbing his nose at a federal judge who declared it unconstitutional.
I won’t mention the deficit as it too adds much heat. Let’s just say we’re living at a time when we’re lucky to have a constrained Tea Party bringing much of this to our representatives’ attention. There was a time when much worse could be expected from the people so betrayed by their government. If Americans ever spill onto the streets it’ll make Egypt look like child’s play.
And yes, this is probably not the best time for Rueben to be asking, “What about my brown brothers, what can you give them to get their votes?” Many of them are here illegally and as such, are owed nothing. America is faced with many pressing problems that are enough to blow the lid off. We’ll get to the problem of immigration soon, ’till then, the best advice is to stand back. Oh, and vote Democrat at your own risk Pancho.
You again?
No shortage of harangues for us!
“Republicans tend to talk ad nauseam about border security, law and order, and national sovereignty.”
Yes, those things really are tiresome – sometimes I just wish they’d go away and that everyone could just do whatever they want. Certainly Latinos have dismissed them from their minds to create more free space to figure out how to make fake I.D.s along with dismissing the greater good and Jeffersonian ideals or the idea of creating cultures wherein success is endemic instead of piggy backing on European ideals and at once decrying them as racist and getting fat off them, fat like Mocking Birds.
In fact, the one great political theme to emerge from Latin America is one where people pretty much do whatever they want with no regard for institutions that address the greater good which is why Latin America is so successful that it exports millions of its citizens who can’t stand so much success.
You know what they say about interesting times and what could be more interesting than watching the slow motion demise of one of the greatest cultures that ever existed, demographically overwhelmed by barbarian hordes who can’t figure out how to stop having babies they can’t feed or organize themselves. Poor, poor Hispanics – they just can’t win, no matter what they do. Here, get into the phone booth, there’s always room for a few million more.
There’ll just be millions more behind you having more babies since exporting people isn’t exactly what one would call a ‘solution’ but get in anyway. We can all go down together and then it won’t seem so unfair. Why should Latin Americans have to watch fat Americans on TV living the high life due to their own individualism and sense of personal responsibility when they can ride box cars to ‘free/stupid/kind people land’ and be on TV too and make America a place just like back home and then move on to the next ‘free/stupid/kind people land’ to transform that into an intellectual shanty town?
The one great innovation that has emerged from Latin America that Americans still find so startling they can’t believe it’s even real, is the idea that national Constitution’s are not only completely irrelevant, they are in fact suicide pacts subordinant to self-interest, meant to transport us back to the magical days before the Enlightenment which is a fad that never really caught on South of the border.
The sheer amount of blithe arrogance it takes to sneak into another country and then wave your own flags in its streets because you have figured out how to simultaneously ignore and manipulate the U.S. Constitution is staggering. Gee I wish I could pay it forward down South somehow.
Voting? What the hell is that – is that kinda like issues and talking and stuff? If it’ll get me an extra jar of peanut butter then just tell me which button to press for the peanut butter candidate otherwise don’t bother me about it cuz I’ll just go for the guy with the name like mine because there’s not so much talking and thinking involved and it gives me a headache and I wish it would all just go away cuz migraines make me nauseous.
Oh man…Mr. Day…..you made my….ahhhhhh….day.
And incredible retort to this Latino fascist. And to all ignorant border jumpers that can’t figure out the ride has to come to an end.
Mr. Navarette:
“Note the mindset of the elite and Obama-friendly D.C. media. If Latinos don’t vote for Republicans, it’s because they’re understandably outraged over being picked on and treated as scapegoats. But if Latinos don’t vote for Democrats, it’s because those voters are fickle.”
What’s the matter with you?
Don’t you understand that you Latino campesinos are not supposed to stray off of “Don” Obama’s DemocRat plantation?
They OWN you, (or they THINK that they do).
And the really funny thing is that this mindset that you decry here is the EXACT SAME mindset that you yourself display towards your amorphous “Latinos” in every one of your posts.
“In fact, his surrogates such as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano actually go around the country bragging about how many illegal immigrants have been deported. That, too, does not sit well with many Latinos.”
It doesn’t? Which ones? Those who are here illegally, or those who profit from their illegal status?
Newsflash Navarette…those people are criminals, and their opinion does not count.
I know that the “Latinos” that I know, (and I’m married to one, and my child’s godmother is another), who ARE here legally DESPISE the molhados…be they Mexican, Guatemalan or Salvadoran. And unlike the Potemkin Village of “Latino” Solidarity that you’re trying to sell, “Latinos” are acutely aware of these national differences.
But here you are, “Don” Navarette, speaking in actuality for Mexicans, but representing yourself as the voice of “Latinos”…a completely artificial cultural demographic that you are trying to sell as a “race”.
“Fickle, eh? How condescending.”
I have no doubt that that is exactly the same attitude YOU have when a blond-haired, blue-eyed legal immigrant from Argentina, or a black-skinned Dominican, decides that he or she wants nothing to do with you, your barrio, or your hordes of illegal Mexicans…and pooh-poohs your fantasy of the Latino “race”.
Is it not?
Pot…meet Kettle, Kettle, this is Pot.
Republicans tend to act in ways that are dishonest, hypocritical, simpleminded, mean-spirited, and, yes, racist. And none of that sits well with many Latinos.
LMAO! How condescending. And don’t worry about the media’s double standard. Deal with your own prejudices first. The law of averages says that sooner or later you’re going to make a mistake and write an article that is actually honest and strawman-free. Until then, try and stop being so fickle.
Republicans tend to act in ways that are dishonest, hypocritical, simpleminded, mean-spirited, and, yes, racist. And none of that sits well with many Latinos.
I believe the author is referring to things like what Kansas State Rep. Virgil Peck (R) said a couple weeks ago: “It looks like to me if shooting these immigrating feral hogs works maybe we have found a [solution] to our illegal immigration problem.”
I think most people would agree that comparing Latino immigrants to pigs and suggesting that they be shot is pretty racist and mean-spirited. I think it’s also pretty obvious that when a Republican official says stuff like this, it doesn’t attract Latinos to the Republican party.
Oh come on. What a load of rubbish.
Although, no doubt, it’s enough for Ruben, you’ll have to give the rest of us more than one moron mouthing off before we can deduce how Republicans tend to act.
Let me start by condemning the statement by Virgil Peck. It was wrong in spirit and strategically stupid and counter productive. And if Ruben Navarrette were to write an article in which he specifically criticized Virgil Peck and his statement I wouldn’t have a problem with it. However… Here are a couple of problems with the point you’re apparently trying to make.
1. Navarrette doesn’t complain about specific incidents or statements. He prefers to make blanket statements about everyone who doesn’t share his views on open borders and illegal immigration. It’s no more accurate to claim that a Virgil Peck speaks for all Republicans or all those who are concerned about border security than it would be to claim that some Aztlan nut talking about “reconquista” speaks for all Latinos. Ruben Navarrette doesn’t speak for all Latinos. If there’s a disconnect between Republicans and Latinos it’s a two-way street when it comes to inflammatory remarks.
2. On the subject of “dishonest, hypocritical, simpleminded, mean-spirited, and, yes, racist” comments, I’ll see your Virgil Peck and raise you with Augustin Cebada:
“Go back to Boston! Go back to Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims! Get out! We are the future. You are old and tired. Go on. We have beaten you. Leave like beaten rats. You old white people. It is your duty to die. Through love of having children, we are going to take over.”
and Jose Angel Gutierrez:
“We have an aging white America. They are not making babies. They are dying. The explosion is in our population…I love it. They are shitting in their pants with fear. I love it!”
and Mario Obledo:
“California is going to be a Hispanic state. Anyone who doesn’t like it should leave.”
If you don’t recognize the names, look ‘em up. The point is that it’s not hard to find these kinds of statements. Based on Navarrette’s “reasoning” why should non-Latinos be excited about embracing the Latino vote? It’s not hard to find a pathetic excuse to justify further disengagement. But since Navarrette claims to be interested in seeing Republicans benefit by attracting Latino voters he really should approach the matter in a more responsible, intellectually-honest manner. Instead he breaks open the thesaurus in order to find as many insulting words he can to hurl at those who don’t agree with his views. Navarrette insists on lining up with guys like Peck, Cebada, Gutierrez and Obledo.
The solution is to focus on the serious-minded folks on both sides who are interested in solving problems and bringing the sides together. Ruben needs to get real or get lost. The same goes for those who defend his kind of nonsense.
Democrats tend to act in ways that are dishonest, hypocritical, simpleminded, mean-spirited, and, yes, racist.
Better
And if they don’t vote at all, they probably live in California.
Ruben, I suggest you branch out a little bit. What’s with La Raza and slogans like ” …the border crossed us?” These phony claims of Mexican ownership of the USA might just be a problem for Mexican immigration, legal and otherwise. Could you give that a look?
Those evil illegal immigrants! Forcing innocent Americans to hire them!
The bulk of Americans are happy to benefit from cheap lawn service, cheap vegetables, and cheap construction service. But they must now pay up the difference in higher school taxes to educate the children of that cheap labor.
You can’t have it both ways.
cheap lawn service— nope i mow my own and clean my own house
cheap vegetables (food)— nope, california food production is evaporating because of the delta smelt
cheap construction service—hire a bunch of unlicensed workers— in california— not gonna happen
any money that goes to “education” is a fraud and if the whiners in california would elect the right people then higher public education would be much more affordable
Could you write anything more dumb? If you want to lecture the idiots espousing cheap illegal immigrant labor, go shoot your mouth off at HuffPo or on a site sponsored by the Chamber of Chains, I mean Commerce.
If you had an ounce of political savvy, you’d know that the mostly conservatives who read the content on this site have forever called for an end to the abuses illegal aliens face at the hands of greedy employers. Conservatives have simultaneously called for an end to illegal immigration for as long as its been an issue.
Poppakap;
Eh …Most of the vitriol from conservatives is directed at the laborers. Hardly any of it is directed at the Americans who create the problem by hiring them. Just scan the comments on this current thread.
While it’s always more satisfying to criticize the foreigner, it takes two to tango. Blaming one half of the equation is specious.
The Media Double Standard on Hispanic Political Loyalties
Should read “The Media missing Standard on Hispanic Political Extortion”
Ruben, just how many of that whopping 50,000,000 suddenly arrived Latinos which you claim are new voters are actually illegally in America??? Are you suggesting they are all eligible voters???
Morton: Back in 2002–if I am not mistaken– a Mexican national showed me his voter registration card issued in Albemarle County, Virginia. YES, many illegal aliens obtain voter registration cards and use them to get driver’s licenses. I had no idea of how easy is to fool the system until I saw this guy go to a “vacation” in Mexico and come back without much trouble.
As for the proposition that the GOP is not courting the Hispanic vote right. Forgive me but it seems a bit patronizing. Any self respecting Hispanic-American ought to be appalled at the way Democrats “handle” them like if they were entitled to their vote. The GOP has to do NOTHING. Hispanic-Americans should vote for the platform that in their judgment is best for America.
One day, if someone like Marco Rubio or Marco himself is elected to lead our country, I hope he will make a better President than the ones we had lately.
God of the Gaps: I have a feeling that, if we cracked down on employers who knowingly hired illegals, we Americans would be able to deal. I’m sure we’d be more than happy to hire the lawn mowing services of an enterprising teenager, buy vegetables harvested by machines, and have my house built by professionals, not some random dudes who got into the back of a truck at the local Home Depot. AND we’d get lower property taxes. That’s win-win-win!
Armando;
I completely agree. Closing the border will not solve it, given that fact that 40% of illegals arrive here legally and then stay. That’s why it’s far more effective to go after the employer.
Let’s put the blame on the real prompter of the problem – the American citizen.
Well gee whiz golly gosh, those damn neo conservatives, they can’t catch a break no matter what in Ruben’s world; when they’re not Islamophobic and homophobic they’re hispanophobic, just like the Greatest Generation who handled the immigration reforms of the 60s as well as they handled the Vietnam War: they bungled the reform and then threw in the towel and blew it when their kids rebelled and showed up in drag to get out of the Vietnam draft. Then they went on to botch the immigration reform of the 80s, ensuring consistency for the Greatest Generation, another ten million illegal aliens, and Ruben’s non-stop whining and hand wringing. I wonder if being homophobic and an ethnic bigot will be draft deferrable during the next “unjust war?” What do you think Ruben? You think Mohammed Ali could get a draft deferment this time around for exhibiting “jihadist thinking” instead of claiming to be a pacifistic member of the religion of peace?
I’m not quite understanding why Hispanic groups or black groups or any other group can’t cast votes based on actually understanding who and what they are voting for, and educating themselves on our country and the Constitution. As a conservative, I don’t feel that anyone on the right should have to kiss up to the Hispanic population for their votes. Why? Aren’t the Hispanics capable of thinking outside of their own neighborhoods and culture? If not, then I would prefer they stay home on election day. We had enough empty heads vote in the last presidential election because of the color of somebody’s skin, and we all see where that got us. If a particular group can’t get past their race, then I’m tired of listening to their comments. We have a country in trouble here. We don’t have time anymore for this foolish hand holding of supposed minorities.
Amen, Constance! There is a war of concepts going on in this country right now; on whether we will continue to be a nation built on the concepts the Founders established and promoted, or whether we’ll become a country beholden to the government and special interests for everything. Mr. Navarrette seems to be representing the latter, and doesn’t understand the basis and concerns people from the other side have about the future of America. People like him seem to think that, because Latinos have reached a certain percentage of the population, or because America “stole” so much territory from Mexico in the Mexican war, or because anyone who’d want to close or restrict the borders MUST by definition be a racist, that natually entitles them to be the beneficiaries of a “gimme” way of life. Thinking like that got us Barack Obama, and the truly needed antidote are people like Sarah Palin, Marco Rubio, and Paul Ryan … who represent the ideals of American exceptionalism, the TRUE American melting pot, and American rule of law respectively.
I say we put him in the same room with those three, and keep him there until he truly understands what country he lives in.
“Why? Aren’t the Hispanics capable of thinking outside of their own neighborhoods and culture?”
If they were capable of that…they would have stayed in their own hell holes and changed the dynamics, wouldn’t they? Nope….it’s easier to come here and force their 3rd world wills under the guise (BS) of multiculturalism. It’s easier to come here and gripe over all the goodies they’re “entitled” to …whereas south of the border…their crap means squat to the dumps they call…”home”.
Ruben,
Is it your choice to write solely about Hispanic and immigration issues, or do you do that because PJM asks you to devote yourself to that?
It’s not meant to be a ball-busting question at all. I do sometimes wish you’d write on other topics.
Ruben,
Also, given your emphasis on Hispanic Issues, and Roger’s emphasis on Israel and the War on Terror, here is an article where your interests intersect:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4049880,00.html
Are Latinos more anti-Semitic and anti-Israel, and does it bode poorly for Israel as their proportion of the US population grows?
If the recent Israeli immigrant resists conflating a Mexican border jumper with a Palestian border bomber, I’m cool with supporting, defending AND expanding Israel. More to the point, lets not assume that the lack of strong support of Israel as expressed by Latinos in the Ynet article is simple anti-semiticism. Maybe its a combination of simple “bring the troops home” sentiment, fiscally-based opposition (e.g. we can no longer subsidize Israel), and maybe even the perceived greater need for military occupation/border defense in/around northern Mexico. All three sentiments are similar to those expressed by many old-school conservatives.
Poor Ruben. Not only is he tone deaf, he only knows one tune.
I dont trust reps or dems. But it seems to me that anyone who wants latinos and illegal to obey the rules and enter this country legally is branded racist. an illegal latino can get drink and attack a pregnant lady with a knife, but the cop who shoots him after repetedly telling that person in english and spanish to drop the weapon is branded a racist murderer. The dems dont get the minorities because repubs, libertarians and conservatives are racist. its becaus ethe dems have convinced minorities (not just latinos) that they are owed by america and deserve special rights. The same people who whine about slavery and opression, quite willingly give themselves over to opression and slavery when the price is right. its the dems and minorities that do not want equality, not us. They only want freedom and quality when it comes to the rewards never the responsibility. Latinos, minorities, etc who follow the democratic/socialist/ progressive (whatever) rules are SLAVES and they want to be slaves. they are just mad because they think we should want to become slaves withthem. well if wanting to live in the capitalist, free market, constitution based liberty inspired country makes me racist so be it. all are welcoem who share my vision. i wont give special treatment to or for a color or race.
Let’s be honest here, Mr. Navarrette: You don’t like Republicans because we have (at least some) leaders and a majority of members who don’t put pandering to the Latino vote over doing what’s good for the country as a whole. You say that things like border security and the rule of law are things you support – but then chastise officials who tote progress in deporting illegal immigrants. You can’t have it both ways, sir … either you support the laws and principles of this country for ALL who are here legally or otherwise, or you don’t. If not, please be honest with yourself and with your readers, and have the courage of your convictions .. whatever they may be. Personally, as a Republican I believe that the Utah Compact holds the most practical set of structural steps in dealing with illegal immigration, while also abiding by American exceptionalism and the rule of law.
So, now you know of at least one Republican who displays something you seem incapable of – reasoned, respectful compromise without compromising core beliefs.
Your move.
The Republican Party should stick to Conservative principals. It should not be in the business of “attracting” any particular group through pandering. This author is a Johnny one note who should just admit he is a Democrat and get out of here.
As an American of Mexican descent from Chihuahua and having lived in this great country for many years I still don’t understand why so many Mexicans support the Democratic Party when the Republican Party’s values are more closely aligned with traditional Mexican values. We fought a revolution to get government and big land owners off our backs so we could, with the grace of God, take personal responsibility for our own destiny. As far as I can tell, the Democrats tell you the patron will take care of you as long as you give them your earnings in the form of higher taxes. The Republicans basically say, “that is your land, do with it as you will.” Not being an intellectual, am I missing something?
“Not being an intellectual, am I missing something?”
Whatever you’re missing, I’ll wager that it isn’t Mass on Sunday.
And THAT is why immigrants, (especially Catholic ones…French, Poles, Irish and Italians), eventually become Conservatives.
Fundamentally, it’s all about the VALUES, ain’t it?
Stop equating hispanic with Latino. It’s not at all the same thing , no matter what Bill Clinton thinks
Having read a lot of what Navarrarte has written locally over the years regarding immigration issues; if anyone could be considered RACIST, Ruben should look in the mirror.
Keep pushing Rueben perhaps you will convince the rest of us to vote completely along racial lines. Then thirty percent by 2050 doesn’t sound so promising, huh?
I think it’s extremely racist for Navarette to assume Latinos are all criminals and crime-supporters. Illegal immigration is not the be-all end-all of Hispanic issues. Many Hispanics support free markets, low taxes, and small government.
If more Latinos thought of themselves as Americans first and not Latinoes uber alles, maybe they wouldn’t have the issues with the Republicans they have.
When I see anybody who primarily defines themselves based on their skin color or ‘race’, I see a bigot or a Jesse Jackson style race hustler.
This has historical precedent. The Dems were big on ethnic identity politics back in the 19th century, cultivating enough political capital among the various immigrant groups that they were able to win national elections after the Civil War.
The problem in assuming that the growing Latino vote would doom the Republicans’ chances at winning elections is that if this were true, they should have been doomed for the past one hundred ten years, due to the fact that the Democrats had huge voting blocs from the immigration populations from Ireland, Italy, Poland, etc. And yet, somehow their descendants were not as strongly Democratic, enabling Republicans to win.
How is the situation with Latinos of today different from that of the Irish, Italians, Poles, etc. of the 19th century. The same ethnic identity politics were in play, the same strategies were in play, etc.
Liberal’s and you know who you are,if the shoe fit’s wear it. signed, A Conservative.