McCain balances Latino voters, GOP base

Dallas Morning News ^ | 5-27-08 | WAYNE SLATER

[dynachrome]

Mr. McCain has launched a Spanish-language Web site, aired TV spots in Spanish emphasizing his military service and, at a Cinco de Mayo event in Phoenix, declared "everything about our Hispanic voters is tailor-made to the Republican message."

Gil Cisneros of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Colorado, who is vice chairman of the McCain campaign in the state, said the Arizona senator has a reputation among Hispanics as patriotic, family-oriented and moderate on immigration.

He said Mr. McCain's sponsorship of last year's failed legislation to create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants will be a strong selling point.

[dynachrome]

"last year's failed legislation to create a path to citizenship, amnesty for illegal immigrants will be a strong selling point."

[Pearls Before Swine]

Instructions for balancing act: Pander to illegals; throw GOP constituency under the bus—where else can they go?

[DoughtyOne]

The people of Mexican extract that I know are not for amnesty. They as angry about this issue as I am.

[allmost]

Screw the base. he wants his ‘guests’ here.

[pissant]

Si, Juan Hernandez es el Carlos Rovio nuevo

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"It's a tightrope," said Celia Muñoz of the National Council of La Raza, a nonpartisan Hispanic advocacy group.

[dforest]

McCain is an embarrassment. I think he should put Hillary as his VP. He could win that way without a vote from me.

Gawd, he is awful.

[cripplecreek]

LolCain?

[Radix]

Why don't all of us FReepers work at improving our way of life by learning Spanish?

After learning Spanish we could all do well in the lead balloon business.

[Travis McGee]

There won’t be 50 United States in 25 years.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

He lends himself so easily to it, after all. ;)

[calcowgirl]

"He stood up for immigration when that was not popular, so a lot of Hispanics are remembering that," Mr. Cisneros said. "He'll probably reach the high-water mark that George Bush set."

That is ILLEGAL immigration, Mr. Cisneros. Until you #@#$@%s in the GOP recognize the difference, we are destined to lose elections.

[dynachrome]

“people of Mexican extract that I know are not for amnesty’

Many declare themselves “white” on census forms.

I have no problems with Americans of Mexican ancestory.

I have big problems with illegals who are not here to assimilate and bring the morals and corruption of the s-hole of Mexico, Guatemala, etc. with them.

[dynachrome]

Se,se puede!

[DoughtyOne]

I was refering to people I know who are legal U.S. Citizens of Mexican ancestry. They don’t support illegal immigration. They don’t support granting amnesty either.

Just what does McCain hope to accomplish, offend a large number of former Mexican nationals that support the rule of law and don’t like seeing our nation trashed any more than other citizens do.

McCain is an ass.

[cripplecreek]

I was refering to people I know who are legal U.S. Citizens of Mexican ancestry. They don’t support illegal immigration. They don’t support granting amnesty either.

Those that I know don't either. A friend of mine was fired from his job after calling the INS about some illegals working in our shop some years back. They assumed that his dark skin meant that he was on their side and told him that they were illegal but he's an American.

[TADSLOS]

Hispanics are his base, or so he thinks...

[DoughtyOne]

I have been amazed at how poorly the Republican party has read the illegal immigration situation. It continues to get it precisely, wrong. And as long as it does, they it continue to inflict near fatal blows on it’s collective body.

Can’t say we didn’t try to warn it.

[TADSLOS]

"How does he convince Latinos that you're on their side while convincing the rabidly anti-immigration faction of his own party?"

Yeah, that's us- rabid, xenophobic, vigilante racist, bitter gun owners who love the Constitution and the rule of law. Bite me, Celia.

[Charles Martel]

Can’t say we didn’t try to warn it.

With the countless "Bush pesos" we returned with their fund-raising mailers, yep, the GOP was amply warned. Don't mistake this as a failure to correctly read the tea-leaves; it's open defiance of the party's core voters. It's a coup, plain and simple.

So be it. McCain might squeak out a win because the opposition is so abhorrent, but the donations issue isn't going away. If anything, McCain will make it worse.