Allah:
I’d guess there’s an 80 percent chance right now that one of them will end up as nominee, soconsider this a sneak preview of how viciously red-in-tooth-and-claw nasty the left will be next summer.
Liberal Hispanic groups have launched a new campaign designed to turn Latino voters against the two Cuban American Republicans who have risen to the top tier of the GOP presidential field — assailing Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz as traitors to their own culture.
Radio and online ads, social media posts and public discussions with Hispanic leaders in swing states are accusing Cruz and Rubio, senators from Texas and Florida, respectively, of fighting against immigration reforms, a minimum wage increase and other changes that millions of Latinos support. Many of the ads equate the two candidates to GOP front-runner Donald Trump, whose sharp rhetoric on immigration has until now drawn most of the attention of Hispanic activists…
At a Monday gathering in Nevada of Democratic Hispanic leaders, ahead of tonight’s GOP debate in Las Vegas, photos of Cruz and Rubio were plastered alongside Trump’s picture, as all three were criticized as anti-Latino. A press release noted, “While Trump continues to grab headlines with his hateful anti-Latino, anti-immigrant language, the positions and records of the two Latino presidential candidates in the race are equally dangerous for Nevada communities.”
Dolores Huerta, an influential labor leader and civil rights activist, called Cruz and Rubio “sellouts” and “traitors” at the gathering and said the Hispanic candidates “are turning their backs on the Latino community.”
“Traitors to their own culture” is a euphemism for the real charge. In fact, often when the subject of Rubio’s prospects comes up, you’ll find Democrats at pains to say that there really is no common Latino political “culture.” Anyone who thinks Rubio’s going to clean up with Latino voters is missing the fact that Cuban-Americans are different from Mexican-Americans, traditionally tilting more Republican than other Latino groups because of their suffering under Castroism. Now suddenly Rubio and Cruz are traitors to Latino “culture” writ large rather than traitors to their race, an uglier charge that’s implied here but which even professional Democrats are nervous (for the moment) to level. Looking forward to seeing that distinction parsed circa fall 2016.
Beyond that, I hope we all understand that the reason liberals are eager to knife Cruz and Rubio this early isn’t just that they’re both serious threats to win, which itself disrupts the narrative that “the white party” would never support a minority as nominee. It’s because the Democratic bench is embarrassingly thin when it comes to Latino pols with a national profile. All of America’s biggest Latino political stars are Republican — Rubio and Cruz first and foremost but also Susana Martinez and Brian Sandoval, either one of whom could end up on a national ticket before they’re through. Who’s the most prominent Latino Democrat? Bob Menendez? Luis Gutierrez? So strapped is the left for Latino stars that Julian Castro, a total (but camera-friendly) nobody, was plucked from his basically ceremonial role as mayor of San Antonio and made the head of HUD in order to give him a tiny bit of national experience in case Hillary needs a Latino on the ticket next year. Which, I think, she will if either Rubio or Cruz is the nominee. This sort of shrieking demagoguery from Latino Democrats won’t be enough to blunt the threat; Hillary will need to pander with a Latino running mate of her own and Castro is the likely pick, even though he’s less qualified than then-Governor Sarah Palin was in 2008. It’s a cliche that the nastiest political attacks are born from fear, but it’s true in this case. Accusing Rubio and Cruz of being “anti-Latino” is a fig leaf for the fact that Latino pols are also-rans in the Democratic establishment.
Neither of these men are Constitutionally eligible to run. rubio was born in Miami, Florida to two illegal CUBAN citizens. Now if only being born in the United States regardless the citizenship of the parents was the only criteria, then USA born terrorists born to foreign citizenship parents like anwar al-awlaki could run for the office of president.
cruz was born in a foreign country to a US citizen mother and a Cuban citizen father. Someone born in a foreign country (unless they are born to military US citizens in a foreign country) has to have their dual citizenship filed by their parents at the time of birth. cruz was a dual citizen until 2014, when he gave up his Canadian citizenship. I was told that cruz showed the world his paperwork, however I have not seen in on the web. Regardless according to the Constitution, he is not eligible either.
I am a conservative and a Constitutionalist that votes republican. however if either of these two men became the candidate (and it would probably be cruz) I would not support the party. I am sick and tired of people being ignorant of the Constitution. This is a Constitutional issue and not an emotional issue. – and yes I know that barry soetoro is not eligible either however they had the MSM and the democrat party along with RINOs to cover up the truth – which will surface one day. Two wrongs does not make a right.
Amazes me, how Liberals always call us on the right “racists”.. when stuff like this is BLATANTLY SO.. and if you call them on it.. they’d ARGUE we were WRONG!!!
I can’t believe this is the same nation I grew up in anymore.
Enchanted: You have failed basic geography
The requirement is being born an American.
Florida is a state – Thanks Andy. Therefore, Rubio was born a citizen
Same goes for Cruz.
He had dual citizenship. US because his mother was american & Canadian as well
The word dual means two – so He had US and Canadian.
He dropped the Canadian.
So he does not have dual citizeship
With Jobs drying up I don’t think the latino-american people are welcoming amnesty, thousands more to compete for those few jobs. Especially those that came legally. Typically liberal to smear those for working hard and earning the American dream available to all.
@kitt:
First, there is no such thing as a “Latino” American (someone whose native language is rooted in Latin) unless you count Italians, etc.
Hispanics in my state who can trace their roots back to Tejas are not happy with the illegal immigration into Texas. They understand that the illegals who are Hispanic do not subscribe to the same political philosophy as we do because almost all their governments are rooted in Socialism. It’s all they know. They also know that illiterate, or barely literate, illegals drive down the wages of Hispanics that, for whatever reason, are under educated. That is why Texas is leading in recruiting Hispanics to the Republican Party. The candidates with Cuban heritage also understand that the bridge between Socialism and Communism is short.
@retire05: You are right I was trying to blanket cover the spanish speaking immigrants that came from many countries Trying to cover that kind of territory in a non-offensive way. Oh poo you know what I meant.
@kitt:
Yeah, Kitt, I know what you mean. But I am sick of the P.C. crowd and their use of words to divide us. If you asking anyone of Mexican, Spanish, or South American heritage, they don’t call themselves Latino (unless you are a far left Supreme Court Justice). They tell you they are Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Spanish, Columbian, etc. Just like they don’t say their are African-Cuban, etc. Only we do that for purposes of dividing us.
The Spanish language is as closely related to Latin as are Italian, French, and Romanian. All are direct descendants of proto-Romance, also known as vulgar Latin, the everyday speech of Rome. Classical Latin wasn’t the everyday language of anyone. It was a highly formalized language, used only in political oratory and debate, in poetry and literature.
@retire05: Last thing I would want to be is overly PC. Every hispanic I know is in this country legally, and loves this country, did not come here for any handout but for the opportunities that this nation offers.