Posted on 11/26/2008 6:42:32 AM PST by AJKauf
Republicans need to re-brand their party and convince Hispanics they’re welcome. If they believe their ideas on education, economics, defense, trade, foreign policy, and other issues are superior, let them make that case to Hispanics. That doesn’t mean ditching their core principles, but it might mean changing their tone. It doesn’t mean alienating core voters, but it does means being more inclusive.
And it doesn’t mean giving up the party’s opposition to illegal immigration. Polling suggests that Hispanics will go along with enforcement measures that seem reasonable such as increasing the number of border patrol agents and giving them resources. The GOP doesn’t need to sign on to open borders. But it wouldn’t hurt to open a few minds within the party.
Specifically, there are five things that Republicans did which cost them Hispanic support....
(Excerpt) Read more at pajamasmedia.com ...
The numbers of immigrants, blacks, and Hipanics will be increasing. Demography is destiny.
Specifically, there are five things that Republicans did which cost them Hispanic support.
* They made language and culture the issue rather than illegality, which irked U.S.-born Hispanics who might otherwise have stayed out of the fray;
* They didn’t condemn the racism in their ranks on the part of those who believe that Hispanic immigrants are inferior to the immigrants of old;
* They let the debate digress from one that was anti-illegal immigration to one that was anti-immigrant to, finally, one that was anti-Hispanic;
* They fell into the trap of offering simple solutions to what remains a complicated problem ; and
* They either assumed that Hispanics were not in play or that they could win some of those votes on the cheap with a spattering of Spanish ads.
It’s tough to disagree with any of these conclusions.
The anti-illegal argument has been infected by a strain of thought that fears any immigrant, especially ones that are darker-skinned than the American norm.
This is why I think it more profitable to sell ideas than to buy interest groups. Everyone wants a better life for his or her family. How can Conservatives/Republicans help make that possible?
Just who are these tools like Rubenette, Noonan, Parker the DRATS, RoooseveltR’s think they are doing. They can stuff their advice in their fat mouths. We know why we loss, the Conservatives are sick of the McDole’s ruining the message with their Socialism lite program. Time to drop them all and start over with some principles!
“Meanwhile, Republicans need to re-brand their party and convince Hispanics they’re welcome. If they believe their ideas on education, economics, defense, trade, foreign policy, and other issues are superior, let them make that case to Hispanics.”
Fearless prediction:
Once the “rebranding” is done, Hispanics will take a look at Republicans and their “conservative” ideas, and simply decide they prefer what the democrats have to offer.
Next fearless prediction:
Any hopes that Republicans and conservatives have of securing “the Hispanic vote” will be about as successful as their attempts at winning “the black vote” - and we saw how that went this past November 4th. Or, for that matter, the “Jewish vote”....
Yes, about 20% of all Hispanics voted Republican this time ‘round - but that means that 80% DID NOT. Even if the Republicans were to pick up half again as many Hispanic votes as they got in November, the split would still remain 70/30 in the democrats’ favor.
Now, double or triple the _raw numbers_ of Hispanics eligible to vote in America, which is what will happen when the illegals are legalized. With numerical and demographic power like that, how will it become possible for Republicans to win in the future?
To make matters worse, the notion of “re-branding” the party into something Hispanics will be attracted to, will DRIVE AWAY the conservatives who comprise a large part of the Republican party today. Exactly HOW are you going to change the party’s image, without changing what it stands for?
There’s a very hard truth that Republicans and conservatives must own up to:
Not all whites are conservative, but
...the overwhelming majority of conservatives are white.
The party “is what it is” because it represents the traditional American conservative values that - by and large - are embraced pretty much exclusively by white folks in America. As the raw numbers of Ameri-Euros decline, they are destined to “lose their political voice” as their ability to speak it (by winning elections) also begins to fade. We are seeing the result of this in states like New Mexico and North Carolina. In the former, the state has tipped to the blue side because Euros no longer comprise a majority there; in the latter, the non-Euro demographics are starting to creep upwards, even as the Euro population (and vote) holds steady.
I wish I could offer more optimism on this subject, but I cannot. I look into the future and see only further division and cultural conflicts ahead. Such is the nature of “diversity”. And like the notions of diversity and multiculturalism, conservative ideals cannot be “re-branded” into something that they are not. Changing only the label on the bottle doesn’t change what’s inside.
And “what’s inside” the “conservative bottle” appeals to the tastebuds of a particular ethnic group in America, and in all likelihood will never draw the interest of others....
- John
Not for me.
With the exception of "conclusion" four, conservatives never emphasized the issues the author raises.
Navarrette is right. I’ve tried several times to convey on this site that the Hispanic vote is ours for the taking if we exercise some forethought in the way in which we convey our conservative principles.
To wit, the following will not work:
“Hey, you, ‘taco-breath Mexican’: vote Republican!”
On the other hand, these might just work:
“Latino: Vote to keep more of your hard-earned money, vote for lower taxes, vote Republican.”
“Hispanic Christian: Democrats believe in abortion on demand; we believe that the life God gave us is sacred. What do you believe? Vote for life, vote Republican!”
There is a simple formula we MUST internalize:
One(1) Racist Comment + MSM Megaphone = Lost Votes
All it takes is one racist comment. It sucks, but it’s the truth. You and I both know 99.9999% of conservatives are not racist at all, but we also know that the MSM will always distort the conservative message. Handing the MSM the ammunition with which to do so is foolish. Self-restraint in public rhetoric, coupled with forceful and visible repudiation of those rare racist comments coming from within our own ranks, is the wisest strategy.
Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a leftist pro-illegal hack who puts his ethnic loyalty above any sense of patriotism to America. Why is Pajama’s Media running this obvious enemy propoganda?
Great post, TADSLOS. One needs only to view the pics you posted, to understand why “the Hispanic vote” ain’t goin’ Republican!
- John
I have NEVER met a Republican or Conservative who hated Hispanics. Their biggest beef (and mine) is the wholesale invasion of our country by ILLEGAL ALIENS. This MUST STOP, and it is something we will never budge on.
If legal Hispanics in America really do want to have meaningful border security, they they should have no objection to a border wall, stronger penalties and increased patrols.
“They didn’t condemn the racism in their ranks on the part of those who believe that Hispanic immigrants are inferior to the immigrants of old”
Immigrants of old came here LEGALLY you stupid f**k(author), by that very detail, THEY WERE SUPERIOR!
“But a bunch of people around here think Tom Tancredo and Pat Bucahann should be the face of the Republican Party.”
I’d take both of them over Juanito “Open Borders” McAmnesty of Light Loafers Lindsay “tell the bigots to shut up” GRAHAMNESTY!
Happy Thanksgiving.
“Don’t hold back next time, Grunthor. Speak the truth freely and honestly! ;)”
I’m not always clear about my feelings, I’m working on it, lol.
“Happy Thanksgiving.”
To you and yours as well.
Yes, because in the past those ideas have only been communicated to white people in the past. /s
Navarrette is a bad joke.
All the more reason for Republicans to find ways to bring minorities and immigrants over to our side.
The devil is in the details. How do you find such "ways" and not violate your basic principles? And we can't out pander the Dems regardless.
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