Christinia Ramirez holds a sign that says "No water, food, work, future" at a recent rally of Latino laborers outside the state Capitol.
Posted on 10/19/2009 7:51:30 AM PDT by SmithL
California Republicans are seeing political gold in California's water problems, hoping to steal the issue from Democrats and win support from one of that party's key constituencies - Latinos.
GOP leaders have put water atop their agenda for next year's statewide campaigns. They are expanding voter-registration efforts in the drought-stricken Central Valley, where unemployment is high and food banks are busy, and encouraging candidates to reach out to Latino voters hit hard by the recession.
The strategy was distilled on a 5-foot-high banner at the Republican voter registration table in front of a Walmart store in Dinuba (Tulare County) in August: "Stop the radical environmentalists. Save your water. Save your jobs. Vote Republican."
"When I saw the (registration) numbers from that weekend, I fell off my chair," said Johnny Amaral, chief of staff for Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Alpaugh (Tulare County). "I've never seen something work like this."
The cause drew national attention last month when highly rated Fox News commentator Sean Hannity broadcast his show from Fresno, where the unemployment rate in the area is twice the county's 14.4 percent.
To Hannity, the answer to the 3-year-old drought could be solved if Washington bureaucrats released water from reservoirs.
"Mr. President," Hannity said, looking into the camera, "turn the water on now." The live audience roared its approval.
California's crisis over water, complicated by court rulings that delayed water deliveries to farms to protect threatened fish, has become a major issue, with state and federal officials seeking ways to aid struggling farmers.
"From a political perspective, it's a tremendous opportunity," said Brent Lowder, chief operating officer of the state Republican Party. "It has given us a chance to stand next to a constituency that has traditionally looked to the Democratic Party for help.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Christinia Ramirez holds a sign that says "No water, food, work, future" at a recent rally of Latino laborers outside the state Capitol.
Well, to me, this business with the Delta Smelt epitomizes everything wrong with bureaucrats, too much gov’t interference, and society in general.
People used to have more sense than this.
They are protecting fish at the expense of people.
It needed to be put in terms that a 2nd grader would understand. Now, shout it from the rooftops!
Paul Rodriquez will be a great asset to the GOP come next year, hopefully reminding Latinos that it’s the Donks that are keeping the water turned off. Boxer is running for re-election and has done NOTHING to attempt to alleviate this problem.
And of course it’s all over the Delta Smelt - a fish INTRODUCED into the region and not even indigenous. And they wonder why California is losing business and residents.
Gosh - never let a crisis go to waste!
” “Stop the radical environmentalists. Save your water. Save your jobs. Vote Republican.”
Gosh - never let a crisis go to waste! “
Not if your opponents CREATED that crisis,which, in this case, they definitely did. Can we truthfully deny that this is a Democrat-created problem?
That's not the point. Turn your opponents own tactics against them.
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