[only1percent]

The speaker fails to make a critically important distinction, that between the multiculturalism of the market, based upon free choice and a willingness to move beyond xenophobia, and the multiculturalism of government fiat, which is simply a redistributionist scheme founded to fight the (non-existant) menace of "white supremacy" and the (virtue described as vice) of American exceptionalism.

The obvious case for the multiculturalism of the market is Asian Americans ... who came to this country largely embracing the core American values of hard work and family, and who have made tremendous contributions since they've arrived, both economically and culturally. That the melting pot is an instrument of integration and improvement, not one of destruction and homogenization, has never been more obvious in this case. And with second generation intermarriage rates of Asian-Americans at or above 50%, it is easy to see that the "melting pot" is working in its classical sense, just as it did with the Italians, the Irish, and the Polish in the late 19th and early 20th century.

I think that Mexican Americans and other Latinos are actually another positive case on the side of the multiculturalism of the market. Although there is certainly an underclass with the typical problems of welfare, illegitimacy and criminality, there is a much larger rising middle class which is making contributions of cultural dynamism while adhering to basic American values. That their political leadership is largely addicted to the failed leftist politics is a shame, but not a shame which should be held against the majority or against the contributions they're making. I also think that attention should be paid to the tremendous corps of talented, ambitious conservative Latino politicians. The steps that are taken in the next 5 or 10 years will make the difference between Latinos eventually mirroring white voting patterns (poor for Democrats, middle class leaning Republican) or getting stuck in African American voting patterns (Democrat down the line, no matter what).

[Remedy]

The obvious case for the multiculturalismmul·ti·eth·nic of the market is Asian Americans ... who came to this country largely embracing the core American values of hard work and family, and who have made tremendous contributions since they've arrived, both economically and culturally.

mul·ti·eth·nic Of, relating to, or including several ethnic groups may be a better term

I agree.

[MissAmericanPie]

"I also think that attention should be paid to the tremendous corps of talented, ambitious conservative Latino politicians"

What are some of their names? Are there articles detailing their rise and ambitions?

[FITZ]

I also think that attention should be paid to the tremendous corps of talented, ambitious conservative Latino politicians.

There should only be talented ambitious conservative AMERICAN politicians. If they are into race-politics then they wouldn't be good conservatives.

[FITZ]

For example --Alan Keyes is not a "black" politician. He didn't come in second in the Republican primaries because of race or racist black groups pushing for him.

If the Republicans were smart, they'd examine better what happened to the so-called "hispanic" vote between Reagan's election --I believe he had a clear majority of the Hispanic vote, to Clinton's election when he got 80% of it, and to Bush's election when he got 30%.

[maxwell]

I think that Mexican Americans and other Latinos are actually another positive case on the side of the multiculturalism of the market. Although there is certainly an underclass with the typical problems of welfare, illegitimacy and criminality, there is a much larger rising middle class which is making contributions of cultural dynamism while adhering to basic American values.

You know, I agree with that for the most part.

I think that one of the biggest problems many (Protestant) conservatives have with the "Latino invasion" is that these folks come from a heavily Catholic influence. I personally know some folks whose bias can be summed up in just that way.

I was raised Protestant and I think this is an unfair judgment. Sure, I think the Catholic faith is misguided in many ways, some more severe than others, and I guess century-old memories of Catholic oppression die hard... I've met alot of good Christian Catholic folks though, and I reiterate-- it ain't right to judge.