[AzJP]

My experience might not be typical for California or Texas, but in the Arizona I know well, there are two kinds of Republicans:
1: The zealots who can't stand different skin colors.
2: The country-club wonks who are horrified with a bit of dirt on their worshipped SUVs.

Now let's look at what I'd call a typical 'mezzican. Ask 'em what's important to them and the usual answer is "freedom for my family".
Who goes to the trouble to knock on their door? Usually early 20's from the nearest college young Democrat club.

........which is why those registered Independent in Arizona include a big bunch of ex Republicans.

In my experience in Arizona.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

My experience might not be typical for California or Texas, but in the Arizona I know well, there are two kinds of Republicans: 1: The zealots who can't stand different skin colors. 2: The country-club wonks who are horrified with a bit of dirt on their worshipped SUVs.

You need to get out more, or you're just brainwashed. 95% of voting Republicans in Arizona or any other state do not fall into those categories. Keep pushing that propaganda to scare potential Republican voters off. GO back to DU and get your next set of marching orders.

[DLfromthedesert]

Well, you don't know the Republicans I know. I'm a precinct committeeman and member of Tucson Reublican Women, and the Republicans I know are people who love our country, our freedoms, and are very generous to those less fortunate, and I resent your characterization. Maybe you should get out more.

[DLfromthedesert]

Furthermore, I do voter registrations, and the independents are the young ones who are not sure maybe because of the lousy civic education they're getting. I've seen more people change their registration from Dem to Ind or to Rep especially after the Clinton debacle. That includes Latinos.

[Doctor Stochastic]

You are certainly correct about that. All politics is personal. People don't vote for the candidate according to political conviction so much as they do based on the candidates perceived view of the voters. If Republicans continue to give the impression of wanting "minorities" to just go away, the "minorities" will vote for Democrats just to punish the GOP. It may take years for the GOP to overcome the actions of Wilson and Buchannan. It has taken years for the Democrats to overcome the actions of Wallace and Maddox.

[varon]

Now let's look at what I'd call a typical 'mezzican. Ask 'em what's important to them and the usual answer is "freedom for my family".

I don't buy that for a minute. That answer might have come from political refugees escaping Communist dictatorships but the typical 'mezzican' is not a political refugee but someone that is chasing the Yanqui $$$.

[Bob J]

You are right. Hispanics don't vote pub because they generally view conservatives as bigots. It may not be accurate, but perceptions matter in politics. If we could find a way to change this attitude, I believe they would come over in droves. Unfortunately, some use immigration issues as a shield to hide their bigotry and they seem to shout the loudest (This is not an indictment of all immigration opponents, some have very good arguments). The press seeks them out to reinforce that image and help keep hispanics on the dem plantation.

Hispanics are the swing vote for the next 100 years in the Southwest and West. Without a plan to reach out and connect on the multitude of common beliefs and issues, that bigot label will stick and the dems will control this portion of the country, and maybe the whole enchilada.

[ChiMark]

To sink Arizona into the sess pool by hating republicans is foolish. Don't blame the republicans.The independents gave over the country to a tyrant for 8 yrs. The damage he caused should make the independents with their puritanical fantasies blush. Of course only republicans can be biggotts. But it's O.K. for hispanics to be xenophobic racists. I think that the biggest racists are in the democratic party. After all, they are the first to notice racial differences.