The Hispanic vote

The Washington Times ^ | January 7, 2003 | House Editorial

[xsysmgr]

Until recently, Republican strategists were inclined to write off the Hispanic vote. Turnouts were low, and those who did largely voted Democratic. Even George W. Bush's efforts to woo Mexican-Americans in his first gubernatorial bid in 1994

[Ben Ficklin]

This El Paso news article on the same survey points out a couple of examples of differences in opinion/attitude between Texas and California hispanics.

[DeweyCA]

We have heard about these core values lining up with Republicans before, but when it comes to getting "free" money from the government, MANY people (Blacks, whites, Asians, any race) disregard those other values in favor of a handout. Never underestimate the power of greed, and the Democrat's promise of free money.

[SwinneySwitch]

Hispanics, Mexican-Americans, Latinos or Hispanic/Latinos?

[hchutch]

I wonder what the difference is...

Could it be between the approaches used by George W. Bush in Texas and Pete Wilson in California?

[Van Jenerette]

...for government class reading

[EaglesCry]

Hey, how about "Americans"?

[B4Ranch]

Our government spent 12 billion dollars on illegal alien welfare last year to get these Hispanic votes.......and give the NWO a big push.

[Ben Ficklin]

Well you know those events had something to do with it, but imho there are other things.

For many years there was a pattern of immigration from Mexico in which all immigrating from a particular place, locale, town, etc in Mexico would end up in the same place. And this was consistant thru time. If the immigrants from a particular valley in Mexico had ties in Texas, those coming from a different place might have ties in SoCal. These differing groups would have different backgrounds and attitudes. Mexicans are not one large homogeneous group. Its as if Mexicans in Texas would be contemptous of California and the Mexicans that went there.

Also consider when TX and CA shifted from being rural to urban and when large numbers of people from other parts of the US arrived in each of these states. Some how I think that this has some bearing on it.

[traditionalist]

Could it be between the approaches used by George W. Bush in Texas and Pete Wilson in California?

So you think state governments should give full benefits to illegal aliens?

BTW, Pete Wilson was a political success. Both he and proposition 187 won by a landslide in 1994. And he got about the same % of the California hispanic vote as did Bush.

[traditionalist]

Hispanic respondents to the Pew study overwhelmingly frown on the loose morals of American popular culture, and express ambivalence that their children will not share the same values as they.

I suppose that's why Hispanics have higher illegitimacy and abortion rates than the general population.

[traditionalist]

But in recent years, where Republicans have actively sought the Hispanic vote, they have succeeded.

This is simply a lie. There is not a single race for any statewide or federal office where a Republican got a majority of the Hispanic vote.

[traditionalist]

Indeed, among the Pew respondents, more than three-quarters preferred to be identified simply as Americans or by their country of ancestry

Funny how the editorial fails to mention the fact that only 1/4 identified themselves as Americans.

[traditionalist]

There was in interesting article in Time last year, I think it was, about tension between Texas Latinos who have lived in the US for many generations and those who are just arriving.

[Ben Ficklin]

Through-out the history of the world there has been "tension" between those that came earlier and those that came later.

This is one of the fallacies of the public opinion polls regarding immigration that get thrown around.

[traditionalist]

Clearly, but the particular tension described in the article is unique.

Texas Lations who were here for generations tend to be thoroughly assimlated, patriotic Americans. Many don't speak Spanish. However, because they look like the current rabble pouring across our southern border, people often assume they are part of it, and they don't like it one bit.

[traditionalist]

Actually, Pete Wilson got more of the California Latino vote than did George W. Bush.

Wilson got 25% (source). Bush only got 22% (source) .

These exit poll results have margins of error bigger than 3%, so statsitically Wilson's and Bush's showings are about the same. However, the point still stands: the notion that Wilson alienated California hispanic voters and that Bush is winning the back is pure myth.

[usurper]

I sure wish the stupid RNC and Administration would read this and stop trying to pander to Hispanics as some block voting group. The majority of Hispanics want illegal immigration stopped and our immigration laws enforced. The RNC has bought the idea that the self appointed leaders of la Raza and other such organizations represent the view of the greater Hispanic American community. They don't represent Hispanics any more than the KKK represents white Americans.

Immigration wage reduction and crime more heavily impact Hispanics than other groups. This issue could be such a major winner, but alas we are the stupid party.

If Hispanics aren't showing up to vote for republicans its because we have not demonstrated in a meaning way any significant difference between the two parties. As it stands today, on the immigration issue there isn't any.

[Ben Ficklin]

There are several things wrong with your #17:

Bush never campaigned in CA. He wrote the state off. Its the 187 thingy.

The same CNN exit polls that you linked to show Bush recieving 35% nationally.

The CNN exit polls that you linked to wouldn't show Texas results but in the 1988 Gubernatorial VNS polls Bush recieved 49%.

BTW, don't believe everything you read in Time magazine.

[weikel]

Until recently, Republican strategists were inclined to write off the Hispanic vote.

Write it off and deport it when possible. Most want welfare its simply not possible to get the Hispanic vote without turning into a leftist robbing Peter to pay Paul Dem.