Latino Politics: Local Republicans Should Take a Different Road

One is reminded of Robert Frost’s famous poem “The Road Not Taken” when considering the state of the California Republican Party, especially in Orange County. The poem talks about the long-term consequences of the choices we make.

Republican Party leaders have chosen a road that is at odds with the growing political power of Latinos, and in the process has sacrificed long-term political advantage for short-term political victories. The use of so-called wedge issues such as affirmative action, illegal immigration and bilingual education got Pete Wilson reelected governor. Similarly, local Republican leaders hired poll guards to intimidate Hispanic voters in a 1988 election, for which they were fined $400,000 in 1992, and have been criticized for failing to reach out to the Latino community.

While there may be some merit to each of these proposals, as a whole, their anti-minority tenor is undeniable. Most important, the Hispanic community resents this, and is “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.” This is why Latino voter registration is up, and Latinos are voting Democrat over Republican 3 to 1.

Recent events demonstrate the growing power of the Latino vote in California:

* Multiterm incumbent Bob Dornan is beaten by political novice Loretta Sanchez. Latinos constituted 20% of all voters in the 46th district in 1996, up from less than 14% in 1992.

* Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) is replaced by Cruz Bustamante who, after terming out, is replaced by Antonio Villaraigosa. The new speaker was active in the farm worker movement.

* In 1996, Lou Correa, a young Latino, came within less than 100 votes of beating incumbent Jim Morrissey.

* Gubernatorial candidate Al Checchi has run more Spanish language political advertisements than have ever been run before.

* Fourteen of the members of the 120-member legislature (12% ) are of Hispanic heritage.

While Orange County’s anti-immigrant message may produce short-term election victories, it isn’t good for those who seek greater trade with Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, and an international reputation as a cosmopolitan community that has come of age. For example, a recent report commissioned by the Orange County Business Council said that the county does not enjoy the national prestige it should because its politically regressive reputation overshadows its economic successes in areas such as biotechnology and semi-conductors.

Dissatisfaction with the road the Republican Party has taken is evidenced in other ways:

* Prominent conservatives such as Chapman University President Jim Doti and former Marine and war hero Bill Dougherty openly supported Sanchez.

* The conservative Lincoln Club publicly urges Bob Dornan not to seek reelection.

* An insurgent group of Republicans called Republicans for New Directions has formed. The group wants the party to be more inclusive. It includes such political heavyweights as Supervisor Chuck Smith, Sheriff Brad Gates and Robert and Martha Fluor.

The irony is, it doesn’t have to be this way.

For example, George Bush Jr., the Republican governor of Texas, has taken a different road. Texas also has a substantial Latino population and a border with Mexico. Instead of the politics of polarization, however, he has emphasized stronger ties with Mexico and a greater respect for diversity.

Unlike such firebrands as Dornan, Bush has pursued, like his father, a “compassionate conservatism.” He speaks Spanish and has argued that immigration is good for the Texas economy. He has resisted efforts to punish those whose only “crime” is seeking a better standard of living for themselves and their families.

Nor has he encouraged or caved in to efforts to deny children of illegal immigrants access to Texas schools. And that is why Bush, rather than California’s Pete Wilson, is the top choice among Republicans who wish to win the presidency in 2000.

The road Bush has taken, as Robert Frost told us, has made all the difference.