Jeffe on the California Republican Party

Re “California Conservatism’s Worst Nightmare Revealed,” Opinion Aug. 17: As a Chinese immigrant advocating drastic reductions in immigration, both legal and illegal, I strongly disagree with Sherry Bebitch Jeffe’s statement, “Unless the California Republican Party can shed its mean-spirited, anti-immigrant . . . image, it could wither on the electoral vine.”

Bob Dole lost in November 1996 because he was boring and had no real issues. The Republican Party could have won the White House if it had explained, in a sensitive manner, to voters, especially those living in states with high concentrations of immigrants, that many of their major concerns could not be addressed without drastic immigration reductions: overcrowded schools, traffic congestion, overburdened infrastructure.

Instead of arguing for an immigration moratorium, which would help them win, Republicans have embraced the pro-life platform, which is the wrong issue. When will the Republicans learn?

YEH LING-LING

Orinda, Calif.

As always, Jeffe’s contribution was a gem. But perhaps we conservatives have options not yet explored. If intensive education in Spanish two or three hours a day were permitted, perhaps even encouraged, but only for students after they had achieved a significant proficiency in English, we could demonstrate our desire to forge bonds of mutual respect between two vital cultures.

I limit my proposal to Spanish speakers only because it is less reasonable to insist our entire Spanish-speaking population be completely assimilated than is the case with other language groups.

Barring some such imaginative effort, our party is probably inevitably consigned to the marginalization in California which Jeffe suggests. Making bilingual education in Spanish a privilege, not a right, a prize to be earned and valued, but not an entitlement that threatens to atomize our nationhood, could attract support to the Republican Party of at least a small number of Hispanics, and lessen the humiliation others feel if their language is summarily discarded.

TERRY MALOY, President

Republican Club

Big Bear Lake

It is extremely telling when Jeffe states: “But neither he (Ron Unz) nor the GOP can control the political debate.” Of course not! I read four papers per day and it is very clear to me that the liberal media control the political debate and the vast majority are Democrats. I just wish that someday people like Jeffe would look in the mirror and acknowledge their bias.

RICK FIRMAN

San Clemente