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Latino Disconnect Worries GOP

But little action taken to staunch the flow

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted May 18, 2009 11:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Republican Party is facing falling Latino support, but little is being done to reverse the trend, Politico reports. Some Latinos have been disillusioned by Republican rhetoric on illegal immigration, attacks some heard as swipes at Hispanics themselves. “If we don’t figure out a way to open our party up to more Hispanic voters, nothing else we do will matter,” said a former GOP congressman.

Republicans “all know it’s a problem. They aren’t talking about it, because they fear the anti-immigration wing of their party,” says an author. The GOP must lose the appearance of a “raw ethnic animus,” one consultant says, then decide whether to appeal to the conservative values that helped George W. Bush to victory, or trumpet different issues, like school choice.

A war protester yells during a speech by Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to the National Association of Latino Elected Officials meeting in Washington, June 28, 2008.
A war protester yells during a speech by Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to the National Association of Latino Elected Officials meeting in Washington, June 28, 2008.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
President Bush, right, shakes hands with Republican National Committee General Chairman Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., left, after speaking at the Republican National Committee Gala, May 10, 2007.
President Bush, right, shakes hands with Republican National Committee General Chairman Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., left, after speaking at the Republican National Committee Gala, May 10, 2007.   (AP Photo)
A war protester holds up a sign during a speech by Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain to the National Association of Latino Elected Officials meeting in Washington, June 28, 2008.
A war protester holds up a sign during a speech by Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain to the National Association of Latino Elected Officials meeting in Washington, June 28, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Brand new US citizens Jenette Chavez, 18, left, and Josue Cano, 20, fill out forms as they register to vote in Las Vegas, Aug. 22, 2008.
Brand new US citizens Jenette Chavez, 18, left, and Josue Cano, 20, fill out forms as they register to vote in Las Vegas, Aug. 22, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Mad
May 19, 2009 1:14 AM CDT
T.R was a great, progressive republican but he left office in 1909, making it 100 years, this year, since a republican president really was of the party of Lincoln. Today, Lincoln would be a Liberal.
Mad
May 18, 2009 11:42 AM CDT
Lincoln could never run as a republican today, not that he would want to. It's been over a century since a republican believed in a "government of the people, by the people and for the people."
sache
May 18, 2009 8:54 AM CDT
The repubs are not connecting with anyone not on the far right. They have pulled the welcome mat. No room for diversity or dissention.

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