Jorge Ramos: Trump has Damaged GOP For Generations with Hispanics

[Fuzzy Bear]

Kasich or Rubio could potentially do quite well with the Latino vote in 2020.

The problem is that they do not represent the republican base.

  Hispanics are extremly assimilated.

I agree with this to a large extent, however Hispanic culture is inherently in favor of larger government. Stick your head in the sand all you want, despite all the rhetoric about Hispanics being "natural conservatives" this is still not compatible with Anglo conservatism, and I will admit the republican base is justified in their concern over what the demographic deluge will mean for the future of american politics, however they are the ones to blame for shooting themselves in the foot thinking this could be reversed.

Personally I never got all the fuss about Hispanics causing problems for Republicans in the long run, prior to Trump formally branding the GOP as anti-Hispanic/immigrant. Immigrants come here and start at the bottom, so of course they support Democrats, but gradually they will assimilate into middle class suburbia as their status grows and thus have the same interest as the GOP's middle class suburban base. There's no reason it had to be any different than the situation with Irish/Italian immigrants, until the Republicans decided to alienate them for the foreseeable future.

The issue with Hispanic voters is immigration.  It's an issue because a significant number of Hispanics from Mexico and Central America living in the US have a friend or a family member who is illegally here.  The issue is personal in ways that are unique to today's immigrants.

It's also an issue that's not true for all Latinos.  Cuban-Americans are concerned about immigration as well, but we don't send illegal Cuban immigrants back to Cuba; this is 180 degrees from how we deal with Mexican and Central American immigrants.  It's why Cuban-Americans are, still, a Republican constituency. 

The tone of the discussion on the immigration issue has been offensive to many Hispanics, but the substance of the discussion should not be offensive to a Hispanic person who has become an American citizen and who has forsaken loyalty to any other nation.  The GOP is the party of enforcing existing laws, and the party that views amnesty for illegal aliens as an incentive for others to attempt to come here illegally.  The Democratic Party is the party of ignoring existing laws, and of granting amnesty to those who are here illegally.  I don't think that's an inaccurate statement of how the issue breaks down.  If I had family members here illegally, even cousins, I'd probably not want the existing laws to be enforced, but if I'm an American citizen, my expectation would be that our government enforce all of our laws without passion or prejudice.  I don't have respect for "leaders" who are unwilling to enforce existing laws, regardless of what they are.  We are either a nation of the Rule of Law, or we are not, and God help us if we are not.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Kasich or Rubio could potentially do quite well with the Latino vote in 2020.

The problem is that they do not represent the republican base.

  Hispanics are extremly assimilated.

I agree with this to a large extent, however Hispanic culture is inherently in favor of larger government. Stick your head in the sand all you want, despite all the rhetoric about Hispanics being "natural conservatives" this is still not compatible with Anglo conservatism, and I will admit the republican base is justified in their concern over what the demographic deluge will mean for the future of american politics, however they are the ones to blame for shooting themselves in the foot thinking this could be reversed.

Personally I never got all the fuss about Hispanics causing problems for Republicans in the long run, prior to Trump formally branding the GOP as anti-Hispanic/immigrant. Immigrants come here and start at the bottom, so of course they support Democrats, but gradually they will assimilate into middle class suburbia as their status grows and thus have the same interest as the GOP's middle class suburban base. There's no reason it had to be any different than the situation with Irish/Italian immigrants, until the Republicans decided to alienate them for the foreseeable future.

The issue with Hispanic voters is immigration.  It's an issue because a significant number of Hispanics from Mexico and Central America living in the US have a friend or a family member who is illegally here.  The issue is personal in ways that are unique to today's immigrants.

It's also an issue that's not true for all Latinos.  Cuban-Americans are concerned about immigration as well, but we don't send illegal Cuban immigrants back to Cuba; this is 180 degrees from how we deal with Mexican and Central American immigrants.  It's why Cuban-Americans are, still, a Republican constituency.  

The tone of the discussion on the immigration issue has been offensive to many Hispanics, but the substance of the discussion should not be offensive to a Hispanic person who has become an American citizen and who has forsaken loyalty to any other nation.  The GOP is the party of enforcing existing laws, and the party that views amnesty for illegal aliens as an incentive for others to attempt to come here illegally.  The Democratic Party is the party of ignoring existing laws, and of granting amnesty to those who are here illegally.  I don't think that's an inaccurate statement of how the issue breaks down.  If I had family members here illegally, even cousins, I'd probably not want the existing laws to be enforced, but if I'm an American citizen, my expectation would be that our government enforce all of our laws without passion or prejudice.  I don't have respect for "leaders" who are unwilling to enforce existing laws, regardless of what they are.  We are either a nation of the Rule of Law, or we are not, and God help us if we are not.

Your point may be noble but "Enforce our laws" is nothing more than a slogan. Republicans' God, Reagan, gave amnesty and they look the other way. Republicans may cry treason at amnesty but it is the most pragmatic and efficient way to remedy the situation that previous administrations have allowed to let snowball.

Embracing more immigrants is more integral to the concept of free market. They don't need to completely advocate open border but barring criminals, there is no good basis not to unfetter the current immigration laws. Their irrational fears and predilection to overvalue national security has morphed them into regressive anti-capitalists.

I, personally, would not be opposed to amnesty for those already here, and, in particular, the "Dreamers".  I would certainly not be opposed to granting citizenship to those who came here illegally as children, but who know nothing other than life in America; their actions are not the actions of willful adults. 

But I don't think we need more immigration, period.  I'm a protectionist.  And our immigration policy ought to be conducted in the best interest of American citizens.  If we disappoint the rest of the World on this issue, well, tough turds. 

Living the Rule of Law doesn't just happen.  It's a habit.  Or it's something honored in the breach, and not in the observance.  That's our choice as a nation, and it's a choice that has consequences either way.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I think Rubio/Cruz's presidential aspirations are dead in the water after all that's happened this cycle.  

Why do you think that?

At this point, is the Republican primary electorate really going to get behind a Latino candidate?

One reason is that Rubio and Cruz are Cuban, and not Mexican.  Cubans, and Miami anti-Castro Cubans, especially, are a key Republican constituency in Florida; they are trending Democratic somewhat, but they are still Republican. 

They don't identify as "Hispanic" and their issues are different.  They are staunchly anti-Communist, and they don't share the same immigration issues in that we don't deport Cuban immigrants, legal or not, as a rule. 

This is a constituency the GOP would like very much to shore up, and Rubio and Cruz are candidates with some attractiveness.  That's assuming Trump loses and Rubio is re-elected; both are likely, but neither is a sure thing.