You’ve Been Had

Written by Jill Chapin. Posted in Opinion, Politics

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Published on October 23, 2014 with 6 Comments

latino_vote1

By Jill Chapin

October 23, 2014

The L.A. Times recently reported that Latino voters may opt to sit out the upcoming mid-term elections. Why?

Because as one man lamented, it is President Obama’s failure to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws. “Obama promised but never delivered” he said. Most discouraging, he asks why Latinos should bother voting, “when the politicians never listen to what the people say.”

With this sentiment, we need to applaud the Republicans, who set us all up to blame President Obama. It was their master plan and it is working beyond their wildest expectations.

Having Latinos sit out this election is their dream come true, because Latinos are overwhelmingly Democrats. And Republicans understand that in order to win, they don’t want you to vote. So how did they single-handedly drive so many Latinos into this apathetic state?

Here’s how they did it, and if you don’t vote, you will have to live with the realization that you are hopelessly gullible.

Need proof? The following is a quote from Kentucky Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, spoken at a Republican retreat at the Library of Congress right before Obama’s first inauguration in 2009: “There are enough of us to block the Democratic agenda, as long as we march in lock step. As long as Republicans refuse to follow Obama’s lead, Americans will see partisan food fights and conclude Obama had failed to produce change.”

Latinos wield a great deal of political power, but only if they enter a voting booth. According to The Times, Matt Barreto, a University of Washington political scientist conducted extensive nationwide polling among Latinos and found that they could make the difference in more than three dozen races across the country.

You have the power and you have the numbers. Use them.

Sitting out this election will be a self-inflicted wound. President Obama can’t help you if you allow more Republicans to block his every move. If you are unwilling to use the ballot to protect yourself from a Republican take-over, don’t blame anyone but yourselves when their brilliantly executed con job on Latinos across the country results in less support for Latinos in the future, not more.

Vote!

Jill Chapin

Jill Chapin has been a guest writer and columnist in several Los Angeles area papers for over fifteen years. She has written a bilingual parenting book titled, "If You Have Kids, Then Be a Parent!" and a children's book entitled, "My Magic Bubble."

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6 Comments

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  1. If people “sat out” this, or any other election, they are LOSERS. They also get what they deserve. Nothing. Lets see…Fewer Americans fighting overseas, economy and Stock Market (and 401Ks) up to historical highs, unemployment below 6%, more Americans have health coverage – yeah, Obama sucks.

  2. It is true, Obama has delivered almost nothing
    He hasn’t delivered for Latinos or other Democrats except for health care
    But, if you don’t continue to vote for the Democrats……..
    You’re gonna get Republicans, and they’re really Bad (and Mean)
    Just don’t vote for Hilary. If the Democratic Party can’t do better than Hillary Clinton….
    WE DESERVE TO LOSE

    • If you voted for Obama because you wanted him to be racially biased in favor of some races over others, then you voted for everything that Obama ran against.

      • Can you say Dense ?
        (sure you can)
        He seemed a lot more competent when he was running
        I couldn’t stomach President McCain or President Romney
        Both Bozos

        • I wasn’t advocating for Republicans, and I voted for Obama both times.

          My point was that expecting Obama to “deliver for Latinos” or “deliver for blacks” is missing the point. As he has said himself, he has to deliver for all Americans and his race shouldn’t affect that. People who hoped for a race-based administration have been rightfully disappointed.

          I have no idea who will get my vote in 2016. So far there don’t appear to be any candidates worth my vote. Before Obama I either voted Green (Nader) or Libertarian (can’t recall the name).

          • I was hoping Obama would deliver for America
            He let us down by not prosecuting any bankers or Financial industry leaders after the Banking meltdown. There was enough criminality to go around. And he didn’t prosecute ANY of them. Re-regulating banks would have been wonderful
            He didn’t do that or much else. But STILL better than McCain or Romney