This looks like a race to see which party can whore themselves out to Hispanics the fastest for votes.

How did it ever get to this?

Can I blame Reagan for signing an amnesty and not doing any enforcement?  Or does that make me a bad person?

Mr President,

Remember back when you were pushing the Amnesty bill, and angered your base no end? Well, their anger subsided, not because you saw the error in your ways, but because the vile bill fell though when some Senators visualized the difference between another term, and a 'speaking and book tour'.

Do you really think angering your base again is the wise thing to do? If not, please publicly distance yourself from this nightmare bill, being sold as a DREAM bill. Promise to weild the Veto pen. If they try to attach this to defense spending bill, declare that you will not surrender to Mexico is not a price you are willing to pay to defeat Al Qaeda.

Thank you

Your ardent but impatient supporter.

This is about bringing our message of shutting down illegal immigration to the LEGAL citizens who are Hispanic. 

"This looks like a race to see which party can whore themselves out to Hispanics the fastest for votes.

How did it ever get to this?"

>>declare that you will not surrender to Mexico is not a price you are willing to pay to defeat Al Qaeda.

flubbed it. It should read:

declare that you will not surrender to Mexico is not a price you are willing to pay to defeat Al Qaeda.

Let me give this one more try. You know thos La Raza people? They are like the black panthers of the 60's. THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE HISPANIC POPULATION. Neither does the Democratic leaders and journalists who moan and groan about how terrible Republicans are on immigration.

Our immigration beliefs need to be explained to the LEGAL Hispanic community. You might be shocked at how many completely agree with us. 

Thanks sinistar and rightwingsparkle.

Too bad GW Bush and his cronies believe that winning hearts and minds of socialist uneducated Mexicans is more important than protecting this nation and maintaining the US working middle class.

You know Presidente Bushamundo, please, take your family and move to an armed compound in Mexico if you admire its people so much.  Most US citizens (and yeah, I'm talking moderates and liberals too) like not having to live in a 3rd world hell hole.  See, we all use (or used to use) the emergency rooms, and public schools, and public roadways, etc.  We live in middle class neighborhoods in our small houses....that Mexicans think can hold 20-40 men.  I know the liberal nags at MADD don't want to admit it, but I believe illegal Mexicans are the worst drunk driving offenders.

It's absolute crapola when these idiots like patrick h and Arbusto and his elitist friends say that we must appease La Raza or the GOP will be destroyed.

That's why I keep saying that the GOP candidates are going to have to run against the dems and against Bush this time if they want to win.  Pro-Amnesty republicans are gonna have a tough row to hoe this year.

I think assimilation is essential. But ignoring the reality that many in the Hispanic community are still learning english is silly. The Univision debate was held in English, you know (much to the chagrin of some) It was only translated in Spanish for those who understand better in Spanish. New immigrants for example. Unfortunately, we don't require a full command of the language before becomming a citizen.

Do you honestly think that Hispanic citizens do not want to learn English???? Of course they. But these citizens will NEVER understand our viewpoint if we don't GIVE IT TO THEM. Instead we let the media and the Democrats explain it to them and we all know where that goes.

I don't care what Bush and Graham say. I care about what our candidates are sayng and they need to be saying it to the LEGAL Hispanic community.

Oh, and my husband wrote to our two senators last summer and told them that he was gobsmacked (didn't use that word, of course) that he was going to be sent overseas to fight for our supposed national security, and our congress was going to screw the country with amnesty at the same time.

Really, the whole bullshit about needing a surge to stabilize Iraq, and guard Iraq's borders etc....wears a bit damn thin when we have such ignorant bastards in congress who are more concerned with pandering to 5% of the population (15 million out of 300 million) than with our own actual national security.

When I was younger, I use to go to various Churches and talk to the youth on pro-life issues. This was the 80's and many Churches were either not sure what they thought about abortion or some had staff that were pro-choice.

I didn't care. I had a message I believed in. I went in knowing that I might not change many minds, but I might change a few. And I did.

You don't refuse to confront those who disagree. You go into the lion's den and if you are confident in what you believe, you stand in front of them and explain it in a clear way.

This is how we get our message across. This is how we explain our concerns. This is how we explain how were were against amnesty.

We speak to them as CITIZENS with the same worries that you and I have. Like I said, you would be shocked at how many would agree. They just need the RESPECT of speaking directly to them.

Drew,

Well we know how well ICE does it job. I might be able to write, speak, and understand ordinary words in French, but it doesn't mean I can listen to a debate on TV without those "ordinary" words and understand it.  

Ok, this is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Stick with me. This is what Laura Ingram has to say about the Dream Act:

“Okay, it’s time for another P2TP moment–elite Dems and Republicans are trying to backdoor amnesty in the Senate this week by pushing a provision through that would give illegal alien students in-state tuition benefits. TOTAL OUTRAGE! Call your senator today–now–do it. Tell them NO to the ‘Dream Act!’”

Well, guess what? I totally agree but, I did not know that. And neither does ANY ONE ELSE including Hispanics. All they will hear is that Republicans are against a provision that will benefit Hispanics. That is all they will hear because NO ONE will tell them about this provision and point out that this giving in-state tuition is to ILLEGALS. All they will hear from the media and the Democrats is that we want to not give in state tutiton to Hispanics.

This is the kind of spin we could avoid if we just explained our positions directly to them. 

If we have citizens who can't speak English (and I know we do) then as I wrote in the post, "this country has a much bigger problem than angry Republicans."

Your right, we do have a bigger problem. We can't fix the problem if we don't explain to them how important it is to assimilate. If we don't go into these communities and help them do so. Not with funds, but with voices and ears to listen.

Don't confuse those on TV who claim to speak for Hispanics with the actual community.

Let me give you a small personal example. I had an Hispanic working for me for 11 years. She knew I was into politics, of course and one day she asked to explain why voting Republican was better. (She was a citizen) and I did. When things  came on the news that she didn't understand, I explained it. By the time she had been working for me for about 4 yrs she was an ACTIVE Republican in her community. She loved arguing with them. She would tell me with glee about those debates. She said most didn't even know why they voted Democrat.  But you see, she had the knowledge.

That is what we need to do on a larger scale.   

>>Better explain to your kids now that they'll likely be living in a third world shithole by the time they grown up. 

Warden, send them to Australia. That country still has a spine made of solid steel.

Fortunately, (or unfortunately) the senators in Georgia and Alabama where we own homes have all said they will vote against this amendment already.  I will write to them and thank them for their position, but sigh.

GW Bush has been an absolute disaster for the GOP, and for the military.  The Clintons are looking to become a disaster for the democrat party and for the country.  Unbelievable.

Yeah, it's time to move to the gated compound, buy more weapons, and get the garden planted behind the big fence.  Just like all the wealthy people do in Mexico.

Two issues make me do a really good screaming Al Gore impression:  immigration and negotiating with Iran.  My husband is over in the middle east with the military right now....we know damn good and well that Iran has killed our men over there, but the big brains in the state department think they should negotiate with those bastards?  Aaarrgh.

I don't see how conducting presidential debates in Spanish creates more English speakers anymore than I see how race conscious affirmative action creates a less race conscious society.

Conducting a presidential debate in Spanish doesn't create more English speakers, it only creates a way for us to send the message on how important it is to be a English speaker.

Not to offend Hispanics here with this analogy. But it's like expecting a 10 yr old to do algebra. You have to teach a 10 yr old the basics first. You have to make him understand that he cannot learn algebra if he doesn't understand the basics of math. A 10 yr old is smart enough to get that and in a few years he will have algebra mastered. But he will never do that if a teacher doesn't explain it to him.   

RWS, I have a similar experience. Indians in US are educated, but utterly clueless about politics. They vote for Democrats like lemmings. I have tried to convert a few, but it seems education brings with it a smug stubbornness and an unwillingness to have your long held beliefs challenged.

It is ironic that inspite being successful on their own merit and hard work, and inspite of having traditional conservative values, they still go out and vote for the party that is the antithesis of meritocracy and traditional values.

People like me and IreneFingIrene are an exception.

Tushar,

I know what you mean. My neighbor is Indian. He is a heart surgeon. We use to have this heated debates, but we had to stop because it was affecting any friendship we might have. But in his case, I would say he was more Democrat because of moral issues. He wasn't very moral and Democrats make one feel better about that.

RWS-

That is what we need to do on a larger scale.

I've tried, but I've found that paying $20 for a two song lap dance just isn't economical or provide enough time to convince the young lady to vote Republican.

Too bad really, because I think that stripper really liked me but wouldn't go out with me and I'm pretty sure it was over political differences.

Hollowpoint,

I don't know why you are bringing your dating life into the debate.

She's probably illegal ya know. So you are one of those "Businesses" that attribute to our illegal problem.

;-)

>>But do they expect to be courted in Hindi or Urdu?

No way! We will feel insulted if someone tries to speak our language assuming that we won't understand English. If a politician makes a gesture, like saying Namaste, that is fine. Trying to hold a debate with us in Hindi is a no-no.

>>He was more Democrat because of moral issues.

Ha! Dems are the last resort of fallen people.

Craig is still gonna "retire" October 1, right?  Or did Specter and GW Bush convince him to stay so he could sponsor and then vote for this "historic" legislation?

Actually, if it gives illegals acess to things that legal immigrants or even US citizens from other states can't get, wouldn't the Supremes have to rule against it?

If you think the candidates speaking at a spanish language debate are going to be talking about how important it is to learn English you're delusional.

If you give a kid the answers to all the algebra problems so he doesn't have to figgure them out, because he hasn't learned algebra yet....he will never learn algebra. Why the hell should he? He's allready got his answers.

How giving them all services and conducting politics in spanish is supposed to make them realize they need to learn english is beyond me. Why the hell do they need to learn english if we are all willing to speak spanish to them?

How giving them all services and conducting politics in spanish is supposed to make them realize they need to learn english is beyond me. Why the hell do they need to learn english if we are all willing to speak spanish to them?

I totally agree, but what has that got to do with anything I've been saying?

Imagine the Republican debate on Univision where the candidates say something like this:

We respect the Hispanic community. We understand that you are naturally socially conservative. You believe in God and country. I am sure you are as concerned over illegal immigration as we are. Illegals take your jobs as well. We are being translated tonight for you to hear this in English. But what conservatives most desire is that you never need translations. We want you to come into full communion with the American way of life, including learning English fully. I would pledge to do everything in my power to make sure that happens. We should start with doing away with bi lingual classes in the school room. Your children can easy learn English if only they are taught in it full time. Let that happen and stop letting the pandering Democrats put these classes in your schools.

We are all Americans here. We all care about national security. You know how dangerous an open border is. You know that we must keep our children safe. Being against illegal immigration is not being against Hispanics. It is being against something that is illegal and puttting a drain on our society. You are not that. Join us in the Republican party where you will not be talked down to. Where you will be welcomed legally with open arms."  

That was actually pretty good, 'Sparkle.

Frankly, I don't think there'd be a market for Univision to exist in if it wasn't for the damn illegals.

The legal ones allready do speak English and are watching NBC, and alot of them probably resent racial identity politics as much as I do.

Just because they're mexican, they're watching Telemundo, are socially conservative, religious (Catholic, no doubt!), maybe their mother sells flowers on the street corner too.

And newsflash, if they're watching Univision, and they're at all nationalistic, it's probably FOR MEXICO.

But, you backward ass Mexicans are just like all those backward ass republicans in one key aspect we can pander to simultaneously - Dey terk our jerbs.

Join us in the Republican party where you will not be talked down to.

Oops, too late.

We want you to come into full communion with the American way of life, including learning English fully. I would pledge to do everything in my power to make sure that happens. We should start with doing away with bi lingual classes in the school room.

El Candidato: Nosotros no gusto la educacion bilingue y la balotas bilingue.

Senora: ?Por que?

El Candidato: Porque, usted no puede aprender ingles si no se habla toda la hora.

Los muchos: Si, se puede! Si, se puede!

Spongeworthy,

And that was just off the top of my head. I should speech write for these guys!

But you just say that because I said you were spongeworthy...;-)

Now, you may say they could win votes that way but who is going to take that chance?

Isn't it about time we took some damn chances? We will lose the Hispanic vote anyway, why not try to get them to our way of thinking? There is nothing to lose here.   

Entrophy,

Your just wrong. If you  lived in a different country you would  want to watch American TV if you could, even if you spoke the language of your country fluently and you know it.

You don't seem interested in that kind of chance.

I'm very interested in that chance. Now, how do we go about telling them this? They aren't freakin mindreaders ya know.

How do you reach Swedish voters?

Don't you want Swedes to vote for the GOP?

OK, do you know who's an even bigger voting bloc then Hispanics? Germans.

There's more of them, and they vote more frequently.

Why dont' we target them specifically? Wouldn't that be the biggest payoff?

Let's have the RNC hold Octoberfest celebrations this October. Larry Craig can distribute Schwartenmagen.