DALLAS -- Many Latinos have become disgruntled with both political parties and I can easily see why. One ignores us while the other seems intent on driving us away. The last straw was when Democrats flunked immigration reform then tried to fool Latinos into thinking Republicans were to blame -- an easy trick to pull off given how often the GOP flirts with nativism.
Now I hear from people in their 20s who in their disillusionment are pining for something that had its heyday before they were born: the Raza Unida Party.
Founded on Jan. 17 1970 in Crystal City Texas Raza Unida held a binational nominating convention in 1972 in El Paso Texas and Juarez Mexico. At one point it was operating in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Its goal: to elect Latinos to office.
I wondered what the veteranos who lived through that history make of this renaissance for radicals. So I went to the source: Raza Unida co-founder Jose Angel Gutierrez a 66-year-old attorney and university professor who lives in Dallas. During the Chicano movement of the 1970s Gutierrez was mentioned as one of the big four of Latino leaders -- along with Cesar Chavez in California Rodolfo Corky Gonzales in Colorado and Reies Tijerina in New Mexico.
Gutierrez and I are now friends but our relationship got off to a rocky start. The first time we locked horns was on a public affairs television show in Dallas about 10 years ago. I made a snarky comment about how while his generation of Latinos had the benefit of experience they also carried baggage since all the experiences are bad.
Gutierrez glared at me. And then on air he put me in check for my rudeness.
Its too bad the (Texas) Rangers arent here he said. Because what you need is a good a -- whuppin.
Still what makes us kindred spirits is that we both know what its like to make our fellow Latinos uncomfortable by saying what they dont want to hear.
I asked Gutierrez what he thought about a new generation of Latinos romanticizing the third party he helped to build. He said it all made sense given the original principle behind Raza Unida.
The legacy of the Raza Unida Party is the concept of independent thought and that we can speak for ourselves he said. No ventriloquist needed.
The people who flocked to that movement felt that both parties had failed them. But when the party was over most of the Raza Unida faithful loyally folded into the Democratic Party -- where they faded into the wallpaper.
When I asked Gutierrez about gains by Hispanic Republicans in the midterm elections he agreed that the GOP was making a play for Latino voters. He mentioned how 34-year-old George P. Bush -- son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and his Mexican-born wife Columba -- is heading up Hispanic Republicans of Texas a political action committee whose goal is to elect more Hispanic Republicans in Texas.
Look at the little brown one Gutierrez joked invoking a phrase that George H.W. Bush once used to describe his half-Mexican grandchildren. Why is he (George P.) invested in that? Why isnt he out there with the other Bushies?
These days Gutierrezs hobbies include tweaking nativists with provocative comments about how Anglos are losing sleep over the browning of the United States.
They think this is a white country he said. And when someone says the opposite then thats the demon.
Speaking of fear one wonders what Gutierrez finds frightening. Answer: The tea party movement.
Its kind of scary he said. They hate everyone.
Back in the day those at the bottom knew what they were angry about -- and at whom to direct that anger.
Today its more like a shotgun effect anger for angers sake. This might get you some attention. It might even get you elected to a few offices. But in the end it wont get you very far.
Neither will apathy. Thats the danger for Latinos given the shoddy treatment they receive from both parties.
Republicans dont have to pay attention to us because we dont give them anything Gutierrez said. And Democrats dont pay attention to us because we have no other options.
Well we dont have many options anymore. But once upon a time thanks to people like Jose Angel Gutierrez we did.
Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a syndicated columnist. He can be contacted at (202) 334-6375 or ruben@rubennavarrette.com.
DALLAS -- Many Latinos have become disgruntled with both political parties and I can easily see why. One ignores us while the other seems intent on driving us away. The last straw was when Democrats flunked immigration reform then tried to fool Latinos into thinking Republicans were to blame -- an easy trick to pull off given how often the GOP flirts with nativism.
Now I hear from people in their 20s who in their disillusionment are pining for something that had its heyday before they were born: the Raza Unida Party.
Founded on Jan. 17 1970 in Crystal City Texas Raza Unida held a binational nominating convention in 1972 in El Paso Texas and Juarez Mexico. At one point it was operating in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Its goal: to elect Latinos to office.
I wondered what the veteranos who lived through that history make of this renaissance for radicals. So I went to the source: Raza Unida co-founder Jose Angel Gutierrez a 66-year-old attorney and university professor who lives in Dallas. During the Chicano movement of the 1970s Gutierrez was mentioned as one of the big four of Latino leaders -- along with Cesar Chavez in California Rodolfo Corky Gonzales in Colorado and Reies Tijerina in New Mexico.
Gutierrez and I are now friends but our relationship got off to a rocky start. The first time we locked horns was on a public affairs television show in Dallas about 10 years ago. I made a snarky comment about how while his generation of Latinos had the benefit of experience they also carried baggage since all the experiences are bad.
Gutierrez glared at me. And then on air he put me in check for my rudeness.
Its too bad the (Texas) Rangers arent here he said. Because what you need is a good a -- whuppin.
Still what makes us kindred spirits is that we both know what its like to make our fellow Latinos uncomfortable by saying what they dont want to hear.
I asked Gutierrez what he thought about a new generation of Latinos romanticizing the third party he helped to build. He said it all made sense given the original principle behind Raza Unida.
The legacy of the Raza Unida Party is the concept of independent thought and that we can speak for ourselves he said. No ventriloquist needed.
The people who flocked to that movement felt that both parties had failed them. But when the party was over most of the Raza Unida faithful loyally folded into the Democratic Party -- where they faded into the wallpaper.
When I asked Gutierrez about gains by Hispanic Republicans in the midterm elections he agreed that the GOP was making a play for Latino voters. He mentioned how 34-year-old George P. Bush -- son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and his Mexican-born wife Columba -- is heading up Hispanic Republicans of Texas a political action committee whose goal is to elect more Hispanic Republicans in Texas.
Look at the little brown one Gutierrez joked invoking a phrase that George H.W. Bush once used to describe his half-Mexican grandchildren. Why is he (George P.) invested in that? Why isnt he out there with the other Bushies?
These days Gutierrezs hobbies include tweaking nativists with provocative comments about how Anglos are losing sleep over the browning of the United States.
They think this is a white country he said. And when someone says the opposite then thats the demon.
Speaking of fear one wonders what Gutierrez finds frightening. Answer: The tea party movement.
Its kind of scary he said. They hate everyone.
Back in the day those at the bottom knew what they were angry about -- and at whom to direct that anger.
Today its more like a shotgun effect anger for angers sake. This might get you some attention. It might even get you elected to a few offices. But in the end it wont get you very far.
Neither will apathy. Thats the danger for Latinos given the shoddy treatment they receive from both parties.
Republicans dont have to pay attention to us because we dont give them anything Gutierrez said. And Democrats dont pay attention to us because we have no other options.
Well we dont have many options anymore. But once upon a time thanks to people like Jose Angel Gutierrez we did.
Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a syndicated columnist. He can be contacted at (202) 334-6375 or ruben@rubennavarrette.com.
