Feb. 20, 2008
McCain May Keep Latinos From Leaving GOP
Washington Post: Nomination Of Arizona Senator Who Has Been Moderate On Immigration Could Blunt Anti-GOP Backlash
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Photo
Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., waves to the crowd before speaking at a rally Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
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John McCain
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For Democrats, 2008 was supposed to be the year of the Mountain West, when three years of relentless Republican attacks on undocumented immigrants would fuel a backlash among Hispanics that would change the playing field in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, and perhaps alter the landscape of presidential politics for a generation.
But the emergence of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) as the likely standard-bearer for the GOP may have scrambled the equation, cooling a potential political revolt among Hispanics and sending Democrats in search of a new playbook.
"It completely screws it up," said Charles Black, a senior McCain adviser. "We nominated the one person who will not suffer that backlash."
Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), whose Tucson district is heavily Hispanic, said Democrats should change their tack toward Latinos and emphasize the economy, education and health care before even raising the immigration issue. Perhaps Democrats seeking the Latino vote would be best served challenging McCain on the Iraq war, suggested Guillermo Nicacio, Arizona state coordinator for Mi Familia Vota, an effort to encourage Latinos to apply for citizenship, register and vote.
Even as McCain moves to heal intraparty wounds on the immigration issue, Democratic community organizers in the West say his past battles with other Republicans over a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants left an imprint on the Latino community that will not quickly fade.
"The issue of immigration is a litmus test in the Latino community," said Grace Lopez Ramirez, director of the Mi Familia Vota campaign in Colorado. "They will at least be more interested in listening to him."
In consecutive presidential elections, the Democrats have fallen just short of the electoral college votes needed to take the White House. Ohio or Florida could have put them over the top, but this year, Democrats are looking west for those gains. The Democratic National Committee chose Denver as the site of its August nominating convention, and the party moved the Nevada caucuses to the front of the election calendar.
The Hispanic electorate has nearly doubled since President Bush's first election, from 7.5 million in 2000 to an estimated 14 million this year, according to NDN, formerly known as the New Democrat Network, a liberal think tank focused on Latino voters. Hispanics make up 31 percent of the electorate in New Mexico, 13 percent in Nevada, 12 percent in Arizona and 8 percent in Colorado.
Between 1996 and 2004, Republicans were able to cut into that Hispanic vote, moving from a 21 percent share to a 40 percent share. But in 2005, the GOP-controlled House approved legislation tightening border controls and cracking down on illegal immigrants, declaring them felons. The GOP's share of the Hispanic vote slipped from 40 percent in 2004 to 30 percent in 2006.
In primary voting so far this year, the trend has continued, according to an NDN analysis released last week. Latino turnout has surged to nearly 2 million, and 25 percent of the Latino vote has gone to Republicans; 75 percent has gone to Democrats.
Given the makeup of the Latino population, the response now seems inevitable. Waves of immigration in recent years have enlarged the Hispanic population to 44.3 million, 15 percent of the country. Two-thirds of the population is of Mexican descent, with the second largest segment, Puerto Rican, far behind at 9 percent.
Of the 29 million Latino adults, about 13 million are registered to vote, and close to half of those are foreign-born U.S. citizens.
That "is a dramatic and scary development for the Republicans," NDN President Simon Rosenberg said.
"Ya es Hora, Ve y Vota!," a national campaign sponsored by labor unions, Latino groups and Spanish-language media outlets, is helping tens of thousands of Latinos to apply for citizenship and register to vote.
The group's organizers cannot advocate a particular candidate, but their expectations are clear: "The issue of immigration has put the West in play," said Ben Monterroso, a Service Employees International Union (SEIU) organizer responsible for Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. "A lot of people are waiting to vote for someone who will not play politics with this issue but will offer real solutions."
McCain, whose name sits beside that of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's on comprehensive immigration reform legislation, has consistently won a majority of Latinos in his home state. And he countered the more heated rhetoric of his competitors for the GOP nomination with a declaration that illegal immigrants are all "children of God."
"They'd better look past the mountains and to the Pacific," chuckled Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. "I think John McCain is the Democrats' worst nightmare come true."
"He's definitely showed us that he's persistent," Lopez Ramirez acknowledged. "This is dear to his heart, and he believes in it. Why else would he be taking so many hits from his own party?"
Many Democrats are not so sure. Last year, when McCain was taking a pounding from his party's right wing on immigration, he virtually disappeared as Senate Democrats and Republicans tried to hash out a compromise immigration bill, said Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), citing a Spanish saying, "Between that which you say and that which you do, there is a big gulf."
What McCain is saying has changed. Whereas once he firmly said that no immigration legislation could work unless it twinned tougher border enforcement with a guest-worker program and a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, he now maintains that sealing the border must come first.
In a closed-door meeting with House Republicans last week, he again assured conservatives that he had gotten the message. He had been beaten up badly on the immigration issue, participants said he told them, and understands that the nation's borders must be sealed and independently certified as under control before the next president even considers any further steps.
Some Latino Democrats said that is almost worse than the virulent anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from the Republican Party.
"When they went to him and said he had to back a [no same-sex] marriage amendment, he said no. When they said campaign finance reform, he said no. When they said torture, he said no," said Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who worked with McCain on immigration legislation. "On this one, he didn't wait. He said yes. Everybody gets this."
Regardless of McCain's rhetoric, the actions of Republicans down the ticket could still mobilize Latinos. "The Republicans have done a hell of a job organizing Latinos away from the Republican Party," said Eliseo Medina, an SEIU organizer in Texas. "There's a Spanish saying, 'Tell me who you're with, and I'll tell you who you are.' McCain is hanging out with these guys."
"We're running against the Republican Party," Grijalva said, "and, like it or not, the good senator will be the titular head of that ticket."
By Jonathan Weisman
© 2008 The Washington Post Company
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McCAIN, IS GROWING STRONGER AND STRONGER. ONE THING YOU CAN COUNT ON IS THAT THE McCAIN CAMP WILL PULL NO PUNCHES. McCAINS WIFE HAS FIRED THE FIRST SHOT AT OBAMA''S WIFES COMMENT, THAT SHE WAS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER ADULT LIFE, REALLY PROUD OF AMERICA. McCAIN''S WIFE SAID THAT SHE IS REALLY PROUD OF AMERICA.
BUT, HEY, LET''S NOT FORGET THAT OBAMA, HAS TO WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FIRST. A SIESTA FOR ALL.
"REMEMBER THE ALAMO".......
To those who say we should get over it and move on, we ask you to consider the following: Could our children be falsely accused and not have the right of habeas corpus (the right to face their accusers and know the charges)? Or could they be disappeared as was done by Pinochet in Chile? Will they have the protections given us in the Bill of Rights and in the Constitution? Could they be arbitrarily defined as %u201Cenemy combatants%u201D or %u201Cterrorists%u201D with no legal rights, per Bush%u2019s presidential directives?
Who wins the next election is of minor importance in comparison to the question of whether future administrations are bound to operate under the rule of law and to do so openly in full compliance with the Constitution.
We need to establish, once and for all time, that we are not to be dragged into war based upon lies, that we will not tolerate torture, that we expect full compliance with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and that we will not tolerate signing statements that change the meaning of laws. The purpose of impeachment is to set standards for future administrations. Even to begin impeachment hearings will serve notice that they will be held accountable.
This is not just a liberal sentiment. Among others, Bruce Fein, a constitutional scholar who served as associate deputy attorney general under President Ronald Reagan, insists that the concerns are serious enough to be investigated.
We have been asked why bother when Bush and Cheney will be out of office soon.
Every future president could, and probably will, use and expand on the powers usurped by this administration. If the rule of law, truth telling, openness, and the Bill of Rights don%u2019t count for Bush and Cheney, will those ideals be more sacred to Obama, Clinton or McCain? Will it be legitimate for future presidents to redefine terms like %u201Ctorture?%u201D Will it be okay to pull out fingernails or gouge out eye balls? Will it be okay to use signing statements to change laws that Congress has just passed? Bush has done so nearly 1,000 times, some with serious consequences. Other presidents have used signing statements to clarify language, but not to change the intent of the law.
(cont)
(cont)
In other words, the resolution simply urges that the House of Representatives perform its constitutional duty to investigate allegations of violations of our Constitution.
Boulder is hardly unique in this. More than 90 other cities ranging from Detroit and Cambridge to Chapel Hill, N.C., and Brattleboro, Vt., have taken action, many much stronger than what we%u2019re asking. National public opinion surveys find that more than half of American voters believe that both Bush and Cheney have committed serious crimes against the Constitution.
(cont)
by Nancy Sullo, Tom Moore, Liz Robinson and Bruce Robinson
There seems to be considerable confusion as to what is being asked of the Boulder City Council regarding an %u201CImpeachment Resolution.%u201D It is not an %u201CImpeachment Resolution.%u201D To quote from the resolution:
%u201CBE IT RESOLVED that the Citizens of Boulder and the Boulder City Council believe that there is sufficient evidence to commence hearings in the House of Representatives that may lead to impeachment of either or both President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney.%u201D
(cont)
She is also proud of Bush.
Look, we all love this country that is why most of us are so pissed at what the Bush Gang has done to it. It appears that McCain is ready to embrace Bushs policy on making tax cuts to the upper 10 percent permanent, continuing a war that is costing us $9 Billion a day indefinitely.
How is either of those policies going to address our $9 Trillion debt?
That is more important than he said, she said.
Forget the reterick and focus on the issues!
what do you have today Fuzzy?
I would like to discuss the topic
`` Where is the Beef ``
Answer is : the beef is being drug along the floor
by a forklift in the Hallmark Meat Packing Plant in California, apart of the goverment sponsored school meat programs that involves the contractor Westland Meats.
Now none of this is of any interest unless you eat at
McDonalds, Burger King, or any Washington D.C. Cafeteria, or Public school cafeteria from Fresno to Atlanta.
Disease laden bovine forced into slaughter at a U.S.
regulated meat packing plant.
Who would do such a thing ?
why only third World People could do such a thing because that is what they do in Mexico its common table fare.
So as the United States settles into its third world status and its standard of living continues to decline to sub saharan depredation, It kind of brings a smile to your face and a tear to your eye, Knowing that the Bleeding Heart Liberals and Soccer Moms were succesful in destroying a great nation.
Now as the U.S. economy sinks in the west, perhaps other uprising democracies such as Russia can learn from our foolish mistakes.
Drive the invaders from your shores !
Sincerely your cabin fever Bear
Fuzzy
"Bomb Bomb Bomb
Bomb Bomb Iran.
I believe he sees the US role in the world as being self appointed world cop.
If you are happy with the way the REPUBLICONS HAVE MANAGED THE LAST SEVEN YEARS - VOTE FOR MCCAIN.
That will be four more years of fiscal irresponsibility--Giving tax breaks to the upper 3% - and the Oil, Defense, Pharmaceutical conglomerates. I was a Republican, but am now an independent-- After seven years of Lies, Goebbels style fear tactics, Misinformation, out of control spending, and general incompetence I will vote for anything but a Neo Clown.
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Posted by web6242a
logical people put no stock in this post since it starts off immaturely.
Forget the reterick and focus on the issues!
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Posted by taotxzen1 at 09:46 AM : Feb 20, 2008
McCain has the answers, not just the empty rhetoric and speechifying of the LIBS. Impeachment? LOL...LOL again.
twocanpete
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
fibonacci_
might I just add, that if someone could keep
Harry Smith from going to the Oscars,
the thought of Harry sitting down to eat a succulent
disease ridden steak with Jacko, Speilberg, and Tom Cruise just makes me sick. please Ms. Katie stop Harry from going.
`` and all the stars that never were, are parking cars and pumping gas, Do you know the way to San Jose?
``
and as a reminder you know Fuzzy is never crude but the Surgeon General has warned anyone who watches the Oscars must have a regulation barf bag on hand in their livingroom.
Sincerely your working at the Car Wash Blues Bear
Fuzzy
He''s carried regulation allowing overweight, uninspected Mexican trucks onto our freeways nationwide.
Is this good for national security? Or is it good for Juan''s campaign donors?
once again we plead with Ms. Katie,
if Harry Smith is determined to attend the Oscar gala
please encourage him to take a sack lunch when he eats
at the Academy Award dinner.
because even though Chef Antonie sautaies the
disease ridden bovine in a marinara sauce, it will
in know way kill all the bacteria and saminilla
that is hiding deep in the juicy pink meat,
saminella ? saminilla ? seminnella.
anyway you get the Idea, food poising, gastral intestinitus, hepatitus, all a part of Oscars night
Sincerely your on-call Bear
Fuzzy
Let''s not all come down with the dreaded disease called the Clinton-coxis or politics of personal destruction.
If the general election does come down to McCain & Obama, as it certainly appears it will, it''s going to be healthy for the country.
I''m looking forward to a spirited and at times emotional but respectful debate on the real issues
and a great deal less smear tactics, although they will still be carried out to some degree.
and might I just add, that it is rumored that
the Kitchen help has been imported from Mexico,
and as we all know they never wash their hands after going potty.
Just think those hepatitis hands fixing dinner for
Speilberg, and Jacko, and Tom Cruise ?
oh if Only Jane Fonda could be there !
Sincerely your penecillin packing Bear
Fuzzy
Health Care same lame way of addressing it... the number of uninsured continues to increase as does the cost per person.
Social Security.. they say they will fix just do not tell us how until after the election.
All the lost jobs and the failure of Trickle Down... they''re going to train is to do the jobs that do NOT exist, or never have.
We are all Americans. Why bother with labels and other points that merely fragment the population? I''ll support the chosen leader, but is that all people can do - play out to special interests?
http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/mexicoflag.asp
Huckabee: "I believe in miracle, not math."
Uh oh! (A telephone red line to god).
McCain: "I don''t think Americans care if we are in Iraq for 10 years, 100 years, or 10,000 years."
Hmmm, let''''s see, that is equivalent to 48,913,412 young American deaths and 17 trillion dollars, (okay, I made up those figures).
McCain also wants to give amnesty to the 12 million illegal aliens in America. DUH!
Do you want people who think like that in the White House?
Wow! I don''t. Scary.
Another minus will be if McCain selects, or the Republican big wigs force Bushes ineffectual shill, Condoleeza Rice as McCain''''s vice presidential running mate.
This woman, Rice, should never have left academia and it would be wise if she returned to that profession post haste. It would be another nail in the Republican coffin to have this Bush puppet as McCain''''s running mate.
May I suggest two possibilities that would be far better than Condoleeza Rice as a McCain VP and perhaps give him an edge.
Britney Spears or Paris Hilton. Either would add some class to his campaign
One of the reasons I voted for Mike Huckabee is when he was governor of Arkansas for 10 = years he cut taxes 94 times, reduced welfare by half, reformed health care for children and the education system, and transformed the transportation infrastructure. Also, Huckabee did this with a Democrat legislature in power.
Posted by remco82 at 03:50 PM : Feb 20, 2008
Exactly! We didn''t adopt them.
Posted by treewrestler at 04:21 PM : Feb 20, 2008
Well said.
http://www.snopes.com/pho
tos/politics/mexicoflag.asp
Posted by deemsnyd at 01:04 PM : Feb 20, 2008
With one correction: All republicans except McCain.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?pagewanted=4&hp
Bay Buchanan said this after calling the NY Times/McCain love fest story a smear/hit job on CNN to Anderson Cooper:
Bay: This is not the Democratic Party, this is a party of values. We assume our candidates have been loyal to their family.
&^&*%#@!___Sorry, I%u2014just fell off my chair from laughter. Let%u2019s ask her about David Vitter and Larry Craig and Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani and. Bay, who was supporting the Mitt Romney campaign%u2014 feels it would have had an impact on the primary%u2026.David Gergen says it%u2019s a red herring that the Times held onto the story for political reasons and then he hit her on the family value meme by reminding her of the Mark Foley story. She just shrugged it off%u2026.haha
The Washington Post has a name and it%u2019s John Weaver%u2014a very close friend to McCain:
Aides to Sen. John McCain confronted a female telecommunications lobbyist in late 1999 and asked her to distance herself from the senator during the presidential campaign he was about to launch, according to one of McCain%u2019s longest-serving political strategists.
John Weaver, who served as McCain%u2019s closest confidant until leaving his current campaign last year, said he met with Vicki Iseman at the Center Cafe in Union Station and urged her to stay away from McCain. Association with a lobbyist would undermine his image as an opponent of special interests, aides had concluded%u2026
I think we should ask all our friends and relatives if they would vote for McCain if they know he was lying about his military service.
Vote no to amnesty Vote Mike Huckabee!!
Hes the only candidate left with a plan to deal with the illeagal immigration problem in this country! He has a nine step solution which includes secureing the border, punishing people who hire illeagals, and making illeagals get in line for citizenship no free ride! This will be good for the Economy. Dont vote till you know the facts. Go to mikehuckabee.com
this thing isnt over yet. stand up and take back this country. Dont sell out to your party. They are all just playing politics. Mike Huckabee has real answers.
mikehuckabee.com
McCain wants Amnesty for illeagals and a 100yr war, he reall really doesnt understand the economy!
Vote Huckabee March 4th mikehuckabee.com
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by charleslaw1
February 22, 2008 2:29 PM PST
- NO AMNESTY VOTE MIKE HUCKABEE
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Reply to this comment
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See all 38 Commentsmikehuckabee.com
he has a nine step program to deal with illeagal immagration.
McCain says hes going to fix ohios ecomony, Just a few weeks ago he said he wasnt an expert on the economy. Hes planning to give Amnesty to illeagals, does he think thats going to help the economy?
Vote no to amnesty Vote Mike Huckabee!!
Hes the only candidate left with a plan to deal with the illeagal immigration problem in this country! He has a nine step solution which includes secureing the border, punishing people who hire illeagals, and making illeagals get in line for citizenship no free ride! This will be good for the Economy. Dont vote till you know the facts. Go to mikehuckabee.com
this thing isnt over yet. stand up and take back this country. Dont sell out to your party. They are all just playing politics. Mike Huckabee has real answers.
mikehuckabee.com
McCain wants Amnesty for illeagals and a 100yr war, he reall really doesnt understand the economy!
Vote Huckabee March 4th mikehuckabee.com