CONTAINING MULTITUDES

Assessing Latino political paradox: POLLS SHOW THEY WANT IT BOTH WAYS (Joe Rodriguez, 8/15/03, San Jose Mercury News)

Another political poll arrived the other day to remind us that Latinos are walking contradictions. Thank you, very much.

The New York Times and CBS poll said Latinos back big government and President George W. Bush, who is famously in favor of little government. It said Latinos want more government services and lower taxes. But tax cuts mean service cuts.

The poll said Latinos trust the Democrats to improve public education, but they also like the school vouchers Republicans would give their children to attend private schools. It said Latinos back affirmative action, as true liberals do, but they take the conservative side on abortion and gay marriages. [...]

What I find most interesting is the Latino affinity for President Bush.

The poll found they approved of his job performance 52 to 38 percent, while 54 percent agreed that he "cares about the needs and problems of people like yourself.'' By contrast, just 40 percent of Latinos had a favorable view of the Republican Party.

Seems largely just a function of him making it clear that he wants to be liked by them. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 15, 2003 1:18 PM