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.

TPM