Bill Richardson: I don’t think Ted Cruz should be defined as a Hispanic
posted at 11:21 am on May 6, 2013 by Allahpundit
Via Breitbart, deep thoughts from BR on (a) how insulting our politics has become, and also (b) how Ted Cruz is a phony Latino. Skip to 2:15 for the key bit. Actually, I think Ramesh Ponnuru’s right that the question is arguably more revealing than the answer:
I think you can just barely, with charity, read Richardson’s comment on Cruz to mean, Don’t think of him primarily in terms of ethnicity.
— Ramesh Ponnuru (@RameshPonnuru) May 6, 2013
The ABC question on the other hand was no good. “Do you think he represents most Hispanics with his politics?”
— Ramesh Ponnuru (@RameshPonnuru) May 6, 2013
Ever ask that about Mitch McConnell and whites?
— Ramesh Ponnuru (@RameshPonnuru) May 6, 2013
If you strain hard, you can read Richardson’s comment as simply challenging the premise. I.e. “No, he doesn’t represent Hispanics well, but he’s not supposed to. Texas elected him, not ‘Hispanics.'” Whatever he meant, though, this clip demonstrates what the left would call a Larger Truth: If Cruz ends up on the ticket in 2016, the media will spend lots of time (at Democrats’ urging) exploring his racial authenticity, specifically in terms of whether someone who opposes a path to citizenship for illegals can “really” qualify as Latino. That’s the obvious counter to the threat that Cruz, by becoming the first Latino presidential or VP nominee, might complicate the left’s “Republicans hate Latinos” narrative. (Which will, rest assured, exist in some form in 2016 whether or not immigration reform passes with bipartisan support.) Rubio’s candidacy is harder because he’s taken the pro-amnesty position that the media thinks Latino pols are “supposed” to take. How do you challenge his authenticity? One possible answer: Accuse him, surreally, of being too hawkish about border enforcement. It’s already happening:
Rubio is also taking criticism from the other end of the political spectrum, with Hispanic advocacy groups singling him out for being overly punitive.
“We see Rubio as increasingly representing all that is wrong with comprehensive immigration reform as it’s currently proposed, and we see him as a politician that has big aspirations, but still no pull with Latinos outside of the very small right-wing groups” in the Miami-based Cuban exile community, said Arturo Carmona, executive director of Presente.org, a Latino advocacy group.
Another possible answer: Don’t challenge his authenticity. Instead, concern-troll him and the GOP about conservatives maybe possibly conceivably staying home in the general election due to outrage at his work on the Gang of Eight bill. (They won’t, but you’ll hear a lot about it before election day.) Cruz will be treated as not Latino enough, in other words, and Rubio will be treated as “too Latino” in order to sustain the “racist Republicans” narrative somehow. Politicians come and go but media filters are forever.
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The slimy left is on the verge of panic.
rplat on May 7, 2013 at 8:30 AM
The left just loves to put everyone in a category. They must have sub categories as well. Hispanic(whatever that word means) and not Hispanic enough. Where does Richardson fall on this scale. He used his Hispanicness to get elected gov of NM when he should have been investigated for fraud and in jail by now. Instead he’s a talking head on news opinion shows.
Kissmygrits on May 7, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Because Richardson is such a “Hispanic” name.
Dunedainn on May 7, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Sure, to suit the narrative given and garners more support and votes from their low-info voters.
If he and his party agree that it’s “Hispanic”, its “Hispanic”. A dem can be anything he/she wants to be if it gets more votes. They are more flexible in many things.
hawkeye54 on May 7, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Funny you should write that.
Although it’s difficult to find Mexico’s official ethnic breakdown, it appears that the Euro-Mex comprises around 70% of their population.
Hence, the “indigenous” names of indians found by early conquistadors like the Sanchez, Rodriguez and Diaz tribes who were there before Columbus ever found the new world (without stopping to ask for directions no less!).
kregg on May 7, 2013 at 10:30 AM
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