[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

But of course we know that supporting amnesty is no sure path to the WH, exhibit A McCain.

Indeed, McCain was and is a full-blown amnesty zealot.

In fact, support for amnesty, at best, might reduce the GOP candidate's losing margin of Hispanics, but even that is far from clear. I think it is true that Dem POTUS candidates benefit from amnesty promises.

GOP share of Hispanic vote in POTUS elections since 1980 SOURCE:

1980: 38 percent
1984: 37 percent
1988: 30 percent (after the 1986 amnesty!)
1992: 29 percent
1996: 23 percent
2000: 36 percent
2004 (GWB's second term, in which he pushed hard for amnesty): The "official" number is 43 percent, but almost all the polls were under 40%.
2008: 32 percent
2012: 28 percent

[DoughtyOne]

The sad thing is, that’s the only appeal we make to Hispanics, amnesty. Bush, McCain, Rubio..., these guys act as if they just fell of the turnip truck themselves.

Appeal to Hispanics on opportunity. Touch on family values, good schools, cutting crime, lowering taxes, the provision of better jobs..., essentially the same things you appeal to everyone else for.

You can’t outdo a Leftist. You can kid yourself that you can find more goodies to give to a group, but if a person wants a politician who is going to gift them something, they’ll go to the Democrats. They aren’t stupid.

We’re pretenders when it comes to gifting. The Democrats are the real thing. So when we let people in who have nothing, who are they going to vote for? Us or them?

Look at those figures for Reagan. He granted amnesty and lost 10% of the Hispanic vote. That sad fact tells today’s politicians nothing.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Indeed, McCain was and is a full-blown amnesty zealot.
In fact, support for amnesty, at best, might reduce the GOP candidate’s losing margin of Hispanics, but even that is far from clear. I think it is true that Dem POTUS candidates benefit from amnesty promises”

I think if Obama signs an amnesty bill he will get all the compassionate credit for it and it will be assumed that Republicans ONLY went along to get more workers for their contributers the businesses (CofC).

There is much truth to that, and it fits with the 2012 Romney theme that the richer you are the more of a job creater you are and so the more important you are.

Plus Hispanics disagree with Republicans on plenty, if they want to talk about votes they need to talk about that first before giving more the vote.

[Impy]

One must conclude the “43%” for Bush is far too high given the narrowness of his win. I heard the real number was 38%.

Big swing towards Obama in 2012, the only reason he “won” Florida and topped 60% in Cali again.