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Posts Tagged ‘GOP’

The Latino Vote : Party Loyalty vs Community Loyalty

8:36 am By Maegan La Mala · Immigration|Obama|Politics · 14 Comments

16 Aug 2010

With the boost in Secure Communities and more boots on the ground on the U.S. Mexican Frontera, every so often the debate among bloggers, advocates and activists becomes one of strategy. Do we spend time countering the ridiculous anti-14th amendment narrative and debate “antis” or do we take and make a more critical analysis and dare hold so-called political allies feet to the fire at the risk of being called “trouble makers”?

The expectation is that people of color bloggers, Latinos and in the very specific case of VivirLatino, radical women of color bloggers, should always side against the obvious enemy: the Republicans talking about our vaginas dropping anchor babies and putting us into camps. The actions of Democrats, specifically a man of color, the first African American president, are supposed to be given a free pass. Patience is asked and we should never ever look like we are on the same side as those that question the validity of birth certificates.

This morning an anonymous commenter wrote : Bet you wish we still had Bush.

Are Conservatives Really Opening the Door to Latinos?

1:34 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration|Politics · Comments Off

24 Feb 2010

Suddenly, Latinos are expected to believe that Republicans love us. There has been an increase in efforts to go after our votes and support. Is this for real as in Republicans love Latins or is it just the latest attempt to take advantage of the current political landscape with Democratic policy promises that helped win the Latino vote at a standstill?

As the electoral eye shifts to mid-term elections, I am overwhelmed with the amount of media coverage the idea of “Republicans Loving Latinos” has received. Republican Loving Latinos sounds like some bad ethnic porn film and in many ways the script is as predictable as a skin flick. Latinos are either raised up as the hard working wannabe good U.S. citizens or demonized an invading, ever pregnant, and populating the country with criminals and “anchor babies”. The truth is though that Republicans can’t win seats in office without us. Note that this is different than saying that they can’t push dangerous policy without us. They have the Democrats to help them with that.
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Does a Vote Against Sotomayor = a Vote Against Latinos?

7:09 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Politics|Women · 2 Comments

5 Aug 2009

Whenever a Latino is nominated for some political post I’m not the type who starts cheerleading right away for them. I’m more of a “what have you done for me lately” type of supporter. And to be honest, the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court hasn’t inspired my support.

Let me be clear, there is no doubt that the Sotomayor nomination and what looks like will be her officially become a Supreme Court Justice is historic and important, especially from the perspective of one daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants looking at another. Pero, I felt much the same way about the initial nomination by the Democrats of Obama for the presidency. Historic? Yes. Impressive? Does he reflect my politics? Ehhh.

With GOP Votes, is Sotomayor on her Way?

4:55 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Justice|Politics|race · Comments Off

17 Jul 2009

I know it’s starting to sound like the 24-hour Sotomayor News Channel around here, but we promise we’ll be done with it soon. Here’s at least one note before our heads explode with all the Sonia updates: 3 Republican senators have pledged they will vote for her confirmation. Might Sotomayor be paving an easy street to confirmation? Can we get excited yet? The Miami Herald reports:

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor picked up her first Republican Senate backers Friday – Sens. Mel Martinez of Florida, Richard Lugar of Indiana and Olympia Snowe of Maine – virtually assuring her of an overwhelming confirmation vote.

Democrats control 60 Senate votes, and some other Republicans could join them when the Senate votes, probably in early August.

In the clip above, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham asks Sotomayor about her “temperament”. Another “hot-blooded Latina” stereotype? Maybe, but The Miami Herald and other sources are saying that Graham is strongly leaning towards voting for her.

I’m actually really surprised that Mel Martinez is voting for her confirmation. I mean, just look at his positions on common hot button topics. I guess this might be taken as further testimony to the fact that Sotomayor is no “activist liberal judge”. But some (perhaps Fox News?) will undoubtedly whine that it’s about Latino favoritism. Like Mel Martinez and Sonia Sotomayor have anything in common aside from a Spanish surname.

What do you think? Is Sotomayor out of the woods yet?

After the jump, some fun and lightheartedness with regard to how literally Sotomayor’s soundbite about being a “wise Latina” has been taken…and what she’s still up against.

Breaking News: Republic Senator Arlen Specter is Now a Democrat

12:14 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Controversia|pennsylvania|Politics · 3 Comments

28 Apr 2009

Bad news for the Republican Party. Long-time GOP senator Arlen Specter let President Obama know this morning that he is switching parties and becoming a Democrat, citing that he “no longer feels comfortable” with his party. CNN broke the story about an hour ago (video above), and reports that some of the Senator’s Pennsylvania constituents were to meet him this morning when the news leaked, at which point Specter emerged from his office amid roaring applause from them. The UK’s Guardian has more:

“I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” Specter said in a statement posted on a website devoted to Pennsylvania politics and confirmed by his office. Several Senate officials said a formal announcement could come later today or tomorrow. [...]

“I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate,” he said in the statement.

“I don’t have to say anything to them. They’ve said it to me,” Specter said, when asked in a Capitol corridor about abandoning the conservatives.

The Guardian reports that President Obama contacted Specter by phone shortly after to say he was “thrilled to have” him and give him his “full support” (more coverage from MSNBC after the jump).

CNN just reported that Republican Senator for Maine Olympia Snowe was quoted as saying that Specter’s switch is “devastating” for the GOP and symptomatic of the dominance of the extreme right within the party.

Specter had been a Republican since 1966.

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Maegan La Mala: Thank you Julio! To be honest I was a little nervous. [...]

Ana L. Flores: I was very excited when you decided to join us. I really wanted your voice there as it would add dep [...]

Maegan La Mala: Hola Juliana and thanks for commenting. There is a dearth in activist/critical thinking Latino blogg [...]

Julio Ricardo Varela: Good for you for asking. I got goose bumps just reading this and yes, yes, yes, to it all. Thank you [...]

julianabritto: The sense that I get is that you might feel a little frustrated at the dearth in activist bloggers? [...]

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