No, I was raised with you folks (if you’re Hispanic) in S. Texas speaking spanish, still do and translate for arraignments in our county court in central Texas. Neither can you class me in this regard.
Nothing is 100% but the Hispanic vote is clearly in the pocket of the Slavery party, always has been. Just as it is not “monolithic” but darn near, neather are my friends just of one “race” either. And we have been frustrated over this for decades.
There are exceptions but I’ll tell you this: “reaching out” (pandering) does not work. A person must either believe (or at least consider the truth of the platform) in the once-viable platform of the GOP or not. I talk until I’m blue in the face with Hispanic friends over these things, I find it mind-boggling that as I have changed positions when proven wrong in certain area, as a group they stubbornly hang tight to the lies of the Left. Elections have proven me right and I go way back to my Texas border upbringing with this experience and perspective. Look at the election county map as backup.
The old DNC was not so antagonistic in those days (60s, except La Raza and other militant subgroups) unlike today’s DNC and we lived under many, many local and state Dem office holders from Mayors, Chiefs of Police, Sheriffs, Representatives, the list goes on and on, and we did okay and remained FRIENDS. I really don’t think there’s any “coming together” of the two now unless you are willing to appease oneself out of existence which has just about happened with the RINOs among us, sure worked great didn’t it!
Diogenes, one more point that I believe you will appreciate. Joe the Plumber was a high point in the election but for me, greater that that was Tito the construction worker, remember him? Did you see the video of that wonderful man, that COLUMBIAN immigrant, in his broken english but passionate statement?
When I caught that I literally rose out of my chair in my own living room cheering that man with tears no less. I was shouting “That’s the kind of Hispanic I was raised among, RISE UP!!” Well, I’ll never forget Tito, I found the video clip and saved it, I view it often to remind myself...
Another friend, Juan Castillo, at the time in Rio Grande Valley, a LEGAL Alien (official INS designation), green card worker. Juan, married to native born Leticia, two children, had served in the US Army Infantry, fought in Vietnam, taught himself English, spoke excellent. Then one day asked if my wife and I would stand as his witnesses during his citizenship ceremony at the Federal Courthouse in Brownsville, TX. Our jaws dropped, we had no idea he was NOT a citizen. I asked him why he didn’t apply before enlisting and he said, “I felt that I had to prove myself for this wonderful blessing of a country before I became a citizen”. Can you imagine? In others words, be willing to die if necessary for his adopted country. The recent swearing in of new citizens in the Army remind me of Juan, remember, those soldiers enlisted BEFORE they were citizens, THESE are the Hispanics I will stand with.
No one had to pander and lie to my best friend Juan to believe in conservatism and the blessings of being a citizen, he used logic, sound reasoning and HEART and came to that conclusion. We need more Juans and Titos.
Great Post.
the old Democrat party was largely no less socially conservative than the GOP particularly in Texas and the South till the late 70s when all that started changing and after Scoop Jackson died.
I agree about not pandering.
Folks will either believe in responsibility, values, patriotism, pro-life, gun rights and whatnot or they won’t.
Hard to be that vote. You are either born with it like me as a Mississippian, or raised with it or learn it on your own.