By Linda Vega
Democrats could anticipate the Latino vote without much effort or campaigning in past political races. In fact, it used to be the norm that if Latinos voted, no one asked their political affiliation because it was presumed that they were Democrat, especially in Texas. Studies have shown us that Latinos will come out and vote at certain times and for certain candidates. For instance, Latinos came out in heavy numbers in 2004 (44%) to vote for President Bush who is considered not only a friend to Latinos, but their protector. Other than that, the voter apathy has been consistent for the community, even in 2008 for the Obama election. This is perhaps the reason Obama laughs and says he will have five more years to work on issues that affect the community. So while Latinos have voted consistently, it has been in small numbers and for Democrats. Latinos are a group population who live in regions (like RGValley and California) that under represent their interests and keep them in an income below the poverty level.
Currently there are 3.8 million eligible voters in Texas, California leads with 5.4 million. Of those 3.8 million those Latinos eligible as voters are currently at 25%(New Mexico leads with 38%). The segment between the ages of 18-29 which is at 31.1%, is growing at a rapid rate. This is also the segment that seeks to move up in the income category and the one that will impact the political movement in Texas in the next 2-6 years.
Every year the growing number of Latinos becoming eligible to vote increases by 500,000 either by gaining Citizenship or coming into the voting age of (18). As a result, Latinos are gaining in political power in the U.S., not just in Texas.
Recently in Texas, two Democrat Politicians have switched sides to the right, and this trend is growing. Democrats attempt to paint this as treason, but it is more of a logical and survival move. The changing demographics and opportunities for Latinos seem to be the key. In the past, Latinos struggled in Texas for “effective” representation by their own, that is Latino elected officials. Latino leaders are encountering a resistance by Democrats who have developed a patronage system in California, and now seek it in Texas, especially in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. This is a region that has afforded people only a slight opportunity for progress and change. The Valley has been ruled by Democrats since the1960s, and opportunities for Latinos have only slightly improved within the last 20 years.
However, things are changing with new educational opportunities for Latinos and new leadership building on the horizon. In a recent redistricting plan, those who were in a solid Democratic district are now in a district that has more Republican voters. The new redistricting has created a Darwinian concept of survival: change to the evolving environment or perish. Some Democratic candidates are adhering to this concept and thus are switching parties. But changes are usually rejected and feared by those who have held power for too long, in this case the Democrats.
Democrats fear this change for many reasons. First, they are losing their long argument that the Democrat party is the only party for Latinos. No longer will they be able to parade Latinos as loyal democrats–or as a needy minority whose only options are government programs–regardless of the policies passed to push down their potential. Moreover, Democrats can no longer coast through an election campaign and anticipate the Latino vote to be in their favor. They must now compete with the Republicans, who now have strong contenders and who offer more opportunity for Latinos in state policies.
An example of this is the 10% Admission into college. This program is advocated by a Republican Governor and Attorney General. Both Governor Perry and AG Greg Abbott understand that this program is an opportunity for Latinos to become better educated which in turn places them in a higher bracket. This will create a new taxpayer who will be fiscally conservative and produce a new voter loyal to that party who provided that opportunity. And while this law is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court, the Democrats cannot effectively argue that is against opportunity for Latinos. Likewise, the right cannot argue that it is affirmative action for minorities because it is a law that is based on merit and does not take into consideration the fact of race. Yet, it is the first law that has increased the number of Latinos into higher education. It is rationally related to a governmental interest, and the only test that it must meet according to Constitutional law.
Second, there is new fresh leadership. Democrats, in the Valley, have long been the uncontested candidates who ran for office. Previously no one dared to questioned or even run for the positions because of lack of support from constituents and funding. But this antiquated thought might be changing. Many Democrats are changing parties in the Rio Grande Valley. J.M. Lozano recently changed from Democrat to Republican and has followed the footsteps of Rep. Aaron Pena who changed parties in 2011. This is giving voters more of a selection. These new Latino Republicans want a change where opportunity will be available for the voters and where politics will be based on merits, not patronage. Also, these new Republican Candidates want vast opportunities for all residents of the Rio Grande Valley and can now offer better choices to their constituent’s children and families. This type of courage is attracting new young voters who are eager to have other opportunities available for them and their future families, rather than just having the “same old same old” guard of representation. That is, there is now more of a choice other than one political party.
So while the Democrats parade that there is a President of color in the White House and Latinos could be next to occupy that same role in a “few years,” it is the latest promise that is heard often when vying for votes in the community. However, this is no longer enough to sustain and hold onto the voters from an Administration who delivers nothing to the Latino community. With the exception of George W. Bush who got up to 44% of the Latino vote in Texas, Democrats have controlled over 2/3 of Latinos vote for the last 40 years, in Texas. The Obama Administration has not offered anything to Latino Democrats voters, in way of policies that offer opportunity, leadership in cabinet posts, or other high ranking officials. Perhaps this is the wake-up call that Latinos need to finally abandon the antiquated politics of patronage. Latinos should be thinking about their options and wondering why they keep voting Democrat and not moving up the ranks.
This has become evident to the all contenders who are eying the changing demographics in Texas. If Latinos are to gain any credibility and perhaps have a stronger voice in religious freedom, let’s say, preserving Conservative mantras are the key. As President Ronald Reagan once observed, “Latinos are conservative, they just don’t know it yet.” Now is the time to awaken that realization to a new type of political candidate who will not only bring a change to the Latino Community but an opportunity that many never thought possible.
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WE have a long way to go. WE need to inform ALL Hispanics that voting DEMOCRAT is the same as voting for Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro. WE need propaganda, rallyes, public meetings, and LET the Hispanics know what is GOOD and how long WE been taking for granted, ‘ for the raid”. Thanks.
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/03/obama-leads-sixtoone-among-latinos-116475.html
^^delusional
Some thoughts on immigration: Republicans do a great job articulating what they are against, but not what they are for. They need to lay out an alternative. Comprehensive immigration reform does not have to mean amnesty. You can come up with a new paradigm — or do thay lack originlity.
To switch the topic to the AZ and AL immigration laws, I think there is a states rights issue. Some republicans may not support the law itself, but they support the right of the state to pass the law. Unfortunately, they sound racist in the process — maybe without meaning to. There are more issues, but it’s late and time for bed. I’d be glad to discuss them — including immigration being under FEDERAL jurisdiction, not state jurisdiction.
I think many are being counted as Latino or Hispanic just because they have Spanish surnames. I have a Spanish surname, I am mostly German, Dutch, and a very small part of Spain and Mexico. I am a Heinz 57 if they really want to put something down for me.
Every Spanish surname is not Hispanic, Latino, Puerto Rican, or whatever. It’s just a surname. In Louisiana many of the Cajuns have Spanish surnames, and they came from Spain a couple of centuries ago. They definitely are not Hispanics.
It is inevitable that the Hispanic vote will become reliably Republican and turn away from paternalistic white liberals.
Hispanics possess so many dominant GOP values that have already caused a slow but steady defection into the GOP camp:
- Strong church attendance and strong traditional Catholicism family values…including anti-abortion sentiments
Very high rates of participation in US labor markets and the US military for the past several decades since WWII. In fact, the second largest number of ethnic names on the Vietnam War Memorial are Hispanic, and two top Generals in Iraq and Afghanistan were Hispanic.
Over 50+ percent of Hispanics identify with the label “conservative”, more than Blacks or Whites at 40%, according to two Washington Post polls.
Very entreprenuerial. In the same poll, more Hispanics, 52%, than Blacks or Whites, aspire to own their own business…..and pursue such goals at every socio-economic level.
In a few decades, Hispanics are likely to become like the Italian immigrants of yesteryear, as both groups share the values expressed here at this time in their immigration history.
Italians became affluent middle-class Americans despite a lack of formal education, which they eventually acquired in later generations. They are now a mostly Republican-majority voting ethnic-bloc. Hispanics are the new Italians, destined to be affluent and likely Republicans.
I believe in throwing all the violent criminals out, but support the Chamber-of-Commerce position of amnesty to all working Latin immigrants.
However, welfare assistance should not be available to new immigrant families or those receiving amnesty. They should survive on their own, just as the poor, uneducated European immigrants of yesteryear did…with no public assistance. Period.
This is a terrific article. The US needs dozens more prolific Latina writers such as this author.
She may be the new Linda Chavez — Reagan’s first Mexican-American Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison, and the first Hispanic nominated in US history as Secretary of Labor.
I wouldn’t limit this to Latinos.I would asmsue media influences are the #1 influence that pushes any minority race to want to pursue someone that is caucasian. I myself am 1/2 Japanese and my preference are white males, but it doesn’t mean that EVERYONE wants a white guy. It’s just that we see white society to be the ideal in almost anything in the media. Advertisements, TV, magazines, etc. All feature a white person first, and then if they’re feeling a lil diverse, they’ll throw in a black guy or something. We all do it and we tend to do it unconsciously too.This ends up affecting us when it comes to choosing who we want to be in a relationship with. Thats why you see a lot of mixed race couples that are white plus something else. Not often will you see black plus asian, or asian plus east indian.Point to ponder
I wonder why vuheocr advocates were given the inside track on the maps? Jensen served in the Assembly from 1992 until 2006, when he was convicted of three felonies and a misdemeanor for directing aides to campaign on state time. The felonies were overturned on appeal, and in 2010 Jensen reached a plea deal in which the felony charges were dismissed and Jensen agreed to pay a $5,000 civil forfeiture and more than $67,000 in legal fees that were originally paid by taxpayers.Shortly after Jensen received the maps from Ottman, he forwarded them to Zeus Rodriguez, president of St. Anthony School and Hispanics for School Choice. His school participates in the vuheocr program, which allows low-income students to attend religious and other private schools at taxpayer expense.Hispanics for School Choice and Jensen’s group both backed an expansion of the school vuheocr program included in the state budget just weeks before the maps went before the Legislature.
I’m kind of jealous of those Mexicans. I can’t just look at a cadtniade and say, “hey, a white guy! That’s the one for me!” because he could turn out to be Russ Feingold or Tom McClintock or Alan Grayson or George W Bush or any number of things. So I have to spend the time to evaluate each cadtniade as an individual human being, instead of a member of a vast undifferentiated herd. It would make life easier for me if all white people thought alike the way other ethnic groups apparently do.It would make life easier for you people as well, since in a nation blessed with over two hundred million people who thought the way I do about politics, the chief political debates would be on the order of whether to officially add “is Awesome” to the name “The United States of America”, since that’s how everyone in the world was referring to us anyway.