Monday, November 04, 2013

What if Republican postures are not just "pandering"?

In a post here last week I discussed a poll showing that, for most U.S. Latinos, new immigrants whether legally here or not are just family and neighbors, not some kind of dire threat. Near universal Latino rejection of immigrant bashing has alienated this growing community from the Republican Party.

This newspaper headline (click to embiggen) on a free paper widely distributed in my immigrant neighborhood reinforces what most people already know: the U.S. right is out to get them. No wonder hardly anyone grows up to be a Republican.

A Republican pollster is trying to get his party to wise up:
Freed Steeper, who served as an adviser to both Presidents Bush, told the New York Times in a story published Wednesday that the GOP may continue its struggles in national elections if it keeps up its often derisive rhetoric toward Hispanic voters.

“Racism may be a part of it,” Steeper admitted. “The Republican Party needs to stop pandering to that.”

Steeper then gave Republicans some blunt advice on the matter.

“The Republican Party needs to throw in the towel on the immigration issue," he said.

3 comments:

Rain Trueax said...

And if they learn to say the right words, you know, like compassionate conservative, and use religiosity regarding gays and abortion, then will they fool the Hispanics into thinking they are on their side? I sure hope not as I think pandering might work but their internal attitude will show up as soon as they get power as it has in state after state with Republican majorities and how they've done what Texas is with women. I think they mean it for their bigotry but they are capable of faking it to get elected. That's the worrisome part.

Hattie said...

They are heartless.

janinsanfran said...

Even the merely oblivious Republicans have no idea how they look to others -- hence this post. I'm glad I live in a world in which I am exposed to how others see. This is what the bulk of Republicans these days are trying to avert.