Thread: Republicans' border talk poses risk with Latinos

Republicans' border talk poses risk with Latinos

Patricia Zengerle
Reuters
10:04 a.m. EDT, October 19, 2011

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopefuls ratcheted up their tough talk against illegal immigration in a debate on Tuesday in Nevada, a state where they might need Latino voters to win the White House.

Fierce opposition to illegal immigration and tough border control is one of the party's hot-button policy issues. But some of the talk on the issue -- and the focus on sealing the border with Mexico -- does not go down well with Latino voters.

Whoever becomes the nominee to oppose President Barack Obama's re-election bid next year will need support from Latinos -- the largest and fastest growing U.S. minority group -- to win the White House.

In 2008, Obama defeated Republican John McCain by more than a 2-1 margin among Hispanics -- 67 percent to 31 percent, and became president. To win in 2012, his opponent likely would need to increase the Republican share to 40 percent, matching the more immigration-friendly George W. Bush when he was re-elected in 2004.

The Republican hopefuls kept up their hard talk on illegal immigration in Tuesday's debate in Nevada, one of the swing states where the 2012 election will likely be decided, and where 27 percent of the population is Hispanic.

Texas Governor Rick Perry said he would use predator drones along the Mexican border, and advocated sending additional troops to patrol the frontier.

Perry also blasted former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for using a lawncare company that hired illegal immigrants, and Romney lashed back at Perry because he had not supported building a fence all along Texas's 1,300-mile (2,000-km) border with Mexico.

ELECTRIFIED FENCE

Businessman Herman Cain, who has emerged as a frontrunner in the nomination race, was asked about his comment that the United States should build an electrified fence along the Mexican frontier, with barbed wire on top.

Cain said during the weekend he was sorry if his remarks had offended anyone, but said he was not walking away from the idea. "I don't apologize at all for wanting to protect the American citizens and to protect our agents on the border. No," Cain said on Tuesday.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann said she would fence the entire Mexican border and lashed out against foreign women who come to the United States and give birth to children as "anchors" on which they base their claim to stay.

"I will build the fence. I will enforce English as the official language of the U.S. government," Bachmann said.

Romney eventually interrupted the fierce discussion to take a cooler tone.

"I think it's important for us as Republicans on this stage to say something which hasn't been said. And that is I think every single person here loves legal immigration. We respect people who come here legally," he said.

But damage may have been done.

Robert Zavala, a Las Vegas resident who is a registered Republican, reminded the panel that not every Latino is in the country illegally. "What is the message from you guys to our Latino community?" he asked.

Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile said the issue will haunt the Republicans. "If one of these candidates wants to become president of the United States, they will have to reach out to Latino voters," she said on CNN.

http://www.indianas4.com/sns-rt-us-usa- ... 8878.story

If your a citizen of this country your like the rest of us and you want the best for this country doesn't matter if your Spanish, Greek, Italian, German, Irish, Latino, etc. Latino is not a favored status any more than any other nationality or race....


Illegal is Illegal.......


Legal is Legal



COMPRENDE'

Herman Cain should keep up his tough talk on IAs since mexico is so racist towards black people anyway. What's he got to lose??

Yes, Republicans should reach out to the 56% of America's LEGAL Latinos found in numerous polls and actual vote history to oppose illegal immigration and support tough enforcement measures.

In fact 56% is a better percentage than the average 65% that vote straight democratic ticket.

Isnt it always interesting to hear left leaning reporters and sources lecture Republicans about what they should do to win elections?

Promising illegal aliens amnesty does not work for Republican candidates, see that under John McCain and Sarah Palin in the dictionary.

W

There has to be a way to divide the Latino vote. Growing up in California I have seen over and over the embarrassment and anger of Americans of Latino origin towards illegal immigrants. Considering most of their parents were at one time immigrants they take offense when immigrants are attacked, but they don't like the situation either.

How many times have I heard them talk against what they refer to as "Nationals"? How many times have I heard them complain about the treatment their children receive at the hands of the "Nationals kids". The harrassment for speaking English or having white friends.

A smart Presidential Candidate would find a way to address Americans of Latino origin in a way that separates them from illegal's. Someone needs to play on the damage illegal immigrants (Nationals) are having on Americans as a whole and as Americans of Latino origin in particular.

Repubs don't need the latino vote to win. If all the hispanics voted for McCain he still would have lost by 3.2 million votes. Thats what they tell the candidates. Thats why we can't get a president with a backbone to protect our country. And it will only get worse. Why are people assuming that if you are for protecting America, you will not get the hispanic vote? As MontereySherry said, hispanics don't like it either. So have a little respect for the 38% of hispanics that vote R and quit kowtowing to illegals as Ron Paul would say.