Posted on 04/01/2015 9:32:55 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is vying to become the nation's first Latino president, but the conservative Republican won't be able to count on Hispanic voters in 2016. Despite his heritage, Cruz, the son of a Cuban immigrant, is unlikely to rally voters around his potentially historic candidacy the way President Barack Obama did in 2008, when black, Hispanic and other important voting demographics were eager to elect the nation's first African-American commander in chief.
"I can't envision any scenario in which Ted Cruz can make any appeal to Latinos at this point," said Matt Barreto, co-founder of the polling and research firm Latino Decisions and a political science/Chicano studios professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. "If anything, he will hurt Republican chances [with Latino voters]. It will be worse than Mitt Romney."
Cruz has often cited his father's move from Cuba to the United States with only $100 as a symbol of his own tough work ethnic and resilience. But Cruz has otherwise largely shied away from using his Hispanic heritage as a selling point on the campaign trail. He also has made no grand overtures in the past to Hispanic voters, unlike some of his likely GOP primary rivals, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, whose parents were born in Cuba, or former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who speaks Spanish and married into a Latino family.
"The real question is whether the senator perceives himself as a Latino candidate," said Hector De Leon, co-chairman of the Associated Republicans of Texas, which reaches out to Hispanic voters. "And I don’t know if he does ... I have never heard him use that phrase or even hint at it."
But Cruz's biggest problem with many Latinos is his harsh views on illegal immigration.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.com ...
I love the smell of fear in the morning!
harsh views on illegal immigration
Like... enforcing existing laws?
Don’t like the laws? Get them changed through Congress.
Hispanic voters would mean they are CITIZENS.
U.S. citizens, even those who are hispanic, want the cheap labor importation stopped and the laws enforced.
Only illegal aliens would have anything to worry about from a Cruz administration.
HOGWASH!!!
you nailed it sir!
“Matt Barreto, co-founder of the polling and research firm Latino Decisions and a political science/Chicano studios professor at the University of California, Los Angeles”
That says it all about the prof.
The Chamber of Commerce coming in from the back door.
Too bad....it is too obvious.
Just like a bigoted liberal, assume every latino is an illegal immigrant.
I think with someone like Cruz, he’s sees right through it. From what we’ve seen the past few years I think ou can almost bank on it that Soros is funding a lot of the Latino groups and ordered them to change other Latinos opinions about him using whatever mindgames they can come up with. We know how they think and operate now.
“political science/Chicano studios professor at the University of California, “
Just some La Raza racist.
I hear that Univision is reporting an upsurge in interest in Ted Cruz as president among their viewers.
In the spirit of a new people that is conscious not only of its proud historical heritage but also of the brutal “gringo” invasion of our territories, we, the Chicano inhabitants and civilizers of the northern land of Aztlan from whence came our forefathers, reclaiming the land of their birth and consecrating the determination of our people of the sun, declare that the call of our blood is our power, our responsibility, and our inevitable destiny.
I watched Ted Cruz’s announcement speech in the home of a first generation Hispanic US citizen while in I was in Texas.
Very pro Cruz. Wants borders secure.
These clowns that say they speak for the Hispanic community are, well, clowns.
The same old liberal tripe! you’re not truly hispanic unless you vote for the godless party. You’re not truly black unless you vote for the abortion party. You’re not truly a woman unless you vote for the lesbian party!
In other words, “we want you to give us the vote, or else we won’t vote for you”.
I hear that Univision is reporting an upsurge in interest in Ted Cruz as president among their viewers.
I can believe that. Cruz has more support among Hispanics than is being reported.
They ProgLibbys probably don’t cotton up Cruz and Rubio because they think the are too White and think for themselves. ProgLibbys could be very mistaken regarding the Hispanics; one thing that I see in my area, legal or illegal, hispanics are willing to work hard, apparently not having that “I-have-slave-blood-in-my-veins” attitude.
These clowns that say they speak for the Hispanic community are, well, clowns.
You’re right. I have known many Hispanics who detest the Mojados (Wet backs).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.