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Why Rick Perry is Good for Hispanics
Texas Tribune ^ | August 18, 2011 | Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg Texas

Posted on 08/26/2011 1:05:40 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

Whether you live where I do, in deep South Texas, or across our big and growing country, this is a time of historic significance. Hispanics will take the measure of a man not by what he says but what he does. Our community, like many, is suffering because Barack Obama continues to do the wrong things to end the jobs crisis.

Rick Perry’s record is not the empty rhetoric of hope. Rick Perry’s record gives us hope.

A week ago I asked the governor to comment on the opening of a customer service center and 400 jobs that his office helped locate to my hometown of Edinburg. Without a second thought, he talked about how important having a good job was to a family. He talked about how having the means to provide for your family was the basic building block of our society. He talked about families that have good jobs stay together. It seems simple, but it’s a message that resonates loud and clear.

Perry will be a great president because he shares our values — values rooted in deep family traditions — and principles like hard work and fair play that are rewards in and of themselves. He is a strong and decisive leader who wants to restore respect to each and every American by helping put them to work. Hispanics share the same hopes and dreams that other Americans do. It’s about jobs and creating a bright future for our children.

Communities along the border thrive because of our relationship with Mexico. Brownsville, McAllen, Laredo and El Paso are engines that drive the Texas economy. The governor understands that our ties to Mexico run deeper than trade and commerce. We are bound by family, culture and social traditions that have evolved over centuries of mutual respect and cooperation. A safe and prosperous Mexico is a safe and prosperous Texas. Over that last few years our friends in northern Mexico have endured the most horrific violence. Cartels have murdered, terrorized and run rampant across the region. At the height of the violence the governor led the call to Obama to authorize the deployment of the National Guard to the border. Security must not tilt the balance against commerce and trade. The governor has been sensitive to this issue and has championed the commitment of state and local law enforcement resources to that goal.

The respect that Perry has shown the Hispanic community extends to the record number of appointments he has had the opportunity to make. He has appointed the first Hispanic woman to the Supreme Court: Eva Guzman. Hope Andrade was the first Hispanic woman to be appointed secretary of state. Buddy Garcia leads the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Raymund Paredes is the commissioner of higher education. These men and women reflect the changing face of Texas and our governor’s commitment to the Hispanic community.

Democracy is a wonderful thing. My community will join Americans all across this great nation and make a choice about who will lead us out of these troubled times. Rick Perry is that leader. He understands that opportunity and jobs give people hope and optimism. But don’t take my word for it. Like you, I will measure the man by his record.

Perry’s Texas has created more than 40 percent of America’s net new jobs in the last two years. That’s a remarkable and humbling statistic: 40 percent of new jobs created by us, here, in our Lone Star State.

Hispanic-owned businesses have been experiencing explosive growth, their numbers expanding by 40 percent during the previous decade and, according to one study, generating $62 billion in revenue in 2007. The same study indicated Hispanic-owned businesses employed almost 400,000 Texans that year.

Why the growth and opportunity here in Texas? One reason may be that between 2000 and 2010, Hispanic enrollment in Texas universities increased 88 percent compared to a 48 percent increase overall. Over that same time frame, the number of bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificates earned by Hispanic students increased more than 102 percent.

If you are a Hispanic living in Texas, you are nine times more likely to be employed. You are two-and-a half times more likely to own your own small business. And you are 15 percent more likely to have obtained a bachelor’s degree than your peers around the country.

Obama’s record is burdened by a Washington that refuses to control federal spending and record debt. In 2006 the unemployment rate for Hispanics was 4.9 percent. In 2011 that rate has jumped to 11.3 percent. Two of every five dollars we spend is borrowed from creditors. Home values are almost one-third lower than they were five years ago.

Obama had his chance to lead. Like President Clinton, he could have put real compromise ahead of political posturing. Instead, he’s turned decidedly in the other direction.

There will be a lot said about Perry. People — mainly partisans with an agenda — will misstate the facts. They’ll make promises about government programs, government money and government control of all aspects of our lives. That’s not our way, and that’s not the way toward a bright future.

We have an historic opportunity to demonstrate our independence and push back against the tired politics of the past by electing Rick Perry president of the United States of America.

State Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, has represented District 40 in the Texas House since 2002.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: amnestyfromperry; economy; education; hispanics; perry2012
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The guest column posted above, is being attacked by the Left as a "fluff piece" in praise of Gov. Rick Perry.

******************

My own observations and comments about Gov. Perry and my state of Texas which shares a 1250 mile border with Mexico:

We've been dealt a hand here in Texas (and if you've read my threads you know much of this) where we have a federal government that has not answered the call to protect the 1250 border miles Texas shares with Mexico. Gov. Perry does not believe a fence is the answer to illegals crossing the U.S.-Mexican border. He believes conservative ascendancy will. So we do the best with what we have ($100M/yr of our own state money put up to help secure an international border). We have a lot of crime to combat and pay for because of the illegal activity (drugs, human smuggling and trafficking) generated by an unsecured international border.

We can't refuse to educate or give health care, as everyone in every state is faced with the same situation, but since Perry is a border gov, he's held responsible for illegal aliens, where everyone vents their frustration about the problem using him as a whipping boy (and to make political points and take pot shots). Perry's asked for drones (went to Israel and asked how they protect Gaza Strip), has asked for 3000 people here on the TX border (crickets). Perry has set up an elite Texas Ranger unit to work on the border. Then we find out the Feds have been "running guns" across the border and we've had people killed because of that.

The Texas Dream Act was set up because we have a lot of kids here from the way the feds have allowed this to snowball. Students who have been in Texas for 3 years and graduated from a Texas high school get instate tuition (no benefits -- they pay their way) The entire Texas Senate voted for this in 2001. (The Texas Dream Act does NOT have all the hidden goodies the U.S. Congress "Dream Act" was trying to get into law.)

Perry has said: “If you show up illegally, without your card or you’re here as a criminal element, I’m for throwing the book at those folks, but the issue of people who want to legally, thoughtfully and appropriately come to America to work and help us build our economy — we should quickly come up with a program and an identification card to do that.”

The Texas legislature meets every 2 years for 140 days and the governor is allowed to call Special Sessions. He called a Special Session because he had put "sanctuary cities" on the agenda and the legislature dropped the ball -- but the Senate and then the House left again -- giving Gov. Perry nothing to sign (Texas legislators also have elections they'll be facing and no doubt didn't want a vote on this shadowing their re-election bids).

In this just ended session, after about 3 tries to slip it into a bill, a law that required people to show their birth certificate to get a drivers license got through [The amendment, added by Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, to the education funding bill legislators needed to balance the state budget had originally been included in Senate Bill 9, the so-called "sanctuary cities" bill that failed in the special session. It also had appeared in an omnibus homeland security bill by Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, that died in the regular session......By putting it into law the state potentially undermines an ongoing lawsuit that argues DPS doesn't have authority to check legal status.]. However, the ink on that law was barely dry before it was overturned by a judge – as usual.

In this last Texas Legislative session Gov. Perry signed the Texas Photo ID Voting Law -- it took 6 years to get it through -- Only 6 states have a PHOTO Voter ID requirement.

Texas has a long history with Mexico and being "Mexican" does not mean that you aren't an American, or a Texan. A lot of Texans have Mexican heritage or are married to someone who does. Perry doesn't lead with his chin. He's a thoughtful man.

Rick Perry is as ready to fix this as anyone and understands it probably better than anyone running -- or commenting anonymously on a chat site.

1 posted on 08/26/2011 1:05:46 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Why Rick Perry is Good for Hispanics

Because he's a good source of protein?

Thank you, thank you; I'll be here all week. Please remember to tip your bartender and waitresses ...

2 posted on 08/26/2011 1:07:44 PM PDT by Hodar
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

[ Why Rick Perry is Good for Hispanics ]

BECAUSE hes NOT good for Americans.. only marginally better than Romney..


3 posted on 08/26/2011 1:13:46 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole...)
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To: Hodar
Because he's a good source of protein?

Well Rick Perry is people and we all know what that means...


4 posted on 08/26/2011 1:14:30 PM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I see I will have no regrets writing in Tancredo.


5 posted on 08/26/2011 1:15:02 PM PDT by Sybeck1 (Why does so few (IA, NH, SC) decide so much?)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

If Perry could get a slightly higher percentage of the Hispanic vote than say other (R) candidates, it might have a profound impact on whether Obama is reelected.
Case in point: Nevada
Colorado
New Mexico


6 posted on 08/26/2011 1:15:35 PM PDT by Kahuna
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
If you are a Hispanic living in Texas, you are nine times more likely to be employed. You are two-and-a half times more likely to own your own small business. And you are 15 percent more likely to have obtained a bachelor’s degree than your peers around the country.

And if you are here LEGALLY, we are very happy to have you!

7 posted on 08/26/2011 1:15:55 PM PDT by JimRed (Excising a cancer before it kills us waters the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS, NOW AND FOREVER!)
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To: hosepipe
Only 6 states have a PHOTO Voter ID requirement.

Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, South Dakota.

Oops
8 posted on 08/26/2011 1:16:46 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin)
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To: Kahuna

Gov Perry is going to sweep every state.

imho

=^D


9 posted on 08/26/2011 1:17:03 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
we should quickly come up with a program and an identification card to do that

I give up. Why?

The tens of millions of people who came to the U.S. since 1965 did so without any of the hardships and background of the 13 generations of my family who landed on these shores in rickety wooden ships 300 years ago.

Why should people who have nothing to do with our people and land be allowed to simply walk in and take over? Why should we be compelled to accept their rule?

In a democracy the people rule through their vote. When did we vote to become a minority ruled by the descendants of the Aztecs?

All of your arguments are simply limp rationalizations for surrender to a determined and aggressive invading populace of a foreign and hostile nation. Period. And that is all that Mr. Perry is: an appeaser who characterizes his submission as "compassion".

That is Liberalism in its worst form.

And that's what your governor is: a liberal social climber who plans to hand over the hard won territory and wealth of the Americans to a self designated victim class - the people of the enemy nation known as Mexico - in the hope of getting them to use their ill gotten vote to place himself in power.

No damn different from Obama or any other America hating leftist.

10 posted on 08/26/2011 1:17:55 PM PDT by Regulator (Watch Out! Americans are on the March! America Forever, Mexico Never!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Amen!!


11 posted on 08/26/2011 1:18:34 PM PDT by PLD
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The salvation of America will be good for everyone that lives in America.


12 posted on 08/26/2011 1:19:08 PM PDT by Spok
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Vote for Rick Perry, because he ain’t as bad as Obama, and he’s one of us!

He’ll also pander to a demographic comprised of the families of Illegal Immigrants.

Nevermind the other candidates who are much more rock-solid conservatives!

Rick Perry is just good enough.


13 posted on 08/26/2011 1:20:25 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: Kahuna

He ought to do well with them. He sure as heck landers to them. La raza and he are buddies.


14 posted on 08/26/2011 1:21:28 PM PDT by carjic (I've always been taught to respect my elders.... but it's getting harder to find any!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

>>We can’t refuse to educate or give health care...”

(If those are your actual beliefs, you are NOT a conservative.)

¡Si Se Puede! Yes We Can!


15 posted on 08/26/2011 1:21:34 PM PDT by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears ("But resist, we much...we must...and we will much...about...that...be committed." - Al Sharpton)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

That is quite a prediction especially considering that has never happened in any prez election. It would certainly be the appropriate send off for Obama, and would definitely make him a HISTORIC president in another way than being the first “black” prez.


16 posted on 08/26/2011 1:22:24 PM PDT by HerrBlucher ("It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged." G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

“Gov Perry is going to sweep every state.”

Wouldn’t it be easier to hire some illegals to do it?


17 posted on 08/26/2011 1:22:37 PM PDT by jessduntno (Obama shanks. America tanks.)
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To: cripplecreek

USDOJ Eric Holder is already planning to block TX and GA voter photo ID and WI's new Photo voter ID is under attack too.

18 posted on 08/26/2011 1:23:18 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Why Rick Perry is Good for Hispanics ...

Especially those without papers.
19 posted on 08/26/2011 1:24:37 PM PDT by algernonpj (He who pays the piper . . .)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The hispanic Americans I personally know are as American as anglo Americans. They are from families who have been in Texas for generations. To those who senselessly parrot that, well, at some point their ancestors came across illegally, I say, you don’t know much, do you?

The border hasn’t always been “regulated”. Historically people came and went across it, and there was not a law saying that crossing the border for whatever purpose was illegal. So at some point back then, many who lived in Mexico came north and simply “moved to Texas”.

It is their decendants that I’m referring to when I say hispanic Americans who are as legal as anglos and every bit as American.

But when you read most of the posts, you’ll find not a hint nor a glimmer of this truth in them.


20 posted on 08/26/2011 1:25:37 PM PDT by txrangerette ("...HOLD TO THE TRUTH; SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR." - Glenn Beck)
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