Republicans & the Spanish Vote!

If you had asked my wife, the former President of the Southwest Broward Republican party, campaing manager for local Republicans in Miami, Davie point person for the re-election campaign for George Bush's 04 campaign in a part of South Florida, what is the one thing Republicans would have to do to win in the future, her answer was clear.

Win the hearts and minds of Spanish citizens.

A political health checkup ought to scare any GOP voter. With mastermind Karl Rove out of picture, the President in lame duck mode, and Jeb gone from Florida, whatever inroads for the Spanish vote made during 2000 and 2004 election cycles, are quickly vanishing.

When Univision in Miami decided to have a Spanish American Presidential debate recently. Did the Democrats show up? Every single one of them. The Socialist Queen indicated, "it was a great privilege" to be before the Spanish constituency. Barak Obama stated "it was an opportunity" to reach another group of Americans in the political process. The other Democratic candidates groveled before the Miami crowd wholeheartedly promising to retain the illegal aliens in America rather than deport them. Maybe this is un-American? But it is effective for a democratic primary. Maybe even a general election?

And what about the Republicans? John McCain accepted the invitation to debate the critical issues important to Spanish constituents. Stunningly, not another Republican candidate dared to face the fire before these Americans. Need we ask what the legitimate reasons were for choosing not to show up in a Spanish forum? Of course, Republicans would have to speak about immingration, healthcare, and education- the very issues most important to the Spanish constituency and the achilles heel of these Republican candidates who remain flat-footed on these important issues.

How many of our Spanish brothers and sisters are there in the Unitied States? Can you say 44 million? Although Bush #43 received over 40% of this vote as a compassionate conservative, it is likely this number will plummet into the 20's.

What will be the effect in November 2008? Game - set - match for the elephants fighting for lower taxes, lower government intrusion, limited spending, and securing the borders.

No party can win without evenly dividing this crucially important voting block of constituents. And the Republicans candidates aren't even giving the time of day to the surging and sophisticated block of voters. Didn't George Bush need chads to win even though he had a huge 44% of Spanish voting block? What are Republicans to do now winning only 25 to 30% of this vote? They going to watch the next inaugural address from home.

High taxes, open borders, weak defense, socialized medicine, alternative lifestyles, gay rights - is this the Socialist European model that awaits us all in our great Land of Liberty after November 2008?