September 4, 2003
FIGHTING THE WRONG BATTLE:
(via Kevin Whited):
Poll finds diversity in Hispanic political views (Rebeca Rodriguez, 09/02/2003, San Antonio Express-News)
Far from being a cohesive voting bloc, Hispanics fluctuate between Democratic and Republican positions depending on the issue and their country of origin, according to one of the largest election polls of Americans ever conducted.The study, released Tuesday by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, surveyed 4,676 Hispanics and 79,000 respondents overall following the 2000 presidential election.
The results show that on economic issues, Hispanics tend to lean Democratic while on questions like abortion and school vouchers, they are more likely to agree with Republican stances. [...]
Hispanics now number 38.8 million, according to U.S. Census figures. Mexicans make up the lion's share, at 67 percent, followed by Central Americans at 14.3 percent and Puerto Ricans at 8.6 percent. Cubans make up nearly 4 percent, and other Hispanics round out the total at 6.5 percent.
The study found that instead of a “Latino voting bloc” or “Hispanic voting power,” there are distinctions within the Hispanic community based on country of origin.
For example, the poll showed that nearly half of Caribbean Americans identify themselves as Democrats, while only 37 percent of Mexicans consider themselves Democrats. Conversely, 39 percent of Cubans identify themselves Republican, but only 15 percent of Central Americans affiliate with the GOP.
Those numbers, however, don't clearly reflect the "wiggle room" among many Hispanic voters, said Frank Guerra, a San Antonio ad executive who has worked on several Republican campaigns.
In national surveys conducted before and after the 2000 presidential election, 45 percent of Hispanics identified themselves as Democrats, 30 percent considered themselves Republican and 25 percent said they could move in either direction, Guerra said.
"It was startling to a lot of people," he said. "That told us that there really is no monolithic Hispanic voting bloc. Twenty-five percent still hadn't fully made up their minds."
That translates into a large untapped electorate that many political candidates are beginning to see as crucial to their success. [...]
"There is a streak of social conservatism within the Latino community," said La Raza's Navarette. "Even though they may vote Democratic, a Republican message might resonate more with the community."
The question then for the Buchanacons is: shouldn't we be helping smuggle Mexicans into the country to counteract the socially liberal Anglos in places like CA? Posted by orrinj at September 4, 2003 9:51 PM
My US-born Colombiana wife is much closer to the Bros. Judd on social issues than I am....
Posted by: Foos at September 4, 2003 10:21 PMInstead of "smuggling Mexicans", the US should absorb Mexico.
There's something for everyone there: The four major parties can all expect a fair share of voters from the population; Mexican voters can shed the semi- to fully-rigged elections that they've been putting up with; The US can stop spending vast sums on southern border guards, as the southern Mexican border is both much smaller and better patrolled by Mexico; The US will gain the workers it needs to finance a full retirement by the Boomers.
Mexico isn't plagued by a totally underdeveloped political process, nor by a moribund economy. They have vast natural resources, including oil and uranium. Mexicans are overwhelmingly Christians.
In sum, Mexico is a slightly underdeveloped plum, just waiting for the US to unlock its full potential, and Mexico has the workers that the US already knows that it'll need, and they'll be very easily assimilated.
Michael:
Ah, but look at Europe. All the good ones came here. Why should we want the dross that sinks to the bottom of other nations?
Posted by: oj at September 5, 2003 8:01 AMPlease check some information on poker tables, casino on line, online casino 888, gambling bet, blackjack statistics, roulette wager, gamble stake, internet casino web, slot machine bonuses, online casino bonus online, online gamble rules, casino gambling 8888, casino game casions, las vegas web, video poker software, roulette online casinos, slot statistics, blackjack online rule, blackjack betting rule, poker casinos, gambling on net casino, blackjack cards, poker casino on net, casino on line, casino tip, gambling cards. ...
Posted by: blackjack betting at January 12, 2004 5:58 PM