Bush's Hispanic strategy comes unraveled. (A Look Back on the Failed History of Hispandering)

The National Review ^ | April 8, 2002 | John O’Sullivan

[Joe Hadenuf]

It makes no sense for Bush to pander to the large number of illegals that can't legally vote, and disgust the majority of legal Mexicans that can vote. This is one reason the Democrats are enjoying a majority of Legal Mexican voters.

It's enough to make one wonder who he is really working for......

[warmath]

Wow... that really sold me.

[Kuksool]

Closing our borders should be the number priority in homeland security. However, our politicians, the liberal media, and corporations have shown interest in sealing our borders from illegal immigrants. In fact, they support it by calling illegals, “undocumented migrants.” Illegal immigration shall be the death of America. California is the perfect example of what happens when the borders are not sealed from invaders.

[ought-six]

"The problem is that Most of the Mexicans coming into the US are from the parts of Mexico that vote the most heavily SOCIALIST in Mexican elections."

That's true. Most Mexican immigrants -- legal and illegal -- are staunch socialists in their political philosophy.

[Pubbie]

"Illegal immigration shall be the death of America."

Actually it's not the end of America, because the Blacks and Asians, and Whites comprise 87% of the US population.

Immigration however will be the death of the Republican party unless they change Immigration policy.

[Joe Hadenuf]

California is the perfect example of what happens when the borders are not sealed from invaders.

And look no further than Illinois...

The INS estimated in February 2003 that there were 432,000 illegal aliens residing in Illinois. This was more than double the INS estimate of 176,000 illegal immigrants in Illinois in October 1992. The INS increased the estimate to 290,000 as of October 1996. However, the INS downplayed this apparent 65% jump in illegal aliens in four years by stating that it believed it underestimated the 1992 illegal alien settlement by 44,000. This is due to an under estimate of illegal Mexicans. The revision of the earlier estimate meant that the INS acknowledged an increase in the resident illegal alien population in Illinois (largely Chicago) over those four years of 70,000.

The current INS estimate indicates that Illinois has the fourth largest illegal alien population in the country.

[wardaddy]

The problem is that it is mostly the wrong "Hispanics"....judging from voting records.

W and Rove have rainmaker aspirations here. Too bad we're the guinea pigs.

[Kuksool]

The unwillingness of gov't officials to enforce immigration laws provide much needed cover for terrorists. Many cities have accepted the Mexican ID cards as valid forms of identification, and forbid the police from inquiring about a person's immigration status. Plus, several states are trending toward giving illegals in-state college tuition and driver licenses without showing any proof of citizenship. These policies are insane. We are asking for another 9-11.

[deport]

Against a Hispanic with millions of his own dollars he spent.... 35% isn't bad, imo. What did Sanchez the Hispanic get.... 65% or so of his own race... The way this article would read he should have gotten the entire vote.

[JohnnyZ]

The current INS estimate indicates that Illinois has the fourth largest illegal alien population in the country.

Of course, Illinois also has the fourth largest alien population in the country, after New Mexico, New York, and Ohio, so that's not too surprising.

[Kuksool]

No arguement from me. Last month, my RAT Governor signed a bill which granted in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants. The bill passed the General Assembly without much opposition. Also, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-04) is sponsoring a bill to grant amnesty to all illegals. So, you're correct in that the illegal immigration problem is spreading everywhere. The sad part is that people don't seem to care much about it.

[iconoclast]

Good analysis.

[traditionalist]

Gee, took me a whole five frickin' words and I've got a strategy to appeal to the Mexicans.

Problem is your strategy's been tried and doesn't work. The only solution is to prevent more from coming here.

[traditionalist]

Hispanics in Texas are a different demographic than the rest of the country. Many there have been US citizens for 5-6 generations.

[iconoclast]

"Irish need not apply" is not a brilliant election strategy for conservatism.

Simply an irrelevant but emotionally charged statement.

Mexicans are applying and being welcomed and they are "walking" in, an option not available to my Irish forebearers.

[JohnnyZ]

Problem is your strategy's been tried and doesn't work.

HA HA HA!!!!!! WHAT A JOKE! WHEN?????? Tell me when?

There's only a couple of folks who have said "hola" to those folks, much less "here's why our platform of economic opportunity is better than the Democrats' handout trap".

Jeb Bush tried and it worked. George W. Bush tried and it worked. George Pataki -- well, I'm not sure quite how to describe his efforts, but he's had success. Wayne Allard (and Bob Beauprez, I think, too) was very proactive in taking his conservative message to Hispanics in Colorado and that worked.

Same with blacks (tho different). People say, "oh, they'll never vote for us", so they don't even try, and so blacks don't vote GOP, and so people say "oh, they'll never vote for us".

If you think the Republican Party has taken the conservative message to racial and ethnic minorities you're living in some sort of alternate universe.

[iconoclast]

Gonzalez is vastly underqualified and far far too Liberal to be appointed, but he's just Hispanic enough.

The Hispanic appointee (whoever) will be the Souter of THIS Bush regime.

[JohnnyZ]

The Hispanic appointee (whoever) will be the Souter of THIS Bush regime.

Of course, because all Hispanics are liberal. Just like Clarence Thomas is a liberal black.

Did you actually have a reason for your half-baked prediction or what? A lot of conservatives, myself included, are pulling for Emilio Garza to be the SC nominee.

[traditionalist]

Not one of the men you mentioned got a majority of non-Cuban Hispanics to vote for him.