CNBC offered some interesting statistics today concerning the Hispanic population in the United States.
- There are now 50 Million Hispanics in the US, up from 35 Million in 2006.
- The unemployment rate among Hispanics is 10.3% compared to 8.3% for White Americans.
- There are now 1.8 Million young Hispanics who have been given a two-year deportation reprieve by President Obama so that they can continue their education in the US.
- Fewer than 50% of eligible Hispanics voted in 2008 compared to 66% of White Americans.
The Hispanic spokesperson who talked about the Hispanic role in this year’s presidential election said several times that what Hispanics want is jobs and health care.
That cuts across the two candidates rather clearly: jobs - votes for Romney and health care - votes for Obama.
The spokesperson also said that the Hispanic community would have preferred Senator Marco Rubio to Congressman Paul Ryan as the VP choice of Mr. Romney, but he added that at the end of the day, it is jobs that will count in voting.
He also said that the move Obama made to save the education of 1.8 Million young Hispanic immigrants was a political plus, but that he believes neither party will step up to the immigration reform that is really needed.
Where does this leave us, dear readers?
It seems to me that the GOP and Mitt Romney have a chance to pull Hispanic votes into the Republican column in November, but they cannot do it by ignoring them. I hope that after the Convention, Mr. Romney will organize a team around Senator Rubio to rally Hispanics to the GOP cause. It could be done if the message is jobs, jobs, and jobs. Not just mouthing pieties but offering specific programs that could help Hispanics get back to work.
Of course, this is also what White and Black voters also want to hear, so it is the central message Romney ought to be delivering.
It was encouraging to see that Romney took his economic program to center stage today on the campaign trail, but he needs to do this much more in order to force Obama to respond. Because the President does not have a story to tell. His efforts have fallen flat, for whatever reason he chooses to rely on as his excuse.
America needs jobs and President Obama has not been a President leading the way in this area.
And, if the social and religious right of the Republican Party would just let Mr. Romney get on with his campaign theme -- creating the atmosphere for business to rebound and create jobs -- it would be a big step forward.
This presidential election is not about abortion or gays or right to life. It is about getting America back on her feet.
These social and religious issues, while important to many Americans, are not going to solve America’s fiscal or economic problems. They are non-critical matters right now, and should wait to be discussed after the American fabric has been re-woven around industrial output, employment and debt reduction.
But, I fear that as long as these groups in the GOP continue to force abortion and right to life and gay rights into the forefront, Romney will be saddled with defending ideas that will only drive Hispanics into the arms of Obama in November.
There is one and only one really important issue in this presidential election – THE ECONOMY.
ReplyDeleteThere is always going to be abortion, immigration, education, roads, farmers crops, green energy, etc. If the economy is not started to be repaired ASAP, nothing else will matter. We will cease to exists as the nation we once were. And we will not be able to help the other nations who are use to our helping hand and expertise. Greece will have a friend to commiserate with. As will Spain, Ireland, Portugal, France, Germany, Russia. The world’s economy is so intertwined today that sometimes it’s difficult to tell the real major players. But if one takes a second and investigates what the economies are intertwined around you would find the USA.
We are Americans. Americans that have been out of work for a few years want a job and health care for their family too.
Immigration is American citizens problem. The solution must be palatable for American – not people who want to be here for the benefits. The term American is earned not simply given.
A team led by Sen. Rubio is a great idea. But the Hispanic community needs to show signs that they share the conservative values that we all do. Some do certainly. Family values, faith, marriage, etc. Many don’t though.
The president only story he can tell is one of FAILURE. Three and a half years of economic failure, of lost jobs, of rising unemployment, of home being foreclosed on, of families being uprooted, of botched diplomatic ventures one after another, lost links in the Middle East, 4 years of trillion dollar deficits, NO budget in 4 years, shifting money from one government program to Obamacare to camouflage the follies within it, lost respect as Commander-n-Chief. I am surprised that he has the moxie to face the electorate.
The man is without shame (as my grandmother would have said).
I will always have my strong beliefs about abortion, gays and gay marriage, and the right to life. These can be discussed later. Now it’s the Economy. Get on it Mitt and Paul and ride the horse till it drops dead. Or we all will be to some degree dead. The time for the discussion on these problems facing America is in the house and senate, at town hall meetings, etc. Sad to say we don’t have time for them in this precious election.
On one hand I understand that these "one issue" individuals and groups have as much right to get support and national attention for their pet causes as animal rights people, save the endangered whatever,etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't grasp is these "single issue" people not understanding the importance and enormity of this presidential election over many other presidential elections. Why aren't they willing to take their pet causes and what until the off year election of 2014. The endangered 3 legged flea has survived for 100,000 years or more, it can last another 2 years can't it?
I can only fantasize what our country will be like after 4 more more years of Obama's uncontrolled spending. Spending money that we don't have and can't afford to borrow it.
Wake up and smell the destruction that a Mitt Romney loss will have upon all of us.