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Cliff Owen / AP
Gustavo Torres, director of Casa in Action, center, and others chant during a rally of immigration rights organizations, in front of the White House on Thursday. They called on President Barack Obama to fulfill his promise of passing comprehensive immigration reform.
Hispanic voters, who were instrumental in putting Barack Obama back in the White House, now hope the president will work diligently in his second term to cross some big to-dos off their legislative wish list: jobs, affordable education, health care access and immigration reform.
Hispanics voted for Obama over Mitt Romney by a resounding 71 percent to 27 percent and may have put him over the top in several key swing states. The total number of potential Hispanic voters this year reached a record 23.7 million – up about 80 percent since 2000 – and Hispanics now compose about 10 percent of the total electorate, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.
“The Latino electorate arrived Tuesday, there’s no question about it,” said Rafael Collazo, director of political campaigns for the National Council of La Raza. The organization, which bills itself as the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, says it helped register more than 90,000 new Hispanic voters this year.
“States like Florida, Colorado, Nevada, Pennsylvania, even Ohio -- the Latino vote was a net gain for the preferred candidate and was the deciding factor or at least very, very close to being the decisive factor,” Collazo told NBC News.
"The Latino giant is wide awake, cranky and is taking names,” labor leader Eliseo Medina, of the Service Employees International Union, told NBC Latino.
With the election behind them, Hispanics now want Obama and Congress to work on issues identified in surveys as their priorities – more jobs, affordable health care, access to higher education and immigration reform.
GOP faces immigration fight after election
The latter issue has been more important for Hispanics than for other U.S. voters, said Mark Hugo Lopez, associate director of the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization.
Hispanic support for Obama was high even before he announced in June that the government will stop deporting, and begin granting work permits to, some undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as children.
“However, when it comes to asking Hispanics which party is more concerned for the Hispanic community, after the deferred action program was announced the (Democratic) share went from 45 to 61 percent – the highest we’ve measured in Pew Hispanic surveys in 10 years,” Lopez said.
“In his acceptance speech, Obama mentioned that comprehensive immigration reform was something that needed to be addressed, and we’re going to hold him to that,” Collazo told NBC News.
The day after the election, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid promised to introduce an immigration reform package next year. He said if Republicans block the legislation, they would do so "at their peril."
Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union and former chairman of the Republican Party in Florida, agreed that the immigration debate has been detrimental for the GOP.
“Across the board generationally and demographically, the immigration issue has become a wedge issue … because it’s become a litmus test of respect and caring in that community,” Cardenas said. “My advice for conservatives and the party as a whole is to get bipartisan immigration reform done in next 100 to 200 days.”
A survey of Hispanic voters by the firm Latino Decisions found that Hispanics pushed Obama over the top in Colorado, Florida and Nevada, swing states where they turned out in unusually high numbers.
Cardenas said the GOP can’t pay short shrift to minority groups if it wants to put a Republican in the White House.
NBC Latino: We voted – now let’s get to work, say Latinos after historic vote for Obama
“The so-called mainstream vote is no longer sufficient,” he said. “The coalition of all of these minority votes is a priority in these elections today. The Hispanic vote is the most numerically significant of all of these groups. We need to develop a precise, aggressive, winning political game plan to address that community.”
The Hispanic community is a diverse one, according to the Pew Center's Lopez:
- Country of origin: Among eligible Hispanic voters, 58 percent are Mexican Americans, 14 percent are Puerto Ricans, and 6 percent are Cubans. (The remainder are from Central and South America). Historically, Cubans have supported Republican candidates more than other Hispanic groups; in Florida this year, 49 percent of Cubans went for Obama and 47 percent for Romney.
- Youth: People ages 18-29 make up about a third of all eligible Hispanic voters, but just 20 percent of all general voters.
- Naturalized U.S. citizens: Among Hispanic eligible voters, 25 percent are immigrants who are naturalized. But among whites, only 3 percent are naturalized U.S. citizens.
Callazo said that despite this diversity, Hispanics displayed a rather consistent, Democratic-leaning voting pattern across many states.
“The numbers of how Latinos voted in Arizona compared to Ohio and Colorado were fairly close,” Callazo said.
“Yes, there are differences and nuances … but if you look at the polling and all the anecdotal work and the outreach we’ve done over the years, the core issues are very, very similar," he added. "At end of day, Latino voters are voting for the candidate they feel will best reflect their values."
NBC Latino contributed to this story.
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Leave a Comment:
We must to get out of the entitlement mentality. Everyone needs to be reminded of Pres. Kennedy's famous speech - "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country"
The answer for republicans = stop being racist tightwads.
The only people that are racists are people like you who scream "racism" every five minutes.
LOL Kitt you are a hoot. And a racist to boot.
Well at least the Latino's came out and admitted to it, it even says in the headlines... We help you, now you need to help us..... I guess they never heard that you need to help yourselves before anybody else can!
Can you say revolution???? Time to seperate the conservatives from the liberals...It would be best for the country
Taz:
Right you are!
Goodluck, the GOP has a communist agenda lately. You'll be working for them while they get all the rewards. I prefer socialism over communism any day. But to each their own I suppose. Enjoy your "free" market where your elected leaders make deals with wallstreet CEOs to screw you out of your hard earned money. Thats what the republican party stands for lately, if you haven't noticed.
Kittstar, Cuba and North Korea would love to have you if you really want socialism. Yup, their quality of life is so much better than ours here in the US. Have fun, send us a postcard.
Looks like jose and carmine think they will be getting an obozo-phone for voting for obozo the simple kenyan...sorry, jose & carmine, that program is only for the black folks, all yo get is diaper washing jobs at the old folks home. ha ha ha ha ha obozo gotcha!
How long before Obama gives them the Social Security and Medicare we have spent our lives paying in to? There is something about coming into a country illegally and then making demands that does not sit well with me. It is like breaking into someones house and then demanding a room of your own.
thats kind of the democratic staple... They don't repeal those things... Thats what republicans do. Chill on the fox news, its not always telling you the truth there.
It was Republican Regan that welcomed Mexicans into this country. The Democrats, they will just lead you on and lie to you.
Ronald Reagan punches the wall at McDonalds "Reagan smash"
There is some gratitude for you. Remind me never to stand up for you folks. Look at my posts if you don't understand.
katie By law and details of the act you are only eligable for S.S. if you have paid money into the system. The president cannot change this by executive order.
Check out the exemptions in Obama Care.
katie, check the actual bill from the website, rather than right winged websites.
I have looked at many web sites of varying political agendas.
I figured you would... But try looking at the actual bill.
Eddie has thus the moniker EddieisFiction.
just sitting back and waiting for the collapse.....Bwaaahhaaaa...lololol....hahahaha
I knew it , its all about race and revenge. Now that the mexicans have some power their true "colors" are coming out. Importing a failed nation (mexcio) and a people who break this nations laws by coming here illegaly and get large sums of benefits is not good for our country.
Laws that are unrealistic to enforce and waste tax payers money in a futile effort.
Kittstar we just need to adopt Mexico's immigration policy. It is the sworn duty of the Federal government to CLOSE the BORDER. Stop illegals from entering. As for those in country, that cut in line, passed all those that are immigrating legally, well we can deal with that later. When you stand in line to buy tickets or whatever you stand in line for it is okay for someone to just walk to the front when you have waited hours? Or if they break into your house it is okay because they are Hispanic? You make NO SENSE and it is truly amazing that you are capable of holding a job.
It is not about whites / non whites / browns...etc. It is about legal and illegal immigration. I am an immigrant who came here legally and I am dead against illegal immigration and giving amnesty to illegal immigrants who have entered this country illegally. The issue needs to be focus on the legal aspects and not swayed by the emotional rantings and bringing in racism into the picture. It has nothing to do with race. A while illegal immigrant from UK is al illegal as any other. The law is the law. The latino population voted barak obama into office and now they demand that they be helped. God save this country...this can only happen here. How come we do not hear of such nonsense in any other developed countries??
What is the color of your skin and was coming here legally easy or hard for you?
Laws that are unrealistic to enforce and waste tax payers money in a futile effort. The immigration system has failed, it's time to progress and stop repeating the same costly mistakes.
They don't want anything different than every other American. Economic growth (ie jobs), affordable health care, freedom, equal rights, and real immigration reform (not amnesty). Our hispanic population consists of a wide range of different people. From families that have been in the U.S. for centuries, to newly naturalized citizens. They are a huge voting block that is growing, they have the right to vote anyway they choose.
Why does it have to be about race.... I see a lot of posts about White people this and White people that. Why can't it be hey lets be Americans and help each other reguardless of color. If imigrants want to come in they should pay taxes and conform but this whole you helped us now help us is just not right. People voted for the wrong reasons.....
It's not about white or brown, it's not about votes, it's about a failed and costly system of immigration. Immigration reform could save millions of tax dollars. People aren't looking at the big picture here at all. They've been actively trying to keep people out for years, It failed. That's the bottom line.
A tiger doesn't change it's stripes.
If agri. companies and American consumers can pay this group of people a few cents a day to process vegetables and fruits which keeps the prices low for these products will it help keep them in the country?
I'm sure this is already in the comments somewhere.
Please Mr. President. Help those destitute people in the photograph!
Like others here, I am no racist. I am an American. My ancestors came to this country for its opportunities. They learned the language and worked hard to build a good life. And while some types of change make us as country stronger, others are shaking the foundations of this country to its core. The growing trend for making decisions based on handouts (instead of hands up) or a Robin Hood mentality will be the destruction of our once great nation. Don't think for one minute that Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Bruce Springstein, Oprah Winfrey or Bill Gates will freely give you everything they worked for and, quite literally, do without just because you think you are entitled to what they have.
Well said.
I guess I can't argue with real america, because the rest of us don't count. We didnt think that was the reason why we voted for them.. but I guess if "real america" thinks that, then it must be true.
AMEN TO THAT! Don't forget to add Al Gore to that line-up...Mr. Global warming that requires taxing all you fools so he can collect the money from the loser countries.
^^ i guess we can't argue with real america... They know best. Maybe I should start watching fox news too so I can learn about what "real america" thinks.
Illegals are already complaining that other illegals are taking their (OUR) jobs at a lower wage.
Do You know what happens to car accident victims in Mexico? They take a hammer to your
fillings and gold crowns. Same fVcking sh!t is happening here in the US and the liberals are telling us to get rid of our guns. LOL FVCK OFF
If the blacks and Hispanics do become the majority in this country it's not hard to see what will become of the US. Just take a look at the countries in Central and South America and Africa. Those are the kinds of countries those races produce.
The US would have remained great if we had closed our borders and stopped allowing immigration. Too late now though. Within four years we will probably have a collapsed economy, rioting and looting from the people who voted for the Obamination and the demise of the once great country of the United States. Obama will have achieved his goal of degrading this country into mediocre, just like his father's.
Well spoken Jay Vinton. Old Barney Fife won't ever learn what America really is. I'm 4th generation American, white, Hispanic and just tired of paying for his Government subsudized Midwestern arrogant ignorance.
Well OBAMA, you STUPID PHUQUE!!!
You just cost our country, OUR COUNTRY, YOU PHUQUE
AND WHO WILL YOU BLAME IT ON THIS TIME???
YOU need to be ousted!!!
YOU NEED TO GO AWAY !!!
I hope America stands up to you and your cronies and IMPEACH YOUR BLACK ASS...
This is why you folks lost. Racism and stupidity is still rampant within your genes.
I only state facts you IDIOT!!!
HE IS STUPID AND BLACK...
Nothing racist at all about what I said, you imbecile...
He is stupid and black... I see.
He is actually half Caucasian and half Negroid if you want to state facts. Which would mean he, by the very definition is not black.
He also has a B.A. in political science with a specialization in international relations and a degree at Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude.
So quite frankly anything you just posted was not only incorrect, but asinine. Who's the imbecile now? You effen moron.
OK, I am offended by the previous poster, as he is a narrow minded hateful individual, but please don't make blanket statements either. I am not racist....I hate all people equally... <chuckle>... but seriously, classifying any group of people by the actions of a few is foolish. Don't try to tell anyone hate is in the genes, because that is a learned behaviour. It is not a question of nature vs. nurture at all.
It is not our place to judge, but if you must do so, judge each person INDIVIDUALLY by their merit, their actions, their words.... not their color, demographic, or any other form of classification everyone is so eager to fit into or fit others into. That is just as hateful.
So why does the American public not get to see proof of those claimed degrees??
Mamawliz - Probably because it will should that he received foreign student loans. Either way, the proof has already been shown ... but the debate still lingers. Just like his Birth Certificate.
Lil"oleMe
I like your reply. I can't stand the very sight or sounds coming from this injustice placed upon the great people of this nation. The great divider is simply a man - period. I will attack his decisions, intelligence from every angle I can BUT i will leave ethnicity (and family) alone. I can go pretty deep in the mud without getting dirty.
I do hate Obama as the individual though. He represents a political group I also find rather simple minded and unintelligent group which just seem clueless to cause and effect but I still hope they will see what a dangerous individual this man actually is.
The 20 trillion dollars projected deficit is the floor not the ceiling.
The misery trains' acoming!!
You sure about that? Neuroscience tends to lead psychology nowadays... not the other way around.
Look into it. Maybe you'll learn something.
Yes, the president is soooo stupid he managed to win the Presidency twice. How many times have held that seat?
Come on people Thumper is a Democrat plant. Surely you aren't that gullible!
I fear for my county, my family and my friends. Where did this huge Latin voting population come from? These people now expect favor from our president! This is just crazy. Our county as we know it is doomed. The world of my father and his father is fast disappearing. This county is going to be dragged down into a 3rd world cesspool. I just can’t get over that Americans would vote for a man that would green light suck a thing. I guess I need to get over it because he is in office and prepare for the worst. I hope all that voted form him get exactly what they wanted.
When Dems, Liberals, Gays, Minorities and Women get all that they have asked for and more (which they will)...who then will you blame when the same BS keeps popping up it's ugly head? You think there will be no more recessions? You think oppressions will stop? You think people wont get rich and keep getting get richer? You think hispanics or blacks wont break themselves down into social classes? LOL!! Keep kidding yourself.
It's going to be something. Either women will rule all cause we feel pity on them, and MEN will be the mighty enemy. Blacks will rule it all and despise Hispanics when white people are gone. Or Hispanics will rule it all and despise Blacks (they already do despise blacks by the way).
Bottomline is, when you arent a victim anymore, when you arent a minority and you're not oppressed by anyone other than yourselves...who will you blame then? God?
Get over yourselves.
"We helped you, now you help us!" I voted for him too...Help yourselves! My imigrant ancestors came here from Ireland and Poland. They learned the language, they work their asses off, and they never asked the president for a hand-out! They stuck together and pulled themselves up! He doesn't owe you sh*t!!! Help yourself! This country would go broke helping you!!! What happenes when you do take over as the dominate race of the U.S.? Where will you run to next for a hand out? You left your countries instead of standing up to the tyranny you faced there! I kind of like Mitts Idea better even though I voted for Barry...Help yourself or help yourself to the F*cking door!!!! Press 2 to speak to someone who gives a Sh...
Yes I know that there are spelling errors!
The President and Congress needs to give us hand ups and NOT hand outs. Please Mr. President, don't treat us like you and your fellow Democrats have treated the Black Community. Hand Ups only. I don't want to be enslaved and dependent on the feds. I want to start my own business. Give me a chance to succeed.
^^ Real America talking there... We cant argue with them because we aren't "real americans" I guess we just dont have the morality or the knowledge they have gained while watching fox news from their trailor parks.
What help do the Hispanics need?
They're already using up a @!$%# load of tax payer resources...
They aren't using any more tax payer resources than any other ethnic group.
What the hell else does this country have to do for these "water wadders"?? They get across the river and everything is free, paid for by working Americans...
Well I guess we cant respond with a sufficient statement to that. We aren't "real american" enough to comprehend what he's saying.
EddieF,
You really don't come to the table with much do you? Your just a pot-stir!
whats the point, thats what hes doing dr821... why rationalize with the irrational.
eddie (really is) fiction: 'Bammy-Boy' allready helps 'them' every single day by blocking states triing to PROTECT themselves from southern GANG/THUGS! The rest of 'us' can throw YOU in with 'them' on a south-bound bus!!
You realize you are talking about your fellow American citizens, how can you say you love America if you don't love all of America. Some hispanic families have lived here longer than this was even a country.
The Latinos in our country are lucky to be here and do not garner any more special favor than the rest of America. If they dont like it they can leave. America has plenty of bigger fish to fry.
Would you care to clarify that? You may as well just say anyone who is brow is lucky to be here. There are hispanic families that have lived here for centuries, when did your ancestors get here?
There were not that many Mexicans living in America when it was first being settled. A lot of Mexicans just like to claim that their ancestors were here before white people. Just like a lot of people like to claim they have some Indian in them. I work on geneaology and a lot of those claims are just tales in the family that mostly are not true. BTW, my family has been here since the 1600s, as near as I can determine. Records start getting scarce the further back you go.
LMAO, It is documented history. Spain began colonization in the mid to late 1500s, James town wasn't founded until 1607. The United States annexed all or part of New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming with the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, all of which were occupied by Mexicans.
http://www.pbs.org/kpbs/theborder/history/timeline/6.html
US Fiscal Cliff affects the World Call both of these Senators they are doing what they did for the last 4 years.
Put the PRESSURE ON the GOP anyway you can..In your local area if you have Republicans in office ,call them,write them..The Presidents NEEDS OUR HELP. There are 2 MAJOR Obstructionist Mitch McConnell & John Boehner , they have sold out to the Lobbyist,Koch Brothers,Rove and that's their CASH COWS! Remember Donald Trump said "We Should Start a Revolution" he was not saying a physical fight, HE was Talking about Financial REVOLUTION! And they do have the financial power to disrupt the PRESIDENTS GREAT Plan and to hurt the middle class/working poor financially until we accept their view points which with your help .PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY, the PRESIDENT STILL NEEDS OUR HELP!Call them (202) 225-0600 or202 224-2541 or 502 582-6304