[livius]

[Jack Kemp] specifically and exuberantly made the case that Hispanics belonged in the GOP. He passionately argued that the work ethic and entrepreneurialism of Mexican Americans is quintessentially American—and very Republican. He understood that our parents and grandparents came north for economic freedom, not more government. He recognized that Hispanics are inherently pro-life and very traditional in their principles and values.

Yes, and Kemp personally was also very good at communicating this. BTW, he was very white-bread himself, I think was brought up as a Christian Scientist in Southern California, and built a small business before going into politics. So the type of spokesman is not the problem: it's that we have to have a good message and a good, intelligent communicator to carry it, not just one of the "right" ethnic group.

The GOP has been systematically eliminating all these people because what the party prefers are...well, the old white guys who haven't had an idea for decades. They can't reach out, not because they're bigots, but because they are half-dead and have no ideas except what they think will benefit them in the short term. So how can they carry a message to anybody (including working class whites, who didn't vote for Romney either).

[hinckley buzzard]

I don't recall Jack Kemp ever having much electoral success with the hispanic vote. He said all the right things and even probably believed them, but when did it ever pay off at the ballot box?