Hispanics Key to Victory in 2012 Presidential Race

Reader Comments
Back to article

In Colorado,prior to the move to remove illegals from the work force and it did happen but not before finding out they came here to work and were seen on construction,on roof tops,on roadways,on farms,in packing houses and in almost any type of labor jobs helping to rebuild America and provide needed services. Many paid their way paying taxes and as consumers with large families spent their working dollars on goods and services like any other American. Today that scene has almost disappeared but their contributions were far greater than their illegal status because they worked hard to earn their stay in this great County of the US. Where else but in America did they have a chance to live in peace and dignity coming to the best country in the world, a melting pot of immigrants who like them came looking for a better Government and a better Life.

Louis Trujillo of CO 8:17AM December 17, 2011

I am hispanic (not mexican) and can tell you that I have never liked the democratic party's pandering to ethnic minorities. The truth is that BOTH parties want illegal immigration to continue.
The repubs want cheap labor to keep down the minimum wage, and dems want another ethnic minority to serve them in their plantation as they have done with blacks.
I came here under political asylum, unlike most immigrants who come here solely for economic reasons, and many of them know about the handouts and welfare before they set foot in this country!. disgusting!

Ramon Perez of GA 2:23PM November 30, 2011

Solo Los democrats, especialmente Presidente Obama, se preocupan por Los Hispanos! Los republicans solo se preocupan por Los billonarios...no conozco muchos Hispanos que puedan ganar billones.

Joe of MI 11:50PM November 29, 2011

Solo Los democrats, especialmente Presidente Obama, se preocupan por Los Hispanos! Los republicans solo se preocupan por Los billonarios...no conozco muchos Hispanos que puedan ganar billones.

Joe of MI 11:49PM November 29, 2011

All this effort for 15% of the population.
When narrowed down to actual American citizens among them, about 7% of the total US population.
Alot of the sudden growth in the Hispanic population is being fueled by citizens of other countries coming here and wanting to stand up and be counted as ours.
The problem for them is that they are not and US Latinos are not necessarily in favor of immigration reform. Some of them even voted Republican.
No are they the monolithic block they would like to be seen as.
Obama has done alot for the foreign nationals among us and some of it did not sit well with his own citizens. In his executive orders and appointments, he has been perceived as even working against the interests of the majority of Americans and only trying to please a minority at their expense.
Though they might be loud Hispanics alone are not going to be able to elect anyone in this country. That takes the rest of the citizens. Focusing too much on that minority, many of whom are not even our citizens, risks alienating the rest of the population.

Ugly American of LA 11:18AM September 18, 2011

I had heard that RALPH NADER and his GREEN PARTY were humongous in the swaying of votes. I have heard that "switching" campaigns is frowned upon. Why wouldn't switching allegiances be any different?
Sympathizers can say, man oh man, those guys work really hard to tune into old 1980's action cinema on spanish television, or the others can say, DUDE, those lazy guys are so smug that they can move drugs and become a clique that isn't even capable of GOING BACK to S. America,Costa Rico,Cuba, and all those places because they've been "living most of their lives living in a Gangsters' Paradise."
Smoking,snorting,intravenous and oral activities seem to be the key role and comfortable approach the people are focusing on. Letting the population increase just to eclipse options for the dedicated and disciplined haven't helped too many people.
Allowing a secret game of allowance and mischief will hopefully allow border activities to comfortably switch.
That way, we can move even farther south comfortablly while the USA becomes relocated. And I think that that is what they want to do anyway.

danton of TX 2:40PM July 20, 2011

If Hispanics are indeed the key to victory in the 2012 presidential race, the Republican nominee may as well stay home and watch some TV on election day. Instead of wasting gas driving to a voting booth, he can take his lovely family to dinner at a nice restaurant in the suburbs.

Michelle of CA 4:58PM June 16, 2011

Well, you know what that means ... time for Republican state legislatures to enact new election laws requiring a "special voting eligibility test" for anyone whose last name ends in "ez".

labman57 of CA 1:28PM June 10, 2011

While Latino NGO's have made Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) their top issue. U.S. Latinos in the American heartland are more concerned with the economy, jobs and educational opportunities for their kids. In 2008, Latinos lined up behind Obama because his message of change and inclusion resonated with them. But after 4 hard years of recession, job losses, housing bust and lower wages, there are no head winds for the 2012 reelect coming out of the Latino community. The campaign heads into a storm of controversy, whether the President reaches out to residents of Puerto Rico; Texas Mexican-Americans or the pan-Hispanic communities of Florida.
The Pew Hispanic Foundation recently released a study of Latino voter trends during the last mid-term elections. The study concluded that Latino college graduates had the highest turnout rate at 50.3 percent, while Latinos 18 to 29 had the lowest at 17.6 percent. Despite the low voter turnout rates, Latinos were still central to the reelection of Senators Reid and Boxer, in Nevada and California, respectively.
If the campaign focuses on increasing the voting percentage of College graduated Latinos, there is no guarantee that they will vote or lean Democratic; the GOP has traditionally used aspirational messages to court Latinos, which may resonate with a better educated Latino; thus increasing the number of educated Latino voters will not necessarily activate a dormant Democratic voter, unless these voters also hear a more positive economic message. Again, while this voter segment may sympathize with immigrant issues, the college educated Latino is more concerned with economic empowerment, than Immigration Reform. Latino voters can be swayed by a more direct personal self-growth message vs. a global policy concern.
Latinos, 18-29, are not exclusively watching network TV; but are engaged in other media platforms: cable; on demand; DVR’s, online video games; internet TV viewing (HULU); DVD’s and the ever growing social media outlets (face book; twitter, skype; youtube; napster; heart radio; netflicks). This Latino voter group is already staying home on election day; they do not feel their vote counts. These Latinos are largely standing on the economy’s bottom rung. The Latino youth vote must be activated but it won't happen through traditional Spanish or English language media.

Felix Sanchez of DC 3:58PM June 09, 2011

There are more voting Americans who are against illegal immigration so the Mexicans mean nothing. I believe that last election only about 7% voted, so although the illegals and racist advocates whine and shout alot, they really do nothing else. Legal Americans want our immigration laws enforced and all illegals deported. Those who side with and protect illegals are sure losers!!

No More Illegals of SC 3:15PM June 09, 2011