The Progressive Latino

Newt seeks out the Latino vote

Yes, believe it - Republican Newt Gingrich is seeking out the Latino vote.  Watch the new talking points - all focused on "Latinos  being social conservatives" that they would naturally gravitate to the Republican party if only it were not for the Republican hard-line stance on immigration.  Progressive Latinos, don't be fooled by the fox in sheep's clothing.  You need only listen to all the others to include their party leaders and members as a whole.  Keep in mind that it is not just the immigration issue - it is their anti-working class positions on welfare, social security, health care, crime, unemployment compensation, abortion, women's right to equal pay - the list goes on and it is not one that favors the majority of Latinos.  Yes maybe the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce might feel like warming up to Newt but just keep in mind they are not any more for the working class than any other pro-business group.  See the Talking Points Memo ariticle at: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/11/newt-gingrich-keeps-up-outreach-to-hispanics-through-immigration-controversy.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

Proof of Latino Voter Power

A Fox News report (http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/11/15/poll-latinos-were-key-factor-in-arizona-recall-vote/#ixzz1dtP7bQBy) addressed a poll that indicated that Latinos 'were a key factors in the defeat of Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce."  Pearce was the author of the Arizona immigration law.  Latinos accounted for 13 percent of the recall voters.  Pearce's opponent, won 53.4 percent to 45.3 percent so clearly, Latinos made a difference.  So when you are dissatisfied or disillusioned with political, remember, your vote does count.

Republicans are Anti-Immigration

Progressive Latino, if you had any doubt regarding the Republican positions on immigration reform, all you had to do was watch the Republican Presidential debate this past Tuesday.  Don't be fooled by Newt Gingrich's "family values" approach to immigration.  He choose his words carefully by stating, that "they should be provided a pathway to legal residency but not citizenship. " Note that he still is against citizenship.  Read more on this at: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2100220,00.html#ixzz1edGkfF6U.  Think Progress has researched this issue and came up with a graphic depiction of each of the Republican candidate's position on five aspects of the immigration issue. See this at:http://thinkprogress.org/2012-gop-presidential-candidates-views-on-immigration-issues/.  TPL's view:  Immigration is much less a security issue than an economic issue.  Proving legal status to immigrants will create a source of substantial tax revenue for our economy.  Supporting the Dream Act will allow those children who for no fault of their own would be able to get in-state tuition (they are already "residents" just not with legal status) and set them on a path to obtain higher education and become contributing members of our society. Thoughts?

Mitt Romney to Privatize Veteran's Health care and Medicare

True to Republican ideology, Mitt Romney recently proposed the voucher system for both veterans health and for Medicare.  Many Latinos are Veterans and Medicare is there for health care for our senior citizens, which as the years go by will increasingly be Latinos.  So study carefully the right's plan to dismantle government programs in the name of pure ideology that all things private sector are superior to any government programs.  Ideology however, will not take care of you when the time comes for much needed health care.  Our Veterans represent a different 1%.   They are that 1 % that take care for our freedom so that the other 99% can live their lives as they wish.  Government health care is one tax we should all give freely.  See the Think Progress article for the full details at: http://thinkprogress.org/progress-report/

Republican Candidate Believes America is more Socialist than China

With less than 4 % support Nation-wide, Bachmann, who has a history of inaccurate statements threw out another one, last night at the Republican debate.  Her view is that the programs initiated under President Johnson's "Great Society" are socialist - more socialist than China, which by the way is still a communist (read socialist) country.  Having programs that serve as a safety net for millions of Americans does not make for a socialist nation.  This has been a tactic of the Right-wing to paint democrats as socialist.  The programs we are talking about are Social Security, Medicare and Food Stamps.  She states that China does not have food stamps.  China also has millions in abject poverty.  Just keep in mind that even while her comments are absurd what is worst is her that she says she is a supporter of Medicare and Social Security.  Read the details in the Talking Point Memo article by Benjy Sarlin at: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/11/bachmann-america-should-be-more-like-china.php?ref=fpb

Republican Anti-Jobs Agenda

This is direct from ( http://thinkprogress.org/progress-report/ ) yesterday's Progress Report (by ThinkProgress War Room on Nov 10, 2011 at 5:22 pm) on the status of the Republican votes to block the Obama American Jobs Act. 

Today, on the eve of Veterans Day, Senate Republicans did not filibuster the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, the part of the president’s jobs plan to help put our veterans back to work. We’d note that it is the sole part of the jobs plan voted on so far not financed by making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share, something Republicans have strenuously objected to. While today’s willingness to do anything at all to help the economy was certainly welcome, Republicans have repeatedly and unanimously voted against millions of jobs for other Americans, including teachers, firefighters, cops, and construction workers:

• Oct. 11: 100 percent of Senate Republicans voted against millions of American jobs in order to protect the very wealthiest Americans — the top 0.5 percent — from having to pay their fair share.
• Oct. 20: 100 percent of Senate Republicans voted against nearly 400,000 jobs for teachers, firefighters, and cops in order to protect the very wealthiest Americans — the top 0.5 percent — from having to pay their fair share.
• Nov. 3: 100 percent of Senate Republicans voted against 450,000 Americans jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, airports, and other critical infrastructure in order to protect the very wealthiest Americans — the top 0.5 percent — from having to pay their fair share.

TPL's view is that both the Republicans and Democrats knew it would be politically damaging to vote against jobs for veteran, especially the day before Veteran's Day.  So don't be fooled as this was a minor concession along a path as described above by The Progress Report staff that Republicans are just not going along with any Obama plan for jobs.  Don't be fooled either by their argument that this will raise taxes on American small business.  The funding for the jobs bill would come from a 5.6 percent surtax on income over those many over 1 million dollars - just 5.6 percent.  We are in an economic crisis.  Doesn't it make sense that those making so much more (median family income is roughly $26,364.00) sacrifice a little?  In the end they still stand to win for as the economy improves so does the living standard of the rich.

Progress 2050

The Center for American Progress is commited to "improving the lives Americans through progressive ideas and action."  They publish an outstanding report, "Progress 2050."  This is a must read for every progressive Latino!!  The report addresses the demographic changes in America and calls for an inclusive progressive agenda that enhances the lives of all Americans, including the evergrowing Hispanic and Asian minorities.    Download Progress_2050

Romney's Economic Plan - NOT for the 99%!

If some of you think Romney is a likeable guy - you may be right but then that does not mean he likes you.  Take a look (http://thinkprogress.org/progress-report/) the this Think Progress Report and get informed  on the details of his economic plan.  You might conclude as TPL did that his America is the 1% - that is what you cares about - NOT you Latino.