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The Democratic president who insisted, “Si, Se Puede” hasn’t kept his promise to make immigration reform a top priority. He has also deported more Latinos than anybody in history, despite the fact that there are fewer undocumented people to arrest.
So getting the Hispanic vote should be easy for the GOP, which continues to insist on President Reagan’s theory that “Latinos are Republican but don’t know it.” In essence, conservatives say Latinos are voting against their own interests, which is ironic considering that Republicans depend on their rural white base to do exactly that.
There’s just one problem. Hispanics aren’t as conservative as Republicans claim. On many issues, such as healthcare reform and the economy, Latinos support Obama’s positions more than they do the GOP.
But what about those fabled social issues? Well, it turns out that Latinos are not exactly up in arms over the contraception issue, for example, and most support abortion rights. Furthermore, Latinos tend to be younger than the rest of the population, and those kids, like the younger generation overall, are less religious and more socially liberal.
And of course, there is the GOP’s stance on immigration, which could not be more offensive to Latinos if conservatives personally poked every Hispanic in the eye. Really, sometimes it appears to be a devious master plan by Democrats to paint Republicans as nut-job xenophobes. But of course, this implies that Democrats are capable of master plans, which is hilarious.
In any case, the immigration issue alone is enough to alienate Hispanic voters. Still, the GOP could, maybe, sidestep the problem to some degree. However, even those Latinos willing to overlook SB 1070 are going to have trouble pulling that “R” lever.
As we know, people are not always logical. For example, a somewhat conservative Latino who agrees with the GOP on gay marriage is still going to hesitate when he feels Joe Arpaio standing behind him and gloating. This is, after all, a political party that has demonized Latinos — and not in a subtle or coded way, either. Many Republican leaders have been positively gleeful in their pandering to white voters’ fears.
Furthermore, it’s not just a perception that Republicans aren’t too fond of Hispanics. There is some evidence that conservative voters tend to be more prone to racism (and to have lower IQs, but let’s just ignore that one).
Latinos will apparently pick the next president in November. And there are myriad fact-based reasons why they will vote Democratic, but there are even more numerous emotional reasons why they will reject the GOP. It all adds up to an overwhelming advantage for Democrats.
One could argue that Republicans are reaping the bad karma of the so-called Southern Strategy, which benefited conservatives for decades. But that strategy no longer works. It’s a new world out there, which the GOP is slowly, painfully learning.
About Daniel Cubias
Because they have brainwashed with socialist ideology from decades of Democratic party entitlements and class and racial warfare retorhic.
Because we don’t forget…..DUH!!!!!!
GOP never seems to be very welcoming to Latino immigrants (which transfers into uneasiness among U.S.-born Latinos). When you have primary candidates talking about electrified fences, self-deportation, etc., it’s hard to think one would be openly welcome to the GOP tent, IMHO.
Nice try ass clown
Because they broke the promise for immigration reform. Back in ’07, when Bush was going to fix it, republicans stopped him. At least Obama ordered prosecutorial discretion…
That being said, I am the only non-GOP voting member of my family. Everyone else in my immediate family is conservative and votes Republican. We’re 2nd generation.
Latinos need to read the classic book, The Road to Serfdom, by the Austrian economist Hayek. It’s a very simple book that can be read in less then an hour. If they can read this they will never be Democrats again.
Mitt Romney used the words Latino and illegal interchangeably at the Tea Party. Rick Santorum did the same thing at the same debate. He also says racist things about “Blah people” (African-Americans) and we know whatever they do to them, they will also do to us. The Bush family always treated Latinos equally, but with Lil Bush, that meant equally bad. He screwed us as badly as he screwed the Anglos and all other Americans.
I’m Latina. I can read very well I do so voraciously! I have crossed party lines in the past, when I felt that I identified with someones values. Read this carefully: I WILL NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN AGAIN!!!!! I share some values with conservatives, like I share some values with liberals, however, Congress has made it starkly clear that they don’t share those values with me! So, let’s see which bumbling idiot makes the primaries, and attempts to keep up with the Prez, got popcorn and sodas ready for that one…..
Considering that Latinos are the largest “minority” community, both parties have nothing to offer us. We NEED REPRESENTATION.. We a VOICE !!!
Because its not only about Latinos. Stop thinking the universe revolves around you. It doesn’t. America exists to be America, not Latino. There are many other groups and people here no matter how big we claim we are. Assimilate and don’t use your group to get special treatment from Democrat party entitlement sugar daddies.
Poverty to them isnt poverty to us-thats not the only thing they are very far off base on. They do not represent any minority.
Hayek is a narrow minded fool! LOL, go make decisions in the real world, u will see how stupid conservatism is.
Dude really what’s your problem with Latinos? This page is all about being Latino and that entails all the issues that matter to Latinos, if otherwise than this page would called something else…. you hate Latinos that much then go display that garbage to people that feel the same way about you about us real Latinos. Internal racism is alive and thriving in the consevative section of the Latino brand.
Ron Paul! -that is all
Not all Latino’s agree with the left. I will always vote Republican.
I have tried to be open to conservatives but I have yet to find a candidate that will stand for the issues that matter to Latinos in general. All I hear is just an anti-Latino rhetoic that is toxic and repugnant that needs to stop and the only way that can be stop is by throwing our support to Obama and help him remain in office . Obama 2012.
Unfortunately Obama has led the US down a path of destruction. We, yes including Latinos, need to wake up. I am often called a liberal, but I am far from it. I cannot support a party that promotes laws that are harmful to women, unborn children, etc. Don’t believe the immigration promises that the Dems have made…NONE of them have been kept. Also, this current issue of the HHS mandate is a dangerous one because it violates one of the basic tenets of the Constitution, the separation of Church and State. And before anyone starts saying that the Republicans are attacking women’s rights? no, actually they are protecting the freedom of religion and freedom from religion. To those of you out there who are Catholics? you cannot in good conscience vote Democrat. You cannot serve two masters…
Really Mario ?? You too have taking a few “swigs” of the kool-aid that has convinced the rest of the America that the Latino community is looking for a “handout”. All we desire is the same Equality and Respect that the Black, Asian and any other community has received.
“you cannot serve two masters”. This was exactly the rhetoric that many used to explain why Kennedy could not be elected to the white house. A catholic in the white house? Escandalo!
The political spectrum is so crazy but my vote is with the Democrates. Not just because I’m a Latino-Mexican American but because after 8 years of neglect, ignorance and downright ugly actions by the Republican party, I will never vote for a Rep. Candidate! We all know that the universe doesn’t revolve around “us Latinos”, we just are tired of getting screwed over by the Rep. Party! How hard is that to understand? It isn’t about being “unAmerican”, it’s about being represented in our goverment offices throughout the land. Let’s face it, that’s big pink elephant in the closet that some or most Americans do not want to see. Latinos holding offices throughout the country of the highest and most powerful country in the world??? The Democratic Party is paving the way for this to happen one day. Yes, THERE WILL BE A LATINO PRESIDENT IS THE NEAR FUTURE – GET OVER IT, IT WILL HAPPEN!!!!
Why would any Latino would want to vote as a conservative when all they do, is used Latinos as punching bags to gain favor from the most extreme bloc of the gop. Latinos are this and that… Latinos are the boogie man according to the right… Obama 2012! Like someone earlier said, I have my popcorn and soda ready legggggo!
I do support laws that advocate for a woman’s right to decide her reproductive future Despite what my personal views are on pregnancy termination, I do not reserve the right to tell women what they can or cannot do with their own bodies. I may have forgotten, but don’t recall being struck by any egregiously blatant attack by the dems against women’s safety. I do recall a couple of legislators who had proposed criminal charges against a woman if she suffered a miscarriage. Oh, those guys were republicans. And, ummmm…..yes, when legislation is introduced that mandates medical procedures, that threatens reproductive freedom for women, that does not support a public health care concern with regards to preventing unwanted pregnancies…..I do feel that my rights are being attacked.
Interesting, the comment about violating church and state but that if an individual is catholic, then can’t vote democratic. I would hope that an objective eye would prevail. That an analytical process to determine what political course is best for the nation as a whole, not necessarily for one’s own comfort in society.
Yet again, the Latino Left misses the point, and that is why there is such a divide in this country, and why there won’t be any immigration reform until the Latino Left clearly understand that #1) You do not get a prize being illegal in the USA. 2) Breaking our laws does not provide an illegal with a Pathway to Citizenship or a working visa. 3) The Latino Left should stop pandering to Latinos using scare tactics about the GOP.
The dems have not kept all their promises. We must recall, after all, that we are dealing with humans and their foibles and that no political party has ever succeeded in being all things to all people. Obama has disappointed on multiple occasions. But, maintaining a non reactionary attitude, I will not vote for the opposing candidate simply to vote for someone other than the current president. The other candidate must be worthy of my vote. I don’t give my vote out by default and I don’t let a single issue platform be what determines my vote. Religious influence should have no impact in the political sphere. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Separation of chuch and state and not about women, really? How about defending every citizen’s right to religious freedom as the US constitution calls for, not just Christians. Let’s allow Mormons to marry as many women as they want, Native Americans to smoke peyote in their religious ceremonies, allow Sharia Law for Muslims and allow those who do not believe in medicine to opt out. Why aren’t these groups religious freedom not granted? “If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.” F. Kennedy, Feminist, Attorney, Advocate