by Nancy Sepulveda
Govenor Susana Martinez
I felt no pride when my home state of New Mexico elected the country’s first female Latino governor. Despite her camp boasting it as a victory for all Hispanics, I knew better – Susana Martinez was one Tejana whose progression would mean no gains for La Raza. Her surname may be Latino, and she may pencil in the “Hispanic” bubble on census forms, but her politics are all Republican (read: Anglo). No Wise Latina here.
She’s a pro-life, pro-gun, anti-immigrant politician who wants to re-instate the death penalty in New Mexico. She talks a good game, such as her recent address in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Day, while simultaneously introducing state legislation to hinder the progress of Hispanos.
On January 31, Martinez introduced Executive Order 2011-009, allowing state officials to question the immigration status of anybody arrested. It cites anybody arrested, but doesn’t require the person be convicted. In a perfect world, an innocent individual would never wind up in handcuffs. The reality isn’t so simple, and even a person wrongfully arrested and later exonerated of criminal charges would still be released to ICE custody. And then there are the bigoted, power-hungry cops (you know they exist) who would use this as an excuse to apprehend and question any brown person unlucky enough to, say, jaywalk in front of them.
Martinez then held a news conference to proclaim her stance to end NM driver licenses to undocumented immigrants. Granting such licenses invites illegal immigration, she said. Funny. I thought it ensured that the people behind the wheel on New Mexico streets had shown evidence of proper driving skills and the ability to obey traffic laws – making our streets safer.
Her hypocrisy can’t get any worse, right? The calling card of her election was her “commitment” to education for all. Yet she wants to rescind in-state tuition and access to the state-funded Lottery Scholarship currently accessible to undocumented students through SB 582.
The crowning insult, though, came during a Martinez interview with Latina magazine last year. When asked if she supports the Dream Act, her brilliant retort was, “Remind me…” How can a politician in a border state not know what the Dream Act is? After it was explained to her, Martinez replied, “Oh, yes, yes, yes…What I am concerned about is…are we excluding people that are in New Mexico who are in the military service…and are here legally and cannot receive that kind of funding to attend college because the funds are limited?”
Um, what? The DREAM act has nothing to do with receiving funding to attend college. Her remarks underscore not only her own embarrassing ignorance, but her inability to view immigration legislation through anything other than a lens intent on demonizing immigrants. When asked how she would differentiate between undocumented people who come here to commit crimes, and those who come here to work and better their families, Martinez retorted, “That has never been my focus as district attorney or as a candidate for governor.” No kidding.
Contributor, Nancy Sepulveda.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those
of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.
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About Being Latino Contributors
UGH! I hate women like this. Thanks for this vital info on her idiotic policies and quotes! If you hadn’t written this, we (in the rest of the 50 states) might never have realized.
Great article!!!
While she does sound like a Chicana Sarah Palin in terms of knowledge, this article has some very racist undertones. “Anglo”? What is this, the 1950s? Anglo means Anglo-Saxon (read: British). Secondly, I did not realize that not being a Democrap constituted being a sellout, faker, or “gringa”. This has got to be one of the most ignorant pieces of seen in a while on BL and is nothing but personal attacks and infantile racial name calling. Shame on BL for publishing this racist rag.
Thanks Nancy for exposing this governor’s heinous anti-Latino immigrant policies. This kind of post affects Latinos of all political backgrounds. Unfortunately major (English) media in the U.S. does not feel this topic is worth reporting. The New York Times barely reported on the murder of 9-year old Brisenia Flores even though it was obviously a hate crime. I had no idea Gov. Martinez was such an extremist!
How is being Pro-life or Pro-gun “white” or anti-Latino? I am 100% Latina FROM New Mexico and I’m both pro-life AND pro-gun (i.e. pro-morals and pro-liberty). The racism in your blog is disappointing. I’m not a fan of Susana and I think you could have gotten your point across regarding her stance on immigration without being racist about it. I don’t agree with profiling all Latinos but I do believe that illegal immigrants should not get away with breaking the law. I agree with you a hundred percent regarding that executive order. Your post is okay but I would like to see more examples of how she hasn’t walked her talk. You say she’s a hypocrite but you’re not clear on how she is so. Rescinding the Lottery scholarship to “undocumented” immigrants (your words) would seem to be in line with her stance on illegal immigration. How is this hypocritical? Was her calling card “education to ALL” individuals or education to all NEW MEXICANS? Illegal immigrants in New Mexico are NOT New Mexicans. I didn’t vote for her nor do I believe she is necessarily qualified for the job – she hasn’t impressed me at all – but for me to consider what you are saying you’re going to have to do better than this.
@Sha, I agree with you completely.
Let me start by saying that I detest every aspect of Governor Martinez’s politics just as much as you (the author) do. However, I have to agree with Sha and Marcelina in regards to your presentation of your opinion. I’m apalled that you would assert a stance that bases “true” Latino group membership and/or pride on political ideology. While I personally find it near impossible to understand why ANYONE – and yes, especially people of color – hold the beliefs expressed by Governor Martinez, I know that it is arrogant to narrow the definition of “true” Latinidad to basically read “whoever ever is of Latino origin AND agrees with me”. This is an unsophisticated and reductivist approach to tackling a bundle of highly complex issues and only serves to undermine some of the very good points you made. Most of all, it’s unproductive because it detracts from the true ideological issues that we need to explore, such as how we define social justice, human rights, our national identity, and so on, in relation to how our politics and history continue to play out in the way they do.
To Sha and Marcelina, I guess this is a time when we have to remember BL’s disclaimer (The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.), but I have to agree that I also am EXTREMELY disappointed to see this peice published under their brand.
Thanks for the feedback! @ Sha: by Anglo, I was refering to the term “Anglo-American,” not “Anglo-Saxon.” A definition is “Anglo-American is shortened to Anglo and applied to White Americans who are not of Hispanic or Latino Origin.” For further description re: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo#United_States . Secondly, I am not labeling her a Gringa because she is not a Democrat (news flash: Anglos can be Democrats, too!). I am labeling her a Gringa based on her political rhetoric and actions in office, which have shown her to be more aligned with a base that is statistically (read: factually) Anglo-predominant. If my article was truly ignorant and “personal” I would not have validated my stance with references to actual legislation and quotes. But, thanks for reading!
Let me qualify one thing I said since I am the proud daughter of Black Panamanian immigrants; I was using the term “brown” in the widest sense possible to refer to Latinos of all racial backgrounds. Reducing us to one “color” in a literal sense is also problematic and just wrong.
Marcelina, you illustrated your point extremely well and I agree with you 100%. The only hypocrisy I see in this blog is of the writer herself. People need to move out of the mindset that in order to be a “real” Latino that one needs to be a Democrat and be easily pigeonholed; Latinos are not a monolithic group. Quite frankly, by these narrow guidelines set by the writer, she would most likely be the one accused of being “falsa” if she went to most Latin American countries.
@ Marcelina, hola comadre! Nice to see comments from a fellow Nuevo Mexicana. However, I would like to clarify a few things for you. First, being pro-life and pro-gun (whatev. that means to you personally/morally) are hallmarks of the WHITE, conservative, highly-religious, GOP base. This is a statistical truth. See: http://www.gallup.com/poll/118937/republican-base-heavily-white-conservative-religious.aspx or http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0901/Shocker-Republicans-overwhelmingly-white. Can non-Whites be pro-life or pro-gun? Of course! Are they more likely to be? No. Thus please specify where you feel I am being racist. If it is my use of the term “Anglo,” see my comment to Sha above. Now, onto her hypocrisy. Again, as I referenced in my article, I find it hypocritical to boast the importance of Hispanics and their contributions in the state– but just not Hispanics who are undocumented. Or are their many contributions unimportant because they don’t have this form signed or that form stamped (or more likely, are their contributions unimportant because, although many pay tax dollars, none can vote and therefore can’t get her in or out of office?) And I find it hypocritical to promise quality education for all — but just not students who are undocumented. Whether she meant ALL PEOPLE or ALL NEW MEXICANS is a moot point. Your stance that “illegal immigrants” (your words) in New Mexico are not New Mexicans is flawed at best, xenophobic at worst. First, undocumented immigrants who have lived in the state of New Mexico for at least twelve consecutive months and have New Mexico “overts” (such as vehicle registration, DL, etc), but more importantly do NOT have overts in another state (out-of-state vehicle reg, etc) ARE considered New Mexico residents for educational purposes, per the State of New Mexico Higher Education Department. For more details on that see: http://www.hed.state.nm.us/default.asp?CustComKey=193313&CategoryKey=193314&pn=Page&DomName=hed.state.nm.us. Further, Senate Bill 585 specifically stipulates that only students who meet all of the above criteria, AND graduate from a New Mexico high school, are eligible to receive the in-state tuition and scholarship funding. This ensures that people who move to New Mexico as adults and establish residency will not benefit in the same way that students who graduate in our state (and thus were brought into the U.S. as minors and not responsible for where they did or did not reside) benefit. I encourage you to read the bill itself, which can be found at: http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/05%20Regular/final/SB0582.pdf. I am employed by a state public institution of higher education and am well-versed in the specifics of this legislation and how it is carried out, as well as the statewide institutional ramifications of repealing said legislation — to say nothing of the supposedly worthless (to some) “personal” ramifications on these students’ lives. But, thanks for reading!
@ Anulkah — Thanks for reading. You made some very valid points, and have certainly given me something to chew on.
You are obviously annoyed and biased against this Governor. All Latinos don’t have to think alike b/c we are diverse in opinions depending whether we are actual immigrants or first and second generation already. We don’t all have to type cast our opinions like many in African-American community do. Try to think out of the BOX!!
I totally agree w/Sha!!
For all those accusing the author of being ‘racist’…shows how little educated you all are. To be racist is to be in a power relationship, i.e. people classifield as Latino, African-Americans, Asian-American, Native America, ect cannot possibly be racist in a system where they do not hold power. By power I mean, while we might have a African-American President, and here in New Mexico a ‘Latina’ Governor, this does not mean that the US is not racist anymore. The majority of our Senate and House of Representatives is still majority made of people classifield as ‘white.’ (* please note that I use ‘ ‘ to denote the fact that ‘race’ is a social construct and an arbitary notion)
So people of color in the US can be prejudice, they cannot however be accused of being racist, why because we do not hold the power to construct reality, meaning we did not come up with this racisst system of classifing people into box based on their skin color. Now I agree with the autor, she has every right to state her opinion about the governor, as both Sha and Marcelina Martinez want to come out as the victor and denounce the ‘racist’ rethoric of the author. Again to de-construct racism is more than just pointing out when a person of color in the US (because we are talking about the US not Latin America – Sha) is being ‘racist.’ That is laughable, I do not want to sound elites but those of us who actually study RACISM in the US, and are trying to DE-CONSTRUCT it have to deal with people like you all who have no background in the roots of where this all can about.
Again I commend the author for putting herself out there and keeping it real, and not jumping on the bandwagen or have a certain guilt to try and sugar-coat the reality which is Susana Martinez. Lets be real she ‘changed’ party in 1996, for what? Becuase she solded out her community for her political career, that is the plan truth, so while you are defending her, just remember this! This is why she can be called a vendida! A wanna be Gringa! Because to our community we do not need someone who looks like us, problably came from a similar community as us to be adapting the white-supremacist views which have de-humanize people of color in this country since it’s inception!
Attitudes like this are the reason Susana was voted in, in the first place. Too many people placed importance on the surname and ethnicity of the candidate without examining her political ideologies. They are two completely separate things. Attitudes like the one in this article present a double edge sword in that often our own racist ideologies (presenting any race as the enemy) come back to haunt us…
The article definitely pigeonholed Latinos and Anglos as all having the same ideologies. Many Latinos are Republican based on their Catholic Ideologies and many Anglos are completely liberal. You make some valid points in your article but because of the “racist” presentation it becomes hard to take the article seriously.
I am Latina and a fellow New Mexican and am in disagreement with Susana Martinez rhetoric. The immigration policy in this country is definitely an issue and to deny that it is not one with racist overtones would be ignorant. To use the same racist strategy in arguing out the immigration completely weakens the validity of your argument.
Nancy, wikipedia is a notoriously inaccurate source of information. I would really like you to tell a White person in the Northeast, especially an Irish or Scottish person that they are an Anglo. That word in of itself is somewhat loaded and very politically incorrect, as is gringa. You are essentially calling her an Uncle Tom.
As far as UNM Student goes, the definition of racism you are using is a very bogus, liberal, victim definition. So, you are essentially saying that Latinos, Blacks, and others are helpless victims. That is so self-defeating. But then again, that’s what liberals want: for you to feel like an oppressed victim with no power so they can give you handouts, you keep voting for them, and always stay poor and disenfranchised. Rather then believing everything your professor tells you as gospel, learn to think for yourself. Since the overwhelming majority of Latinos vote Democrat, obviously your subscribing to Democrat rhetoric is anything but thinking for yourself.
And as for illegal immigrants, I have no sympathy. Martinez is AMERICAN, not Mexican- I think some people fail to understand that. Therefore, regardless of whether you like it or not, having said that, she is defending HER country. If people cannot understand that entering a country without documentation or overstaying a visa is illegal and against the rules, I don’t think they’ll ever get it. If you want to see improvement, make conditions in Mexico and other countries better and have them fight for their rights so there is no necessity to come here illegally. Talk about being ungrateful and biting the hand the feeds you.
Sha what is Susana Martinez defending her country from? Disenfranchised Mexicans? Your argument is that we follow the rules even if the rules aren’t working? Does that mean let’s all march even if we march right off a cliff, follow the rules even if the rules mean a few Mexicans take one for the team? Since you seem insistent on pointing out the flaws of the alternate party how about you be fair and talk about how the right likes to tout that they are moralists as long as it means we aren’t saving the disenfranchised. Never mind that disenfranchised population includes children that do not have a voice. Let’s talk about how much of the right’s agenda is based on intolerance, not only of other cultures but anything that may not fit into prescribed “social norms”. Immigration reform shouldn’t be a political issue it should be a human issue and a common sense issue.
Sha and despite your comment “Since the overwhelming majority of Latinos vote Democrat, obviously your subscribing to Democrat rhetoric is anything but thinking for yourself” I don’t march because someone told me those were the rules, I am very sure of why I vote the way way I do.
Great article!! I feel like if your Latino and your a republican your either ignorant or blind. Republicans don’t like you. At best they consider us second class citizens. Martínez is a mexican rooted name. I don’t believe you guys would be legal if your Mexican ancestors didn’t come here as a slave or illegally. If you don’t know your history that sounds like a personal problem. She is a sell out (uncle Tom). Please Anglo Saxon whatever your white so you think your always right don’t insult my fellow latina gringa.
This article is unnecessarily divisive and frankly racist. Calling someone’s ethnicity into question over their political beliefs is a show of ignorance by the author. If there is one thing we have all learned as Hispanics after Harry Reid infamous generalization, it is that Hispanics come in all shapes and sizes… which means we all have different political beliefs. We need to embrace each other as a community and respect differing opinions, as we continue hoping for respect from the general public we should not have to worry about attacks from within.
The ignorant statements, hypocrisy, and blatant racism on the thread is appalling. Resorting to calling people vendidas, gringas, Anglos, and sell out is the antithesis of maturity and being educated. If you can’t argue without name calling and playing the race card, the problem clearly lies with you.
Wow Sha, you call my denitition of racism liberal, but you are all mighty and right!! How dare I as a women of color use such liberal rhetoric, according to you? You make me laught because it seems that you also inherent the whitesupremisit view that because we talk about the Oppressors historically in this country that we as people of color are becoming the victim?? Really?? as an old saying goes: If you have never been sick, then you will have no need for the medicine…..ponder that for some time!
In this topic I would say read Time Wise, a white male who is extremely great at talking about white privilege and how those who posses it do not like to address it in this country!! If you cannot possibily listen to a person of color because I reduce myself to victimization, then maybe you can learn a little somthing from a white counterpart of yours!
Again you come out with word like ‘just be educated, lets stop using ‘racist’ words to address people’ because you have been trained to be ‘rationale’ when in reality we can clearly see from your statments that 1 you must have the last word, and 2 you are the rationale person who will set these ‘victim’ (because they categorize themselves as such) in their place and liberate their minds!
Please, like I stated before to de-construct racism you must be willing to address it beyond the personal, individualistic sphere, and this is precisly what the autor was doing with Susan Martinez.
I am hispanic, from New Mexico and have rather conservative beliefs. I like Susana Martinez and voted for her. Monica, you are ignorant in saying that your Mexican ancestors came here as a slave or illegally. My family has been in New Mexico for generations and I consider myself American. Frankly, I am frankly tired of the race card. I am hispanic and do not cry that the white man is holding us down because frankly the only person holding you down is yourself. I am in agreement with securing the border and having a plan in place to have immigrants come here legally. I don’t get why people don’t blame Mexico or other South American countries. There is obviously something wrong with those countries if a lot of their people are coming here. Don’t get me wrong I don’t blame anybody for wanting to come to the US for a better life, but our country cannot sustain everyone. I think securing the US border and controlling immigration is the first step in, hopefully, forcing those countries to do something for their people. Monica, it’s people like you that keep racism alive.
Wow this is disturbing:
“Her surname may be Latino, and she may pencil in the “Hispanic” bubble on census forms, but her politics are all Republican (read: Anglo).”
Latino doesn’t equal democrat. I work with alot of young people and it makes me sad that they are being influenced that because they are Latino they have to be a certain political party. There is good and bad in both major political parties. It would help to encourage people to be critical thinkers instead of building up the stereotype that because you are a Latino you must be a democrat. Sad.
Being “pro-life” shouldn’t make you “gringa”. I’m sure the author wasn’t trying to be racist, but it was poorly worded. I’m Latina and my parents came from the Island…and we are most definitely pro-life. I don’t prescribe to one specific party, either.
@ Hispanic Conservative, It’s totally fine for you to disagree with my point of view (as the author of the article). I invite the dialogue. However, it’s simplistic to assume the best solution to immigration is to “blame Mexico and other South American countries” because “there is obviously something wrong with those countries.” Talk about xenophobia! Do you assume that the United States exists in its own separate bubble, completely unengaged from the global community? The reality is that our own unfair trade practices, foreign policies, need for cheap goods and labor, demand for drugs, willing supply of illegal arms, blatant and hidden support of amoral governments who kowtow to our politics, military action, etc. all play a HUGE role (both historically and currently) in the destabilization and downfall of other nations, both in Central/South America and beyond.
And, to all readers (both those who agree with me and those who disagree): No, I do not think that ALL Latinos are Democrats. I do not think that ALL Latinos are liberal. Just as I do not think that ALL Latinos are Catholic, or ALL Latinos have brown hair, or ALL Latinos like both salsa dancing and salsa de tomate. But we cannot ignore that ALL ethnicities show STATISTICAL patterns across ALL preferences. That is why the “Hispanic census bubble” exists. That is why colleges track the demographics of their student populations. That is why employers track the demographics of their workforce. That is why many medical history forms ask for your race/ethnicity. They are all efforts to collect data and recognize shifts and patterns common to a particular demographic, whether it be gender, ethnicity, socio-economic level, etc. And what they always find is that there ARE patterns! Guess what: most Republicans ARE white. It’s a proven fact. Guess what: most Latinos ARE Catholic. It’s a proven fact. That may be currently shifting as Latinos embrace other religious views, but it’s not “racist” to simply recognize the numerical reality. Guess what: more women DO obtain bachelor’s degrees. Does that mean men can’t and don’t go to college? No! It means that, statistically, more college graduates are likely to be women. When someone says something like “Diabetes is more prevalent among minorities” nobody screams “how dare you say that, you racist! Not all people of color are diabetic! There are plenty of people of color without diabetes!!” No, because we accept the fact that statistics have shown that a certain group of people are MORE LIKELY to be diagnosed with diabtetes than other groups. Duh. Do I know we are a rainbow of colors, beliefs, and idelogies? OF COURSE! But don’t call me a racist because I don’t turn a blind eye to the numerical realities that support the idea that there ARE political patterns ascertainable by ethnicity.
hey youre the one bagging on your own people. her point is shes against her own people get it right and stop watching fox news because apparently you have been already brainwashed with that shit! by the way if undocumented workers dont do anything to you, they actuall help out this new mexican states economy, spend money get their taxes done and pay their insurance fees.. you claim to be new mexican, true new mexicans are from thsi state thats always have been a melting pot. not these racists hicks that been popping out of nowhere the last 2 years and you getting brainwashed into that shit.. you know what for people like you that dont even like your own people because of a document of where they where born, move to arizona, where theyll profile you 24/7 when you even get out in your own home and or a extreme place like kentucky where they will not care wether you where born in the u.s. or not? get your facts straight stupid ass!
oh yeah,those of you xenophobes that moved from arizona as well dont come over here and spread your sick thoughts to new mexico because some of you just recently moved out here because that xenophobic era you just came from left yu unemployed, filled with racism and bigotry in your mind,, do you realize republican all they want is for everyone else thats not rich to be minions and works and live without rights, money, happiness, and equality.. and those of you conservatives blah blah bullshit lmao you are the worse scum hypocrite bastards ever alive because youre the ones who are obese like to stay at home and get fat while welfare cuts your check.. wait up the goverment itself supports youre lazy fat ass racist shithead! when you actually get a job, with a full shift of 32 hours a week or more, you will realize what the rest of us infomed individuals are talking about and you actually get taxes taken away.. i know this is off topic but it upsets me idiots like these try to talk bullshit and make it sound as if they know what the fuck they are talking about and apparently do love lies from fox news which these people are the most retarded individuals alive.
There are many latinos like this in gov’t now I think they’re all of full of **** people like this are looking for # 1 themselves. I know it’s hard for many people to grasp the idea of latinos or people of color being republican but as shocking suprising or even disappointing as that may be for people they do exist. While I disagree with the republican policies overall I realize that everyone is entitled to their opinions and politicial affiliations not every latino or person of color is a Democrat or Liberal and I think this also has to do with the part of the country, economic status, immigration status, etc. plays a great deal in how people decide which side they’re on. While I don’t know about this governor of New Mexico but she sounds like a olive skinned Sarah Palin in my opinion and that one is a total disgrace and a empty headed moron which she’s proven every time she opens her mouth. We have a lot of them out there New Mexico Governor, AZ senator forgot the name but I think he said he’s proud his kids didn’t look hispanic, Marco Rubio of Miami, and many others. Nothing wrong with bettering yourself and rising up the economic/social/ professional ladder but what’s wrong with a lot of people is they forget who they are and where they come from once they attain a certain social, economic, and educational background but you can’t change your roots skin color and a name which is where the term vendida, grinda, sellout, uncle tom, etc. come in. This is why a lot of people lose respect for these candidates. I think people should examine all of the political parties and their stances on the issues and then make a choice this is what I did.
The author NEVER equates being Latina with being a Democrat. It’s not even suggested. I also don’t find the article “racist” in any way. That just a way for some to attempt to discredit the article and divert attention from the article’s truth and message.