Hispanic Republicans Gain in Number, Influence

Glenn Beck's "Restore America" rally in Washington has stirred up the controversy of race and politics in America. As a Latino, it made me take stock of who I am. The issue transcends Beck and his message, which I happen to agree with; it reaches down to the core of who we are, and how our politics defines us.

As a Hispanic Republican, there are times I feel like a member of the X-Men. Hispanic Republicans, like mutants in a comic book, seem to be mythical creatures that don't exist in reality. In my family, however, they were real. My parents were Democrats until Jimmy Carter burned them. They voted for Reagan in 1980 and never looked back.

I voted Republican at first because it fit the values of my parents. As I grew older, however, I had to decide for myself whether the GOP stood for everything I believed in. To me, the answer was clear - the Republican party best represented my social and political views.

I know that puts me in a minority among minorities. Many Hispanics vote Democrat simply because their families always voted that way. Democratic politicians perpetuate the tradition for their own gain: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) recently said he didn't know how any Hispanic could be a Republican.

Unfortunately for Sen. Reid and other Democrats, Hispanics are no longer the automatic votes they took for granted. George W. Bush captured 44% of the Hispanic vote in 2000, and while John McCain wasn't as popular during his run, the trend is encouraging to Jason Villaba.

Villaba serves as chairman of the Dallas branch of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA), an officially sanctioned organization of the Republican Party. He believes the shift to the right comes with a greater understanding of Republican ideals. "When you talk and interact (with Hispanics) you find that personally they are conservative, and that conservative ideology often jibes well with the Republican party," he said.

Villaba admits the Republican outreach to Hispanics has been uneven at best. "Republicans have not done as good a job as Democrats in integrating to levels that go beyond politicking. To show up every four years, put out signs, and run voter registration tables is not enough. We do need to do a better job of reaching out to Hispanics, in neighborhoods, in churches, and other organizations important to the community."

Over the past six years, Villaba has seen considerable growth with the Dallas branch of the RNHA, which has led to growing support for Republicans, especially in the southern sector where the Hispanic population is concentrated.

Just as Republicans make inroads in the Hispanic community, however, something undermines those efforts. The illegal immigration controversy has angered many Hispanics, but not for the reasons most expect. According to Villaba, many Hispanics, especially those who went through the immigration process legally, are against illegal immigration. "I've talked to a lot of groups around town, and when I ask if immigration is a big issue, I find that's not the case. Immigration obviously affects our community disproportionately, but many view the issue the way non-Hispanics do. They believe if people are here illegally, they shouldn't get any special treatment or breaks," Villaba said.

What upsets many Hispanics is the tone and lack of civility in some of the rhetoric coming from Republicans on the illegal immigration issue. They see it as anti-Hispanic sentiment rather than real concern over secure borders or the rule of law. The issue won't be solved overnight, and if not handled properly, will alienate Hispanics from a party that could be their greatest ally in making their lives better.

Even with the challenges, progress is being made. Villaba points out the success of Eva Guzman, a member of the Texas Supreme Court, and senatorial candidate Marco Rubio in Florida. Hispanic Republicans do exist, and they are growing in number and influence.

Harry Reid may not understand, but I know why I vote the way I do. I am a proud Latino Republican because it is who I am, not something I want to be.

Sources: Personal interview with Jason Villaba, TheWeek.com, GlennBeck.com