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You have to remember that being a Hispanic conservative in this country is like being a female conservative.

First, reject the label. Calling yourself Hispanic is like calling yourself an "English speaker". It's meaningful only to people who want to foster identity politics so they can ignore individuals. I have relatives from Puerto Rico, and relatives from Mexico. They acknowledge that they have very little in common.

Then when you turn to the Republican community you have to face comments like those above, making you feel like you don't belong there either.

There are nativists and xenophobes of both persuasions. I think the major distinction is that racism or group identity politics is an accidental characteristic of some conservatives, whereas it is an actual policy of the left. The liberals mask theirs with condescension. You belong where the truth is.

Three of the most powerful people in the country are black, and they are Republicans. There is no black figure of any real power in the supposedly "tolerant" party. The first Hispanic on the US Supreme court will be Republican--if the Democrats don't block him. I'll let you judge where the really bigotted people are for yourself--on the basis of what they do.

Oh, I have no problem calling myself Hispanic (though my parents never taught me the language) or Latino or whatever the newest term is. Some of my relatives have a hang-up about that, but I just don't care. To me it just means I am of Spanish descent, and I don't mind other people knowing that. If I rejected all labels, than I would not call myself a woman, a Republican, or even an American. Some labels you can be proud to wear.

I think it's not so much the labeling that's objectionable. It's the spirit in which it's done. Like if I'm having a conversation about my family background and the topic of my ethnicity comes up, no problem. But when total strangers come up to me and ask "What are you?" as if they have a right to know, that gets annoying.

Trust me, I've noticed the left-wing tendency to point out everyone's race and count up the numbers. It comes from that attitude of "If you're a minority we own you." I know there are probably plenty of sexist bigots on the right, but at least you know where you stand with them. They don't hide it behind a phony, condescending smile.