Reid: Hispanics can't be Republicans
By dboman
@dboman (457)
United States
August 11, 2010 3:08pm CST
So yesterday Harry Reid said: "I don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican."
Marco Rubio, the Florida Senate candidate running in 2010 and a son of cuban exiles, strongly disagrees.
"It's outrageous, It's ridiculous."
"You know, Americans of hispanic descent, you know the strongest issue there is? That is economic empowerment-upward mobiility."
"...and that's economic empowerment and the desire to be able to live in a country where, if you work hard not only can you do better for yourself, you can leave your children better off than you were."
Being a native of Florida (and a strong supporter of Rubio), I'm pretty in tune with the Cuban culture and can tell you that it is a very anti-statist culture. Cuban defects have lived under a communist regime and I could tell you horror stories about it.
So, what do you guys think? Is it impossible to be "of Hispanic heritage" and be Republican? Is the Republican party racist against Hispanics?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
11 Aug 10
Politicans love to put people in little boxes with labels on it. But in truth society is more complex than it ....people are more complex than that. He treated hispanics like they are stupid and can't think for themselves.
I know poeple of all cultures, colors, genders, religions, etc.... that in all teh different parties...why? Because they looked at the issues and made up their own minds. Which is their right.
But I hear all the time...if you are black you have to be a liberal. I know black republicans. If you are a woman you have be liberal...I know female republicans. If you are rich you have to be a republican...but I know rich liberals. heck I know conservative who are gay. Both groups are more diverse than the politicans want you to believe. They just want you to think...oh I am this or that so I HAVE to support this or that party. Which is BS.
Reid hopefully will not win re-election. He is a status quo politican. We don't need anymore of those.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
11 Aug 10
You are right. they try to herd people like sheep with voting. Don't think for yourself. Vote based on your gender...or vote based on your color or vote based on your religion....heaven forbid you vote based on the candidate or the issues.
They really like to treat people like they are stupid.
You are right..Rick and Powell were called really bad racist names by the left for being republican. Steele (who I also am not real fond of) also had the same thing happen to him. I think any woman that tries to get on the big ticket in the republican party is giong to be torn apart by the "feminist" because she is not of "their" girls. And if a gay republican runs....oh my..it will get ugly.
Politicans want you in your box iwth your label..don't think for yourself...don't step out of line and most of all vote how we tell you too.
@dboman (457)
• United States
11 Aug 10
Demographic politics. That's a game that the Democrats play really well. Reid betrays the motives of the DNC and the Left with this statement. They say they're for minorities, women, etc. but in reality they just use them for their votes to gain more power. What do these demographics gain by increasing the power of the government? Nothing.
The Republican party does this too with the "religious right". They run on moral statism to garner the religious vote. THAT is why the Republican party is not the party of limited government. One more reason to be a libertarian. :)
Unfortunately, so many people follow the herd with absolutely no knowledge of the issues. As a recent college graduate, I've seen it with so many people (see Obama 2008).
@laglen (19759)
• United States
12 Aug 10
That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard! That is as bad as saying that Black people can not be republicans. The political parties are not based on color but in beliefs. The idea that hispanic people can not believe in self sufficiency is just one very good reason that Reid needs to retire.
@dboman (457)
• United States
12 Aug 10
The political parties are not SUPPOSED to be based on color...but really the leaders of the DNC (and racists on the Left and Right) would have you believe that it is based on race.
The older Hispanics that I know are VERY strong believers in self-sufficiency, and wouldn't have it any other way. I haven't discussed this yet with any of them, but I've got the feeling they would be offended by this statement.
It doesn't matter what color your skin is, Mr. Reid.
1 person likes this
I suspect that Reid is so racist that he doesn't even recognize it, just like many liberal politicians. 
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
12 Aug 10
Another asinine racist remark falls within the lines of you cannot be black and be anything but an Obama supporter.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
11 Aug 10
It's just more of the racism that's become typical of the left. Usually it's directed at black republicans calling them "Uncle Toms" or saying they aren't really black. Basically the democrats treat black people like they OWN them as 85-98% of black people vote democrat.
Apparently Reid wants to stretch that "ownership" to include Hispanics. I think he's really going to hit a wall with that one since democrats only get about 56-66% of Hispanics supporting them. That means you have up to 44% of Hispanics who are going to be VERY offended by his racist statement.
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
11 Aug 10
Harry Reid just needs to retire or be voted out. It is clear how out of touch he actually is with the average person.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
14 Aug 10
The republicans believe we should all be fiscally and personally responsible citizens, not depending on government for our welfare. Does Harry Reid think Hispanics are not capable of that?
@tweetbird (161)
• United States
12 Aug 10
I think it's not only possible, there are tons of Hispanics who are republicans and very conservative.
@fannitia (2167)
• Bulgaria
11 Aug 10
Yes, Reid sounds a bit racist to me. But if this is about the cubans, I supose they don't have a great desire to join a political party.
I live in a former comunist country where we had only one party and some people were forced to join it in order to have a better career. After all that I hate the party membership.
