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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2008 > November > 13
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Latinos and the future of electoral politics
The election of the first African-American president naturally has led to much discussion about the nation’s troubled racial legacy and the impact of its longstanding black-white divide. Rightfully so. Black voters went for Obama by an astounding 95 percent, one of the key factors in helping him turn states like Indiana and North Carolina blue on the electoral map.
But the other racial subtext to this election that hasn’t seen as much discussion is the embrace of Obama by Latino voters, and their corresponding rejection of the GOP. In states like Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado, Latino support was as much a key to the blue hue they showed on election night maps.
Already the nature of the Obama-Latino alliance is the subject of speculation. Can it last? Will Obama make good on his promises to the Latino community?
In 2000 and 2004, Karl Rove dreamed of bringing largely Catholic and culturally conservative Latinos wholly into the Republican coalition, in part to protect the party’s flank in traditionally Republican southwestern states. It was a real opportunity for the GOP, but one that imploded to a great degree when conservatives took a hard line on immigration reform, with icy rhetoric about throwing all illegals out of the country and building walls to keep Mexicans from crossing our borders.
So it would seem Obama would have reason to address Latino issues. Perhaps making immigration reform an early priority, passing a bill in Congress while Obama still has loads of political capital to spend, would be one way to solidify the affections of Latino voters?
Don’t bet on it says San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Ruben Navarrette.
Navarrette writes that the choice of Rahm Emmanuel as chief of staff is a bad omen for immigration reform. Emmanuel, according to Navarrette, sees the issue of immigration reform as a loser for the Democrats. The thinking is pushing such a bill will just inflame the conservative Republican base into activism and could endanger some vulnerable House seats if the party is seen as backing “amnesty” for illegals to remain in the U.S. Besides, the Democrats believe they can count on Latino voters even without immigration reform.
If that becomes the administration’s position, it would seem short-sighted. Immigration reform is needed and even many Republicans support changes that would allow illegals to stay. Business groups, for instance, do not want to lose the thousands of Latino workers that help boost our economy. And politically, a quick win on immigration and real attention to issues Latinos care about would be a good coalition-building move for the Democrats.
If Navarrette is right that Obama will take a pass on this issue, it re-opens the door for Republicans to again court frustrated Latino voters. Whether the GOP could successfully embrace a group that its most conservative faction has aggressively opposed is the harder question. Rove thought so, but so far he’s been proven wrong.
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