NATURALLY REPUBLICAN:

GOP Aggressively Seeks Latino Vote (JONATHAN D. SALANT, 10/03/02, Associated Press)

What gives the GOP cause for optimism is that fewer Latinos who plan to become citizens identify themselves with either party - 22 percent for the Democrats to 14 percent for the Republicans.

"Partisanship hardens the longer you're here," said Rodolfo de la Garza, vice president of research for the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute and a political science professor at Columbia University.

To lure the new immigrants, the Republican National Committee staffs naturalization ceremonies.

"As Latinos throughout this country are becoming U.S. citizens, there are Republican staffers and Republican volunteers welcoming them and congratulating them on becoming citizens and inviting them to join the Republican ranks," said Rudy Fernandez, director of grass-roots development for the Republican National Committee.

Hard to believe the stupid party could think of something that smart. Posted by Orrin Judd at October 5, 2002 11:02 AM