Posted on 05/18/2009 9:02:56 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
The Republican Party has scarcely begun to repair a wound that threatens to confine it to minority status: its 2006 collapse among Hispanic voters.
Driven by some Republicans’ sharp attacks on illegal immigration and — as many Hispanics perceived it, immigrants in general — Latino voters fled the GOP en masse in the midterm elections, then turned on John McCain, as well.
. . . . .
There are stirrings of a Republican response. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has spoken with Hispanic leaders about creating a new organization to back Latino candidates. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has made minority outreach a priority at the RNC. And some Republicans see an opening if Obama continues to defer action on overhauling immigration.
. . . . .
A spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Brian Walsh, said that candidate recruitment for 2010 is still under way and noted that Martinez himself had endorsed Crist, in part for his moderate stance on immigration.
But Graham, who said he sympathized with the Senate Republican leadership’s decision to back a candidate with a good chance of winning, also raised concerns about the Florida decision.
“The key for our party is to have Hispanic candidates to carry our banner,” Graham said. “I don’t blame them for trying to make sure we don’t lose another seat in Florida. But at the same time, clearly Mr. Rubio is the type of person who would lead our party in Florida and the country to a new level.”
Graham said he’s considering forming a political action committee, or some other entity, aimed at recruiting strong Hispanic Republican candidates.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Look you are a new sign up troll, reading your short posting history here reveals that you have no interest in conservatism.
John McCain not only tried to pry open the borders with back room legislation but went and prostrated himself before La Raza (The Race), a violently anti-American criminal support group, during the campaign. If the RNC can't figure out that this is a losing formula then they need to go ahead and update their resumes.
What exactly did all those Whig politicians and hanger-ons do after their party collapsed for lack of spine?
Here is a perfect example of one of the problems we have. You read something into my statement that I did not address. I didn’t hold “their country of origin” against them. I merely stated it as fact, or better yet, how I see things.
So....are you saying that Catholics are the problem? That’s why I left religion out of it. I figure that they are adults and make up their own minds.....regardless of what religion they are.
Trying to appease groups that will never vote republican is a waste of time, money and capital.
If we want to win Hispanic voters then we need to find out what the patterns are for the ones that we are winning and the ones that we are losing.
Do you see any pattern yet?
“Most conservatives will still support the GOP regardless if the GOP supports a pathway to citizenship.”
You have been drinking the McCainac kool-aid.
I don’t see a pattern yet. They have been looked at as simply a democratic tool. They are a large voting block that should be listened to if we want to win them over. They have different ideas as to what they want but nobody is listening and in the end, they will help shape this country a little at a time. Hispanics need to be brought into the fold. Who knows they may have some good ideas. Don’t take me wrong, I’m not talking about the illegals. They still need to be controlled.
Speaking of McCain, many proclaimed they would never vote for him even if he won the GOP nomination, but almost all ended up doing just that. Face it, illegal immigration is not that big of an issue for most Republicans.
My point is that they are two different voting blocks, not one.
This isn't a Hispanic/White division, it is a Catholic/Protestant division, we now have something that we can study and analyze.
Why are you in such a hurry to write off Catholic Hispanics? The GOP needs to reach out to as many traditionally Democrat voting groups as possible in order to remain relevant.
That should read a Catholic/Protestant division within the Hispanic voters, they are not a "Hispanic" voting block.
Liberal troll don’t bother me.
By the way, in case you haven't noticed yet, Free Republic is a conservative site for conservatives.
“Face it, illegal immigration is not that big of an issue for most Republicans.”
Face it, there are millions of Americans who want to see the border enforced, our sovereignty regained, and the flouting of our immigration laws ended. You might also want to stop to think that allowing in masses of illegals and legals to take away American jobs is not a real good way to win votes during this depression. Of course, Republicans will be unable to capitalize on that sentiment if they choose the McCainac/Lindsay Gramnesty position.
It is both a Hispanic/Non Hispanic (Hispanic isn’t a race) and a Catholic/Protestant division. Both need to be studied to determine how best to market the GOP to those voters who normally vote Democrat.
Please. Hispanics flocked to Obama because nothing unites like a common enemy — white people.
I have to really disagree with you on that one. Hispanics in California are a huge voting block, regardless of their religion. Yes, they may be somewhat influenced by their religion but most have this countrys future in mind as well as their own. They, like us, have different opinions.....we need to start listening to those opinions. The problem I see is that most don’t know our history and how we got here. This fact makes it extremely difficult to get through to them. They have a very strong tie to the Hispanic way of life.
McCain is seen as the leader of the GOP by most Republicans. He is also a member of The Council for a New America. He is quite relevant.
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