Posted on 09/17/2014 10:45:41 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
What would Hispanic Heritage Month be like if there were a Latino in the White House?
Would the president don a white guayabera and ride in an open limousine at the head of a parade celebrating Latino heritage? Would one of his first accomplishment have been to use his presidential authority of executive action for sweeping immigration reform?
Or to expect that from the nation’s first Latino president belittle the significance of what would be his — or her — place in history?
So often, too, the symbolism of presidential politics overshadows the reality of the post. If John F. Kennedy had accomplished a fraction of what he came to represent, wouldn’t his legacy exceed the romance of his Camelot White House that immediately comes to mind at the mention of his name?
For, from that perspective, the importance of America, as Abraham Lincoln so simply put it, is in its people: “This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it.”
How would a Hispanic president fare?
Thus, the election of a Hispanic to the most powerful office in the world would mostly likely first show how America continues to surprise — to renew itself and how it can beat all odds and expectations as a nation moves to becoming that more perfect union its founders designed.
Perhaps no one will find it as hard to grasp the significance of a Latino president than Hispanics whose overall mood is likely to be awash with pride but shaded with angst in trying to find a deeper meaning.
“The first Latino President of the United States is alive today,” Congressman Luis Gutiérrez has been so bold as to say, confident that a Hispanic presidency is inevitable – and more likely sooner than later.
Most notably, unlike the 2008 election of Barack Obama, the moment would not be about redemption for the 400-year-old sin of slavery, nor would it be a national catharsis coming at a time when the Hispanic population is retreating in numbers.
On the contrary, for many Latinos, and certainly for much of the country and world, the election of the first Hispanic president in U.S. history will be an extraordinary step toward the realization of America as the latest Latino nation in the hemisphere.
Hispanics come of age in the United States
Such a historical feat would also signal that Hispanics in the United States have overcame age-old racial, regional, religious, and political differences, as Americans of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Spanish-language origins will have managed to consolidate their political clout as never before and exerted their influence in the most powerful manner in a democracy — forging a shared identity in an America that has increasing become their own.
Certainly, the Latino boom of 54 million in the population already brings a welcome charge to the economy at a time when others’ population growth has slowed to a crawl.
In California, Latinos now equal the number of whites in the state’s population. It will not be long before the same is true in Texas. In New Mexico, 47 percent of the population was of Hispanic heritage in 2012 and soon likely to exceed being half.
In five other states, Hispanics make up at least 20 percent of the population. Even other states offer the latest harbinger for a more diverse America in regions where Hispanic migration has been a relatively recent development.
A Republican Latino president?
But perhaps the biggest surprise — should a Hispanic become president, especially in 2016 — would be for Latinos themselves, because it would likely be one of two Republicans — Senators Marco Rubio of Florida or Ted Cruz of Texas.
Because they are Republicans, Rubio and Cruz have made most Hispanics — the large portion of them Democrats — skeptical about either. They regard both men as somehow inauthentically Hispanic due to his upbringing as un-impoverished Cubans who pounced on some unique political opportunity.
But even Latino leaders who happen to be Democrats acknowledge gains made by Republicans in advancing Hispanic officials farther up the ladder: Today 32 percent of Latino Republicans serve at the state or federal level, compared to 17 percent of Democrats.
“Good for the Republicans that they have high-ranking Latinos in their ranks,” Rep. Xavier Becerra, the Los Angeles Democrat, told a luncheon sponsored by Univision, ABC News, and National Journal at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
“And shame on Democrats if we don’t see that better do the same thing real soon.”
I know, lets elect a president who knows what the hell he or she is doing for a change instead of the bullsh** identity politics which brought us the current idiot in the White House.
I believe Venezuela has had Latino presidents. How did they do?
We need a “Latino” president about as much as we needed an African-American one. How about an American president? Someone who believes in and will defend America?
If they really want a Latino President I could find them several other countries more to their liking
Here’s an idea. How about a proud AMERICAN president!!!
The only reason that anybody would be interested in the heritage of the POTUS, imo, is because they have probably never been taught about the federal government’s constitutionally limited powers.
After all, if people understood that the feds actually have relatively little constitutional autority to decide domestic policy, regulating the US Mail Service being one of its main powers, and military issues aside, voters would probably not only lose interest in the federal government, but consider the following.
Citizens would probably have to guess who the incumbent president is if the Progressive Movement hadn’t totally defeated the Founder’s purpose for the electoral college by letting citizens vote to elect president.
“They regard both men as somehow inauthentically Hispanic due to his upbringing as un-impoverished Cubans who pounced on some unique political opportunity.”
So a poor man is the only authentic Latino?
Your bar of expectation dictates a certain bankruptcy of intelligence and a fallow ambition?
Gimme a break.
I could care less about the pedigree of pigment.
It’s more important to have a competent leader with a full vision of what is best for all Americans.
Punk.
The guayabera is a symbol of “populist political positions” and claimed by the UFW as the national hispanic 'uniform' (according to Wiki). Which, I suppose, translates to support for good old fascist, socialist governments, just like the ones back home in Cuba/ Central America/ Mexico.
So I really hope American President-elect Cruz decides on an alternate wardrobe choice for his limo ride down Capitol Mall - I'm thinking Miami Vice-ish ;)
Don’t elect a president by heritage...Look at the mess we’re in now.
Not a wise latina, eh?
Find me a latino who believes in God and the Constitution and I’ll gladly vote for him.
Find me anyone who believes in God and the Constitution, and I’ll vote for him.
We have our winner.
Sure. If he or she meets all the requirements and has the right beliefs, then that’s great.
I’m OK with a Latino President as long as its Ted Cruz.
We only need a POTUS to uphold the Constitution and not try at every turn to bypass it.
I thought Hispanic Heritage Month was in April.
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