Republicans are losing elections in part because they are losing key demographic groups. Some of those groups, like Hispanics, are growing, making them impossible to ignore. 37 percent of the country is nonwhite. Hispanics comprise 16 percent of the population, accounting for half the population growth within the past decade. 51 percent of children born in California are Hispanic, and 46 percent of the population in New Mexico is Hispanic.
Republicans
have had difficulty making inroads with Hispanics due to their
position on illegal immigration. The left and its other half, the
liberal media, have convinced many Hispanics that tough immigration
laws are racist. While this is not true, Republicans have had little
success convincing Hispanics otherwise. Meanwhile, Republicans
continue to make “enforce the border” key parts of their stump
speeches.
The
problem with this approach is it needlessly reinforces the false
stereotype that Republicans are racist. Why repeat something if it's
not necessary and costs votes? Many politicians are pro-life, but
they don't say “we must stop abortion” in every speech. Illegal
immigration is one of those difficult issues that would be better
handled gingerly.
On
the other hand, Republican politicians like Sen. John McCain
(R-Ariz.), who call for a path to citizenship with liberal Democrats,
are equally irking voters needlessly. McCain waffles all over the
place on illegal immigration; there is no need for him to irritate
the GOP base by claiming at times to support a path to citizenship.
It didn't work anyways, he received a smaller than usual share of the
Hispanic vote as a Republican when he ran for president.
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