Immigration May Again Drive a Wedge Between GOP, Latinos

December 16, 2005

Immigration May Again Drive a Wedge Between GOP, Latinos

California Republicans lost much ground with the key voting bloc after Proposition 187. But some say border security must be today's focus.

By Ronald Brownstein, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — In the renewed controversy over illegal immigration, old choices are resurfacing for California Republicans.

Responding to rising demands from local and national conservative activists, GOP House members from the state are enlisting behind a tough measure to crack down on illegal immigrants that the chamber began debating Thursday.

But this legislation could present the party with the same risky political equation it faced in 1994, when then-Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican, promoted Proposition 187 to bar illegal immigrants from most public services in California, including schooling. Though support for the proposition helped Wilson win reelection, most analysts agree that a backlash against it helped tilt the state toward the Democrats by increasing turnout among Latinos — and souring those voters on GOP candidates.

Now, state Republicans find themselves on a similar tightrope as they try to satisfy activists urging tougher measures against illegal immigrants without again alienating Latino voters, who have only recently shown signs of reconsidering the GOP.
(snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-calimmig16dec16,1,5152348.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

painful truth of voting for bush propaganda and republican lies.

i wonder if my cousin (a rabid bush supporter) but someone with a soft hard for her fellow latinos still thinks bush is "closest" to her "in moral values". we are not on speaking terms since election 2004.

gains in the Latino vote. That was debunked by (help me, brain) a Latino group that took their own polls.

There are rabid Bush supporters in the Latino community. But, that minority is shrinking.

:toast:

:)

aren't all that worried about alienating the Latino vote over this.

They are worried about alienating their corporate donors who rely on undocumented workers who can't complain about wages, health care, hours, and safety.

This is such a non issue for Democrats. Of course we want secure borders. Of course we need guest workers from around the world.

However this issue will tear the repukes apart. Half the GOP are xinaphobic and terrified of the outside world and the other half need undocumented workers to exploit in their sweat factories or corporate farms.

Bring it on.