Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Energize the Latin@ Vote!

¡Hola! Everybody...
It was a rough night for us progressives, but considering we're in midst of one of the worst financial fuck ups in modern history (caused by failed conservative policies), a jobless rate going through the roof, and a president who just doesn't seem to “get” it, it could’ve been worse. for example, if the GOP had real cojones, they would’ve hitched their wagons to the looneytarians rather than the rabid teabaggers. Loonies are more attractive to people who identify as “independents (really: indies are shamed conservatives for the most part).

Also, I don’t get all this hoopla about the teabaggers, they’re not anything new: they’re overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly male, and overwhelmingly older. sounds like the same angry KKKristian KKKonsservatives to me!

The pundits are already writing eulogies for liberalism, claiming that voters have rejected progressive ideals. But this is so much bullshit. Half of the Blue Dog (conservative) incumbents were defeated, and by themselves accounted for close to half of the Democratic losses. Conservative democrats: Why vote for a make-believe conservative when you can vote for a true, meat and potatoes, rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth one?

Considering all the above factors and taking into account that the midterms have historically always been bad news for the party in power, this wasn’t really a mandate at all.

Yes, the old guard Cuban American come mierdas in Florida went out en masse for one of the dumbest muthfuckas I’ve ever seen, Rubio (and considering the intense competition for that the designation this election cycle, that’s saying a lot). On the “good news” front, Latin@s came out saved democratic ass in a number of high profile races. Here’s a good piece on Latin@s from America’s Voice...

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Energized by Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric, Latinos Win It for Dems in NV, CA

The Spanish-language press reports today on the Democrats’ defeat in the House of Representatives, and retention of a reduced majority in the Senate. They also focus on the role of Latino voters in key races, such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s reelection in Nevada and Jerry Brown’s victory in the California gubernatorial race. While the anti-immigrant rhetoric used by many Republican candidates motivated millions of Latinos to vote for Democrats by historic margins, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives presents an obstacle to passing immigration reform.

Latinos key to Harry Reid's and Jerry Brown's victories. EFE writes that

“exit polls reveal that Latinos represented 16% of the electorate in Nevada, surpassing even the presidential election in 2008, when the percentage was 15%. The strong presence of Hispanics at the polls could have been crucial to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s victory."

La Opinión (Los Angeles) cites a Latino Decisions poll on the Hispanic vote commissioned by NCLR, SEIU and America’s Voice:

“One important reason for Brown’s triumph, according to the Latino Decisions poll, was the overwhelming Latino preference for the Democrat—to an extent never before seen in California: 86% for Brown and 13% for Whitman—which gave him an important advantage.”

The paper adds:

“This trend was repeated not only in California, but in other states where some candidates used the immigration issue--such as the Nevada Senate race and in Arizona, where the law SB 1070 became an issue in governor Jan Brewer’s reelection campaign.

“'This is the most Democratic vote we’ve ever seen in the Latino community—I mean, the margins are incredible,' said Matt Barreto, director of the polling firm Latino Decisions, noting that 'exactly in the states where anti-immigrant rhetoric was strongest—such as Nevada, Arizona and, in the case of California, with the episode with Whitman and the maid—is where Latinos revolted against Republicans."

Wins for Hispanic Republicans. The Spanish-language media also cover victories for Hispanic Republicans in Florida, Nevada and New Mexico. Marco Rubio has been elected to the U.S. Senate from Florida, and Brian Sandoval and Susana Martínez were elected governors of Nevada and New Mexico, respectively.

EFE writes that:

“while Florida’s Hispanic voters are divided with respect to Rubio, the new senator can provide a new perspective for Republicans in the debate over immigration reform.”

Anti-immigrant rhetoric swings Latinos for Democrats. EFE reports that, while Republican control of the House of Representatives will hinder the advance of an immigration reform bill in that chamber,

“in general, anti-immigrant rhetoric from the majority of Republican candidates was, ironically, a key factor in the mobilization of the millions of Latinos who came out to the polls. In Nevada and Arizona, where the immigration issue dominated statewide elections, 69% of Latino voters said that immigration was the driving factor behind their participation at the polls, according to the pro-reform group America’s Voice.”

The America's Voice series “‘Qué Pasa’ in Immigration” brings Spanish-language coverage of immigration and politics to a wider audience. Look for daily roundups (in English) of some of the best Spanish-language news.

The latest Spanish-language reporting and analysis on immigration can now be found at AmericasVoiceEspanol.com. Check it out!