Karl Rove understood the problem.
The Latino population is growing to the point where they can shift election results. Indeed, if demographic trends continue, states like Texas will turn blue. Had Romney got Bush's share of the Latino vote, he would have won.
Rove and Bush created the "Ownership Society" to put poor latinos in homes. The Bush regime created Latino outreach programs and proposed very progressive legislation on immigration.
Today's GOP does not support the Bush position on the "Latino Problem". They have an opposite position which stems partly from their electoral strategy. Meaning: in order to mobilize Talk Radio Voters, the GOP gins up the "culture wars" with issues like abortion, gay marriage, and illegal immigration.
Historically, rightwing groups have won elections by prodding the prols with "Borders, Language, Culture."
Rightwing movements always appeal to the patriotic nativist with a kind of messianic nationalism: "Our country is Special. We are the Chosen Nation. BUT, we are being destroyed by Liberal Tolerance of Outsiders."
Indeed, consider what Hitler did with the Jews. He propagandized them as an external contagion that threatened German language and tradition. This is what American Talk Radio does with "illegals".
The GOP needs Latinos to win elections (many of whom are sympathetic to their illegal immigrant brothers an sisters).
What should Republicans do about this problem?
Do they:
1) Keep manipulating low-information voters to take their country back? Keep threatening mass deportation in order to titillate the Joe Arpaio crowd?
or
2) Tone down the "Borders, Language, Culture" rhetoric, reach out to all Latinos, and give illegals a path to citizenship?
Limbaugh makes his living by convincing angry white men that their country is under siege. Rush needs the "Borders, Language, Culture" rhetoric . . .
(and his listeners crave it)
What should the GOP do about the "Latino Problem"?
What say you, great American?
The Latino population is growing to the point where they can shift election results. Indeed, if demographic trends continue, states like Texas will turn blue. Had Romney got Bush's share of the Latino vote, he would have won.
Rove and Bush created the "Ownership Society" to put poor latinos in homes. The Bush regime created Latino outreach programs and proposed very progressive legislation on immigration.
Today's GOP does not support the Bush position on the "Latino Problem". They have an opposite position which stems partly from their electoral strategy. Meaning: in order to mobilize Talk Radio Voters, the GOP gins up the "culture wars" with issues like abortion, gay marriage, and illegal immigration.
Historically, rightwing groups have won elections by prodding the prols with "Borders, Language, Culture."
Rightwing movements always appeal to the patriotic nativist with a kind of messianic nationalism: "Our country is Special. We are the Chosen Nation. BUT, we are being destroyed by Liberal Tolerance of Outsiders."
Indeed, consider what Hitler did with the Jews. He propagandized them as an external contagion that threatened German language and tradition. This is what American Talk Radio does with "illegals".
The GOP needs Latinos to win elections (many of whom are sympathetic to their illegal immigrant brothers an sisters).
What should Republicans do about this problem?
Do they:
1) Keep manipulating low-information voters to take their country back? Keep threatening mass deportation in order to titillate the Joe Arpaio crowd?
or
2) Tone down the "Borders, Language, Culture" rhetoric, reach out to all Latinos, and give illegals a path to citizenship?
Limbaugh makes his living by convincing angry white men that their country is under siege. Rush needs the "Borders, Language, Culture" rhetoric . . .
(and his listeners crave it)
What should the GOP do about the "Latino Problem"?
What say you, great American?
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