Posted on 07/09/2009 12:10:54 PM PDT by pissant
Sometimes good advice comes from the most unlikely of places. In this case, it comes from a Bush. In an interview with Tucker Carlson for Esquire magazine, Gov. Jeb Bush stated the most obvious fact of American electoral politics today: if the GOP is to rise again, it has to stop hating on Hispanics– or at least it has to stop appearing to be hating on Hispanics! He’s talking about you, Tom Tancredo, non-office-holding cable-news ranter.
[T]he demographics are going against us. Alex [Castellanos, Republican media consultant] told me today, for example, that there is not a district in California where Republicans are out-registering Democrats. Of the fifty-three districts — I think that’s right — not a single one has an improving situation. It’s striking. So you have a shift. There’s more minorities. The voter-registration efforts have been successful by Democrats, ACORN and the like. The swing voters are Hispanic voters in most of the swing states. And Republicans have done a poor job, sending signals that Hispanics aren’t wanted in our party. Which is bizarre.
The people that are on television are the loudest on the immigration issue. The emotion, the anger, is a signal. Put aside the substance, but just in terms of the language. It makes it sound like them and us. And the evidence is that after [the GOP] making major inroads, Hispanics have turned toward the Democratic party in the last two election cycles. Big time. Compare that to how my brother did and how I did and how other Republican candidates have done in the past and you can see a trend line that’s quite disturbing.
It’s possible [to oppose illegal immigration without coming off as anti-Hispanic] but it requires a tone that’s different. If you listen to the conversation, it’s not just words; it’s how they’re spoken. It has to be dispassionate, the language. But it hasn’t been.
Bush also says this smart thing on the favorite tack taken by Republican tea partyists in opposing Pres. Obama:
“Socialism” is pejorative in America, so people stop listening. People are tired of it. That word won’t stick. It’s a turnoff. It doesn’t help.
Jeb is a jackass and worse than his brother on immigration. The whole Bush family has a love affair with Mexico
I voted for Jeb twice because he was much better than the Democrat. But as Florida governor he had no influence on immigration
No, but McCain talked down to them in this manner, even going so far to pitch his amnesty plan in spanish on radio stations throughout the SW. He got shellacked. And once again, a guy named Duncan Hunter in a heavily hispanic district on the border walked away with crushing victory.
Assuming there was room for his little nuggets in the purse in which alert Customs agents found sales receipts for $38,000 of items she tried to smuggle in through customs on her return from Paris? Some First Ladies... reek of Marie Antoinette.
In this case, it comes from a Bush.
It's time for the GOP to understand that the Bush Family has been the worst train-wreck since Richard Milhous Nixon.
well said
I agree with you. He didn’t say amnesty. He said we have to present immigration issues dispassionately so as not to alienate a growing demographic.
That said, Jeb Bush, go home. No more Bushes.
Sorry Jeb. We know the Bushes left the better part of the GOP long ago.
Let me hasten to say I have nothing but respect for John McCain as a man and a warrior, but he was certainly way down my list as a possible GOP nominee. And I feel the way the election played out sort of confirms where I had him on my list.
McCain sends a message, too: pandering to illegal aliens doesn’t work for the GOP.
Republicans win as the `law-and-order’ party.
I say BALONEY, Jeb.
I haven't seen an immigration hawk in any competitive race win on that issue, although many have tried.
Dubya got elected by small margins with a percentage of the Latino votes we aren't going to see again for a long, long time because of all the immigrant bashing. Do the math - it isn't pretty.
Not a lockbox?
ditto!
Allowing the ‘progressives’ to get away with mocking the ‘Rule of Law’ has gotten us here.
Another rino Bush messing with the English language...HATE?
No, what they refuse to admit is they refuse to enforce the LAW!
Tancredo has never used ‘hate’, but it’s clear Bush’s like JEb hate the rule of law and its enforcement.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.