Latinos and the Political Earthquake in Massachusetts
National Institute for Latino Policy, Commentary, Angelo Falcón, Posted: Jan 20, 2010
There was that horrible earthquake that devastated Haiti. Last night, Massachusetts and the United States experienced a political earthquake that could be as in many ways as profound with the election of Republican Scott Brown over Democrat Martha Coakley to the U.S. Senate. And today is the first anniversary of the inauguration of President Barack Obama, which means that the Massachusetts debacle will be magnified by media assessments of the President's first year.
The immediate debate in Washington, D.C., among Democrats is how to tactically address the fate of the health insurance reform bill now that the filibuster-proof Senate is gone. Some want to push it through quickly before Scott Brown is seated, others want to wait, and some think the bill is dead. Word is that the White House prefers passing the Senate version of the health bill, which is the weaker of the two versions, but which they see as politically the most viable. The Republicans for the most part seem interested in killing the bill.
But whatever happens, two things seem clear. First, the Democratic Party and the president are now in the most defensive position they have been so far during this administration. Second, the Latino community is going to get screwed on health care . . . and immigration reform.
Both the House and Senate versions of the health insurance reform bills were highly flawed, raising serious questions that their description as "reform" applies. In both versions Latinos are disproportionately handicapped in our access to affordable health care, but more so in the Senate version. Part of the rumored White House strategy of supporting passage of the Senate version is that the president will fix it in the future. But this was a promise that then President Bill Clinton made in 1996 and broke about his welfare reform bill that created so many problems for Latino immigrants, including creating the five-year waiting period for legal permanent residents eligibility for federal health care programs that is such a problem today, despite being taxpayers.
The other strategy some pro-health reform advocates are promoting is to withdraw this comprehensive bill and come back to the Congress with a set of narrower bills that will address specific reforms, like eliminating pre-existing conditions exclusions in health insurance and so on. This, of course, is as exhausting as it sounds and it is not clear that the health reform fatigue being experienced by the Democrats in the Congress will make this doable.
This is a set of circumstances that do not augur well for the prospects of comprehensive immigration reform in the immediate future. But this will need to be the subject of future analysis on these pages.
It is also clear that the political earthquake in Massachusetts has broader political implications. This and other developments this year have pointed to the reality that President Obama was elected in large part because of divisions within the leaderships of the Democratic and Republican parties, and the weakening of the country's party system. After winning in November and starting to govern, the President has found himself with a formal party apparatus that is in disarray (Blue Dog v. Progressive Democrats) and an independent virtual-grassroots constituency that hasn't emerged as the strong movement for change that many anticipated last year. On top of that, the president seems to be losing support among the growing ranks of independent voters.
The big question is: Where do Latino needs and issues fit within all this? How are Latino leaders strategizing to make the Democratic Party, which the majority of Latinos consistently support, more responsive to their community? Are Latino leaders developing strategies to organize independent Latino voters in new ways by finding ways to organize beyond the two-party system? Do, in other words, the weaknesses in the current political system represent opportunities for the Latino community? Let's see what happens as this sure to be eventful year unfolds.
Angelo Falcón is president of the National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP) and editor of the Latino Policy eNewsletter.
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User Comments
tara on Feb 03, 2010 at 04:45:36 said:
73 %, yes, 73% of Latinos betrayed the party that has been their champion and enabler and voted for a Republican in MA. These people are unfit for citizenship. Untrustworthy. Self-serving. Who will they vote for next? Palin? Gingrich? Dobbs?
jerseycityjoan on Jan 30, 2010 at 22:26:11 said:
The people who screw the poor of Mexico and keep them down are other Mexicans: the rich Mexicans who refuse to pay their fair share of taxes and the drug lords who are killing and injuring Mexicans by the thousands.
Mexico is a well-off country that is poorly run. That's a fact but no one here seems to want to deal with the real problem.
When is the Latino community going to start addressing the problem at its roots, in Mexico (and the other countries they came from)?
Things will never get better below the Rio Grande as long as the focus is on the U.S. As long as the Latino community continues its anger on the U.S., the rich SOBs in Latin America will continue to keep their money for themselves and continue to exploit you and your relatives.
Stop allowing yourselves to be used.
ron on Jan 23, 2010 at 19:47:02 said:
IS NOT OUR GOV,T WORKING IN LOCKSTEP WITH OUR ENEMIES WHO WHAT
TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE???.
* THE TERRORIST ORDER THE GOV,T TO CLOSE GITMO!!!!!!!!! OBAMA
SUBMITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* THE TERRORIST WANT TO BANKRUPT OUR GOV,T. WE ARE NOW
BANKRUPT!!!!!!!!!
* THE TERRORIST DEMAND TO USE OUR CIVIL COURTS.. obama COWs
DOWN!!!!
* THEY DEMAND THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER PAY FOR THEIR LAWYERS AND
COURT COST, WHICH WILL BE IN THE MULTI BILLIONS!!!!!!!!! obama SUBMITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* THE TERRORIST WANT TO DESTROY CAPITALISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! obama submits!!!!!!!!!!!! CHANGE TO SOCIALISM!!!!
* THE TERRORIST DEMAND THE US TO WITHDRAW OUR TROOPS!! OBAMA
SUBMITS!!
* THE TERRORISTS DEMAND WE CLOSE OUR EMBASY IN YEMEN!! OBAMA
SUBMITS!!!
* REMOVE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND GIVE THEM TO OUR
ENEMIES. JUST ONE INSTANCE. THE NRA HAD TO DEFEND OUR SECOND
ADMENTMENT RIGHT IN COURT EVERY MONTH IN 2009, AND THE PROCESS
IS NOT SETTLED YET, THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS ONLY ONE(1) SENTENCE
IN OUR CONSTITUTION!!!!!!!! NEED I SAY MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ron on Jan 23, 2010 at 19:37:58 said:
HOW CAN THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS GET ON NATIONAL TELEVISION AN SAY THAT HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT FOR ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS ON ONE HAND WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND THEY PASS A LAW FORCING THE AMERICAN CITIZEN TO PURCHASE A HEALTH CARE PRODUCT SUITABLE ONLY TO THEIR APPROVAL OR GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL, DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200 DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!. THIS IS CALLED GESTAPO TATICS FORCED 0N THE DEMOCTATS SUBJECTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THEY THINK I SHOULD FOLLOW THEM THROUGH THEIR HALL OF TOXIC SMOKE AND MIRRORS, I THINK NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a well known fact that during th 1920s, lawful businessmen were murdered and businesses demoilished for refusing to buy socalled insurance from the mobsters gangs. Did we put a badge on persons such as Al Capone, no they were put in prison, and off our streets!!!!!!!!!!!
RON IN ARKANSAS
ron on Jan 23, 2010 at 19:25:25 said:
The fact that a proposal cannot become a law
without consideration and approval by both Houses of Congress is
an outstanding virtue of our bicameral legislative system. The open (NOT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN SECRET)
and full discussion provided under the Constitution often results in
the notable improvement of a bill by amendment before it becomes
law or in the eventual defeat of an inadvisable proposal.
ron on Jan 23, 2010 at 19:23:22 said:
THESE COWARDLEY MEXICANS INVADE MY COUNTRY WITH THEIR SLIMY HANDS OUT AND MOUTHS OPEN.THEY WANT ALL THE EMITIES THAT OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS HAVE FOUGHT FOR TO KEEP MY COUNTRY FREE. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT AND BE WILLING TO DIE FOR YOUR FREEDOMS AND COUNTRY. NOW, AS I SPEAK THE DRUG THUGS ARE TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY OF THESE MEXICANS HERE IN MY COUNTRY, BUT ARE UNWILLING TO RETURN AND FIGHT FOR THEIR OWN COUNTRY. WE DO NOT NEED THESE COWARDS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ron on Jan 23, 2010 at 19:18:30 said:
THESE COWARDLEY MEXICANS INVADE MY COUNTRY WITH THEIR SLIMY HANDS OUT AND MOUTHS OPEN.THEY WANT ALL THE EMITIES THAT OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS HAVE FOUGHT FOR TO KEEP MY COUNTRY FREE. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT AND BE WILLING TO DIE FOR YOUR FREEDOMS AND COUNTRY. NOW, AS I SPEAK THE DRUG THUGS ARE TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY OF THESE MEXICANS HERE IN MY COUNTRY, BUT ARE UNWILLING TO RETURN AND FIGHT FOR THEIR OWN COUNTRY. WE DO NOT NEED THESE COWARDS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ron on Jan 23, 2010 at 19:10:18 said:
H.R.4321
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), has introduced a bill that is much, much more radical than any Amnesty bill ever introduced.
I'm going to give a super-condensed summary of the two-page bill. Some features are so outrageous you may think we are making them up. But it's all true!
•The bill outlaws all state and local laws against illegal immigration. It overthrows laws like those in Arizona, Oklahoma, and Georgia that punish companies for hiring illegal aliens.
•It eliminates the 287(g) program in which local law enforcement helps identify and detect illegal aliens for the feds.
•Job verification would no longer be possible, because this bill would ELIMINATE E-Verify! All our gains in verification over the last decade would be destroyed if this bill were to become law.
•All Illegal Aliens in U.S. as of day-before-yesterday will be given immediate Amnesty.
•The only ones not given the Amnesty are those who've committed a "serious crime." BUT, if the criminal is above 65 years old, no problem--they get the amnesty. (New industry--older criminals smuggled into U.S. to escape punishment in home countries?)
•Importation of foreign-workers or permanent immigrants will be GREATLY increased.
This is not a future I want to live in. This is not the America I love. How about you? Will you stand with Roy and our whole NumbersUSA team as we block this ugliest of all Illegal Alien Amnesties?
The good news is that NumbersUSA, with all our members, has stopped every previous Illegal Alien Amnesty of the past decade. Don't let this be the one that un-does us!
Actions to perform TODAY to kill this worst Amnesty EVER:
1.Read this blog on NumbersUSA to get the details of just how terrible this bill is. Believe me, it's much, much worse than you can imagine.
2.Arm yourself with full info on the Amnesty by reading this point-by-point analysis of the entire bill. If you care about this issue like I think you do, this analysis with our commentary will make your head explode. Ok, got all the info now? Time to act!
3.Go to your Action Board and send the faxes to Congress you will see there. (Take some time with this! Add your P.S. and make the language you own.)
4.Forward this email to some friends! We've got to get the word out!
5.Please, SEND A DONATION TODAY! Friends, we cannot "make bricks without straw." I know many of you wait for a strategic time to make that occasional gift to this cause. THIS IS THAT TIME. If you don't want 12 million, or 20 million, or many more millions of Illegal Aliens to get a get-out-of-jail-free card with this Amnesty!
!!!!!!!!!RON IN ARKANSAS!!!!!!!!!!!!
l00ker on Jan 23, 2010 at 09:23:51 said:
Cohen on Jan 22, 2010 at 07:15:07 said:
Comprehensive immigration reform for hard-working immigrants is the cicivl rights battle of our time. No human being is illegal! It will be a long battle, but it has an inevitable end. Racism ALWAYS loses in America. This is the last stand of angry old white Billy Bob. Too bad Billy Bob doesn't know that he has already lost this war.
Yeah, and you and the rest of you enablers keep on dreaming, but you might again wake up finding yourselves wandering the desert.
John Rhodes on Jan 22, 2010 at 08:59:56 said:
"No human being is illegal!" Total crap. People who have come to this country illegally and are using fraudulent or stolen social security numbers are felons! No group should get a free pass on what laws they follow. Citizens don't get a pass. I voted for Obama, but will not make that mistake again. That week's election in Mass was a prayer answered. There is a God.
Truth on Jan 22, 2010 at 08:30:36 said:
Annie Joe, Joe Black,
WHAT IS EWI IN IMMIGRATION LAWS?
WHAT IS OUT OF STATUS ?
DO YOU EVEN KNOW THAT THERE IS NO WORD AS 'ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT' IN BLACKS LAW DICTIONARY, I BET YOU DID NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THERE IS A LAW DICTIONARY.
DO YOU KNOW THAT BEING IN THE COUNTRY IS NOT I REPEAT NOT A CRIME, ITS A MISDEMEANOR THAT IS JUDGED IN A CIVIL COURT.
SEE HOW SMALL YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS IN IMMIGRATION LAWS:) GET A LIFE INSTEAD OF BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR FAILURES, GO TO THE MIRROR AND BLAME THE ONE YOU SEE THERE .
IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED, GET DR JOSEPH MURPHYS BOOK, THINK YOURSELF TO HEALTH WEALTH AND HAPPINESS GOOD LOCK AND GOD BLESS YOU & YOURS.
Truth on Jan 22, 2010 at 08:19:02 said:
WHO ARE THOSE THAT HATE ALMIGHTY GODS CHILDREN AND THINK THAT THEY ARE ABOVE OTHER HUMANS?
THE IGNORANT.PERIOD.
What would you see yourself as if you were looking thru the Eyes of Almighty GOD ?
BECAUSE,
How you Treat others is how God TREATS You.
How you Forgive others is how god FORGIVES You.
How you See others is how God SEEs You.
When you show Empathy for the plight of another HUMAN BEING, God takes empathy in YOUR PLIGHT.
When others slight you and you ignore the call to Vengeance that burns inside, God erases all memory of your failures towards him.
When you SEE THE IMAGE OF GOD in ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, Then the IMAGE of GOD Becomes REVEALED WITHIN YOU.
The way You Judge other HUMANS is HOW GOD Judges You.
All Humans are EQUAL, ALL Humans are created and are the same in Almighty GODS VISION.
What You wish for the other is what GOD Gives YOU.
Cohen on Jan 22, 2010 at 07:15:07 said:
Comprehensive immigration reform for hard-working immigrants is the cicivl rights battle of our time. No human being is illegal! It will be a long battle, but it has an inevitable end. Racism ALWAYS loses in America. This is the last stand of angry old white Billy Bob. Too bad Billy Bob doesn't know that he has already lost this war.
l00ker on Jan 21, 2010 at 13:57:53 said:
For all of you latinos who are here illegally, the jigs up, so you better start packing and looking for a compass, because you are leaving our country one way or another. This is a country where the citizens rule, unlike the marxist/communist narco republics where many of you lawbreakers and grifters sneak in here from. This is our country and you are going to respect it\'s laws the same way that we do, or stay the hell away. You\'ve been warned, it\'s wartime baby.
Concerned Latino on Jan 21, 2010 at 11:21:13 said:
This is an interesting article, but it sounds like Brown's election means the status quo will be upheld, not major change for the better or the worse on healthcare or on immigration. More typical D.C. gridlock. How is that equivalent to Latinos getting screwed? And how, pray tell, is that as profound as the death of tens of thousands of people in Haiti? Your opening sentence threw me off.
victate on Jan 21, 2010 at 07:26:52 said:
jo black is dead on. imagine someone breaking in ur house. then demanding the right to stay in ur home, dictate policy, demand u change ur langauge to theirs, because the head of their household has never had any intention of making things rite back home for hundreds of years, then calls you racist for resisting.
Joe Black on Jan 21, 2010 at 05:51:56 said:
Illegals have overstayed visas and stolen across our borders like sneak thieves, disrespecting our laws, culture and citizens. They are anarchists, further breaking our laws by using stolen Social Security numbers, fraudulent identity documents, driving without valid licenses or insurance, lying on I-9 forms and taking American jobs in an unholy alliance with criminal employers. They suck services and tax dollars from our economy and could care less about the very real and very extensive economic damage they have caused to American workers through lost jobs and reduced wages. They are dishonest with poor integrity and tarnished character. They have proven themselves to be unworthy of the most valuable citizenship in the world. The same holds true for illegal aliens of all nations.
Charging racism against those with whom you disagree is getting old and outdated. More often than not it means you are on the losing end of an argument if that's the only thing you can think of.We have no problem with non-citizens as long as they are here legally and paying taxes. "Legally" is the key word. If someone is not here legally, that means they violated our laws and should not receive any public benefits.
BJ on Jan 20, 2010 at 21:41:48 said:
Rex I like the way you express yourself. To the other guy, if you don't like the laws in this country and those that abide by them, LEAVE PLEASE.
nezua on Jan 20, 2010 at 12:05:05 said:
Yeah, Rex! You tell 'em! You TELL that imaginary person where it's at! I think you won the argument.
And "Annie Jo," you tell 'em! Tell that bad article writer that Latinos (against whom hate crimes have risen dramatically over time, and who fill prisons more than whites due to corrupt policing and institutionalized racism in the courts as well) don't have the right to think of ourselves, or care for our community! Way to spread love! Your vision of America sure is appealing-not!
Rex on Jan 20, 2010 at 11:04:07 said:
If you are a Latino who cares about the well-being of Latino citizens and Latino legal immigrants and America as whole, then Brown's election is a good thing. It means we will get a health care reform bill that benefits the uninsured and those with pre-existing conditions (regardless of ethnicity) without massive cost increases and backroom deals for certain states and groups. It also means there is little to no likelihood of legalizing millions of illegal immigrants (who mainly take jobs from Latino citizens, Latino legal immigrants, and other minorities) at a time of very high unemployment.
On the other hand, if you are a Latino who believes that any Latino should be able to come to the US whenever they want (even without a visa), should receive benefits right away, should be on a path to citizenship as soon as they arrive, and should be able to live their life completely in Spanish without having to learn a word of English...well, yes, Brown's election is bad news for you. Be prepared for more and more bad news, because the majority of Americans (including a larger number of Latinos than the media acknowledges) vehemently opposes your open-borders, pro-amnesty agenda and will fight very hard to prevent it from happening.
Annie Jo on Jan 20, 2010 at 10:55:59 said:
Your article is so racist or rather, ethnic bigotry.
-->We care about American U.S. citizens. This nation is not an ethnic group or a particular race of people. It is a sovereign nation of 308,000,000 citizens of all races, ethnic backgrounds and different cultures.
You need to stop separating people into groups based on their color of skin and ethnicity. This is a SOVEREIGN NATION. A country.
We are seeing who the true real racists and bigots are. Not us. It is those who continue to divide people, based on skin color and ethnicity.