La Raza: President Reagan exuded respect, connected powerfully with Latinos

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Jun 8, 2004

STATEMENT OF RAUL YZAGUIRRE, NCLR PRESIDENT, ON PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) extends its condolences to former First Lady Nancy Reagan, the Reagan family, and the millions of Americans who today are mourning the death of our 40th President, Ronald Reagan. President Reagan’s boundless optimism and his unshakable faith in what this country is – and what it could be – resonated deeply with many in the Hispanic community. After all, Ronald Reagan was responsible for the first Hispanic Cabinet member in our nation’s history, when he appointed Lauro Cavazos as Secretary of Education in 1988.

Hispanics also appreciated that President Reagan’s vision of America as a beacon of hope and opportunity for all included immigrants, millions of whom he helped to become Americans. Not only did he sign the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) – which included two highly- controversial legalization programs – into law in 1986, his administration worked diligently to implement these programs.

It may not be widely known but the nation’s largest and most successful antipoverty program – the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – was also created in tax reform legislation signed by President Reagan. After a subsequent major expansion successfully promoted by President Clinton, the credit is now worth more than $1,800 to the more than one-third of low-wage working Hispanic households who benefit from the EITC.

But my main memories of President Reagan are about the man himself. He was always courteous, even “courtly,” in his dealings with people from all walks of life. In this sense, he exuded respeto – respect – in a way that connected powerfully with the Latino community. Many of those involved in the highly partisan, divisive debates that characterize all too many issues today might benefit from following his example.

We may not have always agreed with the Reagan Administration’s policies, but there is no question that President Reagan had a profound influence and impact on the American political process, the nation, and the world. May he rest in peace

http://www.nclr.org/content/news/detail/2650/

Edited May 29, 2009 by Randomizer

[Ban Hammer 13,677]

must be a slow news day, reagan died a while ago.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

must be a slow news day, reagan died a while ago.

Yes, there's a date at the top

Does this sound like the Tan Klan to you?

[Peikko 1,575]

You can't change the vision of the rabid and irrational. If they want to see Sotomayor as in leaque with the devil, in leaque she will be.

[NickD 203]

Wondered about Reagan, nothing but problems in Latin America, then Bush comes in, no problems in Latin America, but in the middle east. Does anyone recall problems in the middle east when Reagan was president? When Clinton came in, problems with former Soviet countries that disappeared when the Bush kid came in, back to the middle east again. Not sure about Obama yet, time will tell.

But are these problems there to start with? Or does whoever is in office make them?

What about our problems here?

[Ban Hammer 13,677]

must be a slow news day, reagan died a while ago.

Yes, there's a date at the top

Does this sound like the Tan Klan to you?

yes. next question?

[alienlovechild 75]

Not only did he sign the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) – which included two highly- controversial legalization programs – into law in 1986, his administration worked diligently to implement these programs.

Amnesty for illegal aliens was popular under Reagan but when Bush and Mccain did it I think they got about three more Hispanic votes in 2008. Definitely been major demographic changes in just the last 23 years (a mere generation) with almost everywhere now has a sizable Hispanic segment where there wasn't one before.

"In 1984, he made history, receiving 32 percent of the Hispanic vote. President George W. Bush achieved similar results in 2000"

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uui...085E8A856DADC8D

Even with amnesty the GOP won't get much more than a third of the Hispanic vote.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What about our problems here?

What problems, everything is fine here. Go back to playing PS2 and don't forget to hit the mall later.

[Ban Hammer 13,677]

You can't change the vision of the rabid and irrational. If they want to see Sotomayor as in leaque with the devil, in leaque she will be.

and conversely, if the head in rectal defilade crowd don't want to see anything negative about sotomayor, they won't.

[Peikko 1,575]

Except, people from all sides can see the good and bad qualities in her, just those on the fringes can't see anything good (bad). Sorry Charlie, you fail.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Sorry Charlie, you fail.

you love pissing him off!

[Peikko 1,575]

Sorry Charlie, you fail.

you love pissing him off!

[Ban Hammer 13,677]

Except, people from all sides can see the good and bad qualities in her, just those on the fringes can't see anything good (bad). Sorry Charlie, you fail.

ye of little faith......you just contradicted yourself there....see the bold?

and naturally, anyone saying anything negative about her must be on the fringe

Edited May 29, 2009 by charles!

[Peikko 1,575]

Charlie, really, I expect better. The fringes are the 'extreme edges' of both sides. The fringe people can either see no wrong, or see no right.

No, naturally not, but normally, if you are not on the fringe, you will say things like, while I find X about this candidate problematic, don't agree with, I also find X about this candidate that is good. WHAT THEY DO NOT DO is take something perfectly innocuous and turn it into something OUTRAGEOUS.

[The_Dude 1,142]

You can't change the vision of the rabid and irrational. If they want to see Sotomayor as in leaque with the devil, in leaque she will be.

and conversely, if the head in rectal defilade crowd don't want to see anything negative about sotomayor, they won't.

I'm open to a legitimate critique of her as a jurist and citizen. Making things up and extreme exageration are however not legitimate.