New Mood From New Citizens (Latinos Reject GOP...Surprise!)

The Los Angeles Times ^ | June 16, 2007 | Peter Wallsten/Staff Writer

[truthkeeper]

New Mood From New Citizens
Latino immigrants in South Florida who have traditionally registered with the GOP have felt alienated by the party, critics say.

MIAMI BEACH — As a Cuban who fled Fidel Castro's communist rule for a new life in the U.S., Julio Izquierdo would seem a natural Republican voter — a sure bet to adopt the same political lineage that has long guided most of his countrymen who resettled in South Florida.

But moments after taking his oath this week to become a U.S. citizen and registering to vote, the grocery store employee said he felt no such allegiances.

"I don't know whether Bush is a Democrat or a Republican, but whatever he is, I'm voting the other way," Izquierdo, 20, said Thursday as he waited for a taxi after a mass naturalization ceremony at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Izquierdo said he did not like President Bush's handling of the Iraq war and was miffed at politicians, most of them Republican, who seem to dislike immigrants. That sentiment, expressed by several of the 6,000 new citizens who took their oaths Thursday in group ceremonies that take place regularly in immigrant-heavy cities nationwide, underscored the troubled environment facing the GOP in the buildup to next year's presidential election.

Surveys show that among Latino voters — a bloc Bush had hoped to woo into the Republican camp — negative views about the party are growing amid a bitter debate over immigration policy...

[truthkeeper]

Another new citizen, Elieth Cifarelli, 39, from Costa Rica, could barely contain her excitement after registering to vote.
"I already know who my first vote will be for: Hillary Clinton," she said, referring to the Democratic senator from New York who is the party's front-runner for president in 2008.

Yet another "do you laugh or do you cry" moment.

The hits just keep on coming.

[truthkeeper]

The local party chairman, Joe Garcia, sweat soaking through his blue guayabera shirt, walked up and down the sidewalk, exhorting the new citizens to register to vote.
Garcia, former director of a prominent Cuban American exile group, did not make a partisan pitch, but many in line recognized him from his frequent appearances on local Spanish-language television.
"Democrat! Democrat!" said one man, holding high the thumbs-up sign.

Sigh...

[M203M4]

“Alright, I can vote now. Who is going to give me the most Free Stuff?”

[Verloona Ti]

"I don't know whether Bush is a Democrat or a Republican, but whatever he is, I'm voting the other way," Izquierdo, 20, said Thursday as he waited for a taxi after a mass naturalization ceremony at the Miami Beach Convention Center.<

Oh, yeah....THERE'S a valuable new citizen, well informed and open minded.

[Mr. Mojo]

Latino voters — a bloc Bush had hoped to woo into the Republican camp

If Bush truly believes that to be a possibility he's even dumber than he looks/sounds.

The Republicans' Hispanic Delusion.

[BusterBear]

Doesn’t matter to the business backers of the amnesty bill whether these people vote Republican or not. (They figure they can lobby, bribe, etc. the Democrats just as well.) What they want is cheap labor and the market these people provide - for banks (high-interest loans), mortgage brokers, check-cashing services, wire services (wiring money back to the home countries), etc. Bush doesn’t care about the Republican Party - he figures he can work along with the Democrats.

[pnh102]

If Bush truly believes that to be a possibility he's even dumber than he looks/sounds.

Maybe Bush does believe it. After all, look at how many blacks vote for Republicans.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"...most of them Republican, who seem to dislike immigrants."

Score one for the MSM 'microphone man'.

[darkangel82]

Appropriately enough, izquierdo means "left" in Spanish.

[oldbill]

Karl Rove, you’re brilliant! /sarc

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The Republicans have to work harder to defeat the stereotype that between them and the Democrats, they are the anti-non-European-descent racist group.

And they have to work harder to make that racism no longer be more than just a stereotype--out of the two, a larger percentage of Republicans seem to be racist.

Just because the Republicans have a larger percentage of racists doesn't make all or even the majority of Republicans racist--in the colloquial sense; every human creature is racist to some extent--just pointing out things the way they are.

[Crapgame]

Damn...you beat me to it...good call

[doc]

“If Bush truly believes that to be a possibility he’s even dumber than he looks/sounds.”

I hate to say it but anyone who voted for Bush truly voted a bozo into office (I held my nose and voted for him the first time). When he first took office the comment from his handlers was about how naive he was on foreign affairs.

[darkangel82]

I voted for Bush twice, but voting for Gore or Kerry was never an option.

[Secret Agent Man]

well, gee, I was reading stories that resistance to this bill crosses all party lines and all other demogreaphics, yet somehow the pubs still take it on the chin.

Perhaps the MSM reporting of this focuses overwhelmingly on repubs/conservatives who are against this?

[sauron]

Appropriately enough, izquierdo means "left" in Spanish.

Glad someone else noticed that. I was about to point it out. Thought it was an article from The Onion at first because of it. ;)

Sauron

[Hydroshock]

I voted for Bush twice, but voting for Gore or Kerry was never an option.

Hindsight being 20/20 I wish I would have voted third party.

[Clear Rivers]

Letter to Sen Demint:)

Dear Senator Demint,
Next time the President says Americans won’t work, tell him not to confuse his job with mine. That comment escaped his lips on CNN on my ten minute break at Spartanburg Steel. We almost had a riot over that.
I’m not angry mind you, just disappointed a tad, since I did vote for him back in 2004.
On a brighter note, you seem to be doing a great job.
Thanks for listening and have a great week.

[rhinohunter]

I don't know whether Bush is a Democrat or a Republican

Ditto!

[kabar]

The Republicans have to work harder to defeat the stereotype that between them and the Democrats, they are the anti-non-European-descent racist group.

And the Democrats have been working for decades to paint Reps as bigots and racists. The so-called Southern strategy.

And they have to work harder to make that racism no longer be more than just a stereotype--out of the two, a larger percentage of Republicans seem to be racist.

BS. The true racists are the Dems who seem people as groups and not Americans. They also have a double standard, e.g., Byrd the former KKK member who just a few years ago used the N word on TV. No reaction.