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These days Latino momentum seems to be on the side of Pres. Obama. You can even see anger raging from Hispanics against the right verbally personified when comedian George Lopez went off on a curse-filled rant against Sheriff Joe Arpaio in his recent HBO special.
Si, we are winning, at least in the polls; but before we get too excited, there is ample reason for us to keep imagining the reality of a Romney presidency. For Latinos, it is our machismo, our ego, our over-confidence, that could be the fizzle at the end of this election cycle.
Despite all the energy we in our bubble of social media view daily, the actuality of poor Latino voter turnout in November is real and could easily help give Romney the throne.
According to a Gallup poll released last week, only 64 percent of registered Latino voters say they will definitely vote this fall — that’s 14 points lower than the current national average of 78 percent. For all our “macho talk” and “Si Se Puede,” we usually don’t turn out on Election Day. Liberals are famous for protesting and then not showing up when things count, while Republicans have a track record of turning political energy into votes.
The most recent case in point is the Tea Party. Started as a pro-small government battle-cry, within a matter of two years, the group is electing senators and passing laws. Yet, on the far left we have groups like Occupy that have done nothing to take their momentum and organize it into a political force. That drum circle may be amazing, but all you really did at the end of the day was annoy commuters.
I must confess, I’m just as guilty of jumping onto the self-righteous Latino bus. Like many Latinos, something in me said “heck yeah” when Lopez ranted “F#$% Sheriff Arpaio.” The machismo in me just swelled. Lopez was saying what we’ve all been thinking on live cable television. Wow! Victory has come, but in business and in life, talk is cheap.”
The real and only way to ensure a decisive Obama victory is if Latinos get registered and vote in November.
But if Lopez can go on a rant, so can I, minus expletives.
If by now you haven’t registered to vote and can, sorry but you’re a loser (yeah I said it).
Here’s a solution: come December, why don’t we round up and deport all the Latinos who didn’t vote and legalize all the undocumented who have been begging to become part of our country so they can vote. We can start in Arizona and work our way through all the swing states.
I can respect a Latino who votes for Romney — may not understand them, but I respect the fact that they are making their opinions heard in an intelligent way. What I don’t respect is a Latino who doesn’t vote.
Don’t you think its about time we look inward and stop blaming whitey? Arpaio is a mean little pig on a big farm, but we control who can become the farmer and lock that pig up for good.
It’s time we as a community channel our anger at the 36 percent of Latinos who aren’t sure if they are going to vote this fall. If you know one, drag them, shame them into voting. They deserve our rage.
There’s my rant.
Jose Cruz is the editor of OurTiempo.com worked in the Clinton White House and on three Presidential campaigns. He is the founder of ImmigrationPAC a pro-comprehensive immigration reform Federal Political Action Committee and active political commentator.
About Being Latino Contributors
Great piece! I’ll be shaming and dragging….36%? That’s shameful.
Obama has done nada for Latinos. Sure he has given some illegals employment authorization but what does that matter when there are no jobs for them either. Obama needs to be evicted in November!
Not a chance…!
i gave up on obama after 2010 god could not given a president more power for his first two years and he chooses to not even confront issues at home when he had the chance..
Obama presidente !!! no queremos Otro Diablo mas que es lo mismo que el bush!! jamas los republicanos regresaran a la casa blanca!!! son unos racistas!!!!
almost everything bush did obama is doing… so i dont get the defense of bush fucked up everything anymore… those people who use that defense have no sense of what bills are passed or what they even mean and have caused many to even move away from the president… the shit people say both on the left and right are to funny at times.. Calling everyone racist who does not agree with the president has become a big problem also.. you cant say people are racist when they are giving an opinion of someone’s policy’s .. the people have more blame in how people see the president than the president himself.
Remember that he is a PRESIDENT not a dictator, working within a 3-part system that has as much if not more power than he has to wield. Anyone disappointed by his presidency is either 1) not paying attention 2) uninformed of how our government is structured 3) too impatient 4) unrealistic 5) suffering memory loss about what the country looked like as he came into office. My two pennies…
the latino vote will decide 2012 and now that the majority of latino’s in the entire nation are independent it will be a close race.. one that obama can lose we wont know until late october.
Obama has did nothing for our people and not only us but everyone in this country …have not seen anything done all it has done is make things worst…we need someone strong….too much promises and nothing will be done…stop talking of promises and get the real thing done…he lost my elections ..
obama gave an executive order that only lasts 2 years and no right to citizenship LOL and people are happy about this why? its called politics.
i agree 100% with what Graciela has said….people need to stop being so ignorant….and play or fall on that….come on now….ignorance is not the new cool…..educate yourself….and please understand government….don’t just put your foot in your mouth
Obama 2012!!!
independents within latinos are now 51% and growing!! 32 percent, consider themselves Democrats, while just 11 percent say they are Republicans.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78065.html#ixzz21TV8Vajx
thank the lord! http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78065.html
@ Graciela, Obama was working within a 3 part system, two of which were democrat controlled. Everyone wants to blame republicans but even when there was a democrat controlled congress he got nothing done. The guy is all talk, no deliver.
I too am disappointed with Obama on issues such as the lack if a public option and not letting the repugs take us hostage on every issue DADT, Debt ceiling, keeping the govt. open…..I could go on and on. But to vote for Romney, whose religion states that everyone with dark skin “has
the mark of Caine therefore cannot have any position of importance in the morman church. No female can speak to “Heavenly Father.” Only men can thats why every morman woman must be married if she wishes to go to heaven. She cannot make ANY decisions independant from her husband.
Mitt Romney held down a gay student and bullied him and cut his hair.
Why would any black, hispanic, American Indian or Asian vote for such a racist president is beyond me.
Not voting? Leting other people decide because your too lazy to continue to fight. You voted a few times and things didn’t go your way so instead if continuing the good fight. You just GIVE UP?. I am with the author let’s deport people to lazy to fight and show up for our political process. Let us make citizens of the individuals that want to work and vote and strive for a better future for generations to come.
So the alternative is to vote for Mitt Romney? Sorry voting against my own self interest and that of my family is foolish and dangerous.
Check out this blog post with a map of the latino population in the US. http://censusviewer.com/2012/07/latino-population/
Not voting at all =
I sure hope so, but with the idol worship that still goes on in the Latino community towards the chosen one, I doubt it.
vote for Jill Stein, make a statement against two party politics, where each side plays a defensive game
And George Lopez doesn’t speak for the entire Latino community. Maybe he speaks for the Chicano community but you guys have to stop using Latino when it really just pertains to Mexicans, Mexican Americans, or those who follow Chicanismo. Not fair – we are not monolithic culturally or racially.
What every hispanic afro American Asian and n e other colored person needs to understand is that our vote does not count, you could vote all u want but the next president is already picked for us, they themselves take turns and lead us on to believe that we can make a difference by voting, you can’t trust a politician wether he is black white hispanic or Asian they r only there to gain for us not to help us progress in this country!
Btw im sooooooo not voting this yr, or n e other yr.
Apathy is the true enemy of democracy…
Shame on any Latino who votes for Romney,he’s ashamed to call himself Mexican America,SMH.
I find it hard to believe that minorities today do not get involved in the voting process. It increase the likely hood that the opposing politicians win and the black and brown man is lower on the socioeconomic ladder. Apathy is the enemy as Mr Molina stated and if you never vote, then not only are you a silent citizens, but one that can never voice your opinions or disputes, for you don’t value being a part of good citizens. Voting is essential for all people to be involved in the process of building and having a decent country.
I like your rant, a very gutsy thing to rant on. I would some how like to apply to all Americans, some way, some how
Standing by my article, I’d like to take a moment to openly mock you losers who say your not voting. Get out of our country, you don’t deserve to be here!
I’d rather vote and Think it might make a difference than not to vote and Know I didn’t make a difference.
But quick to sit around the living room and critize. Make a difference, VOTE!
People still want to vote for the clown Obama?????
As the West Coast Mexican representative I would like to say that’s fucking stupid to vote rebublican as a latino,seriously, do you really think for one second that rich white Anglo-Saxons have your interests in mind, these immigrants didn’t even want you here in first-place, then make laws against our people completely diminutive in respect to us as a people and are scared to death of our growing population or educated brown people, but hey Willard has your back josh angello. (sorry josh your name is what I see while writing)
I found : http://OFA.BO/o9Zt9H to be a valid internet connection. You can right click and open in a new tab to verify web sites. Right clicking on: Obama for America returns an open web page with nothing posted. Be careful who you disclose info to and what is disseminated. Those who blast or say non-verifiable data or info on President Obama are those intent on working through web sites like these to dissuade people from voting. If you are interested in gaining representation for your community, region, state or segment of society, get more involved. Call your state offices to request voter registration applications and set up sites around your immediate neighborhood, with permission, and get people registered. Do not pay attention to those who dispel president Obama’s accomplishments, because he has done more positive in less than three years than president Bush did in eight years. Soy Americano primero, y Tejano ultimalmente!
I have been working since May of 2011 on issues directly addressing Hispanic/Latino issues and voicing my approval and disapproval of issues directly effecting our communities. There is Puerto Rican pride, Chicano pride, Tejano pride, Columbiano pride and many other segments of our communities who should have the highest honor to represent their heritage in an inclusive world of America. Born here or naturalized, take pride in your heritage, family, upbringing and status and lift up others to lift yourselves. We are all here for a reason, make it memorable. Make a difference! Do not sit at home hoping for change – Make a difference!
Here’s a web site to visit to review a few of president Obama’s accomplishments since taking office. Don’t take my word for it – check it out for your selves.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/05/29/a-long-list-of-president-obamas-accomplishments-with-citations/
I will keep in touch, so you be in touch and tell everyone about site like this and others you may find walking the web!
The realities and fact are all there, Obama promise change. The hispanics voted with real Hope for Change in Washington. That hope would come from a man of courage, his words gave all Americans a uplift for future’s Promise.
The house and Senate owned by the Democratic (Obama) Party. We all would finally see change for Latinos. Jobs, education, and for 12 million undocumented folks. Freedom for citizenship.
Instead we got zip. Nada. 11% unemployment among Latinos. Not including the additional % of youth not working. Education? Well added pell funds. Poor education programs in cities like LA, New York etc. enforcement of immigration well boaster by OBama. One year he saids he can’t use EO, next thing he does is use his. Executive Order (EO) in a very limited way. Just a little apple for Latinos to hang onto hope & change. Just another election year stunt.
So am I going to Vote this Election? Si.
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Obama Came into office facing a sh#t load of Bush’s F#ck up’s !!!
He didnt sell us a an over night dream like the past RACIST Presidents have done. He was very clear and realistic when he said that CHANGE WASNT GOING TO COME OVER NIGHT , THAT SACRIFICES WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE and that it wasnt going to be easy. After he spoke those words we still believed in him and understood the challenges he was going to face were Really Serious. Come on my Beautiful People, do you really think that this WHITE man gives a crap about our people ? oh now he’s making visits to latin people ??? I could see if he has done that in the past, and had a track record of getting involved trying his best to truly help the minorities. This is white POWERED AMERICA. Wake up !!! If we Pull him off the most powerful seat in this country it will cause a domino affect on every black and Hispanic Leader Here in this country