Hispanic outreach crucial to GOP [And the White House]

Politico.com ^ | May 1, 2007 | Ken Mehlman

[CheyennePress]

>>Here, in California, we could not function without our migrant workers — especially our farms and ranches that feed America. It’s a dilemma.<<

There’s no reason those migrant workers need to be here permanently, though. I agree that migrant workers are immensely important to running a farm. I grew up on a farm, and I still help my dad out on his today.

That said, bring them in and have them leave as the harvest comes to a close. There’s a bountiful number of migrant workers. But less than 1% of illegal immigrants are working in agriculture, which is really the only sector where I can think of that we almost need outside labor.

[livius]

do you think we should postpone some of the more draconian political posturing about immigration

I think that would be a lovely idea. Everybody here screams about illegal immigration, but they only scream about Hispanics - there are huge numbers of illegal Chinese who also receive all sorts of benefits, never learn English, work in things ranging from Chinese restaurants to prostitution, are filthy and have about every form of TB known to God and man - yet we never hear a word about them.

I'd feel better about people's claims to be concerned about "illegal immigration" if it weren't clear that the fundamental thing is that they hate Hispanics. That's the thing that needs to take a rest. In fact, it could go away altogether.

[Sleeping Beauty]

“Not to argue the issue, but the Mexicans were here long before we were.”

They were? When were Mexicans in Wyoming or Maine?

Like I said, I don't want to argue the issue. I was just pointing out that there is no black and white argument that proves ---> "We were here first!"

Your point about Wyoming or Maine suggests that you are willing to give the border states back to Mexico.

[toddlintown]

“Here, in California, we could not function without our migrant workers — especially our farms and ranches that feed America. It’s a dilemma.”

Only in your head.

[toddlintown]

“Not to argue the issue, but the Mexicans were here long before we were. Plus, California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas was part of Mexico.

Just for the record.”

DU is calling.

[FredHunter08]

“Like I said, I don’t want to argue the issue. I was just pointing out that there is no black and white argument that proves -—> “We were here first!” “

Actually, some of my ancestors were here LONG before Mexico existed.

“Your point about Wyoming or Maine suggests that you are willing to give the border states back to Mexico.”

No, I’m questioning your asinine “well they were here first” argument.

[tsowellfan]

immigration? Or Illegal Immigration?

There’s a difference and the majority of hispanics frown on illegals. Black America’s not so fond of illegals either.

[Sleeping Beauty]

That said, bring them in and have them leave as the harvest comes to a close. There’s a bountiful number of migrant workers. But less than 1% of illegal immigrants are working in agriculture, which is really the only sector where I can think of that we almost need outside labor.

That's what the "Worker Visa" is all about. If a migrant leaves the US now -- they can't get back in. So they're stuck here if they want to keep working -- even seasonally.

Some good sense needs to be brought to the issue.

[Czar]

"According to Ken Mehlman -- the Republicans can't win the White House without Hispanic support."

Ken Mehlman is the former head of the RNC and a confirmed RINO who is an ardent believer in party-above-principle GOP Big Tent Hispanic-pandering politics. He was a significant factor in the unhappiness of the conservative base and their refusal to any longer donate funds to the RNC. Conservatives know him for the utter failure he was and is.

"Or is the immigration issue more important than winning the Whitehouse?"

These are not mutally exclusive propositions, unless one happens to be a RINO/liberal occupant of the Big Tent. Winning both is possible with the right conservative candidate.

[Sleeping Beauty]

the majority of hispanics frown on illegals.

Boy, is that the truth. They are more prejudiced that we are toward illegals.

I suspect that not many people here know that. It's interesting to live close to the issue and observe it in a very real-life way.

[Polybius]

Here, in California, we could not function without our migrant workers -- especially our farms and ranches that feed America. It's a dilemma.

During World War II, there was an agricultural manpower shortage in California too.

The solution was quite simple:

Bracero Program......The Bracero Program was originally a binational temporary contract labor program initiated, in August 1942, by an exchange of diplomatic notes between the United States and Mexico after a series of negotiations. Bracero is Spanish for 'unskilled laborer'. The program was designed initially to bring a few hundred experienced Mexican agricultural laborers to harvest sugar beets in the Stockton, California area but soon spread to cover most of the United States to provide much needed farm workers to agriculture labor market. As an important corollary, the railroad bracero program was independently negotiated to supply U.S. railroads initially with unskilled workers for track maintenance but eventually to cover other unskilled and skilled labor. By 1945, the quota for the agricultural program was more than 50,000 braceros to be employed in U.S. agriculture at any one time, and for the railroad program 75,000. The railroad program ended promptly with the conclusion of World War II, in 1945, but the agricultural program under various forms survived until 1964.....

The Bracero Program manpower is still needed and that need is now filled by illegal aliens that, once in the U.S. after risking their lives in desert crossings, will not return back to Mexico at the end of the season.

Since agribusiness needs the illegal labor because there are no legal Braceros, they bribe your Congresscritter to ignore the illegal alien problem. The problem then remains.

When I was stationed at U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, the base had hundreds of Jamaican contracted workers that performed non-military jobs while our sailors and Marines concentrated on their military duties. At the end of each contract term, they went back to their families in Jamaica with lots of Dollars to spend in their home village until they returned for their next contract.

Why a legal Bracero Program not linked to giving illegal aliens Green Cards is not being strongly advocated is beyond me.

[South40]

but the black vote was thrown away when the Democrats led the nation into Civil Rights and the Voting Rights Act.

The Civil Rights Act passed because a majority of Republicans voted for it.

The original House version:

Democratic Party: 153-96 (61%-39%)
Republican Party: 138-34 (80%-20%)

The Senate version:

Democratic Party: 46-22 (68%-32%)
Republican Party: 27-6 (82%-18%)

The Senate version, voted on by the House:

Democratic Party: 153-91 (63%-37%)
Republican Party: 136-35 (80%-20%)

[Sleeping Beauty]

Thanks so much, Polybius, for posting that research.

You know, where I live (San Diego) each and every morning 60,000 of my (white) neighbors get in their cars and drive to Mexico every day to go to work.

Electronic factories line the Mexico side of the border. Mexico gives us "Green Cards" so we can go to work.

The people in the US never hear about that. Mexicans don't want to sleep in dirt ditches after working in a field all day. But if they go home for the night, they can't come back to work the next day.

[Sine_Pari]

Being very close to the issue by blood, I can categorically say most Hispanics are anti-illegal immigration. Most Hispanic (do not simply think Mexican) legal immigrants are hard working, pro-family, descent people and very closely in mindset to the Conservative ideology. And to the discouragement of some, no more different than the Europeans that came to the USA in the 20th Century. Legal immigration made our country great and will continue to do so as long as we can manage the inflow and reject the dirt bags. BTW, do not be afraid of the language, most Hispanic parents want their children to learn English because they recognize it is the language of prosperity yet they teach them Spanish so they do not forget their heritage. No different than Italians, Irish, English, German, and any other European third generation immigrant you can think of. We should encourage these innate Conservative folk and bring them into the fold instead of shunning then away into the liberal abyss.

Regards.

[calcowgirl]

...do you think we should postpone some of the more draconian political posturing about immigration

You forgot that all important word: Illegal

Perhaps if Mehlman, et al., would quit stirring the pot, some would not try to blur the bright line between the two.

[calcowgirl]

Here, in California, we could not function without our migrant workers -- especially our farms and ranches that feed America.

You do realize that only 2% of illegals are employed in agriculture, don't you?

[ExpandNATO]

...which is quite ironic for someone whose Italian immigrant ancestors obviously did not arrive on the Mayflower.

What is ironic? Perhaps in Tancredo's case the melting pot worked and assimilation actually occurred and he identifies more with the Mayflower and the United States than with diversity and the universal/proposition nation bit.

[Sleeping Beauty]

You do realize that only 2% of illegals are employed in agriculture, don't you?

I am not the enemy here.

What I do realize is that we very much need that 2 percent for our farms.

[calcowgirl]

I'd feel better about people's claims to be concerned about "illegal immigration" if it weren't clear that the fundamental thing is that they hate Hispanics.

I'd feel better if people quit trying to label others as bigots and haters. This kind of rhetoric just makes it worse.

As to your general point, you are correct. The illegal immigration problem goes way beyond those coming from Mexico.

[South40]

You know, where I live (San Diego) each and every morning 60,000 of my (white) neighbors get in their cars and drive to Mexico every day to go to work.

I live in San Diego also, and I notice more the tens of thousands of Mexicans that come over the border to work each day at jobs that used to belong to Americans. Go to any construction job; you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone white doing any job.