Raul Ramos y Sanchez's Blog, page 17
January 26, 2012
Gingrich's plan: Court Hispanics while bashing Blacks
Do not underestimate Newt Gingrich. He is a cunning political strategist who understands the demographic death spiral facing the Republican party -- and he clearly has a plan.
Gingrich knows the Republican candidate in the November election will fail without support from U.S. minorities. Yet the GOP base will not nominate a candidate who supports issues popular in Latino and Black communities like immigration reform or affirmative action. So Newt's course will be to split the difference. He plans to court the Latino vote and brazenly bash Blacks to placate the base.
As we saw in the South Carolina debate, Gingrich dispensed with the dog whistle code used by Republicans pandering for the anti-Black vote in the south and went for the jugular. His attacks on Obama as the "food stamp president" and calls for Blacks to "demand jobs, not welfare" were the most bluntly racist comments uttered by a U.S. politician since George Wallace.
Meanwhile, as shown in the Univision video with Jorge Ramos below, Gingrich offered more concessions to immigration reform than any other GOP candidate. These include: 1) Supporting the DREAM Act for youth who volunteer for military service, 2) a guest worker program for undocumented workers and 3) a path to citizenship for the undocumented who have resided in the U.S. for 20-25 years, have a family and an American sponsor.
Gingrich is so confident of his strategy, he even boasted to Ramos about his prospects with the Latino vote. "I have a hunch that by this fall, we may do better than any Republican except maybe Reagan."
From Gingrich's perspective, the plan to court Latino votes has no downside. He knows congressional Republicans will not approve any of these election year promises if he is elected.
This may not be Newt's only attempt at dabbling in the witches brew of racial politics. As I mentioned in an earlier article, the GOP may attempt to drive a wedge between the Black and Latino communities, further weakening President Obama's chance for re-election.
It's important for the entire electorate to be aware of Newt's apparent plan. Divisive tactics may serve the interests of a particular candidate or party. But they do not serve the interest of the nation or the world.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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January 25, 2012
Vicious smears -- for one of their own
If these mud-slinging ads from the Republican primaries are any indication, mild-mannered Mitt will likely conduct one of the most vicious and smear-filled campaigns in living memory against President Obama. Keep in mind. These half-true smears are directed at someone who agrees with most of Romney's policies and solutions. Just imagine how low this campaign will stoop when there are substantive issues at stake.
Surprisingly, the Gingrich ads have not attacked Romney in such a personal way. Instead, Newt has relied on his theatrical skills to skewer Romney in the debates. Outclassed in person, Romney has taken the rich man's path and hired clever people to do the dirty work for him. As Mitt himself says following his blistering attacks: "I approve this message."
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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Surprisingly, the Gingrich ads have not attacked Romney in such a personal way. Instead, Newt has relied on his theatrical skills to skewer Romney in the debates. Outclassed in person, Romney has taken the rich man's path and hired clever people to do the dirty work for him. As Mitt himself says following his blistering attacks: "I approve this message."
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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January 24, 2012
Live on public radio: The divisive immigration debate
LIVE RADIO CALL-IN SHOW
What are the future consequences of today's divisive immigration debate?
Join the conversation. Tune in online to a one-hour public radio call-in show about the novels AMERICA LIBRE and HOUSE DIVIDED by Raul Ramos y Sanchez and the social themes they examine.
Time:
Tuesday January 24 at 1PM Eastern - 11AM Pacific
Place:
A Public Affair hosted by Cynthia Lin
WORT 89.9FM Madison, WI
Call in Toll Free: 866-899-9678
Listen live online
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English only? Not when GOP needs Latino votes.
Leading GOP contenders Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich support English Only laws -- but not when they're on the stump for Latino votes.
(Correct spelling in English is apparently optional.)"I think campaigning, historically, you've always been willing to go to people on their terms in their culture," Gingrich was quoted in the Los Angeles Times. But, he said, "as a country, we have to unify ourselves in a future where there may be three or 400 languages" spoken.
This double talk is hardly surprising. The Republican party's core constituency strongly supports English Only laws. But with the GOP Florida primary on the horizon, Romney and Gingrich are pandering hard for what they perceive as a key bastion of Republican support in the Sunshine State: South Florida's Cuban-American community.
First-generation Cuban exiles are hard line conservatives on almost every issue except one: They proudly cling to their native Spanish. So it's not surprising that the Romney campaign has already produced a Spanish-language TV ad titled "Nosotros" featuring two South Florida congressional Republicans Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
It will be interesting to see how Gingrich and Romney will try to squirm out of this ideological inconsistency once the Florida primary is in the rear view mirror.
One thing is certain. As a party perceived to be serving the exclusive interests of Non-Hispanic Whites, the Republican party in a demographic death spiral.
Even among the once-solidly Republican Cuban-American vote, the younger and more recent Cuban exiles are weary of the 50 year old failed embargo that is a staple issue of the old guard exiles. This growing schism could could create fertile ground for Democrats. As one Cuban exile who arrived in the last five years put it: "What has the embargo done to hurt Castro? Nothing. What has it done to hurt my family in Cuba? A lot."
Desperate and fighting for survival, we can expect GOP politics to become increasingly divisive. As I noted in a previous post, the GOP strategy will likely be to neutralize Latino support for Obama by trying to drive a wedge between Blacks and Hispanics.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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(Correct spelling in English is apparently optional.)"I think campaigning, historically, you've always been willing to go to people on their terms in their culture," Gingrich was quoted in the Los Angeles Times. But, he said, "as a country, we have to unify ourselves in a future where there may be three or 400 languages" spoken.This double talk is hardly surprising. The Republican party's core constituency strongly supports English Only laws. But with the GOP Florida primary on the horizon, Romney and Gingrich are pandering hard for what they perceive as a key bastion of Republican support in the Sunshine State: South Florida's Cuban-American community.
First-generation Cuban exiles are hard line conservatives on almost every issue except one: They proudly cling to their native Spanish. So it's not surprising that the Romney campaign has already produced a Spanish-language TV ad titled "Nosotros" featuring two South Florida congressional Republicans Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
It will be interesting to see how Gingrich and Romney will try to squirm out of this ideological inconsistency once the Florida primary is in the rear view mirror.
One thing is certain. As a party perceived to be serving the exclusive interests of Non-Hispanic Whites, the Republican party in a demographic death spiral.
Even among the once-solidly Republican Cuban-American vote, the younger and more recent Cuban exiles are weary of the 50 year old failed embargo that is a staple issue of the old guard exiles. This growing schism could could create fertile ground for Democrats. As one Cuban exile who arrived in the last five years put it: "What has the embargo done to hurt Castro? Nothing. What has it done to hurt my family in Cuba? A lot."
Desperate and fighting for survival, we can expect GOP politics to become increasingly divisive. As I noted in a previous post, the GOP strategy will likely be to neutralize Latino support for Obama by trying to drive a wedge between Blacks and Hispanics.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
[image error]
English only - except when GOP needs Latino votes
Leading GOP contenders Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich support English Only laws -- but not when they're on the stump for Latino votes.
(Correct spelling in English is apparently optional.)"I think campaigning, historically, you've always been willing to go to people on their terms in their culture," Gingrich was quoted in the Los Angeles Times. But, he said, "as a country, we have to unify ourselves in a future where there may be three or 400 languages" spoken.
This double talk is hardly surprising. The Republican party's core constituency strongly supports English Only laws. But with the GOP Florida primary on the horizon, Romney and Gingrich are pandering hard for what they perceive as a key bastion of Republican support in the Sunshine State: South Florida's Cuban-American community.
First-generation Cuban exiles are hard line conservatives on almost every issue except one: They proudly cling to their native Spanish. So it's not surprising that the Romney campaign has already produced a Spanish-language TV ad titled "Nosotros" featuring two South Florida congressional Republicans Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
It will be interesting to see how Gingrich and Romney will try to squirm out of this ideological inconsistency once the Florida primary is in the rear view mirror.
One thing is certain. As a party perceived to be serving the exclusive interests of Non-Hispanic Whites, the Republican party in a demographic death spiral.
Even among the once-solidly Republican Cuban-American vote, the younger and more recent Cuban exiles are weary of the 50 year old failed embargo that is a staple issue of the old guard exiles. This growing schism could could create fertile ground for Democrats. As one Cuban exile who arrived in the last five years put it: "What has the embargo done to hurt Castro? Nothing. What has it done to hurt my family in Cuba? A lot."
Desperate and fighting for survival, we can expect GOP politics to become increasingly divisive. As I noted in a previous post, the GOP strategy will likely be to neutralize Latino support for Obama by trying to drive a wedge between Blacks and Hispanics.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
[image error]
(Correct spelling in English is apparently optional.)"I think campaigning, historically, you've always been willing to go to people on their terms in their culture," Gingrich was quoted in the Los Angeles Times. But, he said, "as a country, we have to unify ourselves in a future where there may be three or 400 languages" spoken.This double talk is hardly surprising. The Republican party's core constituency strongly supports English Only laws. But with the GOP Florida primary on the horizon, Romney and Gingrich are pandering hard for what they perceive as a key bastion of Republican support in the Sunshine State: South Florida's Cuban-American community.
First-generation Cuban exiles are hard line conservatives on almost every issue except one: They proudly cling to their native Spanish. So it's not surprising that the Romney campaign has already produced a Spanish-language TV ad titled "Nosotros" featuring two South Florida congressional Republicans Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
It will be interesting to see how Gingrich and Romney will try to squirm out of this ideological inconsistency once the Florida primary is in the rear view mirror.
One thing is certain. As a party perceived to be serving the exclusive interests of Non-Hispanic Whites, the Republican party in a demographic death spiral.
Even among the once-solidly Republican Cuban-American vote, the younger and more recent Cuban exiles are weary of the 50 year old failed embargo that is a staple issue of the old guard exiles. This growing schism could could create fertile ground for Democrats. As one Cuban exile who arrived in the last five years put it: "What has the embargo done to hurt Castro? Nothing. What has it done to hurt my family in Cuba? A lot."
Desperate and fighting for survival, we can expect GOP politics to become increasingly divisive. As I noted in a previous post, the GOP strategy will likely be to neutralize Latino support for Obama by trying to drive a wedge between Blacks and Hispanics.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
[image error]
English only - except GOP needs Latino votes
Leading GOP contenders Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich support English Only laws -- but not when they're on the stump for Latino votes.
(Correct spelling in English is apparently optional.)"I think campaigning, historically, you've always been willing to go to people on their terms in their culture," Gingrich was quoted in the Los Angeles Times. But, he said, "as a country, we have to unify ourselves in a future where there may be three or 400 languages" spoken.
This double talk is hardly surprising. The Republican party's core constituency strongly supports English Only laws. But with the GOP Florida primary on the horizon, Romney and Gingrich are pandering hard for what they perceive as a key bastion of Republican support in the Sunshine State: South Florida's Cuban-American community.
First-generation Cuban exiles are hard line conservatives on almost every issue except one: They proudly cling to their native Spanish. So it's not surprising that the Romney campaign has already produced a Spanish-language TV ad titled "Nosotros" featuring two South Florida congressional Republicans Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
It will be interesting to see how Gingrich and Romney will try to squirm out of this ideological inconsistency once the Florida primary is in the rear view mirror.
One thing is certain. As a party perceived to be serving the exclusive interests of Non-Hispanic Whites, the Republican party in a demographic death spiral.
Even among the once-solidly Republican Cuban-American vote, the younger and more recent Cuban exiles are weary of the 50 year old failed embargo that is a staple issue of the old guard exiles. This growing schism could could create fertile ground for Democrats. As one Cuban exile who arrived in the last five years put it: "What has the embargo done to hurt Castro? Nothing. What has it done to hurt my family in Cuba? A lot."
Desperate and fighting for survival, we can expect GOP politics to become increasingly divisive. As I noted in a previous post, the GOP strategy will likely be to neutralize Latino support for Obama by trying to drive a wedge between Blacks and Hispanics.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
[image error]
(Correct spelling in English is apparently optional.)"I think campaigning, historically, you've always been willing to go to people on their terms in their culture," Gingrich was quoted in the Los Angeles Times. But, he said, "as a country, we have to unify ourselves in a future where there may be three or 400 languages" spoken.This double talk is hardly surprising. The Republican party's core constituency strongly supports English Only laws. But with the GOP Florida primary on the horizon, Romney and Gingrich are pandering hard for what they perceive as a key bastion of Republican support in the Sunshine State: South Florida's Cuban-American community.
First-generation Cuban exiles are hard line conservatives on almost every issue except one: They proudly cling to their native Spanish. So it's not surprising that the Romney campaign has already produced a Spanish-language TV ad titled "Nosotros" featuring two South Florida congressional Republicans Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
It will be interesting to see how Gingrich and Romney will try to squirm out of this ideological inconsistency once the Florida primary is in the rear view mirror.
One thing is certain. As a party perceived to be serving the exclusive interests of Non-Hispanic Whites, the Republican party in a demographic death spiral.
Even among the once-solidly Republican Cuban-American vote, the younger and more recent Cuban exiles are weary of the 50 year old failed embargo that is a staple issue of the old guard exiles. This growing schism could could create fertile ground for Democrats. As one Cuban exile who arrived in the last five years put it: "What has the embargo done to hurt Castro? Nothing. What has it done to hurt my family in Cuba? A lot."
Desperate and fighting for survival, we can expect GOP politics to become increasingly divisive. As I noted in a previous post, the GOP strategy will likely be to neutralize Latino support for Obama by trying to drive a wedge between Blacks and Hispanics.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
[image error]
January 22, 2012
Newt's immigration solution: A permanent underclass
Gingrich is not interested in immigration reform. Instead, Newt would prefer the status quo: Keep undocumented workers scared, docile and willing to work for low wages.
Newt Gingrich knows full well the winner of November's presidential election must gain significant support among Black and Latino voters. Gingrich's concession of the Black vote to Barack Obama was made abundantly clear in the first of the South Carolina GOP debates. To a standing ovation, Gingrich defended his comments linking African-Americans with welfare dependency and his reference to Barack Obama as the "food stamp president." A burning cross would have been only slightly less subtle. But Newt believes he has an ace up his sleeve with Latinos.
Gingrich is the only GOP candidate to have offered a whiff of moderation in a debate on immigration reform in which the other Republican hopefuls vied over who would build the biggest border fence. Now, flush with a victory won by race baiting in South Carolina, Gingrich hopes to take his softer stand on immigration reform into Florida and make gains among Latino voters.
Wasting no time, Gingrich has already attacked Romney as being anti-immigrant and followed that by dredging up a Romney gaffe from 2008 when in a Florida speech Mitt used the phrase "patria o muerte, venceremos" made famous by Castro.
But Gingrich's solution to our broken immigration system is nothing more than the status quo. Gingrich does not support immigration reform, a guest worker program nor the DREAM Act. Under his presidency, undocumented workers would remain exactly what they are today: a cheap and docile workforce (which can be used to depress the wages of mainstream workers) – and the political scapegoats for candidates pandering for votes among the fearful, bigoted and ignorant.
How will Romney react? Most likely Mitt will play to the GOP base and accuse Newt of being soft on immigration, sparking an ugly media game in which Latinos will be the political football being kicked back and forth across the field.
In a previous article I noted that the GOP's only hope to win the White House will be in taking a divide-and-conquer strategy among minorities. The events unfolding in the Republican primary are only the beginning of the divisive politics to come.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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Newt Gingrich knows full well the winner of November's presidential election must gain significant support among Black and Latino voters. Gingrich's concession of the Black vote to Barack Obama was made abundantly clear in the first of the South Carolina GOP debates. To a standing ovation, Gingrich defended his comments linking African-Americans with welfare dependency and his reference to Barack Obama as the "food stamp president." A burning cross would have been only slightly less subtle. But Newt believes he has an ace up his sleeve with Latinos.Gingrich is the only GOP candidate to have offered a whiff of moderation in a debate on immigration reform in which the other Republican hopefuls vied over who would build the biggest border fence. Now, flush with a victory won by race baiting in South Carolina, Gingrich hopes to take his softer stand on immigration reform into Florida and make gains among Latino voters.
Wasting no time, Gingrich has already attacked Romney as being anti-immigrant and followed that by dredging up a Romney gaffe from 2008 when in a Florida speech Mitt used the phrase "patria o muerte, venceremos" made famous by Castro.
But Gingrich's solution to our broken immigration system is nothing more than the status quo. Gingrich does not support immigration reform, a guest worker program nor the DREAM Act. Under his presidency, undocumented workers would remain exactly what they are today: a cheap and docile workforce (which can be used to depress the wages of mainstream workers) – and the political scapegoats for candidates pandering for votes among the fearful, bigoted and ignorant.
How will Romney react? Most likely Mitt will play to the GOP base and accuse Newt of being soft on immigration, sparking an ugly media game in which Latinos will be the political football being kicked back and forth across the field.
In a previous article I noted that the GOP's only hope to win the White House will be in taking a divide-and-conquer strategy among minorities. The events unfolding in the Republican primary are only the beginning of the divisive politics to come.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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January 18, 2012
Newt plays the hate card
My previous post on the racially-divisive politics of a desperate GOP was barely a day old when Newt Gingrich stepped up to validate my theory. In this instance, Mr. Gingrich is working the other side of the street: race baiting in the Old South. And the ugly, shopworn stereotypes Gingrich invoked are an indication of how far some Republicans may go to pander votes from many in the Non-Hispanic White electorate who are terrified of a future when they will become a minority.
This exchange from the Republican Presidential Debate in South Carolina exposes the thinly-veiled bigotry that lurks below the surface of many GOP supporters.
Juan Williams: Speaker Gingrich, you recently said black Americans should demand jobs, not food stamps. You also say poor kids lack a strong work ethic and proposed having them work as janitors in their schools. Can't you see that this is viewed as at a minimum as insulting to all Americans but particularly to black Americans?
Newt Gingrich: No, I don't see that (applause).Gingrich's comments (and the thunderous applause they received from the South Carolina audience) reek of willful ignorance and exploitation.
First, there are more Non-Hispanic Whites on welfare than all other minorities combined. Second, Mr. Gingrich supports putting a janitor out of work who very likely supports a family and replacing that person with low paid child labor. It's the GOP trifecta: union busting, cheaper labor and docile minorities.
Is Gingrich really this much of a bigot or is he simply pandering to an audience in South Carolina where his message clearly resonated? It doesn't really matter. Regardless of what Gingrich really thinks, the fact remains that the GOP's demographic death spiral will lead the party into the sordid depths of racial politics. Unfortunately, this paroxysm of hate will not be the last. The Republican contenders haven't even touched immigration yet in South Carolina.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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January 16, 2012
The GOP may try to divide minorities in the November election
TheRepublican party is in a fix. Right wing orthodoxy demands a GOP presidentialnominee vehemently oppose immigration reform of any kind, a position that willalienate many Latino voters according to recent surveys. At the same time,Republicans are convinced they have no hope of winning the Black vote fromPresident Obama. However, GOP strategists are also keenly aware that theirpresidential candidate will almost certainly lose the November election withoutsignificant support among Black and Latino voters. So what will the Republicansdo about this dilemma?
Myprediction: Their most likely solution will be a tried-and-true method used bycolonial powers … divide and conquer. How that strategy will be implemented maytake many forms. One way I think GOP leaders may try to drive a wedge between Blacksand Latinos would be to have Herman Cain and other prominent Black Republicans publiclyattack immigration reform. By the simplistic reasoning of most Republicanstrategists toward minorities, when Black public figures attack immigrationreform, Latinos will become hostile toward Blacks and vent their wrath onPresident Obama.
The assumptionbehind this callous tactic becomes more evident when we examine the mindset ofmany conservative Republicans toward minorities. Bereft of familiarity withminority cultures, GOP strategists take a monolithic approach to Black andLatino voters. For example, Rush Limbaugh once claimed Republican Colin Powellsupported Barack Obama not because Powell agreed with Obama's politicalpositions but simply because they were both Black. (Limbaugh neglects to explain why Herman Cain, Clarence Thomas and other Black conservatives fail his racial litmus test, proving once again that prejudice trumps reason.)
Am I beingoverly cynical about GOP motives and tactics? One need look no farther than theSwift Boat attacks unleashed on John Kerry by the GOP to see that cunning politicaladvisors will employ any means necessary to win an election. Let's not kid ourselves about below-the-belt politics, however. They are employed by both parties. But in the last several presidential elections, Republicans have become much more adept at these tactics – and now, they are truly desperate.
With thenation headed toward a future where Non-Hispanic Whites are projected to becomea minority, the Republican party is in a demographic death spiral. As long as the GOPis perceived to be serving the exclusive interests of Non-Hispanic Whites, they are doomed. Yet, every attempt the GOP leadership makes to accommodate minorityinterests will alienate their base. This predicament can only lead to ever moredivisive policies.
Could thesedivide and conquer tactics work? Unfortunately, they have in the past. Whatpeople of conscience of every ethnicity must do is be aware of the inevitable attemptsto divide the us. Regardless of our origins, religion or race, we must standtogether, recognizing our individual identities, yet celebrating our commonhumanity. There is much more than binds us as human beings than divides us as members of different groups. As wecelebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, we are reminded that ourstrength lies in unity and compassion – by all people, for all people.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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January 12, 2012
English only? Not when Romney panders for Latino votes.
Proposing English-Only laws are a favorite pastime among those who fear the nation is being overrun by people who are something less than "real Americans." These self-appointed patriots think it's a virtue to speak only one language -- even in an economy where U.S. businesses will need to compete all over the world. But apparently the Romney campaign must think the English-Only movement has lost some of its momentum. What else would explain the Romney Spanish-language campaign ad below?
Not that Romney hasn't made a hard swing to the right during the GOP primaries.
After previously speaking favorably of the Kennedy/McCain immigration reform bill of 2007, Mr. Romney has boomeranged to the other end of the spectrum by embracing Kris Kobach, the xenophobic pit bull of FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform.) The incredible irony of it all is that Mitt Romney is the son of a Mexican immigrant who freely admitted the Romney family accepted federal aid shortly after their arrival in the United States.
What Romney will actually support regarding immigration if he gets the GOP nomination -- and what he would do as president -- remains anybody's guess. But it seems clear that Mr. Romney wants to have his pan dulce and eat it too.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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