HISPANICS: KEY TO GOP'S FUTURE

New York Post ^ | January 15, 2004 | Dick Morris

[cricket]

January 15, 2004 -- PRESIDENT Bush's im- migration/amnesty proposal will probably be remembered in history as the idea that saved a political party. By taking the lead in extending the benefits of legal protections to more than 10 million illegal immigrants now living in the United States, Bush has taken a bold and dramatic step to avert the extinction of his own party.

Until Bush acted, the grinding inevitability of demographic change was likely to doom the GOP to an early death. As America became 1 percent more Hispanic each year, the Republicans could not concede this growing group to the Democrats by 2-1 ratios without risking total annihilation down the road.

The Republicans have got to break the solid demographic phalanx that sustains the Democratic Party: Blacks, Hispanics and single white women. Together, this group cast 25 percent of votes in 1990, 32 percent in 2000 and will account for 40 percent in 2008.

But by embracing the cause of Hispanic immigrants and extending to them elemental civil rights and minimum-wage protections, Bush has struck a blow on their behalf that will resonate in their voting habits for generations to come.

His legislative proposals are akin to the sponsorship of a sweeping civil-rights bill in 1963-65 by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and will have a similar effect in binding Hispanics to the Republicans as the civil-rights legislation did in linking blacks to the Democrats.

For decades, Republicans systematically alienated Hispanics by insisting on English-only initiatives, opposing benefits for illegal immigrants and demanding an end even to free public schools for the children of those who came here illegally. These measures drove Hispanics into the waiting arms of Democrats. Bush has now acted to reverse the legacy of these initiatives and to welcome Hispanics into the GOP.

As Catholic voters, who take their religion seriously, Hispanics are a natural Republican constituency. Recent data that closely links the frequency of church attendance to party-voting habits supports the theory that this very religious voting group is likely to adhere to the Republican Party once its platform stops repelling them at every turn.

Republican efforts to win black voters have proven largely fruitless. Even the appointment of blacks to the two top jobs in the Bush foreign policy apparatus has failed to generate any significant African-American support for Bush in the polls. But candidates who appeal to the Hispanic vote - Gov. Pataki in New York, Gov. Rick Perry in Texas and the Bushes in Florida and Texas - have shown a real ability to get large shares of Hispanic voters.

As Hispanics follow the traditional paths of upward mobility that immigrant groups have trod before them, they are likely to lean more and more toward the Republicans - just as Irish and Italians do these days, abandoning the Democratic orientation of their ancestors.

Hispanics hold the key to the political outcomes in many major states. California, Texas and Florida are heavily influenced by their participation as are New York, New Jersey and Illinois. These are the key battleground states that hold the balance of power between the parties.

Apart from the politics of the issue, the merits also dictate the Bush initiative. America has 4 percent of the world's population but 25 percent of its wealth. It is incumbent on us to open our doors to those who seek upward mobility.

The only thing standing between subsistence and starvation in Mexico, and much of Central America, is the money sent home to needy families by hard working men and women in the United States who tend our gardens, wash our dishes and clean our floors. It is not American workers who they are putting out of jobs, it is American robots. The alternative to their low wage work is not American labor but machines.

The United States needs the skills, energy, savvy and willingness to work hard of our illegal immigrants. They are illegal only because our laws have been nativist and short-sighted. Now Bush is setting them right.

[kellynla]

I can't vouch for the Hispanics in Florida but I can definitely vouch for the Hispanics in CA. You have to differentiate between Hispanic-Americans and illegal immigrants. Hispanic-Americans who are predominantly Mexican-American citizens in CA who are conservative, pro-life and pro-family Catholics. The Hispanic-Americans are hard working, patriotic tax-paying citizens. Those Hispanic-American citiizens are just as much against GWB's amnesty plan as the majority of non-Hispanic-Americans.

[cricket]

"Nobody can lie, cheat, and pander to groups as well as the dishonest demoncRATs. The demoncRATs used to keep their power by giveaways to groups. They are loosing power and offices quickly. People are realizing that individual rights are the proper, and Constitutional, way to go."

Agree that no one can do more harm to our country than the Demonrats and that they are relentless in their pursuit to do just that.

Repubs have to reach out and show these people that we in fact share core values; rather than allowing the 'Left' to succeed in their corrupting of another population.

A challenge we can and must meet; and one with a great payoff for our Country.

The Democrat/Left, in truth, would rather these people compete only as 'illegals' where their power as a group is only one of dependent disenfranchisement.

[Dave S]

but what the hey, two per cent of them will vote for him.

Heck, he already got about 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2000. What do you mean 2%? Bush got something like 8-10% of the Black vote. Try breathing some fresh air.

[Dave S]

because they are primary beneficiaries of all the government goodies"

You have any stats or are you just "puting that out there"?

Of course he doesnt. Sounds like he's just jealous someone other than himself is sucking on the government tit.

[DustyMoment]

I'll concede that we are both generalizing and revert my previous comments to apply only to illegal immigrants. There are a lot of fine Hispanics in this country who work hard, pay their taxes and support the American way of life. My intent was not to impugn them and, by being less careful with with terminology, I inadvertently did.

I don't care for lawbreakers, and that's what illegal immigrants are. They have not earned citizenship in this country because they broke our laws and don't deserve Bush's amnesty.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!

:-)

[Dave S]

I couldn't disagree more strongly. INDIVIDUALS ARE THE KEY TO GOP'S FUTURE

Which individuals???? Any politician has to target his efforts. Do you suggest that we spend just as much per individual attempting to convince gay college professors in states like Massachusetts and Vermont as in attracting middle class residents in battle ground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania? Learn basic marketing before you come up with up such dawdle. GOP is not talking about becoming panderers like the Dems, we are talking about not going out of our way to present bigots like Tancredo as the face of the Republican Party.

[kellynla]

"I don't care for lawbreakers, and that's what illegal immigrants are. They have not earned citizenship in this country because they broke our laws and don't deserve Bush's amnesty.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!"

Well if you've read any of my posts you would know thatI am 100% with you on the issue of illegals. Deport the illegals and secure the boders. There is no substitute! And I am glad that you have recognized the difference in the two groups.

[RLK]

PRESIDENT Bush's im- migration/amnesty proposal will probably be remembered in history as the idea that saved a political party. By taking the lead in extending the benefits of legal protections to more than 10 million illegal immigrants now living in the United States, Bush has taken a bold and dramatic step to avert the extinction of his own party.

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I'm not interested in saving a political party so it can be a continuing playground for incompetent eternal rich high school kids like Bush. I'm concerned about the future of the nation. Bringing in loads of 10,000,000 immigrants to stuff ballot boxes isn't going to do much to improve this country.

The best thing to do to save the Republican party would be to send the Bushs back to Kinnebunkport and relace them with mature men of seriousness.

[FITZ]

Watch Mexican tv sometime --- they have shows that are equivalent to Jerry Springer there. No shortage of morons in any culture. Besides --- when you watch Jerry Springer you can see there are Americans who need low-skilled jobs --- you really don't want certain kinds handed an RN license to take care of you in a hospital.

[citizen]

All these pundits [including Bush] got it so wrong.

The Hispanics aren't going to become Dimocrat or Republican. Their alliegance will remain with Mexico and issues such as the defacto reclaiming of the Southwest for Mexico.

[Kay Soze]

Given the volume of Mexicans already here and the acceleration due to curerent polocies - no doubt true that any and every party will have to cater to hispanics first.

Probably why there is metered quotas on immigration.

To help create stability and balance.

[gubamyster]

ping

[exmarine]

Do not think we are close to extinction; but there are too many wrongs' in this situation of illegals that need to be righted. It is time for a dramatic shift of policy here that lends itself to the more positive winds of change.

There will also be another shift - Christians away from the Republican party. People are now starting to wake up to the deception, i.e. that republicans are conservative and represent traditional values.

Check out this website for enlightenment on the deception:

www.bushrevealed.com

[exmarine]

I'm not interested in saving a political party so it can be a continuing playground for incompetent eternal rich high school kids like Bush. I'm concerned about the future of the nation. Bringing in loads of 10,000,000 immigrants to stuff ballot boxes isn't going to do much to improve this country.

The best thing to do to save the Republican party would be to send the Bushs back to Kinnebunkport and relace them with mature men of seriousness.

Here! Here!

[RightWhale]

Who cares about a political party aside from the election at hand? I would like to know where the Plymouth car went. Seems like a car company would have more permanence than a political party. What's the warranty on an elected candidate? Six years or six political junkets, whichever comes first? In five years both Rs and Ds could be gone and forgotten, bank accounts depleted, nothing left at HQ but some partly used cans of banner paint.

[Barnacle]

Quizá Presidente Bush de Eeuu sabe lo que él hace a fin de cuentas. Si nuestro destino está en las manos de hispanos, entonces yo obtendré a bordo temprano y haré mis postes del futuro en la República Libre en el español.

Viva Presidente Bush!

[gubamyster]

You have any stats or are you just "puting that out there"?

Try the links at this post

Or the chart at this post

[Deport Billary]

Apart from the politics of the issue, the merits also dictate the Bush initiative. America has 4 percent of the world's population but 25 percent of its wealth. It is incumbent on us to open our doors to those who seek upward mobility.

Did it ever occur to Dick that we're this wealthy because the rest of the 3rd world DOESN'T live here? Maybe he'll be pleased when we're 15% of the population and have 15% of the wealth. He just strikes me as that kind of guy.

[RLK]

Maybe he'll be pleased when we're 15% of the population and have 15% of the wealth. He just strikes me as that kind of guy.

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This is called Christian equality.

[Dave S]

Who is Nicholas Stix and why should I put any more credibility in what he says than what you say? Did he sing with Tommy Shaw and the others in the rock group, Styxx?