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’s wife has his testicles in her purse.
Except the whole part about it being the truth, then yeah, it doesn't help.
There. Fixed it.
We don’t hate on Hispanics, JEB, we hate on CRIMINALS... that hasn’t changed in 30 years!!
Moron
He is an out of touch idiot. Holder goes in front of congress testifying for the need for nazi race laws that will create a class of helots, and he has the nerve to chastise Tom for wanting a decent border security program.
What an asshole! We don’t hate anyone. We just want the rule of law to be applied, and be applied fairly to all! No illegal immigration!! No amnesty for criminals!! Ever!
Dammit, no more Bushes!
I’m done with Bushes, but I am really done with libs giving advice to the RNC. Not that the RNC stands for anything anymore, well except lib lite.
I’ve got advice for Jebby...and the horse you rode in on.
GWB’s people seem to be working for Jeb now.
‘And Republicans have done a poor job, sending signals that Hispanics aren’t wanted in our party.’
Lol. The leader of the GOP[Pres.Bush] pushed for Amnesty? What more did you want?
Take your family cash and get out of public life.
You live in gated compounds with armed guards on government health plans and pensions.
You have no idea what the illegal invasion has done to the SW.
Stick it up your arse, Jeb. Does the rule of law mean any more to you than it does to our Marxist in Chief?
Caca del toro! We love Hispanics and want them to come here the proper way.
Using California as an example is ludicrous, because it is there that huge numbers of illegals wind up simply because of their sanctuary laws. Not to mention the free housing, health care, tuition and on and on and on.
Given all that, what illegal Hispanic in their right mind would even THINK about registering or voting anything BUT Democrat?
Don’t shoot the messenger, he’s right. It’s not the message, it’s the tone that makes them come off as racist rubes.
Yes. We should all talk down to hispanics and pretend they can’t understand the importance of law and order and the need to keep illegal aliens from invading the country.
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