Why Republicans won the Latino vote in Florida

[HAB911]

TAMPA — Elsie Perez suffers from acute renal failure and receives dialysis three times a week. Every month she frets over how she will make ends meet.

“Everything has gone up and it is very difficult to live in these conditions,” said Perez, 54, a Mexican-born mother of two adult children.

Perez is a Democrat but now she regrets it. She pointed to the unique challenges she faces with inflation and the economy.

“That’s why I voted differently,” she said.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/2022/11/18/florida-republicans-won-latino-vote/

[GreenWave]

1. But Elsie, the GOP has sharpies

Imagine what they can do with them!

[3Hotdogs]

3. Sharpies.... that's the answer. I remembers watching when some guy with a Sharpie,

changed the course of a whole hurricane and saved thous//// millions of lives.

There was an original plan to drop a nuke in the middle of the hurricane but the Sharpie proved more effective.

SHARPIES: Inflation - gone. Gas prices - lower. Crime - eliminated. Russia wins in Ukraine.

[Vogon_Glory]

2. Our reward for our good intentions...

We tried to stop a viral pandemic that was killing Floridians by the thousands.

The struggling families of Florida will find out the hard way about the true cost of reactionary Republican “compassion.”

[TheFarseer]

4. To boil it down

Republicans have managed to make Communism and Ruthless Dictator synonymous. They call us Communists in every sentence even if it is not remotely true. Many Latinos have experience with actual ruthless dictators.

Republicans appeal to the Christian roots of Latino voters.

Many Latinos are business owners and Rs appeal to them on that point.

[Butterflylady]

12. What I do not understand

Repugs hate anyone who isn't white. Don't they get that point. Christian or not, repugs want them gone.

[StormKing]

20. Perhaps non-white ethnic people...

...also see racism and hate present EVERYWHERE in *ALL* parties...

...so the "But we're the good ones" is going to fall flat.

I can tell you as a Latino I don't feel *any* party makes a genuine outreach to Latino communities.

[DestinyIsles]

5. DNC didn't invest in Florida this cycle

We need a better part infrastructure in that state and also need to reach out to the Latino community there, they have been brainwashed by right wing talk there.

[Genki Hikari]

26. DNC doesn't "invest" in campaigns

They're a nexus for helping campaigns do nuts and bolts stuff--access to voter databases, helping them build networks of trained staff, access to lists of donors and pollsters, and so on. So why expect them to do something like "investing" in states that they have never done?

The DNC leaves all that "Investing" stuff to state parties and donors (groups like DCCC or DSCC or individual donors).

Florida Democrats are in trouble because the state party isn't doing its job. Rick Wilson told you that you have to be up 10 to win in FL, because the GOP has built a monster machine down there. They're well-nigh unstoppable at this point.

You need to rebuild your party in FL. I don't live there, so I can't say what it will take, but if you keep expecting outsiders to bail you out, Democrats there will keep doing worse and worse.

Maybe study how Democrats in states like California, Colorado, New Mexico and Michigan turned their parties around. Hint: It didn't happen overnight. Or by accident. I was there for the beginning of the great change in CA. It took some crazy hard work to turn the state from r to purple to D.

[Historic NY]

6. Some just want to be told how to live.

they should have asked what have Republicans done for her?

[sop]

7. Most of these immigrants are being subjected to a constant barrage of rightwing disinformation

and propaganda broadcast by local Spanish language radio stations. As in the majority of deep red rural areas throughout America, conservative ownership controls most Spanish language AM radio stations in Florida's hispanic areas. Progressives cannot afford to ignore this demographic.

[RAB910]

11. I fear that Democrats and the Left really don't understand the power and danger of right-wing proaga

propaganda

[Samrob]

8. When will Dems learn that a lack of explanation and understanding pushes too many toward the

unfounded lies and intentional disinformation of the RW MAGAs. If we don't reach out, many will just believe the last thing they heard or saw on FOX.

[Takket]

9. Her voting rethug for the reasons she gave would be almost comical

If it weren’t for the fact she’s basically committing suicide.

You think the life of a 54 year old with renal failure is going to improve under THE GOP???

are they going to protect Medicare for you?

Are they going to help control medical costs?

Are they going improve the Inflation Reduction Act?

They will do none of those things. But with Biden in charge, McCarthy can’t make things worse either. So she’ll never know what a horrible choice she made as Democrats protect her for the next two years, until she votes for drumpf or desatan in 2024

[betsuni]

19. +1

[tanyev]

10. I wonder if Elsie's dialysis is paid for with health insurance obtained through the ACA?

Sad.

[UTUSN]

36. And they chose hate because "inflation"

[lark]

13. In other words, they were totally lied to and believed it.

SMH with sadness for them shooting themselves and us in the foot out of sheer ignorance.

[Hortensis]

14. No. It's because more Hispanics/Latinos voted and MOST ARE CONSERVATIVE.

Some are strongly conservative and have always despised the liberalism of the Democratic Party. This is very fundamental and the real reason Democratic outreach is constantly criticized as having failed. It's inadequate all right -- when's the last time any of us persuaded a conservative neighbor to embrace the Democratic agenda?

The "Elsies" never really shared the liberal values and goals of the Democratic Party, beyond what they wanted for themselves. They're conservatives of varying degrees who for very obvious reasons had previously avoided the conservative Republican Party even though they identified with that tribe, typically a lot, including its strong antagonism to immigration.

Elsie revealed the truth about herself when she said she'll vote for a party that will kidnap children and lock them in warehouses and who will attempt to destroy democracy because the Democrats (insert imaginary face-covering reason). Who among us would do that or believe any reason could justify it?!

The excuses are typically as unsupportable as Elsie's -- and virtually always blame Democrats (another huge clue) -- because they don't want to admit the real reason: that they identify with the Republican tribe who are now finally wooing them. But only where their votes are desperately needed.

[Elessar Zappa]

17. Depends on where you are.

In states like California and New Mexico, a large majority of Hispanics support choice and marriage equality. Polls show this. In Texas and Florida, they’re much more conservative. They’re not a monolithic group by any means.

[Hortensis]

18. :) As you say, people are people and not monolithic.

Nevertheless, a majority of Latino Americans are conservative, and some very.

Even so, far more Latinos who vote sensibly vote Democratic -- and they don't have to make up ridiculous excuses as to why.

But, Florida's Republican Party has been trying harder to get the conservative Latinos vote because Latinos are a "store" of latent conservative votes that have become critically important. And this election, once again more of the existing conservative Latino voters voted for the conservative party than before and also more new conservative Latinos turned out to vote for the conservative party for conservative reasons.

[brooklynite]

27. " she'll vote for a party that will kidnap children and lock them in warehouses"

This is another philosophy that ruins are chances. Question: why did you bring Trump’s immigration policies up in this thread about Latino voters? I’m guessing its because you (and other Democratic activists) assume that Latino voters should care about other Latinos. The problem is that Latinos aren’t a monolithic block, any more than all African Americans are”. Many of them are party of multi-generational families of American citizens, they speak English, and their descendants came here legally. They may indeed care about the abuse of others, but their political thinking is likely driven by the same issues other voters have: the cost of living, education, crime, etc. START by acknowledging the validity of those issues and then you can discuss why Democrats are the better choice.

[Hortensis]

33. :) Sounds like your assumption about me

is a lot like what you're accusing me of doing wrong. I'm talking about the effect of PERSONALITY/POLITICAL ORIENTATION on political choices.

Humanity mostly comes in two main personality orientations --- liberal and conservative. Personality's genetically wired to some degree, although nurture usually dominates. Both personality types come in infinite variations and overlaps. Most of us include beliefs from all across the lib-con spectrum but overall one or the other personality types dominates.

Knowing which dominates in a person is a huge first step toward understanding that person. Given our complexities, some contributing factors to which you mentioned, there's still a long way to go for any individual. But groups falling on one side or the other? Their types and expected behaviors are a lot easier to nail down.

Bottom line here: No one should be the least surprised at what's been happening now that Republicans finally started mining the large store of uncast votes among Florida's conservative Hispanic nonvoters. Many wouldn't vote for the liberal Democratic Party even for their own interest but also wouldn't vote for the Republican Party that rejected and abused them either.

If Republicans weren't so resistant to integrating Hispanics into their white party (many of whom ARE white), they'd have done it long ago. But now they're desperate enough. The stakes are enormous.

[blm]

15. Who will sit down with her and explain clearly how Dem policies

benefit her life and how they protect her and her family from the cruelty of the Republican agenda?

This is where Democrats fail to confront Republican lies….in these people’s homes, their neighborhoods, their newspapers. Dems always think media will correct the lies - they don’t - and they haven’t for 30years, so, wake the fvck up.

[XanaDUer2]

16. Great post nt

[StormKing]

21. Best reply - actual engagement

Rather than getting frustrated at non-White ethnic communities that don't behave the way that they are told, people need to actually engage people from those communities directly.

Too much emphasis is placed on "But we're the good guys why do we need to prove it? THEY should know better." *

With of course zero realization that the reaction itself is White Privilege....

* Obviously not a direct quote from anyone, but what I extract from how I see people react.

[Hortensis]

22. But, blm, she voted MAGA in spite of having years to see

what that means, including RW extremism, treason, racism, rabid factional hostility, and vicious crimes against humanity. Are Democrats REALLY respsonsible for that decision?

Those decisions, possibly: for all we know, she could be one of those who hide that they've been voting Republican. Most Hispanics who vote vote Democratic for obvious reasons.

In any case, when's the last time any of us convinced people who'd vote Republican to embrace the truths we explain and with them Democratic policies? (Who weren't lying when they seemed to agree.) There're hard realities in the answer to that.

[betsuni]

24. I don't understand the belief that if only Democrats explain how their policies help people,

the scales will fall from the people's eyes and they will say, Oh I didn't know that and I will vote for Democrats from now on. Why can't Democrats go door-to-door and explain this to every single American? It's easy!

As if Democrats don't talk about policy all the time. They're criticized for being too wonky, too intellectual, elite, and explaining too much, not enough catchy slogans -- the usual "messaging problem."

Blame Democrats:

The DNC didn't invest, didn't do this, didn't do that. Obviously the DNC is a vast powerful organization with unlimited funds. Why don't they fix everything?

Democrats ignore, don't reach out, don't do this, don't do that.

Democrats are too out-of-touch and stupid to understand the danger of right-wing propaganda and why don't they stop right-wing talk radio and other propaganda? It's easy!

Democrats fail to confront Republican lies. They're so stupid they think that media will correct the lies.

[blm]

25. Many people still need it explained. I wish

they didn’t, but, they do.

[Hortensis]

30. Well, nearly 3/4 of Republicans believe Democrats are

immoral and dishonest. Similar proportions are believed "brainwashed" (how else to explain our irrational thinking?) AND/OR that we vote our self interest to get government handouts for ourselves, free stuff without working. Oh, and we're also arrogant and closed-minded. They can't get us to accept even the simplest truths, and goodness knows they all have stories of trying.

Obviously, that's going to be a problem getting them listen to explanations from us.

This doesn't apply, of course, to people who are conservative but informed and capable of being honest with themselves, so don't need explanations from us, like Nicolle Wallace for an example everyone knows. But with a large majority the problem has typically become very deep and intractable.

As for trying as a social duty, almost everything has become politicized in some way. Almost anything we say runs serious risk of conflicting with what conservative-oriented people "know" (of course all government policies will), and when that happens, there goes the ballgame. Once they have our orientation identified, they know there's no point trying to get us to understand and listening to our dishonest justifications for our gimme politics is a waste of their time and ultimately disgusting and infuriating.

We know how that feels.

[Genki Hikari]

28. Beto O'Rourke talked to them where they were

He even spoke to them in their language, although his Spanish is a little flaky.

We saw how that turned out for him.

The Dems do a lot to reach people--far more than the Rs do. They do the town halls and meet and greets and q&as and all the rest.

What isn't being faced is that Hispanics are converting to evangelicalism in scary numbers. While the group was always on the conservative side, socially, Catholicism gave them the cover to be Democrats with the church's support of helping the poor, charitable works, helping the sick and those in prison, peace not war, accepting your fellow human beings as humans, and all that.

These loony fundagelical cults don't care one whit about helping anyone but themselves, they hate the poor, they think charity is for suckers, they hate criminals, they love war--

And then there's the success factor. As more of them do better and get higher up in companies and all that, the more they start adopting the "white" attitudes of hating taxes, hating the poor as lazy takers, wanting to pull the ladder up after themselves, and so on.

The Democrats, sadly, are victims of their own success with such people.

[blm]

29. Dems could start publishing news that

they need to know and understand and fit it into their mailboxes. For free.

Free newsletters with Q bullshit were distributed throughout Latin communities.

[brooklynite]

23. Here's how we can lose more elections...

Read an article like this and respond with “how stupid are those voters?”.

Voters care about the cost of living and crime. You START by acknowledging their concerns and THEN you can talk about why Republicans would be worse. You don’t say “crime really isn’t growing” and “what about inflation in OTHER countries”?

You also don’t “blame the media”. The media is what it is. You find a way to campaign with that as a given , or don’t bother.

[Tickle]

31. Yep 👍 NT

[Celerity]

34. agree

[triron]

32. Dumb shits

They will reap the consequences of their stupidity. GET INFORMED!

[Joinfortmill]

35. Crazy CrayCray thinking.