How will Latinos look at the 2010 midterm elections?
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Will Latinos care?
In 2008, for the first time in recent history, Latinos outperformed their percentage of the voting eligible population in the California Democratic primary.
Latino turnout in that election was 29 percent of the total vote while only making up 22 percent of the voting eligible population in important electoral states like California. But that is a level that analysts do not expect to be met again in the 2010 midterm elections.
Voter apathy among Latinos and other minority voters threatens to turn traditionally blue state California into another Massachusetts-like shocker in this year’s midterm elections, political experts are warning.
The importance of the turnout among Latinos and other minorities, according to several political consultants and strategists, underscores the tenuous position of statewide Democratic candidates in a new Field Poll showing them in trouble with white voters.
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer trailed Republican challenger Tom Campbell, 46 percent to 43 percent among white voters but leads him by 10 points overall because of Boxer’s 74-point advantage among African-Americans and 36-point advantage among Latinos.
In the gubernatorial race, likely nominee Jerry Brown – the former two-term Democratic governor and current attorney general – holds only a 1-point lead over Republican businesswoman Meg Whitman among white voters but leads by 10 points overall thanks to a 69-point advantage among African-Americans and 23 points among Latinos.
A low Latino and minority voter turnout could doom the Boxer and Brown campaigns.
Latino voters helped Barack Obama make history and become the first black president by handing him more than seven out of 10 votes in the November 2008 election.
Obama – while not delivering on a campaign promise to overhaul the country’s immigration system- remains popular among Latinos, with a recent poll showing him with a 67 percent approval rate from Latinos.
The president, who marked his first year in office last week, has been praised for naming Latinos to top positions at a record rate. He has appointed 48 Latinos to posts that require Senate confirmation. Obama’s most visible appointees are U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor, Labor Secretary Hilda Solís and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
However, these nominations are not as important to many Latinos as the issue of the immigration reform.
In California, Abel Maldonado, a Republicans State Senator in California, believes that one of the promises that Obama made was to work in a bipartisan manner during his administration but he has not fulfilled that promise.
In this year’s midterm election, on top of a possible voter turnout drop-off, Latinos and African-Americans could possibly pose trouble for Democratic candidates should Proposition 8, which is currently in the courts, wind up back on the ballot in some form, according to Jorge Garcia, a Chicano Studies professor at California State University, Northridge.
It would depend on how successful Republicans are in closely associating the gay marriage issue with the Democratic candidates, Garcia said.
In Boston, the head of a Latino political group credited with helping elect dozens of Latinos to offices around the state has just announced she is stepping down. Giovanna Negretti, executive director of Oiste, said she is leaving the group in September to pursue other “professional opportunities.”
The Puerto Rican-born 38-year-old helped found the group in 1999 when only a handful of Latinos in Massachusetts held any public offices. The nonprofit group has since trained and supported Latino candidates who have won offices in Lawrence, Springfield, and Boston. The group also has filed voting rights lawsuits and helped increase voter registration numbers.
Historically, voter turnout as a whole is lower in midterm elections from presidential election years – down almost 20 percent in 2006 from 2004 and more than 20 percent in 2002 from 2000 nationwide.
Obama and the Democrat Party can no longer take for granted the Latino vote. Latinos may be taking another look at their choices in 2010.
The Americano / Agencies
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It’s hard to imagine Latinos voting for Republicans. Obama has said he’s willing to sacrifice Democratic Congressional seats for Health Care. He’s probably willing to sacrifice them by avoiding a bruising debate on immigration, too.
Here and in the rest of the Americas Latinos have always foster a healthy stream of political and ideological views. That same healthy stream still frightens many here in the USA who are more use to the two party system and in response they are willing to support totally anti-democratic acts such as the coup of Zelaya, but I digress. No one should be surprise that Latinos can be of many ideological foundations, but the problems is that the current GOP and conservative platform is like taken from the Tom Tancredo campaign book.
I agree with you. Many Republicans sound hostile, ignorant and push away voters. Politics should be about liberating voters not attempting to brainwash them. I’m very disapponted by the lack of cultural growth among Republicans.
I am also disappointed to see the brainless Democrats (“retards” according to Rahm Emanuel) like you guys (Trunzo and Pastorcete) who cannot see clear when it comes to conservative values. Tancredo was not a conservative, so please talk to Emanuel and get help.
Marcos take a Valium and step away from the computer. Learn to pick up context because you missed the mark on my comment. You gathered from my tiny little comment that I don’t clearly know conservative values? Talk about jumping the pistola. You don’t know me so take your elitist attitude and shove it.
Hey Tommy, talk to me about conservative principles, please. En ingles o en español, como tú quieras.
Chew on this, Mariscos Salinas
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/05/tom-tancredo-obama-electe_n_450849.html
Marcos not taking the bait for two reasons you’re either a staffer or a lonely 16 year old. Both comments prove you can’t have a debate. Happy trolling.
What topic of debate do you want to discuss Trunzo? By the way, do you know what that means in Spanish?
What is wrong with you? You are intentionally bothering him for no reason. I can’t believe an “adult” is acting like this. This site must be going downhill if it’s attracting people like you. Gross
Pastorcillo, estás obsesionado con el Hufftington Puff….. a ver si lees alguna otra cosa más…. inculto.
Monica, what is the problem with you? Trunzo made no point at all, just like Pastor, and this is why Salinas responded. And now you come out to say what? What is your point?
I don’t have to justify myself to you or anyone else here. What makes you think you own the comment section? First of all Trunzo didn’t respond to you he did to pastor and Marcos the metiche had to add his two centavos insulting people. If you care to read, Trunzo didn’t mention any particular individual when he responded initially. Just shut up already!
This is how you use the comments section: “Just shut up”. Good example for others Monica! Keep up the good work!.
Perhaps, she is objecting at the complete lack of substance and repetitiveness in his comments. I mean the guy said things like ” Tancredo is not a ceservative,” something I think GOP presidential candidate T.T. would object. Then he is attacking tom with remarks like ” En ingles o en español, como tú quieras,” why don’t he and you lead the way by posting something worth replying to? Monica, I might not agree with her, last I remember she call me a liberal troll, but at least she makes much smarter arguments then Marquitos here, even if they are wrong often. But not on this one.
I agree with you that real debate is needed, but the point he made about Tancredo not being a true conservative is a valid argument whether you agree or not. The sad part comes when Monica now comes up asking people to “shut up”. This is where I would rather stop making comments here. Thank you.
Well when I read the stuff By Dr Blas and Padre Vitor, I fell that they deserve a loud shut -the F*** up for Christ sake- but that is also part of the dialog I suppose…
How disrespectful! I wish this site would ban your comments. Father Victor is one of the people working the hardest to educate people (which you should learn) on the protection of innocent lives. As for Dr. Blas you could only wish you were half as smart and profound. He is a true intellect.
As for all the leftist media, thank God there exists a site like this where people like Father Victor and Dr. Blas have a voice.
yes i am a supporter of the first amendment including the separation of church and state…
Disrespectful yes, But have you read their stuff… now that is what’s obscene
Oh my pastor! What is wrong with you? You crossed the line on this one payaso. I really enjoy Dr. Blas’ articles. I have not read anything by the Padre but still show some respect. You should be ashamed of yourself por tener la boca llena de, well you know! Be respectful payaso.
No monica no… I read their stuff and they are the ones full of hate, they are the one who give us Christians and catholics a deserved reputation for intolerance and they have no problem advocating a moral state with legal penalties for what ever they consider wrong… they are not talking about a nanny state, they are talking a Cristian Iran…
Waa Waa John, you acted like a child and I took it down to your level and thought shut up was appropriate since I’m dealing with adults acting like kids. Trunzo never said anyone wasn’t a conservative so go bark at Marcos the metiche for jumping on someone without actually reading the comment. Your last whiney comment is enough to make me laugh all night! So, thank you.
Debate what you talking about debate? The guy is wrapped int he GOP, conservative, Anti-Intellectual, Anti Roe v Wade, anti-immigrant, anti-bilingual banners… all the stuff you guys like… Very selectively on the Right, you accept or reject reality depended on ideology or convenience, not facts.
“The guy is wrapped int he GOP, conservative, Anti-Intellectual, Anti Roe v Wade, anti-immigrant, anti-bilingual banners… all the stuff you guys like”. Be fair payaso. You are reaching on this comment when you say “all the stuff you guys like” as if all Republicans are alike and think the same way and feel the same way about everything. Come on and don’t stereotype in such a silly manner. That’s ridiculous and you know it. It’s like saying all liberal trolls are exactly alike
Look at the GOP platform … Your so called “Purity Test”… or worst “the teabbagers”
“Payaso”… why do you insult when you talk to others? And then you give lessons to others about debating. I wonder who is the clown…!
Mike —- the word payaso is not a “bad term” to many Hispanics it can simply mean someone is being or carrying on about something in a silly manner. You seem very agitated over something that isn’t your business. If you read the comments they seem to be going back and forth in a friendly manner. Good day Sir.
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Payaso means “clown” and in Spanish -no matter what you say- if you call someone you do not know “payaso”, it is a insult.
iPastor makes his points here. You can agree or disagree with him but calling him payaso is not the proper thing to do. So, whether you are Linda or Monica disguised as Linda, stop giving lessons to others over here.
Abortion is not about politics. Unfortunately that is what it has become, but it is about human values. I have no doubt that future generations will be appalled by the atrocities we have permitted because of pro-choice. They will look back in horror, just as we do now at things at things such as the Inquisition, the Holocaust, so on and so forth.
Technology today is not what it was during Roe vs Wade. Children are born early now and survive. How then can we say these babies do not have rights? How can we say these are not human beings? So what is it that so much offends you about Father Victor? I always read the ignorant comments you write, but today’s just completely threw me off.
Everyone has a right to disagree just dont be disrespectful because then you’ve lost your battle.
so you want the government to step there.. No, sir.
Actually, I think everyone with a conscience should step in. Unfortunately, its the government that would have to overturn a decision. It’s an ugly subject and everyone is split, but I truly respect Father Victor for going against all odds in trying to make a difference. And I believe that if enough people actually read his message and gave it deep thought, their conscience would tell them he’s right.
And just to leave everyone with a wonderful line by Alveda King from an article of hers I read here:
In plain fact, abortion is a matter of death and death – the death of a baby and the death of a bit of each woman who undergoes one. Death is not a treatment; abortion is not health care.
Have a good weekend.