What's Up With Latinos?
Meaning, why do they so reflexively vote for the Democrat? Even now, with the economy in the tank, they're still a pretty solid Democratic block. Some of that, I'm sure, has to do with the debate over illegal immigration. There's probably no way around that. But the economic issues -- and certainly the social issues -- would seem to benefit the Republicans.
Joel Kotkin, in New Geography, asks the question this way:
Today, of the 10 most economically “stressed” counties, seven are majority or heavily Latino, according to The Associated Press.
Theoretically, Republicans should be able to take advantage of this situation. But not with the party’s increasing embrace of its noisy nativist right — evident not only in support of the controversial Arizona immigration law but also in the strong move against “birthright citizenship.” This makes the prospect of earning back President George W. Bush’s 40-plus-percentage-point support difficult at best.
Thus, Latinos remain allied with Democrats whose policies inhibit the growth of construction and manufacturing jobs. This dichotomy puzzles many in the business community.
“You have all these job losses in Latino districts represented by Latino legislators who don’t realize what they are doing to their own people,” said Larry Kosmont, a California business consultant. “They have forgotten there’s an economy to think about.”
Despite that economic logic, Latino Democrats mindlessly follow liberal Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Henry Waxman of California and Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who represent largely white, affluent white-collar constituencies on issues such as cap and trade and federal regulation of greenhouse gases. Whatever the intent, these policies are likely to further decimate blue-collar employment in Latino districts.
Is there a way to get this fast-growing group to vote for free-market policies? Is there a way to win Latino voters -- without surrendering on the crucial need for border security? How do you talk about the free market, about entrepreneurial capitalism, about a low-tax high-opportunity society, and about border security without turning Latinos off?
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Jul '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
"Everybody knows -- but no one wants to say -- that the Democratic Party has become the party of special interest bigots and racial dividers. It runs the one-party state that controls public services in every major inner city, including the corrupt and failing school systems in which half the students -- mainly African American and Hispanic -- are denied a shot at the American dream. It is the party of race preferences which separate American citizens on the basis of skin color providing privileges to a handful of ethnic and racial groups in a nation of nearly a thousand. The Democratic Party has shown that it will go to the wall to preserve the racist laws which enforce these preferences, and to defend the racist school systems that destroy the lives of millions of children every year."
David Horowitz
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
The Latinos who would find talk of free-market principles and entrepreneurial capitalism appealing are the 1st generation immigrants, many of them illegal. Many of them come with dreams of some day opening their own businesses and achieving a greater degree of financial success than they could have in their native country. But since illegal immigration has become such a big issue on the right, the economic message doesn't have a chance to seep through.
Jun '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
It's much like any other ethnic group. If you're of Mexican heritage and here legally, even if you're a citizen of many years, you go to church with illegals, you go to Spanish-language events with illegals, and you get to know and love these people. In some cases, you're even related to them, or you come from the same town in Mexico and know the same people. You feel sorry for a lot of them, and you'd like to find some way they can stay. One party agrees with you, and the other party doesn't.
Aug '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
My guess is that immigration is the most important voting issue for most Hispanics. They seem to be, for the time being at least, a single-issue voting bloc. They aren't the first. They won't be the last. And when it comes to single-issue voters, no matter the issue, it takes a lot to budge them.
Jun '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Treating Latinos as a single voting bloc would be a mistake. A Cuban-American is not a Santa Fean, is not an LA Chicano. I can give you the scoop on New Mexico where educated Hispanics tend to work for the state or local government which is more or less owned by the Democratic party. The party/government then dispenses patronage to the working class and dependent class in exchange for votes. It's a system that has its roots in Spanish colonialism. You might believe that an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic populace (45%) might back conservatives based on a pro-life plank, but this is not the case. Patronage rules.
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Gaining their support isn't impossible, though. I think I'd explain why we need border security. Explain threats of terrorism and the big problem with the drug cartels at the border. Make the case for border security on its own merits without muddling the argument up with prejudice against Mexicans (which happens all too often when Republicans discuss immigration). Then discuss what we conservatives value and admire about the Latino population: they have a strong work ethic, they share our strong family values, they are people of faith, and they believe in passing along something better to their children. Then outline a guest worker program that gives anyone who wants to come to work the necessary paperwork. Have them work and pay taxes into the system. And once they've held steady work and paid their taxes for five or however many years, they can apply for permanent residence. I think that would go over well with the Latino population.
Jun '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
You are mistaken. I can tell you from my perch in Santa Fe that there is quite a bit of antipathy between native born Hispanics in this region and the new immigrants. Santa Fe is a sanctuary city because liberal Anglos made it so. But Albuquerque just revoked sanctuary status and now routinely checks immigration status of anyone arrested.
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Paules, I was just in Sante Fe for the first time, staying at a B&B where I had to walk past all the government offices to get to the main square. I noticed the punctuality with which the government employees worked. There was not a car in the lot at 5:03pm.
Edited on September 24, 2010 at 7:17pmJun '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Jun '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
I never doubted it for a minute - my prior comment quoting your prior comment is erased
May '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
We may be seeing an effect by which we are only noticing those Latinos who make a point of self-identifying as "Latino". In other words, the folks who are really into cultural and racial identity-politics. If your cultural identity is everything, then you will probably prefer the Democrats. Those whose sense of identity is wrapped up in other things, their profession, neighborhood, faith or family life, might be attracted to Republicans, but don't get noticed as "Latinos".
The same seems to happen with other ethnic and racial groups, and most noticeably with "feminists". Clearly the very vocal feminists who support Democrats reflexively do not representative all women.
I know Hispanic conservatives, but they tend not to make a big deal of their Hispanic heritage. It's not their defining characteristic.
Aug '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Quick answer to your question --
Machine politics re-enforced by gerrymandered minority majority districts made possible Baker v Carr, Thornberg v Gingles, and other voting rights cases.
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Here's my proposal. Conservatives generally have no problem with legal immigration. So the GOP should propose a large increase in the quotas for legal immigration -- both family reunification and skills-based. The illegals who would like to become legal will have to wait in line, but if we boost the quotas the line will be that much shorter.
May '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
~Paules
I can tell you from my perch in Santa Fe that there is quite a bit of antipathy between native born Hispanics in this region and the new immigrants.
That was the case in San Antonio when I lived there. There's a big difference in culture between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation hispanics. Generally, that's true of immigrant populations worldwide, but it depends on degree of ghettoization.
Hispanics tend to be socially conservative, but can that really be said of the GOP? Republican politicians generally downplay issues like abortion.
Diane is right that many Mexicans come here with plans to start businesses, but I think more come expecting to work for others. Entrepreneurs are not the norm for any culture. But they might be more likely to vote.
I'd guess that hispanics' loyalty to Democrats boils down to two things. First, the Democratic Party has created an image for itself (among all ethnic groups) as the party of the poor, and paints Republicans as the party of the greedy rich. Second, hispanic cultures come from nations where centralized authority and government handouts are favored.
Republicans should encourage private volunteer programs for the poor among its members.
May '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Continuing that last thought...
What Republicans need is more face-to-face interactions with the poor. I don't just mean campaign speeches in poor neighborhoods. I mean encouraging Republicans, voters as well as politicians, to participate in private programs where friendships can be established.
Poor people are fed this idea that Republicans are racist and greedy every day by the news, celebrities, community organizers, etc. The best way to counteract that is first-hand experience with good-natured Republicans who care about them and relate to them. You can get to know people pretty well sometimes through charities like meal delivery programs or homeless shelters.
Basically, Republicans have to earn trust. When someone's not merely indifferent about you but actually dislikes you, the best way to overcome that is personal interaction. Earn their trust, and then poor people will care what Republicans have to say.
Without trust, arguments and campaigns are just talking into the wind.
Sep '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Mr. Long - How do you not understand that your question itself might be demeaning to Latinos?
But in twenty years this conversation will be moot since there will be so many Latinos here that they will simply overwhelm us political conservatives. That is, unless we get right with them now.
I've been reading Klavan's recent musings about gays and feminists. In my book it is no wonder that they and blacks are so heavily Democratic since we opposed their freedoms 20+ years ago.
Since Ricochet is a leading thoughtful conservative blog, perhaps it should get a Latino guest author; eg, Ruben Navarrette. And perhaps there should be some moderation of discussion and some guidelines for Ricochet commentors.
Jun '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Denise Moss
Paules, I was just in Sante Fe for the first time, staying at a B&B where I had to walk past all the government offices to get to the main square. I noticed the punctuality with which the government employees worked. There was not a car in the lot at 5:03pm. · Sep 24 at 9:45am
Edited on Sep 24 at 10:17 am
The less time they spend in the office, the fewer regulations they draft to impede the rest of us. My attitude has gone native after 12 years here; I typically just ignore permits, regulations, and zoning laws. It's an attitude with deep roots in Spanish mercantilism. The way to beat oppressive government is to cheat at every opportunity. So much for the rule of law, but that's life here.
Aug '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
If the problem is really as Joel Kotkin outlined it... aren't you looking at the textbook justification for splitting off and forming a third party?
It sounds like grounds for a regional third party, at least. You don't need to be a national party to affect all the changes your constituents want.
Jun '10
Re: What's Up With Latinos?
Patrick in Albuquerque:
"Since Ricochet is a leading thoughtful conservative blog, perhaps it should get a Latino guest author; eg, Ruben Navarrette. And perhaps there should be some moderation of discussion and some guidelines for Ricochet commenters."
Joe Escalante is on staff at Ricochet, though he's not been around much lately. I would like to hear Joe's thoughts on Latinos and race. I've traveled in a dozen Latin American nations where I found clear class divisions based primarily on race: Europeans on top, mestizo second, pure Indian or black at the bottom.
Here in Santa Fe old-line Hispanic families take pride in tracing their bloodlines back to Spain. The racial differences between the locals and newly arriving Mexicans is profound. To say there is social tension between the two would be an understatement.