Dueling Democrats Ignore, Ignite the Angry Brown Voter
Like the growing number of Latinos disgusted with increasing discrimination that a majority (54%) say they experience mostly because of anti-immigrant racism, Gonzalez is dismayed at, how, for example, the top candidates responded to the 'Yes or No' question about drivers licenses for immigrants: Clinton "No", Edwards "No" and Obama "Yes, but..."
"They're all retreating from positions of principle on immigration" he said.
That such dismay exists so early among some Latino voters even in places like the Latino-heavy Democratic citadel of Los Angeles, should concern the candidates and their party. But coming from Gonzalez, whose organization, the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project, has launched an unprecedented $10 million, 400 city drive to register and mobilize 500,000 new Latino voters by next year's election, such dismay should inspire fear of a new voting block: the Angry Brown Voter.
Like the Pentagon, the Democrats need Latinos desperately. And like many a returning Iraq war veteran, Latino veterans of the immigration wars grow impatient with both parties.
If you listened closely tonight, you could hear echoes of the voter bloc that will, in the long term, counterbalance the weakening pull of the angry white voter. The only Nevadan of Latino extraction who got to ask a question, UNLV student, George Ambriz, used his opportunity to finger debate CNN's Lou Dobbs for "insinuating" a "linkage" between terrorism and security and immigration. "No terrorist threat has come from our southern border" he said before asking, "Are they (terrorism and immigration) "intrinsically related issues"?
Combined with the Democrats' rightward turn on immigration, such questioning from an Angry Brown Voter bodes ill for a Democratic party that touted its decision to bring the debate -and a much-anticipated early primary- to Nevada as part of its efforts to be more inclusive of Latinos.
And recent developments beyond the UNLV campus also signal the coming of the still very young (the average Latino is 26) Angry Brown Voter. From Washington to local Congressional districts, the candidates and their party are starting to hear loudly and more frequently from a group the Democrats seem to take for granted.
In response to what they perceive as DCCC Chair Rahm Emanuel's cowardice on immigration, local groups in his district have taken out English, Spanish and Korean language ads in local media. The ads ask, "Why is Congressman Emanuel Betraying our Friends and Families?". Last Thursday, Members of the usually pretty loyal (and quiet) Hispanic Caucus held up debate on an important tax bill and engaged in an angry confrontation with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md. The Latino legislators were incensed at the support among some 36 of their fellow Democrats for a Republican motion many Hispanic Caucus members found very offensive. Venerated Chicano scholar and activist, Rudy Acuna, has even started circulating email messages across the country in which he asks whether Latinos should consider joining a third party. "They are pandering to Lou Dobbs. Why should we support a party that has sold out our interests?" asks Acuna.
How Latinos answer Acuna's question has relevance in the age of the slim electoral victory. Latino-heavy swing states like Nevada, Florida, Colorado and others may well determine next year's election. Not listening to the Angry Brown Voter may mean another Republican Red Congress - and Presidency.
Originally published here
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Unreal. My candidate (Obama) takes a position in favor of giving driver's licenses for illegal immigrants -- something that according to a recent poll exactly 3% of voters will look at him more favorably for -- and you're still not happy because he points out the need to actually do something about the problem?
You criticize his and the others' responses without saying one single solitary word of substance about the actual issues itself. What is it that you disagree with about his response and why? What do you think we as a nation should or shouldn't do about illegal immigration and why?
Do Latinos not suffer from 12-hour waits in the emergency room at public hospitals, from overcrowded schools, parks, and recreational facilities in their neighborhoods, from falling wages and broken unions? No, I guess that's all far less important than getting more Latinos elected to public office.
While many Hispanic voters might be sympathetic to the immigration issue, their votes are siphoned away to the Republican party because of the bogus Republican stand on abortion. They're against it, but who isn't.
Hispanics who vote Republican need to be understand that abortion is just a vote-getting ploy by Republicans. Remind them that the Republicans controlled Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court. Yet abortion is still legal. So what do they really get by voting Republican on the issue of abortion? Nada. What they get is class warfare against the Middle Class and the poor. Meaning that a member of the Middle Class voting Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.
Hispanics who vote Republican on the abortion issue also have to start asking tough questions of Republicans: What should be the prison sentence for a woman who has an abortion, and how much will our taxes be raised to pay for prisons for women and doctors involved in abortions? At least call the Republicans on their bluff.
I agree that the angry brown voter does outnumber the white if they'll only come out to the polls in '08. They, too, can't be afraid to speak out.
Kudos to Mr. Gonzalez and those like him who are working for change. My fingers are crossed that he doesn't sign-up 500,000. I want to see him register 1,000,000!
Minorities have, for far too long, been cast to the sidelines despite their desire to participate fully in the process. This, often through tactics designed to oppress their voices and presence.
I hope this serves as a wake-up call, not only for Democrats, but the American public in general, that minorities are a growing and moving force to be recognized and reckoned with.
IN Arizona people white/latino/black drivers complain about getting hit by an uninsured "illegal" -- it rightly pisses them of to no end. LICENSES ARE REQUIRED FOR AUTO INS, it's so simple. And why didn't one of our knowledgeable Dems comment on the fact the substantial growth of Nevada was accomplished by an illegal workforce as it is through Metro Phoenix and all the Southwest? We all know this out here. Why can't they acknowledge it while fumbling around for the best sounding bite?
We owe them, we shouldn't be pissing on them and acting as if they're so expendable.
"the Democrats' rightward turn on immigration"
This issue doesn't have a clear left-right spectrum. The ideological right thinks illegal immigrants are stealing our tax dollars, while the ideological left thinks that undocumented workers are stealing our jobs. They're both correct, but any solution to illegal immigration has to start with the idea that they come here to work, and no affordable level of border security is going to stop them.
The obvious first step is to seriously crack down on businesses that employ undocumented workers. Audit and fine them, but also give them the option to register guest workers under a fair economic framework. As I mentioned above, the central problems are that illegals don't pay taxes and work for low wages. So the solution is to require employers to pay competitive market wages and withhold taxes.
Guest workers should be paid the same as their American counterparts, and they should pay all applicable income taxes, including Medicare but excluding Social Security. The combination of fines for failing to register undocumented workers and the comparable cost of employing guest workers relative to American workers will make it much more difficult for illegal immigrants to secure employment. But if they want to work in America, they have to do so on an even playing field.
Great point.
There is a reason that Dee Dee Myers called Bill Clintons staff the "All White Boys Club" when she worked for him.
Democrats try to make Americans believe that they are diverse and all inclusive, but strangely enough, it's actually Bush who finally put minorities in the highest positions of power in our country's history.
Dems always talk a good game, but when it comes down to leadership, (with rare exception) it's always about being part of the "all white boys (and girls) club."
The debate last night was more of one and the idea to focus on the real issues was interesting. The thing is that those asking the questions from the panel forgot to include this in their questions. Also the drivers licence is less an issue than the border and the whol of the illegals as it is not just Mexicans coming across not that anyone says much about that!!!
3 out of 4 New Yorkers are "anti-immigrant racists" because they oppose giving ILLEGAL aliens driver's licenses??? What part of ILLEGAL do you not understand???
How come people of hispanic descent like me have to get tagged with the "Brown" label? Does everything come down to whether you tan or don't tan?
Enough with the "Brown" crap.
Uh...I live in a state where the Latino population outnumbers the Anglo population.
The Latino population is against drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants at about 4 to 1. They're also against any amnesty - they feel the Democrats just want an instant 12,000,000 Democratic voters after they've shafted all of us so far.
Sorry...NO IMMIGRATION REFORM UNTIL EVERY AMERICAN BORN CITIZEN HAS FREE HEALTH CARE WITH DENTAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE. (I didn't think of that it was suggested to me by an irate Latino).
The Democrats have themselves in a bind over the issuance of drivers licenses to undocumented people. There are good arguments for the issuance and against the issuance of drivers licenses to undocumented aliens. Liability insurance can be obtained, for example. Eyesight can be tested. Behind-the-wheel driving skills can be measured. But undocumented persons can still drive without a drivers license, as do citizens.
Both parties face a contradiction - the Republicans got 40% of the Latino vote in 2000. Half of the Republicans want cheap labor in a context where undocumented workers have no rights. The other half of the Republicans would immediately deport all undocumented persons and build the new wall of China on the southern border. The Democrats are equally divided between those who have family ties to undocumented workers, or, those who need the votes.
The issue should be decided on principle and pragmatics but not on politics. Our country operates on blackmail - for example - if we are not "nice" to Pervez Musharraf, he has nuclear weapons. Therefore, we give 11 billion to his military but not to the people of Pakistan. The middle class receives nothing. Same idea with drivers licenses and undocumented aliens. The politicians have created this mess. I do not benefit from their games. Direct elections may be the answer. A nation-wide initiative process envisioned by Mike Gravel could at least allow the People to vote on these issues.
I can identify as many as five separate political parties in the United States. The two party system is a failure. What if you do not want Hillary or Rudy? In the past 11 presidential elections, Democrats only had victories in the popular vote of over 50% twice - LBJ, once, and Jimmy Carter, once.
Nothing will ever get done in Washington.
"of anti-immigrant racism, Gonzalez is dismayed at, how, for example, the top candidates responded to the 'Yes or No' question about drivers licenses for immigrants: Clinton "No", Edwards "No" and Obama "Yes, but...""
Apparently you see no difference between legal and illegal immigrants. Its not "licenses for immigrants", its license for folks that snuck into the country, or over stayed a visa, and routinely lie about their identities. Is that hard for you to understand?
Welcome to the big tent brother.
Don't be a one issue voter. See the forest. Don't give up hope. I need your help to keep eyes on the prize.
Tony Robbins has a story about learning to drive a race car and counter steering in which he describes how it's all about what you focus on. If you focus on the wall because you want to avoid it, no matter how hard you try, you will hit that wall. Focus on the track and the direction you want to go in. I think many will listen to you, so you have to focus for them.
Thanks for writing Roberto.
Simply put, latinos tend to vote at about the same rates they graduate from high school. That is not some bigots opinion...it is FACT!
Until such time as the latino sub-culture in this country organizes an effective political base, they will be given some lip service and little else. But given that only Mexican-Americans and touchy-feely pasty faced neo-celts think that there is such a thing as a Latino (Spanish speakers come from many and quite diverse cultures, and are not at all enamored with one anothers 'diversity') then a thing like the NAACP is quite unlikely to arise...LULAC is simply embarassing.
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Posted November 16, 2007 | 10:07 AM (EST)