Arizona immigration law motivates California's Latino voters

LA Times ^ | July 16, 2010 | Maria Elena Durazo

[Bad~Rodeo]

The legislation could prove problematic to Republicans as the gubernatorial contest here could ultimately be determined by the state's growing Latino electorate.

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which I oversee, set out to learn how local Latinos decide whether to participate in elections. The issue was more complicated than we'd anticipated.

We began our research with six focus groups composed of registered Latino voters who had cast ballots in the 2008 presidential election, yet hadn't always voted in elections for California governor. We wanted to know why they sometimes didn't vote.

But the groups had something else they wanted to discuss. It took no more than 10 minutes for each of the groups to shift to very emotional discussions about Arizona's draconian new immigration law. It was a subject we hadn't planned to raise, but we soon learned that it was very much on the minds of Latinos here as they talked about government and why they do or don't participate in it. In fact, to our surprise, more focus-group participants knew the number of the Arizona bill (SB 1070) than the names of California's two major candidates for governor.

In discussing the Arizona law, group members passionately recounted how they had been "singled out" by law enforcement, schools, stores and employers because of their skin color. They held a variety of views about immigration issues, but they all strongly viewed Arizona's law as both an outgrowth of racial profiling and as a policy that would lead to more of it.

The focus groups were followed by a poll of 600 "occasional" L.A. County Latino voters from all political parties. About 92% knew about the Arizona law, and 81% opposed it. And 73% feared that California could pass a similar measure.

Like the focus groups,

[Bad~Rodeo]

After former Gov. Pete Wilson's 1994 attack on immigrants, Latinos flocked to join unions, and they then went on to vote for pro-union, progressive candidates and measures. The growing strength of the labor movement has made the difference in election after election

This fall, Arizonans will vote again for a governor, and Brewer hopes to retain the office. But Latino leaders there have a goal of registering and turning out 50,000 more Latinos this fall than voted in the last statewide election. We intend to help. Hundreds of California labor activists will begin that effort by traveling to Arizona in a caravan of chartered buses July 29, the day the Arizona statute is set to take effect.

Heads-Up Arizona

[arthurus]

California does not matter to us. It is out of reach. It is a contested area between 2 wings of the Social Democratic Party, the Left wing of which takes the name Republican, so as to distinguish itself from the Hard left wing in elections. When the Left Democrats/Republicans win then the old rule, “no enemies to the Left” is invoked. Frankly, if we must suffer leftists in Washington and in a state capital I would prefer that those leftists go under the banner of the Democrat Party.

[Tarpon]

Maybe the best way is to do what they did during Operation Wetback ... roundup and deport all the Mexicans.

[bcsco]

This is a ping list promoting Immigration Enforcement and Congressional Reform.
If you wish to be added or removed from this ping list, please contact me.

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Holder should drop the Arizona suit

We should make a federal case over immigration

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Round up and deport all the ILLEGALS.THere,I fixed it for ya.

[stephenjohnbanker]

1) Prove your right to work laws (2008)

2) 1070

We HAVE our “heads up”, believe me!

[cranked]

At least in libtard, idiot-ridden, and going for tens of billions of dollars indebtness California, this lamearse Jack Squat administration's plans, revolving around the political reasons and motivations for suing AZ, are coming together.....how wonderful..... and expected.....=.=

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The legislation could prove problematic to Republicans as the gubernatorial contest here could ultimately be determined by the state's growing Latino illegal electorate.

Fixed it.

[ScottinVA]

As evidenced with the choices for Governor, California is beyond reach for us anyway. The key is saving the states around it. With that statement re: caravans of chartered buses, it sounds like the Mexies are planning to flood AZ with illegal alien “voters” between now and November.

[ScottinVA]

It’s amazing how much influence Mexico has in this country. Each year that influence grows.

[B Knotts]

Be careful. This “poll” uses odd methodology. It’s most likely garbage.

Keep in mind that 40% of Latinos voted for Proposition 187.

[Rick_Michael]

Racial Nationalism. Only difference between a skin heads and a aztlanwackos is the skin color...both of them don’t deserve a place in this great nation. The variants of those folk are ever so present in the open border side.

[Rick_Michael]

Didn’t know that....that’s good to know!

[csense]

Arizona immigration law motivates California's Latino voters

If this is true, then f*ck the Latino voters. I've had it up to here with people showing loyalty to their skin color or ethnicity, rather than the Constitution, and I'm fed up with people demanding special attention. This foolish, childish, tribal behavior. I'm sick of it.