Texas is a tough nut to crack...

[old timey villain]

Texas is fast growing and majority-minority, but it's still firmly Republican and this year's election results proved that. We all know that VA, NC and FL have all become competitive for Democrats and GA is showing cracks in GOP dominance, but Texas isn't budging. Why are the south Atlantic states more accessible to Democrats than Texas?

[Indy Texas]

In the eastern half of the state, the white people vote like their counterparts in the Deep South. Unlike the Deep South, there's not enough African-Americans to have a decent floor for Democratic support.

In the western half of the state, the white people vote like their counterparts in Oklahoma and Wyoming.

Throughout the state, Hispanics often don't bother to vote at all.

[BaldEagle1991]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

[Person Man]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

[BaldEagle1991]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

You'd be surprised if you met some of them, I think they tend to be self-loathing.

[Person Man]

You mean many of them think that being brown is something like being obese or poorly educated?

[BaldEagle1991]

I don't know exactly if they are that self-loathing, but I know a significant amount of them think that they should be "Americans" not "Hispanics". I wonder what they check on the census forms a couple of years ago?

But don't get me wrong, the vast majority of Texan ethnic minorities vote Democratic in large numbers and Hispanics still vote mostly Democratic and will continue to do so in the near and far future (if things stay the same). It's just hard to deny the large amount of minority Evangelical Christians in Texas though. This off phenomenon could be compared to the large amount of ethnic minority Mormons in Utah (which I think is what's also keeping that state red over 65%>).

[Blackacre]

The TDP is a piece of crap. It's really weak, because Texas is thought of as THE Republican stronghold and nobody wants to bother with its opposition. If the TDP was stronger, Texas would be more competitive.

[Person Man]

So, its not that they feel bad for themselves for being a minority, its just that they feel that they are their religion before anything else.

The TDP is a piece of crap. It's really weak, because Texas is thought of as THE Republican stronghold and nobody wants to bother with its opposition. If the TDP was stronger, Texas would be more competitive.

This is probably why Florida isn't at least as Democratic as Colorado or Iowa. The state party pretty much has no talent.

[Blackacre]

The TDP is a piece of crap. It's really weak, because Texas is thought of as THE Republican stronghold and nobody wants to bother with its opposition. If the TDP was stronger, Texas would be more competitive.

This is probably why Florida isn't at least as Democratic as Colorado or Iowa. The state party pretty much has no talent.

Yeah. If the FDP was better (might be with Charlie Crist on their side) then the state would have more blue in its purple.

[BaldEagle1991]

The TDP is a piece of crap. It's really weak, because Texas is thought of as THE Republican stronghold and nobody wants to bother with its opposition If the TDP was stronger, Texas would be more competitive.

Utah and Mississippi are more worthy of it being THE Republican stronghold than Texas is.

[DC Al Fine]

The TDP is a piece of crap. It's really weak, because Texas is thought of as THE Republican stronghold and nobody wants to bother with its opposition If the TDP was stronger, Texas would be more competitive.

Utah and Mississippi are more worthy of it being THE Republican stronghold than Texas is.

Don't forget Oklahoma.

[BaldEagle1991]

The TDP is a piece of crap. It's really weak, because Texas is thought of as THE Republican stronghold and nobody wants to bother with its opposition If the TDP was stronger, Texas would be more competitive.

Utah and Mississippi are more worthy of it being THE Republican stronghold than Texas is.

Don't forget Oklahoma.

Dang how can I forget that place. People seem to forget we have Austin, TX a hippie oasis, and big major cosmopolitan cities like Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

Republicans are NOT racist, and if they are, it's only in the public perception.

[Blackacre]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

Republicans are NOT racist, and if they are, it's only in the public perception.

Public perception is a really bad thing, isn't it? I know better, but a lot of people don't. (granted, there ARE racists, and I'm willing to bet that, while Republicans aren't racist, racists are Republicans. It happens. Just like Democrats and Socialists)

The thing is that policies (like opposition to AA and wanting to cut entitlement programs) come across as racist. Your party needs to communicate your ideas better, though dropping the AA part of your platform entirely will be a big help. And even then, there will always be the uneducated racists giving the rest of your party a bad name. But you can distance yourself from them, from the birthers and the people who think Obama's this muslim socialist. If your party works at it, the image could be scrubbed as early as 2016.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

Republicans are NOT racist, and if they are, it's only in the public perception.

Public perception is a really bad thing, isn't it? I know better, but a lot of people don't. (granted, there ARE racists, and I'm willing to bet that, while Republicans aren't racist, racists are Republicans. It happens. Just like Democrats and Socialists)

The thing is that policies (like opposition to AA and wanting to cut entitlement programs) come across as racist. Your party needs to communicate your ideas better, though dropping the AA part of your platform entirely will be a big help. And even then, there will always be the uneducated racists giving the rest of your party a bad name. But you can distance yourself from them, from the birthers and the people who think Obama's this muslim socialist. If your party works at it, the image could be scrubbed as early as 2016.

I agree that we have a communication problem, but I reject the notion that racists are Republicans.  Most of them probably are Indepemdent or members of some extreme third party.

[Person Man]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

Republicans are NOT racist, and if they are, it's only in the public perception.

Public perception is a really bad thing, isn't it? I know better, but a lot of people don't. (granted, there ARE racists, and I'm willing to bet that, while Republicans aren't racist, racists are Republicans. It happens. Just like Democrats and Socialists)

The thing is that policies (like opposition to AA and wanting to cut entitlement programs) come across as racist. Your party needs to communicate your ideas better, though dropping the AA part of your platform entirely will be a big help. And even then, there will always be the uneducated racists giving the rest of your party a bad name. But you can distance yourself from them, from the birthers and the people who think Obama's this muslim socialist. If your party works at it, the image could be scrubbed as early as 2016.

I agree that we have a communication problem, but I reject the notion that racists are Republicans.  Most of them probably are Indepemdent or members of some extreme third party.

I used to think that too but the events of the past 10 years have shown that a good 20% of voters are at least somewhat racist but I would also say that 15% of voters are socialists. That would be about two thirds of the so-called TEA Party and three fifths of self-identified liberals.

[Blackacre]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

Republicans are NOT racist, and if they are, it's only in the public perception.

Public perception is a really bad thing, isn't it? I know better, but a lot of people don't. (granted, there ARE racists, and I'm willing to bet that, while Republicans aren't racist, racists are Republicans. It happens. Just like Democrats and Socialists)

The thing is that policies (like opposition to AA and wanting to cut entitlement programs) come across as racist. Your party needs to communicate your ideas better, though dropping the AA part of your platform entirely will be a big help. And even then, there will always be the uneducated racists giving the rest of your party a bad name. But you can distance yourself from them, from the birthers and the people who think Obama's this muslim socialist. If your party works at it, the image could be scrubbed as early as 2016.

I agree that we have a communication problem, but I reject the notion that racists are Republicans.  Most of them probably are Indepemdent or members of some extreme third party.

If that was the case, that third party would get a lot more traction, when the only one that even is worth discussion is Gary Johnson. Consider this: would a racist vote for a party that nominated a black man to the top of the ticket (2008 or 2012) or did so in the recent past? (2016 and onward) Or would they vote for the other major party? Consider the Civil Rights Act, the thing that swung the South from my party to yours. Why would a Democrat passing that act bother all those Democrats enough to switch parties if not for racism? And they vote Republican consistently today.

This observation is not meant to be an insult to your party or to you. Every party has a fringe, like an embarrassing uncle or cousin. Obama got the endorsement of the Communist Party USA twice, he had that crazy pastor, etc. But it is obvious that these people do not represent the mainstream Democratic Party. You guys have to do the same thing.

Or if you're REALLY convinced that your party has no racists, you still need to do the same thing, in order to erase the public perception. It's about being in the solution.

[Person Man]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

Republicans are NOT racist, and if they are, it's only in the public perception.

Public perception is a really bad thing, isn't it? I know better, but a lot of people don't. (granted, there ARE racists, and I'm willing to bet that, while Republicans aren't racist, racists are Republicans. It happens. Just like Democrats and Socialists)

The thing is that policies (like opposition to AA and wanting to cut entitlement programs) come across as racist. Your party needs to communicate your ideas better, though dropping the AA part of your platform entirely will be a big help. And even then, there will always be the uneducated racists giving the rest of your party a bad name. But you can distance yourself from them, from the birthers and the people who think Obama's this muslim socialist. If your party works at it, the image could be scrubbed as early as 2016.

I agree that we have a communication problem, but I reject the notion that racists are Republicans.  Most of them probably are Indepemdent or members of some extreme third party.

If that was the case, that third party would get a lot more traction, when the only one that even is worth discussion is Gary Johnson. Consider this: would a racist vote for a party that nominated a black man to the top of the ticket (2008 or 2012) or did so in the recent past? (2016 and onward) Or would they vote for the other major party? Consider the Civil Rights Act, the thing that swung the South from my party to yours. Why would a Democrat passing that act bother all those Democrats enough to switch parties if not for racism? And they vote Republican consistently today.

This observation is not meant to be an insult to your party or to you. Every party has a fringe, like an embarrassing uncle or cousin. Obama got the endorsement of the Communist Party USA twice, he had that crazy pastor, etc. But it is obvious that these people do not represent the mainstream Democratic Party. You guys have to do the same thing.

Or if you're REALLY convinced that your party has no racists, you still need to do the same thing, in order to erase the public perception. It's about being in the solution.

This.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

Republicans are NOT racist, and if they are, it's only in the public perception.

Public perception is a really bad thing, isn't it? I know better, but a lot of people don't. (granted, there ARE racists, and I'm willing to bet that, while Republicans aren't racist, racists are Republicans. It happens. Just like Democrats and Socialists)

The thing is that policies (like opposition to AA and wanting to cut entitlement programs) come across as racist. Your party needs to communicate your ideas better, though dropping the AA part of your platform entirely will be a big help. And even then, there will always be the uneducated racists giving the rest of your party a bad name. But you can distance yourself from them, from the birthers and the people who think Obama's this muslim socialist. If your party works at it, the image could be scrubbed as early as 2016.

I agree that we have a communication problem, but I reject the notion that racists are Republicans.  Most of them probably are Indepemdent or members of some extreme third party.

I used to think that too but the events of the past 10 years have shown that a good 20% of voters are at least somewhat racist but I would also say that 15% of voters are socialists. That would be about two thirds of the so-called TEA Party and three fifths of self-identified liberals.

And where is your evidence?  Not supporting Obama doesn't make you a racist, and being a liberal doesn't mean you don't believe in capitalism.  Where is this "evidence over the past 10 years" that you're citing?  And if 2/3 of Tea Partiers are racist, then why are minority politicians like Allen West, Tim Scott, and Marco Rubio so popular among Tea Partiers?

[old timey villain]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

Republicans are NOT racist, and if they are, it's only in the public perception.

Public perception is a really bad thing, isn't it? I know better, but a lot of people don't. (granted, there ARE racists, and I'm willing to bet that, while Republicans aren't racist, racists are Republicans. It happens. Just like Democrats and Socialists)

The thing is that policies (like opposition to AA and wanting to cut entitlement programs) come across as racist. Your party needs to communicate your ideas better, though dropping the AA part of your platform entirely will be a big help. And even then, there will always be the uneducated racists giving the rest of your party a bad name. But you can distance yourself from them, from the birthers and the people who think Obama's this muslim socialist. If your party works at it, the image could be scrubbed as early as 2016.

I agree that we have a communication problem, but I reject the notion that racists are Republicans.  Most of them probably are Indepemdent or members of some extreme third party.

I used to think that too but the events of the past 10 years have shown that a good 20% of voters are at least somewhat racist but I would also say that 15% of voters are socialists. That would be about two thirds of the so-called TEA Party and three fifths of self-identified liberals.

And where is your evidence?  Not supporting Obama doesn't make you a racist, and being a liberal doesn't mean you don't believe in capitalism.  Where is this "evidence over the past 10 years" that you're citing?  And if 2/3 of Tea Partiers are racist, then why are minority politicians like Allen West, Tim Scott, and Marco Rubio so popular among Tea Partiers?

Uncle Toms. People like West spew off the same ignorant, racist rhetoric about black people. The Tea Party loves him because he says what they all think and as a black man, they think it gives their views credence.

[Person Man]

Pretty much. I did kind of pull out things without proving them, but from just listening to the quotes and soundbites that radical and reactionary thought is alive and well. My theory about Uncle Tom's is that they think they are "assimilating" into American culture by renouncing their heritage. Perhaps they believe that is the path to unity and a stronger nation and that eventually the entire idea of "minorities" will be like how many people see Affirmative Action today. I wonder what Allen West feels about interracial marriage. And Marco Rubio is an ethnic Spainard. He's as ethnic as a Polish, Italian or Irish person.

[old timey villain]

bigtime LOL at Marco Rubio being a "minority"

[old timey villain]

I don't think the Tea Party is racist, but I think they have this irrational fear of losing what they see as "traditional America." Part of this manufactured image is white privilege. They may not see it as such, and it may be subconscious, but for most, the idea of minorities becoming equals doesn't fit into their vision. Partly because they think minorities have whined, complained and schemed to move up in America.

That's why they love people like Allen West. He, as a black man, confirms their worst fears about black people when he says they are sheep on the government plantation. In that statement is an assumption that black people are incapable of being self sufficient and vote for Democrats so they can stay on the welfare rolls. They can listen to Allen West on Fox, pat themselves on the back, and thank god that one black guy finally gets it.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

A lot of it has to do with an overwhelming amount of white conservatives outnumbering the minority population.

To make matters worse for the Democrats a sizable amount of minorities here are Evangelical Protestant, it's perhaps one (if not the only) place in the USA that you'll see ethnic minority Evangelicals in a large amount.

These in my opinion are what's keeping the state red.

So, it seems that the Texas GOP knew that this wave was coming and they probably coordinate very well with their main constitituents and so they probably started actively converting minorities in the 90s. That's probably why a lot of minorities don't vote in Texas. They really don't like the racism of the Republican Party, but feel it would be against their religion to vote against them. Or it could be that the Hispanics that just come in from Chihuahua  and places like that are more religious than other Mexicans that perhaps come from places like Mexico City, Oaxaca or the Yucatan and settle in places like Colorado, Nevada or Ohio.

Republicans are NOT racist, and if they are, it's only in the public perception.

Public perception is a really bad thing, isn't it? I know better, but a lot of people don't. (granted, there ARE racists, and I'm willing to bet that, while Republicans aren't racist, racists are Republicans. It happens. Just like Democrats and Socialists)

The thing is that policies (like opposition to AA and wanting to cut entitlement programs) come across as racist. Your party needs to communicate your ideas better, though dropping the AA part of your platform entirely will be a big help. And even then, there will always be the uneducated racists giving the rest of your party a bad name. But you can distance yourself from them, from the birthers and the people who think Obama's this muslim socialist. If your party works at it, the image could be scrubbed as early as 2016.

I agree that we have a communication problem, but I reject the notion that racists are Republicans.  Most of them probably are Indepemdent or members of some extreme third party.

I used to think that too but the events of the past 10 years have shown that a good 20% of voters are at least somewhat racist but I would also say that 15% of voters are socialists. That would be about two thirds of the so-called TEA Party and three fifths of self-identified liberals.

And where is your evidence?  Not supporting Obama doesn't make you a racist, and being a liberal doesn't mean you don't believe in capitalism.  Where is this "evidence over the past 10 years" that you're citing?  And if 2/3 of Tea Partiers are racist, then why are minority politicians like Allen West, Tim Scott, and Marco Rubio so popular among Tea Partiers?

Uncle Toms. People like West spew off the same ignorant, racist rhetoric about black people. The Tea Party loves him because he says what they all think and as a black man, they think it gives their views credence.

You realize just what a racist statement that is?  And what have those guys said about blacks that's racist?  I can't think of anything.
And BTW, Rubio's dad was Cuban.