Growing up my father (a Mexican national) taught me the importance of having three basic priorities that should govern my life. These priorities were to always place God first, family second, and work/school third above everything else. After the spanking the Republicans  received this last election day, it seems as if we as a party could benefit from considering these priorities, especially when it comes to the family.  I understand that not every Hispanic person is the same, nor is every Mexican American for that matter. But I do believe that these priorities are important and relatable to the Hispanic and Latino community. While the GOP tends to do a great job at defending religious liberty and is the most active in the defense of the unborn, it seems to neglect one of the most important priorities – family and fails miserably at communicating the third – work/education.

If Republicans wish to gain back the support of the Latino vote, especially that of the Mexican Americans in many southwestern states, then we need to end the rhetorical attacks on their families. Hispanics are not going to vote for any candidate whom they  think is going to deport their abuelita or go after their parents, husbands or wives.  They also will not support candidates of a party who want to end birthright citizenship. If we are to be the party of family values which I believe we are, then we must let go of our rhetoric and reach out in good faith to work towards some form of immigration reform just as George W. Bush tried to do. Conservatives seem to think and fear that Hispanics are inherently liberal. I disagree. The Democratic party does not hold our values; but neither do they pander to the immigration enforcement only crowd as republicans tend to do. I am not calling for open borders or lax enforcement. I am suggesting that we use our enforcement resources on the border and go after the criminals and the cartels, meanwhile, finding a humane way to keep families united and help build a better future for America and the Republican Party. When the Republicans finally embrace pro-family policies and cease the rhetoric that has been perceived as anti-Hispanic, then the door will be opened for further dialogue.

After we reach out in good faith, then we, as a party, must communicate better toward Hispanics and Latinos in general. We need candidates and organized groups to reach out and educate them on economic issues. Both employment and education are top priorities for many Hispanics, but if they do not see the connection from the policy played out in their daily lives, then we are failing to communicate.  Republicans must do a better job at explaining how raising tax rates and continued deficit spending will negatively impact them. While at the same time, Republicans need to articulately respond with fiscally sound economic policies that will lead to economic growth and rising incomes. Moreover, we need to defend the free market and explain how it is their inherent right as human beings, created by God, to choose how to spend and use their money. Republicans should also educate Hispanic voters on  the myriads of federal regulations and taxes that are inhibiting his or her ability to freely choose, by decreasing growth and upward mobility.

Furthermore,  we need to work harder at  defending educational choice for parents. We have an over regulated education system that sends billions of dollars to bureaucrats in the Department of Education, while spending on students and their classrooms  are both neglected. Moreover, Republicans can definitely win on the issue of school choice. School choice is not a federal program; it is the right for parents to have the choice whether to send their children to public, private or charter schools or even homeschool if they wish. Parents should be afforded all options because each child learns differently and no one size fits all federal education program will meet those needs. We must oppose federal one size fits all cookie cutter educational standards and move  towards state rights  and parental rights. Education is a pivotal issue for each and every Hispanic mother and father. This goal will be hindered if  we do not reach out and clearly articulate to Hispanic voters our educational polices.

Thus, we must do better at articulating our values to the Hispanic and in particular  the Mexican American community. I do believe this goal is attainable and I am optimistic.  Just recently, conservative talk show host, Sean Hannity, came out in favor for immigration reform and the Speaker of the House,  John Boehner, said he is “confident”  that the Republican congress can reach a deal on an immigration reform bill. Again, we are the ones who need to reach out in good faith and restart the dialogue. Therefore, I pray that the GOP will heed these words and consider the three top priorities of this frustrated Republican: God, family, and work/education. If we do anything less, failure is inevitable.

Editors note: as with all blog postings that appear with a by-line, the opinions presented are the author’s and not necessarily the positions of Cafe Con Leche Republicans.

Thomas Martin Salazar is an Arizona leader of the Café con Leche Republicans. Thomas was born and raised in Arizona. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Grand Canyon University and is currently working on obtaining a MDiv in Biblical Communication from Phoenix Seminary. Thomas has also served as the Grand Canyon University College Republicans Vice President and interim President (February 2007-April 2008) and as a Maricopa County Republican Precinct committeeman (August 2009 – August 2012).

Nationally, the election results show the Republican Party needs to fundamentally change the way the GOP engages with Hispanics, who overwhelmingly voted for Obama, especially the tone on immigration. According to a Pew Research polls, 62% of Hispanics are center-right ideologically, yet Mitt Romney received 23%, barely one third of that. Just eight years ago President Bush received over 40% of the Hispanic vote.

Mitt Romney received bad advice and focused messaging to Hispanics on the economy and largely ignored immigration. However, as Marco Rubio said “It’s very hard to make the economic argument to people who think you want to deport their grandmother.”

In 1994 California Gov. Pete Wilson jumped on the anti-illegal immigration Proposition 187 bandwagon to bolster his flagging reelection poll numbers. Proposition 187 drove legions of conservative Hispanics from the GOP, and the GOP has not been competitive in statewide races in California ever since.

Arizona has been the scene of some of the harshest rhetoric on immigration, and this week’s election results show many Arizonans, especially Hispanics, reject extremism on immigration, and while they want secure borders, they also want practical and humane solutions to our broken immigration system.

For a ‘deep red’ state, this week’s results show that extremism on immigration is hurting the Republican Party in Arizona. Normally Arizona’s U.S. Senate seats are ‘safe’ for Republicans because Arizona is a very conservative state, but Jeff Flake received a bare majority, just 50.01%, in his U.S. Senate race against a Democratic candidate with considerable personal baggage.

It is rare for Libertarian candidates anywhere to receive more than 1% of the vote, but in Arizona many Libertarian candidates received well over 1% in competitive three-way races, while the Libertarian presidential candidate received 1.29% in Arizona versus 0.9% nationally. Here are the Libertarian Party unofficial results in competitive three-way races in Arizona from the Arizona Secretary of State web site:

U.S. Senate 4.38%
Congressional District 1 – 5.88% (Republican Jonathon Paton lost to Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick, 48.49% – 45.54% due to Libertarian vote)
Congressional District 3 – 4.37%
Congressional District 4 – 3.7%
Congressional District 6 – 3.29%
Congressional District 9 – 6.35% (Republican Vernon Parker lost to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, 47.81% – 45.71% due to Libertarian vote)
Legislative District 8 Senator – 4.9% (Republican Joe Ortiz lost to Democrat Barbara McGuire, 48.68% – 46.32% due to Libertarian vote)

Libertarian party values and positions are much closer to conservatives than liberals, and it is apparent many conservatives voted Libertarian in protest against the Arizona GOP’s heavy tilt into extremism in recent years. In Congressional districts one and nine, and senator from LD 8, it is apparent the Libertarian candidate siphoned enough votes away from the GOP candidate that the Democrat won the election!

It would be easy to attribute the Libertarian protest vote to other reasons, but in the 2010 election Libertarian Andrea Garcia won 9% of the vote against Russell Pearce, one of Arizona’s most notorious immigration extremists, the second highest ever for any Libertarian candidate in a competitive three-way race. Andrea Garcia was a GOP activist for many years, before moving to Mesa and finding an unwelcome climate in the GOP there, and switching to Libertarian.

Another Republican activist for many years, Blanca Guerra, left the GOP and ran as a Libertarian, in large measure due to the hostility she encountered. Blanca was one of Cafe Con Leche Republican’s founding members, and initially ran as a GOP candidate for CD 3 before leaving the GOP (and Cafe Con Leche Republicans) to run as a Libertarian. In reviewing election results for CD 3 over a period of years shows candidates with more extreme views on immigration lose by larger margins.

A welcome exception to Arizona’s trend towards purple is Bob Worsley’s election as Senator in LD 25. Bob Worsley is a conservative Mormon, who has been pastor in a predominately Hispanic Church, spent years overseas as a missionary in Latin America, and has sensible views on immigration and understands immigration and Hispanics. Not surprisingly, he won handily against his Democratic opponent, and also handily defeated Russell Pearce in the GOP primary.

It’s time for a wave of change in the Arizona GOP. Arizona is clearly turning purple, and a high percentage of Hispanics, Arizona’s fastest growing demographic is voting Democrat, despite generally conservative values. We’ve lately heard rumors that Russell Pearce may become Arizona’s next state chairman. In our opinion, electing Russell Pearce as Arizona GOP Chairman would be catastrophic for the GOP. If anything Pearce should step down as First Vice-Chair, as he is one of the most polarizing figures in Arizona politics today. It’s time to return the Arizona GOP to the Party of Lincoln, following Reagan’s “big tent” model rather than shrinking the GOP base into something more of a ‘pup tent.’

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About Us – Cafe Con Leche Republicans is a national organization of Republicans who welcome “New Americans”, defined as immigrants and family of recent immigrants. Our mission is to make America and the GOP, more welcoming to “New Immigrants” through political activism, “in-reach” and education within the Republican Party, and lobbying government to adopt more immigrant friendly policies. We also seek to bring more conservative and moderate “New Americans” to the Republican Party. These efforts will strengthen the GOP, and lead more Republicans to embrace welcoming policies for immigrants and their families. We have members nationwide, with chapters in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and California. Our members and leadership are predominantly Hispanic, though we define ourselves by mission and guiding principles, not ethnicity, and we welcome all who share our goals. Our leadership is 100% Republican.

The ability to adapt in a changing environment is keen to survival.  As a species, humans have managed to survive because they have adapted to different surroundings albeit physical, environment, or social.   Hence, change or adaptation, is a matter of survival for any species.  The Republican Party is failing to adapt to a new environment of a population shift. In fact, the failure to acknowledge this change has made the GOP akin to a dinosaur swirling in a myriad of a complex population shift in the U.S., especially in the Southwest.  We, as Republicans, have lost sight on how to maintain our poise and grace when looking for solutions that will include ALL Americans.  Instead, we jump on board when we hear new parties with solutions that will “take us back” to a euphoria that existed a long time ago.  So, I cry because my Party has refused to adapt and include the new Latino population or species.

The idea of Darwinism, is greeted with resistance by many who are caught in the comforts of the status quo.  Yet, the inability to embrace “change,” as history demonstrates, causes a group, and oftentimes a government to decline.

Today, Darwinism is accepted by many scientists in sociology and even politics; however, Republican politicians have been hesitant in acknowledging its presence in today’s America.  Take for instance the population change in the Southwest.  Prior to 1960, Latinos were the quiet  population as they were rather scarce in the political world.  In the past decades, however, Latinos have exploded into entrepreneurs and politicians.  Where they used to dominate the labor force, Latino’s ability to adapt has thrust them into the mainstream.   The focus on education has managed to change the political and economic clout for the community

During the 1960s, Latinos were already making gains in areas like that of professionals via laws that were meant to heal the scars brought on by racial divides.  Yet, Latinos did not partake in many of the so called “discrimination” roars raised by other groups.  Rather, Latinos rose into the education, labor, and even political power quietly and competitively.

The failure to acknowledge this change has the GOP existing like a dinosaur, walking around in a haze refusing to adapt.   We, as Republicans, have lost sight on including groups that think like us regardless of appearance.  We want to go back to a time that made us feel good.  Why in the world would we want to go back to a time and a place where we were struggling to advance as a Super Power of a Nation?

So the mantra that focuses on “going back” to the founding fathers should make us think,  should we not, instead, go forward to a New Super Power?  Subsequently, I doubt that the founding fathers would want us or accept us in the present state that we find ourselves: confusion.  The reality is that the GOP is shrinking because we are losing our participants and are not reaching out to include new voters.   We hardly hear anyone quote the basic fundamental truth that the GOP is the champion and a fair Party for the population, one particular, that it has helped the most over the years,  Latinos.

During the 1950s, the Southwest co-existed well with the Anglo and Latino communities.  The agriculture sector’s labor is predominately Latino, as the current trends in Alabama have shown us.  From 1942 to 1964, as the demand for produce increased so did the need for laborers in this area.  Thus, the Bracero Program brought in workers from Mexico who wanted to work, and the U.S. needed the work to keep the produce from rotting in the fields, much like we saw in Alabama in 2011.

We, as Americans, wanted to keep the work active and complained when our tomatoes went from .50 (cents) a pound to $1.50 a pound in that time.  We acquiesced to allowing foreign workers to enter the U.S. and pick the crops.  Those who opposed it were members of the Unions who argued that bringing in foreign workers would harm the wages of U.S. workers, and so they managed to convince the public that wages needed to be protected and controlled, thereby they formed unions in the Agriculture sector.  As a result, wages increased because the market did not control the wage increase, but rather the unions and the federal government came in to “protect” the American workers who wanted the higher wage and less hours.  But the motion had been created for the detesting of foreign workers who came to infiltrate our work.  A resentment that exists to this day.    This propaganda initiated by Unions to protect American workers caused more harm than benefit to our economy, because it interfered with the economic productivity of our labor force.

Latinos understand how groups were created to maintain the Civility of Rights for the under-represented groups in America during this time of change. However, those civil rights groups have splintered into those of liberal demagoguery that adds to the hatred of the Republican philosophy.  But present GOP leaders do not protect the philosophy once carefully planted by Ronald Reagan, rather they add to the fire.  The term Republican is no longer synonymous with Conservative, but is equal to what blacks saw as the term for Master during the slave movement and nothing is further from the truth.

The Republican ideology sprang from that of freedom and opportunity.  The seeds of loyalty that President Reagan and others planted in the Latino Community are the same ones that Newt Gingrich talks about.  His presence in the Latino community over this past decade is evident in keeping the dream alive in the community.  He is counting on the Latino hard work ethic and the keepers of the American dream.

Yes, it is my Party and I will cry if I want to because I know that our GOP political leaders are not accepting that the Latino population, growth and change, is a positive acquisition into the party.  They are still looking at Latinos as those foreigners who came to invade the U.S.  But Latinos didn’t invade, rather they came to contribute and become part of the American dream, and for the most part we did.  At present, we hold on to that dream in America and all we ask is that the party reach out and say: Welcome.

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