RNC Latino Outreach Head Becomes A Dem Over ‘Culture Of Intolerance’

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM



RNC Hispanic Outreach Director Becomes A Democrat

Pablo Pantoja, who previously served as the State Director of Florida Hispanic Outreach for the Republican National Committee, has defected to the Democratic Party.

Citing the GOP's "culture of intolerance," Pantoja confirmed his party change in an email sent Monday to Florida Nation. Pantoja also drew reference to a much-maligned dissertation from the Heritage Foundation's Jason Richwine that sought to discourage non-whites from immigrating to the United States on the basis that those groups have lower IQs. Richwine resigned from his post at Heritage last week.

"I have wondered before about the seemingly harsh undertones about immigrants and others," Pantoja wrote. "Look no further; a well-known organization recently confirms the intolerance of that which seems different or strange to them."

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Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/rnc-hispanic-outreach-director-becomes-democrat?ref=fpb

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In his own words (shared with permission):

From: Pablo Pantoja

Subject: From Republican to Democrat

Date: May 13, 2013 5:57:11 PM EDT

Friend,

Yes, I have changed my political affiliation to the Democratic Party.

It doesn’t take much to see the culture of intolerance surrounding the Republican Party today. I have wondered before about the seemingly harsh undertones about immigrants and others. Look no further; a well-known organization recently confirms the intolerance of that which seems different or strange to them.

Studies geared towards making – human beings – viewed as less because of their immigrant status to outright unacceptable claims, are at the center of the immigration debate. Without going too deep on everything surrounding immigration today, the more resounding example this past week was reported by several media outlets.

A researcher included as part of a past dissertation his theory that “the totality of the evidence suggests a genetic component to group differences in IQ.” The researcher reinforces these views by saying “No one knows whether Hispanics will ever reach IQ parity with whites, but the prediction that new Hispanic immigrants will have low-IQ children and grandchildren is difficult to argue against.”

Although the organization distanced themselves from those assertions, other immigration-related research is still padded with the same racist and eugenics-based innuendo. Some Republican leaders have blandly (if at all) denied and distanced themselves from this but it doesn’t take away from the culture within the ranks of intolerance. The pseudo-apologies appear to be a quick fix to deep-rooted issues in the Republican Party in hopes that it will soon pass and be forgotten.

The complete disregard of those who are in disadvantage is also palpable. We are not looking at an isolated incident of rhetoric or research. Others subscribe to motivating people to action by stating, “In California, a majority of all Hispanic births are illegitimate. That’s a lot of Democratic voters coming.” The discourse that moves the Republican Party is filled with this anti-immigrant movement and overall radicalization that is far removed from reality. Another quick example beyond the immigration debate happened during CPAC this year when a supporter shouted ““For giving him shelter and food for all those years?” while a moderator explained how Frederick Douglass had written a letter to his slave master saying that he forgave him for “all the things you did to me.” I think you get the idea.

When the political discourse resorts to intolerance and hate, we all lose in what makes America great and the progress made in society.

Although I was born an American citizen, I feel that my experience, and that of many from Puerto Rico, is intertwined with those who are referred to as illegal. My grandfather served in an all-Puerto Rican segregated Army unit, the 65th Infantry Regiment. He then helped, along my grandmother, shatter glass ceilings for Puerto Rican women raising my aunt to become the first Puerto Rican woman astronomer with a PhD in astrophysics (an IQ of a genius as far as I’m concerned). Puerto Ricans, as many other Americans still today have to face issues of discrimination in voting and civil rights.

Regardless of what political affiliation people choose, my respect for some remains. I don’t expect all Hispanics to do the same (although I would hope so) but I’m taking a stand against this culture of intolerance.

I am also making a modest contribution (here: http://bit.ly/12uf3g8) to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for the efforts in helping protect the rights of immigrants and civil liberties in general.

With warm regards,

-pablo

[BootinUp]

1. The outreach program is working

exactly as expected!

[nuxvomica]

2. Now if they could learn to unclench their fists...

when they reach out.

[John2]

17. Wise decision on his

part. He has a bright future in the Democratic Party. Rubio needs to get a clue. He doesn't need Rush Limbaugh.

[Berlum]

3. "You little brown people can just STFU and sit down (after you vote for us)." - Republicans (R)

"Smirk" - Republican Eeleete (R)

[Rebellious Republican]

16. Berlum that is just to cool and right on point, love it! N/T

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. I notice TWO good things about this..

Richwine resigned from his post at Heritage last week.
Have you noticed more foot in mouth incidents result in the Reich Wing people resigning?
Not the top brass like Inhofe, true....but still, there seems to be an increase in over the top messengers losing their jobs.

and
Mr. Pantoja is, I hope, but one example of the Repub. party losing members because of its persistance of racism.
When you lose a Florida Republican, that is telling, IMHO.

[earthside]

5. The Important Political News: Repuglicans cannot win.

This kind of development is really the most consequential political news of the day.

No matter how much the Repuglicans scream and yell about Benghazi or the IRS or Justice Department spying on the press, in the end the extremist, reactionary GOP is still doomed by fundamental demographic and ideological realities.

[tblue]

12. Great point! This trumps

all the scandals swirling around the administration, at least in terms of elections. The only people whose votes the scandals might impact are the ones who were going to vote GOP anyway.

[johnlucas]

6. 1964, Pablo. Check your history

Glad he finally figured it out after all these years.
Though I don't see how he couldn't have known.

The Democratic Party used to be the home of the hardcore racists.
Goes back to southerner Thomas Jefferson the slaveowner & slavery proponent.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt with his New Deal Coalition began the change in the party that led to their exodus.
His successor Harry S Truman desegregating the military in 1948 showed that everytime the Democrats helped Blacks, the old core of the party reacted in revulsion.
By the time John Fitzgerald Kennedy came along & was prepared to strike down the racist Jim Crow apartheid/segregation system, he was killed.
This left it to HIS successor Lyndon Baines Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964 & the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The old racists in the Democratic Party saw this as the ultimate slap in the face.
Not only helping Blacks but totally destroying the South's oppressive system towards the Blacks.
They began to flee the Democratic Party seeing it as a traitor.
The Democratic Party began to atone for its past with these deeds.

The aftermath of the New Deal Coalition left the Republican Party desperate for power.
Seeing all the racists flee the Democrats, the Republican Party—once led by Abraham Lincoln who freed the Black slaves—saw an opportunity to gain numbers.
From the 1960s to the 1980s they absorbed the racists & gave them political shelter as well as political power.

The racists don't just stop at the Negroes, at the Black folks.
They hate anyone who ain't White like them.
That includes Hispanics, Asians, Middle Easterners, you name it.

Decades of having that scourge fuel your party leaves you with a most likely irremovable stain.
The greedy but small-in-population rich need voting numbers & the racists give them that supply.
They'll use their useful tokens but it's all about them at the end of the day.

It all goes back to 1964 & that Civil Rights Act.

When other populational minorities quit seeing themselves as separate from the Blacks who championed these changes in society, we won't have this problem anymore.
We won't have guys like Pablo Pantoja left dumbfounded about the obvious.

They don't just hate the Blacks, Pablo.
John Lucas

[lunasun]

7. Well said sir

"Look no further; a well-known organization recently confirms the intolerance of that which seems different or strange to them."
"When the political discourse resorts to intolerance and hate, we all lose in what makes America great and the progress made in society. "

He gets it now but I would add
and they always try to $teal too!!!

Honestly-If someone is a big GOP fan what kind of opinion can you have about them and their beliefs? He said his respect remains maybe someday he will realize they do not deserve it

The party will soon give up it wolf in sheep's clothing as it was a fail and just pump up Hispanic voter suppression big time

[Stuart G]

8. Far more important than anything the GOP does..anywhere.

You see, the head of part of the Republican Party, as far as the Latinos are concerned, has changed political parties..
in Florida. of all places.............

.He says they have. "a culture of intolerance"

code words for racist assholes...yes indeed...

Is that true.?.... yes it is... and the general population of Latinos know it.

The pukes can talk about guns, 2nd Amendment, taxes, budgets, Benghzi, Bush, Rubio,,
........ it don't matter anymore......
,,,.This guy's letter and his words will reverberate far longer than anything they do, now, or tomorrow, or next year.

and...he just might become a spokesman for.....the ...Democratic Party....

or, just someone who talks about the "intolerance of the Republican Party" in the Latino Community...
not on national news....

[The Stranger]

9. Welcome aboard!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. I don't understand why ANY woman or minority is a Republican, but good for him nonetheless.

[Stuart G]

11. Watch the mainstream media try to do one of two things....

1. Kill this story
2. Discredit this guy in every way possible...

But it won't work, this one will go word of mouth, just like the 47 percent thing did...

didn't it? and in my opinion this will start the fire over the GOP's racism all over again...

good.................

[OKNancy]

13. Great reporting DonViejo

Congratulations on getting the personal letter and thank you for sharing it with DU.

[Vogon_Glory]

14. Not A Surprise

Not a surprise. Mr. Pantoja is discovering what other Hispanics have learned long ago--that the core of so many of the right-wing constituencies that control today's right-wing Republican Party are racists. I imagine that the getting of wisdom was slower for Mr. Pantoja than it was for Hispanics of mestizo or Native American backgrounds in places like Texas, Arizona, and California. But it looks like it finally arrived.

For some people, the day of enlightenment still is a ways off. I'm thinking about the aged and light-skinned "historico" Cuban emigres (and their offspring) who flocked to the Republican Party in the 1960's and who are as blind as cave-fish to the fact that so many of their mainland and Anglo conservative friends are as racist towards them as they are towards Cubans and other Hispanics lacking lighter complexions.

[Rebellious Republican]

15. That would explain Gov. pRick Scott eyeballing Allen West as a replacement for Lt. Gov.

Just saw a story on BAY News Nine last night about pRick Scott possibly choosing Allen West as Lt. Gov. to replace our last fuck up. Got to keep the minorities happy. How bout we get another token person of color (I won't use the "N" word like I am sure is being used by those in the Scott camp) to counter this shit storm that is about to happen.

However that puts the prickster between a rock and a hard spot, either way choose West (lots of baggage) or not, he is fucked!

First Charlie Crist now Pablo, what a powerful combination and knock out punch to the Florida GOP. There is hope for us down here after all.

Let the inbreeding I mean infighting begin!