[daviddennis]

The more I look at this guy, the more I like him. He is one canny political operator. He knows that, however much we wail, we're going to turn out to vote for him. He needs to neutralize Davis' base. On paper, Davis should get about 2/3 of Latino voters. Simon's going to get great publicity doing this, and it's definitely going to erode Davis' theoretical majority.

Unlike Blacks, the Liberal political order has not been great for hispanics; its greatest achievement, bilingual education, has been proven to be an exceptionally poor idea. So now it's time for Hispanics to consider that maybe Democrats aren't their party, after all. I'd count this as a golden opportunity to change a few minds and win a few hearts.

I know a few of you are going to talk about immigrants being like cockroaches feasting on our dying cities and whatnot, but I don't believe it. They are also hardworking people who serve us our fast food and repair our cars. The ones who are parasites are going to support Davis anyway.

And, in any event, they are here and becoming increasingly political as they find their sea legs. Simon's giving them a hand to grasp.

A lot of the reason people in this city vote Democratic is that the Right is known historically for xenophobia, for prejudice against certain groups. This is definitely one of those things that makes me occasionally disappointed and even appalled with the right. Simon is sending a message to people of all races, sexes and political persuasions: We're not bigots, we admire many of our state's Hispanics, and we want to help them succeed.

And isn't that the American - and Republican - way?

D

[daviddennis]

I'm sure I left a lot of you out, so feel free to add others. This one's going to be a bit controversial - especially my commentary - so fasten your seatbelts ...

D

[nathanbedford]

The race card is about the most effective theme for the left to animate the rank and file - but it is an exceptionally potent weapon when cleverly and cynically exploited. It serves them as both a sword and a shield. Clinton could hold the whole of the Democrat party against impeachment as long as he held the blacks. Lying, cheating and stealing campaign contributions are all condoned because of the overweening need to keep the racist conservatives out of power. No telling how many more churches we will burn if we win elections.

The intellectual vapidity of the left remains largely unexposed to the large majority of politically inactive voters who decide elections as long as the chattering class, indoctrinated in left wing journalism schools, implicitedly shares this view.

Clinton tried this tactic out on Limbaugh but Limbaugh wisely went to great lengths to debunk Clinton's insinuations contained in his Janet Rino anecedote. Had Limbaugh not done so, the smear probably would have stuck.

I hope this forum can resist the temptation to label those of us who see no commensurate benefit to us in our support of Israel as anti- Semites.

[ElkGroveDan]

DITTOs -- we have to sit down for a beer sometime.

[heleny]

I checked the Simon campaign ads page but didn't find the new ads. Does Simon speak at all in the ad, or is it just a Spanish-speaking announcer?

I think these Spanish ads a great idea, especially since those who listen and watch Spanish radio and TV probably have gotten much less exposure to news about the Oracle scandal and other no-bid contracts, the huge budget shortfall, planned tax increases, etc. that we see/hear in the English-language news.

Are any of these ads going to show during the World Cup soccer game halftimes?

If you have ever heard Gray Davis try speaking Spanish, it sounds awful.

[Eddie Haskell]

Yawn.

[q_an_a]

That was a well written comment. Does anyone doubt that the Irish got the same treatment as Latin immigrants? It would be nice if more of them tried to speak English in the presence of anglos, but they work hard and do the work yuppies won't let their kids do.

[Gophack]

You are right on. I agree completely. We have an incredible opportunity bring Hispanics into the Republican Party. The key is to talk about common ground ideas, like education and taxes and small business and crime. These are the issues we share, and issues that the liberal Democrats have exploited.

There will always be radical leftist Hispanics like there are radical leftist whites. We need to reach out to those we share ideas and values with. Hispanics are overwhelmingly Christian, and we can appeal to them on social issues as well once we break down the false barriers that have separated us.

Go Simon!

[snopercod]

Bueno!

The hispanics I work with are hard-working, freedom-and-fun-loving types.

We can only hope that Simon is the same.

[Political Junkie Too]

I think that the Hispanic population in California are, for the most part, family-oriented, religious, church-going people. I think that's why gay marriage initiatives fail at the ballot, to the surprise of its supporters.

Simon's past as head of California Catholic Charities may endear him somewhat with the Hispanic community.

-PJ