Category Archives: Houston Politica

Last Night’s RomTinos

Posted on February 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

I just watched an interview on CBS between Charlie Rose and the guy who will probably start working on voice-overs calling himself “Meat” (that’s Mitt with a Spanish accent) stating he will be seeking the Hispanic vote, since he received over 1/2 of the Latino vote in the Florida Primary. There’s just one problem with that logic–the rest of American Latinos are not right-wing Cubanos.

Now, nothing against Cubanos. Those who have received automatic amnesty upon arrival give other Latino immigrants something for which to hope. But they tend to vote Republican, anyway. The reality is that, even with some growth in activity, Hispanics made up 15% of the Republican Primary in La Florida, according to some exit polling. Chalk it up to their continued self-loathing love affair with Marco Rubio, perhaps millions spent on TV ads, and “Meat’s” sudden change of heart with his “blood for papers” DREAM Act revelation.

Romney seems to have come out of Florida with some cockiness, senselessly attacking President Obama, yet already calling out the Obama Campaign for “vitriol” that hasn’t even been scripted, much less made it to the the video editor. I guess that’s his strategy to become the “nice guy” by default.

But as Newt told us last night, there are 46 states to go. The media will play Romney (or is that overplay?) as the guy to beat, and Mitt will get himself a lot of free advertising. Let’s not even state the obvious–that Mitt could not even manage 50% last night among “conservatives.” He may become the chosen among GOPers, but surely not by default.

By the end of February, the GOPers will have gone through Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona, where Republicans aren’t Latino-friendly and where there are plenty of Latinos. And, no Cuban GOPers–or, at least, not as many. Either the GOPers will move on toward Super Tuesday badly damaged in the eyes of Hispanic voters, or quite flawed in the eyes of their own GOP voters for pandering to Hispanics in one way or another.

So, let Romney talk. Let him think that his anti-immigrant, anti-opportunity agenda is well-loved by Latinos. Either way, what comes out of his mouth will make for good ads and YouTubes.

Let’s just make sure progressives have a strong response.

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Posted in Chicano Politics, DREAM Act, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, Immigration, LatinoVote '12, President 2012, TDP Convention 2012, Texas Dems 2012

Republican Attack on Women Continues

Posted on January 31, 2012 | Leave a comment

Looks like the Komen folks have folded to pressure from the right wing to stop funding breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood. Republicans and anti-Woman extremists are to blame for this latest political hit-job on women in America.

Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has depicted Stearns’ probe as politically motivated and said she was dismayed that it had contributed to Komen’s decision to halt the grants to PPFA affiliates.

“It’s hard to understand how an organization with whom we share a mission of saving women’s lives could have bowed to this kind of bullying,” Richards told The Associated Press. “It’s really hurtful.”

Planned Parenthood has been a perennial target of protests, boycotts and funding cutoffs because of its role as the largest provider of abortions in the United States. Its nearly 800 health centers nationwide provide an array of other services, including birth control, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and cancer screening.

According to Planned Parenthood, its centers performed more than 4 million breast exams over the past five years, including nearly 170,000 as a result of Komen grants.

As a Latino, I’m appalled that the right wing would attack an organization whose purpose is to provide access to health care screenings to those without access; and this especially includes Latinas. Unfortunately, I’m not surprised.

For Latinos, the 2012 elections are about a lot more than just immigration reform. Access to health care, jobs, the economy, education–everything the Republicans are seeking to destroy–are what 2012 is about.

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Posted in Chicano Politics, Health Care Now1, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, LatinoVote '12, President 2012, TDP Convention 2012, Texas Dems 2012

Professor Acuna Sounds Off on Arizona

Posted on January 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

Dr. Rodolfo Acuña, Professor Emeritus of History at Cal-State Northridge, sounded off in The Progressive on Arizona’s recent banning of Mexican American studies courses, books, and materials, asking the question:  When do you start to count?

When the great Muhammad Ali was asked how many sit-ups he did, he responded, “I don’t count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting. That is when I start counting, because then it really counts. That’s what makes you a champion.”

These words resonate in Tucson, where Latina/o students are fighting for an education by sitting-in in the office of Tucson Unified School District Superintendent of Schools John Pedicone, walking out of classes, demonstrating, and taking to the streets.

Students are dispelling the myth that Mexican Americans do not care about education; they have started counting because it hurts. They know the difference between having subject matter that is relevant and having those books warehoused, between having teachers who believe in what they are teaching and sitting through classes where teachers go through the motions.

Read the rest here.

I agree with Professor Acuña when he says that the purpose of this is to intimidate other groups who may want to fight back against injustice. And as he says, this is about keeping Mexicans in their place–without a sense of history, without a sense of self. When liberals begin to realize what this is all about, then we can have a conversation about “Latino outreach” in politics. Otherwise, we’re just grasping at whatever is left.

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Posted in Chicano Politics, DREAM Act, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, Immigration, President 2012, TDP Convention 2012, Texas Dems 2012, U.S. Ethnic Relations, Violence Against Latinos

CNNs Republatino Debate – A Comedy of Duh!

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 3 Comments

Note:  I’ve been advised that “republatino” and “republatina” have now been trademarked . So, I guess I’ll have to call them “Re-Pendejos”? It was trademarked in 2011, supposedly, but I’ve been using it since 2005.

And the Texas Democratic Party has their pre-debate response to the whole hypocrisy, which I will add below. Bottom line:  ”Mewt” is not interested in serving any group of people. In fact, they are interested in corporate interests.

Even their Latino-esque-slash-immigration pronouncements will be about how best to exploit cheap labor under the guise of being “Latino-friendly,” as their republatino self-loathers club (including Marco Rubio) have attempted to spin this Florida episode.

Here’s what will happen tonight:  They’ll attempt being friendly with DREAMs of IED Fodder Act; they will say that Latinos are conservatives just like them; they will push the corporate charter school/school choice line; and I’m sure we’ll hear something about boot straps somewhere along the way. They will avoid words and phrases like equality, family unity, education funding, etc. Of course, I’m sure there will be attempts at lecturing Latinos, too.

I agree with the TDP that once they are done with the Latino niceties in Florida, it’s back to their normal–especially those other southern states.

Here’s the TDPs take:

Austin—Tonight the Republican presidential contenders will be taking part in a CNN/Hispanic Leadership Network debate. TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña released the following statement:

“This momentary desire to appeal to Latinos will pass the second the polls close in Florida and the vehemently anti-Latino policies and attitudes that have dominated this presidential primary will return. The President has pushed for comprehensive immigration reform and passage of the DREAM Act while Republicans continue to view Latinos as little more than a political piñata.

As the GOP contenders tout their ‘moral values’ they won’t mention they are the party that punishes immigrant children because their parents dreamt of a better life for them.

Mitt Romney will probably not brag about the endorsement he received from Kris Kobach, the architect of the draconian Arizona and Alabama immigration laws. He won’t mention that as Governor, he vetoed the Massachusetts DREAM Act, and will likely try to gloss over the fact that he’s promised to veto the federal DREAM Act. He’ll have to defend his claim that ‘self-deportation’ is an immigration policy, which drew laughs at the last Florida debate.

Newt Gingrich is unlikely to repeat his comments that Spanish is the ‘language of the ghetto’ and will try to not dwell on the fact that he only supports the military provision in the DREAM Act.

It’s insulting that Newt Gingrich thinks it’s ok for immigrant students to risk their lives for this country, but not ok for them to practice their professions. Republicans are on the wrong side of every issue that’s important to Latinos. Before they got to Florida they were practically beating us off with a stick.”

According to a recent Latino Decisions poll, registered Hispanic voters in Florida support President Obama 67 to 25 over Mitt Romney and 70 to 22 over Newt Gingrich.

I like our chances with either of these, but if the self-loathers want Newt because he’s so “Latino-friendly,” bring it on!

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Posted in Bigots and Liars, Chicano Politics, DREAM Act, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, Immigration, LatinoVote '12, President 2012, TDP Convention 2012, Texas Dems 2012

Rick Perry’s THECB Takes Steps to Become La Migra

Posted on January 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

At least that’s what it seems like.

Teddy Wilson at the American Independent reports that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is about to give colleges and universities added tasks regarding the Texas DREAM Act. I’ll call them “migra” tasks.

Currently, the Texas DREAM Act calls for a student to sign an affidavit committing to seeking a positive change to their immigration status. The policy change calls for higher education institutions to now manage the affidavits, as well as “remind” students of their obligations to fix their status.

According to the new policy, which has been placed on the consent agenda for the meeting, institutions will be required to “retain the signed affidavits permanently, and to instruct students when they are admitted, annually while they are enrolled, and upon graduation of their obligation to apply for permanent resident status.” The new rules also call for the institutions to “refer students to the proper federal agency” for instructions on how to apply for legalized status.

So, why the change? Well, they blame Mitt and Newt and the rest of the Republicans who have used Latinos and immigrants as their favorite political piñata.

“During the presidential election, when the dialog became so white hot, our board decided that there could be changes to the way the law is implemented,” said Chavez.

So, bigoted remarks by candidates are cause for policy changes, now? And wasteful policy changes, at that, according to a student Wilson quotes in the article.

“Higher education institutions are not knowledgeable in immigration law and would not know how to approach a federal agency about a student’s situation without putting in peril their privacy. For institutions of higher education to handle this without prior training is in fact, an unfunded mandate.”

We’ll be keeping an eye on this. Great article by Teddy Wilson!

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Posted in Chicano Politics, DREAM Act, Higher Education, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, Immigration

Immigration No Longer a Top Issue?

Posted on January 23, 2012 | 1 Comment

The latest poll from the Pew folks is telling us that fewer Americans see (illegal) immigration as a top issue, Dunham at the Chron reports. Given some of the Republican presidential primary debates, one would think it’s their only issue. Americans, though, seem to be thinking differently.

Thirty-nine percent of Americans call illegal immigration an important issue, down from 55 percent in 2007.

That’s a bigger drop than crime (14 percentage points), the environment and global warming (both 13 point declines).

On the flip side, the economy has rocketed up 18 percentage points in importance since the beginning of the Great Recession. The budget deficit (plus 16 percentage points).

Terrorism has slipped from the top spot on the priority list five years ago to third now, behind the economy and jobs.

Overall, illegal immigration ties for 17th on a list of top priorities, tied with strengthening the U.S. military. The only issues less important to voters are global trade, transportation, cutting military spending, campaign finance and global warming.

Well, this doesn’t mean Republicans will stop using Latinos and immigrants as their political piñata. Whether there are threats of a DREAM Act veto (Romney) or the creation of an all-new Bracero (labor exploitation) program (Gingrich), it is all about making the base and the big corporate check-writers happy. Either of these short-sighted ideas can make Latinos the political cucuy of 2012.

What it does provide us is a window at how voters are feeling nowadays, and if the economy and jobs are the issue, then it will be a battle of ideas. I like our chances in this type of battle, as long as we can clearly outline our ideas and defend them.

And I hope someone reminds some of our blue-dogs that immigration is not a top issue, too.

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Posted in Chicano Politics, DREAM Act, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, Immigration, LatinoVote '12, TDP Convention 2012, Texas Dems 2012

TDPs Promesa Project Enters Phase Two

Posted on January 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Texas Democratic Party is set to begin the next phase of the Promesa Project, a program designed to engage young Latinos with the purpose of recruiting them to become Democratic messengers.

In this second phase of Promesa, Texas Democrats will launch a Fellowship Program and place fellows in at least eleven campuses across Texas, including: UTEP, UT-Pan Am, UTSA, UT, U of H, A&M-International, UT-Brownsville, UT-Arlington, UNT-Dallas, UH-Downtown, and A&M CC.

“These universities were selected because they have a large Latino enrollment and is perfectly located to provide the opportunity to affect several local competitive races,” said TDP Deputy Executive Director Anthony Gutierrez.

The Promesa Fellowship program will include a training program conducted by experienced campaign professionals. Fellows will then work to register voters, recruit Latinos to the campaign, organize campus events, get out the vote and much more. All the work done by Fellows will be geared towards turning out young Latinos in the Democratic Primary who would likely not participate otherwise.

“Several races across Texas are decided by a small number of votes every cycle,” said State Representative Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas). “We believe this project has the potential to have far-reaching electoral ramifications, including potentially at the statewide level.”

It is great to see this coming about. Let’s hope that this smacks to hell the notion by a republatino group that they are going to tell Latinos to vote for Newt in open primary states because he’s the “Latino-friendly” candidate. Democrats are going the extra mile with a diverse ballot that includes Latin@s who are actually Latino-friendly, unlike the republinuts’ Rubio and Ted Cruz, among others. Why the republatinos would want to support Newt of the Ghetto  is beyond me.

Anyway, Promesa is one of those projects that is giving me some hope regarding the young Latin@ vote in 2012.

Oh just one thing:  Maybe include Texas State University, too.

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Posted in 2012 Profiles, Chicano Politics, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, LatinoVote '12, TDP Convention 2012, Texas Dems 2012

Thoughts on Viernes…01202012

Posted on January 20, 2012 | 1 Comment

Texas Media Still Has a Crush on Perry

These kind of articles as “top stories” make me sick. Attempting to give relevance to Rick Perry as he destroys this state just to keep a media job does little justice to the political process. Why not have a continued conversation about how Republicans are intent on destroying this state? Instead, a single-digit presidential candidate is given credence just because he’s from Texas? Embarrassing.

Primaries Will Be Held in December

Well, maybe not, but Republicans are intent on destroying democracy. Not only are they trying to destroy voting rights, they’re trying to destroy voting. There’s different spins to the whole “Supremes reject the maps” story. TDPs is probably the most coherent one.

“The Supreme Court did not strike down the interim maps. The issues they had pertained to the process by which the court arrived at new maps, not necessarily the maps themselves.

While it is not clear what the final districts will look like at this point, what is clear is that the state’s original maps have been found to be discriminatory in some way by every court which has examined them.

The state’s maps completely ignored the demographic realities of Texas. The Supreme Court did not approve the state’s maps and we don’t expect they ever will.”

Republicans Intent on Destroying Latino Voting

That’s right. Emails by Republican legislators found they were indeed attempting to dilute Latino voting strength.

No shame!

I’d wish you all a good weekend, but it’s time to turn these fun weekends into working weekends if we really expect to win in 2012. And you better think outside the box if you really want to win.

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Posted in Chicano Politics, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, LatinoVote '12, TDP Convention 2012, Texas Dems 2012

DC Reacts to Perry Quitting

Posted on January 19, 2012 | Comments Off

Perry’s out?

Was he ever in?

Obviously, I’m no fan of Rick Perry and his policies. He’s still bad for Texas and will return to continue his attempts at destroying Texas. It seems to me the only reason Rick Perry was still in the news–even after his poll numbers tanked and stayed tanked–was because of the Texas media’s weird crush on him. Otherwise, his campaign would have looked smaller than the fly-speck Paint Creek is on the Texas map.

To borrow a line from the guv, “Adios…”

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Posted in Chicano Politics, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, LatinoVote '12, TDP Convention 2012, Texas Dems 2012, Texas Lege

Gingrich’s Republatinos

Posted on January 19, 2012 | Comments Off

The big news (apparently) yesterday was that a republatino group came out in support of Gingrich.

And right before a big primary in South Yahoo-lina. Nice strategy.

The reason?

“We believe Speaker Gingrich is the most Hispanic-friendly candidate in the race,” Steve Rodriguez, a spokesman for the group, told CNN in a phone interview from Colorado.

Does this sound Hispanic friendly?

“We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto,” Gingrich said to cheers from the crowd of more than 100.

And these stances aren’t all that Hispanic-friendly, either.

But immigration and being the target of a GOP culture war aren’t the only issues of interest to Latinos. Just like the rest of America, we are interested in jobs and the economy. Latinos want to save Social Security, not privatize it. Latinos support universal health care, not the same old way of doing things. Here are a few of Newt’s stances on these issues.

Que feo, ¿verdad?

Bottom line:  There is no Republican candidate in the mix that is “Hispanic-friendly.”

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Posted in 2012 Profiles, Chicano Politics, DREAM Act, Houston Dems '12, Houston Politica, Immigration, LatinoVote '12, TDP Convention 2012, Texas Dems 2012