[The] Republicans’ choice to either change their hostile attitudes toward Latino voters or going the way of the Whig party will soon be known by everyone. They will have to choose to start talking to Latinos rather than about them amongst their lily-white selves.
What do I mean? Here is an Idyllwild example.
One of our local churches organized a mission trip to Central America this past summer, a very commendable endeavor.
But not only was the cost of the trip more than the median annual income of the citizens of that country for an entire year, but just two or three doors away from the head of this trip lived the local mavin-contractor and organizer of the local hard working service providers who emigrated here from Central America.
But somehow the mission group will do there what it won’t do here?
The audacity of these people coming here and wanting what Anglos want is shameful to Republicans apparently. Why else would they assume every person of Latino heritage is illegal (but employ them anyway)? Or why are Republican parents right at the front of the line when it comes to Cal Grant scholarships for their kids to go to Cal Baptist, Biola, Point Loma or Cal Lutheran yet oppose a program important to Latinos like the DREAM Act?
So Republicans can put their pragmatism ahead of their ideology, but no one else can, is that it?
Like it or not, 50,000 American Latinos turn 18 every day. Mary Bono Mack found out the hard way this past week.
And so it will go for all of us Republicans. Either we continue talking about the evil Latinos or actually talk to them.
It’s our choice. It’s your choice.
Mike Reno
Pine Cove