The GOP’s Hispanic Opportunity (Hispanics rank immigration a lowly fourth in their list of concerns)

The Republican establishment, consultants, and talking heads should all just take a deep breath.

Yes, we have a serious problem with Hispanics. It’s a problem conservative Hispanics have been trying to tell the GOP leadership about for many years with little or no response or action. But the quick-fix immigration solutions now being offered by the likes of Charles Krauthammer and other establishment-elites figures are an over-correction, do not actually address the root of the problem, and, frankly, may even accelerate our losses in the crucial Hispanic demographic. Here’s Krauthammer’s analysis: “It requires but a single policy change: Border fence plus amnesty.”

First, let’s start with the facts. Hispanics rank immigration fourth in their list of concerns, behind the economy, education, and health care. Obama has actually deported more Hispanics than any other president. Hispanics simply perceive him as caring more about them, and this is more an issue of style than of substance.

Hispanics start businesses at twice the rate of the general population. They are entrepreneurial and naturally averse to governments that breed economic stagnation, which stands in the way of the upward mobility they seek. They’ve experienced centralized, dysfunctional, crony government in their countries of origin, and they know it doesn’t lift anyone out of poverty.

Second, the Obama economy has been terrible for minorities, including Hispanics. There are 2 million more Hispanics living in poverty than when Obama took office. The children of the working poor that make up a large segment of the Hispanic population are the ones most hurt by our failed public-school system — a failure perpetuated by teachers’ unions, a powerful Democratic-party constituency that stubbornly stands in the way of real reform and a reversal of our embarrassing international rankings in math, science, and reading. President Obama has the “audacity” to send his own girls to elite private schools, while killing scholarship programs for less privileged minorities to do the same. Governor Mitt Romney, on the other hand, was committed to real reform and school choice and promised to make the D.C. voucher program Obama squashed a model for the entire nation.

Third, Hispanics are social conservatives. They are family-oriented, pro-life, and pro-traditional marriage.

So, if the party of secularists and liberalism and “abortion on demand” — and its leader, Obama — are so bad for Hispanics, why did more than 70 percent of them vote for him? The answers and solutions are not as simple, quick, or cheap as GOP and superPAC operatives would like them to be.

Hispanics come to America for the American Dream. They are “trabajadores,” and you would be hard pressed to find an American farmer, contractor, or restaurant owner who would not testify to their work ethic. Unfortunately, the communities in which they live and work are teeming with liberal activists: farm and service-industry labor unions, well-intentioned community-based social services providers and more radical and racially motivated Latino groups such as La Raza, LULAC, and Mecha. In addition, the curricula their kids encounter in public schools are either hostile or silent on the Founding Fathers, the Constitution, and ideas that are the foundation of conservative thinking. All of these activist groups and institutions have a common ideology and an affinity for big and centralized government, and of course, entitlements. They go out of their way to sign folks up and to begin the cycle of government dependency. Once hooked to the IV of government handouts, a steady drip of ideology, and a heavy dose of raunchy pop culture, the once vibrant American Dreams and traditional family values of Hispanics drift into a slow, deep coma.

The sad fact is that these activists operate unimpeded. The voices of economic freedom, personal responsibility, and self-determination are virtually nonexistent in Hispanic communities and media. The Catholic Church, a potential counter to these secular and socialist ideas, tends to place its most liberal priests in these communities. Thus, the “social justice” mantra so effectively co-opted by the Left in the Obama/Soros era is often reinforced in the churches Latinos attend.

Meanwhile, since Republicans and conservatives prefer D.C. think tanks and expensive ad buys to the long, hard, dowdy work of community organizing, we’ve effectively ceded these communities and the culture that surrounds them to the Left. We simply aren’t playing. And we’re either too lazy, or enamored with quick fixes, or overwhelmed by the task, to begin the work.

On Election Day, the Left won more than the presidency and the Senate. It won the battle of ideas through dogged persistence and a long-term financial commitment to community organizing. The Left managed to convince a mind-boggling number of Hispanics that the American Dream is not for them. On November 6, Hispanics voted for diminished dreams in favor of the security of a government check and Obamacare.

The irony of the now trendy quick-fix solutions of immigration and amnesty among GOP and conservative elites is that these short-term solutions may actually worsen our problem with Hispanics. Sure, we should be leading the way with a sensible worker-visa program and a solution to address the children of illegals, but without conservatives on the ground, educating and organizing on behalf of our values, we’ll just be helping the Left increase its numbers. We need permanent outreach that’s on the ground helping Hispanic parents fight for the changes they need — measures that will deliver the opportunities they or their parents or grandparents came to America looking for. This includes school choice and vouchers, economic-empowerment zones, and policies that encourage start-ups and small business growth.

In the long term, education on American history, economic freedom, and the principles behind conservatism must be a part of the playbook if we want to make lasting inroads. The Libre Initiative, a new organization dedicated to educating Hispanics on the benefits of free-markets and limited constitutional government, has begun the work. Likewise, Hillsdale’s highly successful (and free) online Constitution courses are an excellent model of how we can do it in a cost-effective manner. Soon, over a million people will have taken Hillsdale’s courses.

At the same time, in our zeal to promote the economic advantages of our principles, we must not shy away from the social issues. When we highlight our position on abortion and traditional marriage, we spotlight the secular and radical social agenda of the Left, an agenda that is foreign and antithetical to Hispanics’ values.

This is not easy work. Educating children and their parents on the universal messages of free enterprise and self-determination takes money. So does grooming political talent within the community and training and hiring Latino surrogates to bring the message to Spanish- and English-speaking media. Building community coalitions with pro-life groups and pro-business groups takes time. It also takes time to earn the trust of Hispanics and to see the fruits of our work in the dreams of their children. But make no mistake — we can do this.

Ronald Reagan said it best when he reminded us that our values and our freedom are not passed on through the bloodstream. They must be fought for, protected, and handed on to the next generation.

I am a Mexican-American wife and mother of six. You can take my word for it, or more advice from well-paid Beltway insiders. On Tuesday, November 6 we saw what that got us.

— Rachel Campos-Duffy is a mother of six, author, pundit, and wife of Congressman Sean Duffy. She has a column in the November issue of the American Spectator about her own family’s journey from union Democrats to Reagan conservatives.

I question this statement:

” Hispanics are social conservatives. They are family-oriented, pro-life, and pro-traditional marriage.”

REALLY?

Read this:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/12/african-americans-and-latinos-play-big-role-in-gay-marriage-revolution/

Last Tuesday’s election was a watershed moment for the gay marriage movement. Voters in three states voted to legalize it — something no state had done before — and a fourth state voted against a proposed ban.

And if the movement catches on in other states, African Americans and Latinos will be a big reason why.

In fact, exit polls now show a majority of both groups now favor gay marriage.

SNIP SNIP

And while the usual suspects continue to favor gay marriage — young people and non-religious people — exit polls show the most important shifts in support among two key communities: African Americans and Hispanics.

SNIP SNIP

On Tuesday in Maryland, though, 46 percent of African Americans supported gay marriage. And according to national exit polls, 52 percent of both black and Latino voters who turned out Tuesday said they support gay marriage in their states.

THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES THUSLY:

And if African Americans and Latinos are as onboard with gay marriage as the exit polls suggest, the four states that voted in favor of gay marriage on Tuesday might be the first of many.

One thing the author doesn’t mention is AGE. Why did the Latino vote go from 8% of the electorate in 2008 to 10% in 2012? Was it a huge influx of legal immigrants? Were middle-aged Latinos suddenly registered as part of a registration drive?

Of course not. It increased because the millenial generation (those born between 1982 and 2000) is coming into the voting pool, and the millenial generation has a high concentration of Hispanics. The millenials are huge demographic bulge of voters, larger than the baby boom generation. And like most young people, Hispanic millenials are big fat liberals. This is the big headwind for Republicans: an electorate that is getting younger.

Obama actually did worse in 2012 with the two oldest races: whites and blacks. But because so many Hispanics are young, the Hispanic vote is going to get younger over the next 2 Presidential cycles (2016 and 2020).

“Third, Hispanics are social conservatives. They are family-oriented, pro-life, and pro-traditional marriage. ..... why did more than 70 percent of them vote for him?”

Aye aye aye, we dunno either senora!

Because the first thing they did upon “immigrating” here was to break our laws, and `like calls to like’?

Secure the border, then we’ll sort it all out. There’s no mention of that small detail that I saw in her article, except to quote Krauthammer.

It's becoming more obvious that the illegals are not coming here to be American Citizens, but to mooch off of American Taxpayers.

But, if the voting laws were strictly enforced, their presence would make little difference in the voter rolls.

Early immigrants chose to come here, and ingratiate themselves into being Americans...the new "immigrants" want to come here to change America to their ways.

The famous sign should be changed to "Keep your tired adn hungry if they plan to come here and undermind America, her Constitution, and values...we don't need any more of you."

Third, Hispanics are social conservatives. They are family-oriented, pro-life, and pro-traditional marriage.

Boy, talk about propaganda. Over half the hispanic men I know from another country have children by more than one wife. Some, one here in the U.S. and another in "my country". Which brings me to the next point. When I talk to a hispanic from another about country NOT ONE considers the U.S. "my country" no matter how long they've been here. Ever see the U.S. flag hanging from the rear view mirror of an hispanic driver?

When will these people stop lying in order to convince us that these millions of invaders are honorable people?

The ideal political campaign is to appeal to the broadest spectrum of voters with pocket book issues. Conservatives had such issues particularly with Obama’s energy policy his control of natural resources to conform to socialist living style concepts but failed to use it. The amnesty issue is a trap being manipulated by MSM.

When is the treatment of American citizens in Mexico and their rights vs US treatment of Mexicans going to be an issue when we discuss amnesty ?

Ever hear of reciprocal aggrements ? These are arranged between countries to protect the rights of American citizens working or living in other countries.

Why is it when it comes to citizens of other countries we are required to offer them the same privledges as we do to US citizens? But when it comes to US citizens who get in trouble or attempt to do business in other countries they do not get the same treatment their citizens get.

Americans can’t own coast land in Mexico. And get no title to it elsewhere. If they run out of cash they’ll get unceremoniously sent back or put in jail untill some relative comes up with the “fresh”. That’s just for starters as for granting them voting privledges yea let’s give Mexican citizens that right when American citizens vote in their elections .

[[ I question this statement:
” Hispanics are social conservatives. They are family-oriented, pro-life, and pro-traditional marriage.”
REALLY? ]]

The National Review article is neocon crapola.

For a much more realsitic viewpoint of why the Republicans lost this time around and what to do about it (if anything), I suggest you read these thoughts by John Derbyshire:
http://www.johnderbyshire.com/Opinions/RadioDerb/2012-11-10.html
(Note: “01” is a personal comment, skip right down to “02” and start reading from there)

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