"Looking at history it was the Republicans that freed the slaves and we see how many blacks vote Republican don't we. You gain nothing in absolute terms by pandering to a population. The republicans lost the black vote over the next 100 years because of its stance on issues. When it comes to politics people have a short term memory."
Interesting point raised.
Yes, Lincoln freed the slaves and blacks were Republicans in the 'reconstruction era' in the south. The KKK/Confederates in the Democrat party ended that real quick and regained total political control in the 1870s in the South.
The Democrat party at that time was the party of the cities (immigrants) and the south. Over the next 100 years, the blacks got pulled into the Democrat party more and more - why? Because the only viable party where all the blacks live was... the Democrat party! FDR got inroads into black vote, even though the Democrats were still the segregationist party. Then 1960s era Civil Rights, LBJ, etc. sealed the deal until present day.
Key factors were where blacks lived and their socio-economic status. Urban, poor or southern poor.
... I bring it up because I read today that Latinos are highly urbanized. it matters not one whit that most Latinos are cutlural conservatives ... they are poor, urbanized, immigrants. The ones that become middle-class suburban types, GOP has a chance, but the urban poor immigrants? Expect 75-80% Democrat voters. Reps Kennedy, Moran see the Irish of 1870s in their midst. They will be a mostly Democrat voting block, and, here's the kicker - THE ACUTAL POSITIONS OF EITHER PARTY ON IMMIGRATION LAW WILL NOT MATTER A WHIT ON THE MATTER.
I'd say the one thing that *might* help us is a prolife position that gets us in the door at Catholic churches, that's it.