Results from a Fox News Latino poll show the GOP moving in the wrong direction with Latino voters.
Barack Obama won 67% of the Latino vote in 2008, and though it appeared Republicans had an opportunity to help bring down that number considerably this year, most observers in both parties agree that this is not going to happen.
Glenn Thrush reports this week that Mitt Romney's campaign has alienated Latino voters to such an extent, he's not going to get them back.
"In 2008, John McCain paid the price with Latinos for what other Republicans … had said and done," said Ana Navarro, a Republican Party operative who worked for McCain in 2008 and is a longtime friend who advises Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who remains popular with that state's large Latino population. "Romney could very well pay an even higher price with Latinos, but it will be for things he's said and done. The tragic part about it is that he's done it to win over the very conservatives, and they still [aren't supporting him]."
One top GOP operative said that number needs to be closer to 33 percent: "We lose Hispanics this bad, we lose the whole election. Period."
The headline read, "How Mitt Romney lost Latinos," but it's worth emphasizing that the Republican frontrunner didn't "lose" them; he pushed them away, practically on purpose.
Romney is an opponent of the DREAM Act; he's palling around with Pete Wilson and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach; he endorses a "self-deportation" agenda; he's critical of bilingualism; and his casual dismissals of "amnesty" and "illegals" are a staple of his campaign rhetoric.
The effects of this may very prove to be more sweeping than just one election cycle. For much of the Bush era, Republicans made persistent efforts to strengthen their relationship with the nation's fastest-growing constituency. In the Obama era, the GOP has moved quickly in the opposite direction, and the result is likely to linger for many cycles to come, up and down the ballot.
To reiterate a point from last week, the latest national Fox News Latino poll found Latino voters moving quickly away from Republicans. I put together a chart, featured above, to help drive the point home. On the left, those columns show Obama's edge over the GOP nominee in 2008, when exit polls showed McCain losing this constituency by 36 points. On the right, those columns show Obama's advantage over Romney based on the Fox News poll.
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What does it matter to Republicans if they alienate Latinos? The Republicans are pretty much being unopposed in their voter suppression efforts, therefore its safe to assume they can alienate any group they are being successful in disenfranchising. The Department of Justice isn't showing too much urgency in their response to voter suppression laws. It appears that only Reverend Al is willing to try to organize resistance to this assault on democracy. The mainstream media should be ashamed of itself for its silence, for its reluctance to tackle the problem head on and for its acquiescence to fascism. For an institution specifically granted constitutional protection the reluctance of the PRESS to defend all American's right to vote is a national disgrace.
You discount the large majority of hispanics who are citizens, who are Republicans, who vote and who support Obama over any of the clowns in the field, especially Romney - like me! Comprende?
Papa, I believe the department of Justice is being very careful with it's time line before this election. Taking an issue with voter suppression too early means that it can get resolved quicker, and the safest bet is to wait until after the election...
Due to the war on women and religious "holy crusades" to mandate by law a persons morals to the Christine doctrines by republicans... I believe we will see a purge from congress of that very same party.
I don't know that we'll see the GOP purged from government in November, although I'm in general agreement with you. The Republicans are alienating large blocks of voters, women of course being by far the largest, and although there will be plenty of people targeted by Republican policies who will still vote for Republican candidates, I think it very likely that they will drive away enough voters to swing the election to the Democrats even if all the voter-suppression laws are in full effect (and I doubt that they all will be).
to such an extent, he's going to get them back.
Steve there is a word missing.
"Hi, I am Mitt Romney. I love Latinos. They are the right height for the trees."
That is a truly great slogan for Texas, with a lovely appeal to Texan history and tradition.
Oh dear. Very good, sarcastic reference to the kind of job the GOP 1%-ers would like to keep Latinos doing, and more broadly the social status to which they must (per the Southern Strategy) be kept.
paplanner verson 2. Why do we all just sit on our butts complaining about the Republican voter suppression efforts? Every one of those laws has a way for voters to comply. Get off your ass and make sure the elderly, Latino, black and other targets of the Republican efforts in your community get their voter cards in time. That is what Reverend Al is doing. That is what you should be doing in your own home town. And for the record that is what I should be and will be doing too.
Mitt Romney is going to get them back? Sorry for the proof read. I think there's a *not* missing up there somewhere. Unless I'm having a comprehension fail. In which case, disregard.
Well, Bush and Rove did. But when they tried to pass an immigration reform law, they found that the Republican base was strongly opposed.
That was the turning point. and it was that opposition by the base that forced McCain to oppose immigration reform, which he'd previously supported, to win the GOP nomination.
And it's been all downhill from there for the GOP and Hispanics. A xenophobic party isn't going to get along well with what they regard as a bunch of furriners, whether or not many of the 'furriners' are U.S. citizens.
Interesting point. Was that, indeed, the point where the base got the bit in their teeth and prepared to run away with the Party?
It was wrong of them to assume that all Latino voters are democrat. Their assumption is costing them votes. Pretty soon the Republican party will consists of only Rich, white males. Which may be their plan all along. They already have all the Big Corporations on their side. They are relying on the fact that money can buy anything. Have they sold thier souls to the silver-tongued devil? This is getting really close to resembling genicide.
The Republicans made the calculation that they could 'energize' the angry white male and that somehow that along with suppressing the vote and attacking women and minorities they could bamboozle the voting public. It may well work...for one cycle but I doubt it. And YES Ron, you are correct. It's not enough to write on blogs. We have to get off our butts and make sure that these people have voter ids and understand the consequences.
They are not doing their job.Which leads me to believe that they don't really know how to. Somebody apparantly told them it was their job to annihilate all minorities at all costs. Are we paying these people to destroy everything America stands for. The Tea Party has been exposed they have no business working for the American people. They are rascists, fascist, bigots. If not then prove us wrong start helping the American People. What have they done lately?
Viva la Raza!
It's good to see latinos siding with the party that's willing to acknowledge their human dignity.
I don't know that President Obama should be jumping for joy quite yet.
His numbers are up with Latinos by 3% even though the GOP's numbers are down 15%. That' 12% difference is where?
Beyond that, how much of an affect will all of the voter ID laws have on the Latino voting numbers. Could they offset President Obama's 3% with these laws? Or even more?
I think you are correct. Latinos are not exactly happy with the way Dems have handled the immigration issue. It is very possible they may stay home on election day.
Hopefully women will do the same.
Actually, the tragic part is that he doesn't need to win over the very conservatives. He just needs enough to squeak out the nomination and the very conservatives will flock to him the moment he's head-to-head with the evil "foreign muslim socialist."
He's bending over backwards to get people who will vote for him anyway, while alienating the people who otherwise could be up for grabs.
This week its women, next week Latino's, the week after, young people....oh wait, that was all this week.
Is it really news that Republicans are alienating latinos? Who haven't they alienated over the last few years? If you're not a straight, rich, white, male, catholic conservative Republican CEO who owns the house he lives in and paid cash for it, who was born in the US and doesn't believe in birth control, abortion, segregation or income taxes, the Republican Party has probably told you, on no uncertain terms, that it's time for you to get out of their tent.
They seem awfully optimistic about their chances of fixing it so that only their people will be allowed to vote this November. Or maybe they already know that their votes won't go wandering off into the electronic ether, as so often happens with non-Republican votes.
Pretty much correct, except 'Catholic'. Actually a generation ago they'd be just as unwelcome as other minorities. It was traditionally white and protestant, but you know, the times have changed, any kind of conservative christianity (right-wing mainstream protestant, evangelical protestant, catholic) would do.
Romney also believes that being unable to speak English makes a person illiterate. Maybe someone should explain it to him.
I think the only group that the Republican'ts have not alienated are older white males, with incomes over $200K. Looking forward to a BrokeRed convention
You act like the GOP actually cares about anyone that isn't white, male, and over the age of 18......They don't care and they figure that by the "general election" most Americans" won't care about what they said either, hey it's been working for them well up til now!
No Mike Paganucci, they'll stay home because half of them don't even register to vote. So why would the republicans worry over alienating themselves from the so-called fastest growing constituency. This is especially true in Texas, but don't take my word for it, anyone who is a Chicano or Latino that happens to read this, next time you are out shopping ask the Chicano or Latino next you if he or she votes? Odds are that half of them will say, no. And it's not because they are lazy, but apolitical. And not until someone makes them understand how much politics affects their life, then they'll get involved, much like I did when Bush wrecked my financial life.
Ben - I live in Texas also and agree wholeheartedly with your statements. Very few Latinos vote and have not yet recognized the power they could exert if they would get involved.
What a strange definition of "tragic."
This President has America heading on the right track! We Must have 4-MOrRE YRS. MR PRESIDENT! We can't afford the Right Wing Traveling Circus Act to play at the White House in 2012! Let's Just Get it Done.. Nov. 2012 OBAMA/BIDEN !!
MR PRESIDENT THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH WOMEN AND AGAINST THE WAR ON WOMEN!
http://youtu.be/IfjAMRgpoug
STAND UP AND JOIN WITH US NOW! MEN WOMEN CHILDREN ALL WELCOME.
Here are the links you will need to get started: for The USA & for Overseas:
OUR WEBSITE
http://www.wearewomenmarch.net/
OR OVERSEAS
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OR USA
http://unitewomen.org/