Hispanic voters - Why Latinos Are Walking Out on the Democrats

[Moooooo]

From the LA Times:

They may have just elected the first Hispanic mayor of Los Angeles in 133 years, but the Democratic Party is losing the longer-term battle for Hispanic voters nationwide, argues Republican political consultant Dan Schnur. The trend may have implications for the outcome of the 2008 election.

"Republicans have made unprecedented inroads toward building a solid base among Latino voters," Schnur claims, noting that the 53% support John Kerry received from Hispanic voters in 2004 was sharply down from the 72% achieved by Bill Clinton just eight years previously. "A party that loses nearly a quarter of a core constituency in less than a decade is a party with cause for distress," Shnur believes. "And when that constituency represents the country's fastest growing demographic," Los Angeles' new mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, has every reason to express the concern that he did.

Schnur identifies four reasons for the shift. First, "Latinos became more conservative economically as they achieved greater prosperity" in recent times. Second, "Latinos serve in the armed forces at much higher levels than any other ethnic or racial group, leading to higher support of the Republican agenda for national security." Third, "there are rising numbers of Latino voters ... who relate to the GOP's platform on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage." Fourth, despite being characterised by Democrats as xenophobes for their views on immigration, Republicans support a president who proposes a combination of "stiffer penalties for illegal immigrants with provisions for a legal guest-worker program that provides a path to citizenship."

Looking ahead, the likelihood of vacancies in the near future on the US Supreme Court gives President Bush the chance to consider "several Latino Americans as nominees," including Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez.

With the opportunity, therefore, for Republicans to build on progress already made, "that doesn't bode well for Democrats trying to figure out how to fix their broken party," Schnur concludes.

[WalterMitty]

hispanics are generally people of deep faith.

the democrats mock christians and traditional values.

[MODU]

Fourth, despite being characterised by Democrats as xenophobes for their views on immigration, Republicans support a president who proposes a combination of "stiffer penalties for illegal immigrants with provisions for a legal guest-worker program that provides a path to citizenship."

While Mitty has a good point, I think this one is key.  The Hispanic voters are ones who achieved citizenship status legally.  Especially for first genenration Hispanics, I can see how being tough on illegal immigration can draw them to a particular candidate.

"If I had to go through all the crap to come here legally and become a citizen, like hell am I going to support someone who panders to the illegals."

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

hispanics are generally people of deep faith.

the democrats mock christians and traditional values.

oh come on, you don't actually believe opebo is like most democrats?

fact: A majority of Democrats are Christians

[??????????]

hispanics are generally people of deep faith.

the democrats mock christians and traditional values.

oh come on, you don't actually believe opebo is like most democrats?

fact: A majority of Democrats are Christians

Their are "Christians" and Christians. You for example are a "Christian". Take that however you'd like.

[Democratic Hawk]

All four of those reasons seem pretty plausible - and the Democrats should take heed

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

hispanics are generally people of deep faith.

the democrats mock christians and traditional values.

oh come on, you don't actually believe opebo is like most democrats?

fact: A majority of Democrats are Christians

Their are "Christians" and Christians. You for example are a "Christian". Take that however you'd like.

Catholics, Orthodox, mainline Protestants (like, myself - if you can call the C of E Protestant), evangelicals, fundamentalists ......... ? Yes, there are many types of Christian

Some are even Bookend Christians. You know, Christians who yawp about the Old Testament parts at the beginning and Revelations at the end, and conveniently leave out Christ's actual words and actual advice

Dave

[??????????]

hispanics are generally people of deep faith.

the democrats mock christians and traditional values.

oh come on, you don't actually believe opebo is like most democrats?

fact: A majority of Democrats are Christians

Their are "Christians" and Christians. You for example are a "Christian". Take that however you'd like.

Catholics, Orthodox, mainline Protestants (like, myself - if you can call the C of E Protestant), evangelicals, fundamentalists ......... ? Yes, there are many types of Christian

Some are even Bookend Christians. You know, Christians who yawp about the Old Testament parts at the beginning and Revelations at the end, and conveniently leave out Christ's actual words and actual advice

Dave

Most of those churches are partially or completely wrong in their doctrine. As for your second paragraph, you are correct their ARE a lot of those types. But they are wrong as well as they depend to much on the Old Testament when it doesnt really even apply completely to Christians.

[MODU]

We're having a similar discussion on one of my other forums right now.  Since the US is approximately 80% Judeo Christians, and if 100% of the Republican party is "Christian," than the Democratic party is theoretically 60% "Chrisitan."  Therefore, why is there such a big split down core debates (like abortion, death penalty, war, etc) between the two parties if their majorities believe the same Book?  Many questions can come out of this . . . the problem is, each answer creates even more questions. 

For reference use only, here is the link to the other forum:

"The Republican Platform and the Bible (and common sense)"

[Democratic Hawk]

hispanics are generally people of deep faith.

the democrats mock christians and traditional values.

oh come on, you don't actually believe opebo is like most democrats?

fact: A majority of Democrats are Christians

Their are "Christians" and Christians. You for example are a "Christian". Take that however you'd like.

Catholics, Orthodox, mainline Protestants (like, myself - if you can call the C of E Protestant), evangelicals, fundamentalists ......... ? Yes, there are many types of Christian

Some are even Bookend Christians. You know, Christians who yawp about the Old Testament parts at the beginning and Revelations at the end, and conveniently leave out Christ's actual words and actual advice

Dave

Most of those churches are partially or completely wrong in their doctrine. As for your second paragraph, you are correct their ARE a lot of those types. But they are wrong as well as they depend to much on the Old Testament when it doesnt really even apply completely to Christians.

Most of those churches are partially or completely wrong in their doctrine. As for your second paragraph, you are correct their ARE a lot of those types. But they are wrong as well as they depend to much on the Old Testament when it doesnt really even apply completely to Christians.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

As far as the Old Testament goes, I can't see much that is important to Christianity beyond the Creation and the Ten Commandments. I'm no theologian mind you, I think very few people are, other than the clergy, of course

Christianity is so diverse both in doctrine and how it has been widely applied in the context of political and socio-economic ideologies in that we have adherents who subscribe to Christian Democracy, Christian Socialism, Liberation Theology, Christian Fundamentalism - to name but four

As you might have gathered I'm pretty keen on the Social Gospel (well, centre-left economically), which I believe was (not so sure about, is) much advocated by the Episcopal Church (to which I would belong)

Other Christians, like Jehovah's Witnesses, shun politics altogether (there's quite a lot in my community) and I'm assuming they are the same in the US

I'm sure many Democrats, as well as Republicans, are committed Christians. Isn't the concept of social justice important to Catholics in the US, as well as moral issues, like abortion? It is in the UK, which is why, historically, they trend Labour. Catholics for a long time were economically, politically and socially disadvantaged back here. Many were of Irish descent and knew only too well what is was like to be second-class citizens (or subjects). Strangely, enough, the Church of England can no longer be called the 'Tory Party at Prayer' - but, as times and circumstances change, traditional class, religious, or racially - based political allegiances become more fluid or even move in the opposite direction

A personal question, I know you vote GOP nationally, but do you still vote for conservative Democrats down in Florida or are they not around any more?

Considering Florida is the closest state in the South when it comes to a GOP-Dem face-off, I'm surprised the legislature is, relatively heavily GOP, while Democrats hold few, if any, state wide offices; especially, when you consider that the legislatures of more conservative states like Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi are Democrat-controlled

Dave

[Sam Spade]

Other Christians, like Jehovah's Witnesses, shun politics altogether (there's quite a lot in my community) and I'm assuming they are the same in the US

Entirely true. 

Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote.  They just take property off the tax rolls. 

[??????????]

Well Hawk around here not very many democrats run for office. The only real Democrats that run around here are blacks but they themselves are pretty conservative as well. Many of them make me look like a moderate! Serious!

[Democratic Hawk]

Well Hawk around here not very many democrats run for office. The only real Democrats that run around here are blacks but they themselves are pretty conservative as well. Many of them make me look like a moderate! Serious!

Really. Do you live in that part of Northern Florida, where some counties are overwhelmingly Democratic in their voters' registration but where they are few Democratic votes?

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Other Christians, like Jehovah's Witnesses, shun politics altogether (there's quite a lot in my community) and I'm assuming they are the same in the US

Entirely true. 

Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote.  They just take property off the tax rolls. 

Is it a matter of religious conviction or are they just financially very savvy ?

Dave

[Sam Spade]

Other Christians, like Jehovah's Witnesses, shun politics altogether (there's quite a lot in my community) and I'm assuming they are the same in the US

Entirely true. 

Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote.  They just take property off the tax rolls. 

Is it a matter of religious conviction or are they just financially very savvy ?

Dave

A bit of both, probably.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

hispanics are generally people of deep faith.

the democrats mock christians and traditional values.

oh come on, you don't actually believe opebo is like most democrats?

fact: A majority of Democrats are Christians

Their are "Christians" and Christians. You for example are a "Christian". Take that however you'd like.

That sounds like a mocking comment.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

We're having a similar discussion on one of my other forums right now.  Since the US is approximately 80% Judeo Christians, and if 100% of the Republican party is "Christian," than the Democratic party is theoretically 60% "Chrisitan."  Therefore, why is there such a big split down core debates (like abortion, death penalty, war, etc) between the two parties if their majorities believe the same Book?  Many questions can come out of this . . . the problem is, each answer creates even more questions. 

For reference use only, here is the link to the other forum:

"The Republican Platform and the Bible (and common sense)"

Rather than make up numbers, why not look at the exit polls?
72% of Kerry voters, 89% of Bush voters, and 59% of Nader voters are Christian.

http://election.cbsnews.com/election2004/poll/poll_p____u_s__all_us0.shtml

[MODU]

We're having a similar discussion on one of my other forums right now.  Since the US is approximately 80% Judeo Christians, and if 100% of the Republican party is "Christian," than the Democratic party is theoretically 60% "Chrisitan."  Therefore, why is there such a big split down core debates (like abortion, death penalty, war, etc) between the two parties if their majorities believe the same Book?  Many questions can come out of this . . . the problem is, each answer creates even more questions. 

For reference use only, here is the link to the other forum:

"The Republican Platform and the Bible (and common sense)"

Rather than make up numbers, why not look at the exit polls?
72% of Kerry voters, 89% of Bush voters, and 59% of Nader voters are Christian.

http://election.cbsnews.com/election2004/poll/poll_p____u_s__all_us0.shtml

Thanks.  Didn't have the figures at hand. 

[??????????]

Well Hawk around here not very many democrats run for office. The only real Democrats that run around here are blacks but they themselves are pretty conservative as well. Many of them make me look like a moderate! Serious!

Really. Do you live in that part of Northern Florida, where some counties are overwhelmingly Democratic in their voters' registration but where they are few Democratic votes?

Dave

I live about 30 miles east of Tampa. The heart of central/rural Florida.