If he doesn't like McCain, maybe he should look at how Dems treat Blacks--Keeping them on the plantation.
Posted on 05/14/2008 5:19:40 AM PDT by Jack Black
For many conservatives, John McCain is not their favorite Republican. They think he's built a career at their expense, painting them as fools and bigots. They resent his holier-than-thou attitude. And they're not inclined to trust anyone who has been so fawned over by the national media.
Curiously, a lot of liberal Democrats feel the same way about McCain. He isn't their favorite Republican either - but it's because they know he'll be tough to beat in November. They would have preferred to run against someone more extreme and easier to demonize. That's not John McCain.
I first met McCain 10 years ago when I was a working at the Arizona Republic. What I remember is that, in a political climate where so many elected officials - Republican and Democrat alike - were wearing themselves out pandering to racists who demanded action on illegal immigration, McCain was one of the few who didn't play that game. In 1998, while Texas Gov. George W. Bush made headlines for earning an impressive 49 percent of the Latino vote in his re-election, McCain walked off with an unheard-of 65 percent in his Senate re-election bid. Six years later, he did even better, earning around 70 percent of the Latino vote.
Most political observers don't expect McCain to match those numbers in a national election, but half of that - 35 percent - is a definite possibility. With that kind of support among Latinos, McCain could win the White House.
And so Democrats are doing everything they can to distort McCain's record. Some are actually accusing McCain of not doing enough for immigration reform. In fact, they might even try to compare McCain to nativists such as Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., who competed with the Arizona senator for the GOP nomination.
Good luck. The two men seem to detest one another. They even tangled last summer when McCain dismissed Tancredo's views on what makes someone an American as "beyond my realm of thinking."
Latinos in Arizona who have known McCain for years weren't surprised by that exchange. When I ask them to explain what draws Latinos to McCain, I hear the same things: his independence, his convictions, his courage and his moderate stance on issues. Then, of course, there is his military service and his heroic suffering as a prisoner of war.
"If you look at Latino families, we've all got someone who has been in the military," said Ruben Alvarez, a McCain supporter and principal at the Molera Alvarez Group, a public affairs firm in Phoenix. "The fact that McCain is so patriotic is a draw for many Latinos."
Another Latino Republican called McCain the original compassionate conservative, someone who wore that label before there ever was a label. And, she said, as someone who has faced his share of challenges in life, McCain's compassion bleeds over to anyone picked on or preyed upon. At the moment, Latinos are under fire thanks to an immigration debate that doesn't bother to distinguish between recent immigrants and U.S. citizens - as long as they have Spanish surnames.
But there's another factor that helps explain McCain's appeal to Latinos - he's spent 20 years quietly recruiting them into his campaigns and building up personal relationships in that Arizona community.
Bettina Nava met McCain more than 15 years ago, and served as state director for his Senate office in Arizona for three years. Now based at a consulting firm in Phoenix, Nava was recently named one of 11 campaign managers for McCain. She's in charge of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.
"What initially drew me to McCain was that I have never met anyone who loved his country more," Nava told me. "He honors his commitments. For Latinos, I don't know that we've always viewed government that way. There is always a lot of lip service. But at least with this guy, we get a straight shooter."
McCain marked Cinco de Mayo by launching his Latino outreach effort, which includes a Spanish-language Web site. Those gimmicks don't hurt. But what is really going to help McCain win Latino support in November is the same thing that has earned him so much of it up to now.
It's called character, and Latinos - like many other Americans - may not always be able to define it. But they know it when they see it.
He's doing heavy lifting here on McCain's behalf. How do the Latino's feel about Obama?
Anyway interesting points despite the abusive characterizations at the top.
If he doesn't like McCain, maybe he should look at how Dems treat Blacks--Keeping them on the plantation.
McLames appeal to latins can be summed up with one word, AMNESTY.
My dislike for McLame would take up a whole page but includes his support for amnesty.
Yo, John, How’s that Keating five thing going for ya there pal?
I think that maybe this needs a “hurl” alert.
Ruben Navarrette you are an asshat!
Using the term “nativist” is always a dead giveaway.
The author demonstrated that he is a PC Marxist when he wrote that those opposed to illegal immigration were “racists”. At that point on, the article lost any hint of credibility or plausibility.
McCain won’t win the Latino vote, whatever that is. And, he won’t get my vote either.
This is not only a false statement it is a stupid statement. I know of no one pushing to have US citizens deported. There is no way to do that. This author is a idiot.
Will evapourate in November, when they (almost) all vote reflexively Dimocrat.
“McCain won’t win the Latino vote, whatever that is. And, he won’t get my vote either.”
You will have to take responsibility for empowering the alternative then. ;-/
How much character does it take to break another country's laws and then mooch and steel from it's citizens. I for one have had enough of these so called friendly invaders. I have tried every way imaginable to find a way to support John McCain but it just keeps getting harder and harder. I think at this point I'll just let him get elected by his wonderful moderates and illegal aliens. Oh! that's right illegals can't vote....Yet!!!
Really? What's stopping them?
McCain and the democrat will get into a bidding war over who can do the most for the illegals.
“McCain won’t win the Latino vote, whatever that is. And, he won’t get my vote either.”
“You will have to take responsibility for empowering the alternative then. ;-/”
I don’t follow your logic noob.
If I refuse to vote for either of two liberals, I’m responsible when one of the two is elected?
Why, that’s just crazy talk . . .
si.
watch how many conservatives vote for el pais mccccccccain.
Above is why McCain will win in November. Despite what the media would have us believe, character IS important, trust IS important. You may disagree with many of the things McCain has done and said, I know I do. I also disagreed with much of what the president has done but I still support him. When Reagan signed legislation restoring about 1/3 of the tax cuts (1983) he pushed thru earlier I was not happy about that but I still supported him.
I am in no way comparing any of the above with the other but they all do have one thing in common. They are legitimate and believe in their hearts they are doing the right thing for America. Agreeing or disagreeing with an individuals position has nothing do do, or should have nothing to do with his being trustworthy and credible.
McCain is both.
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