Republican Meg Whitman's campaign has been touting public opinion polls that show Democrat Jerry Brown "underperforming" among Latino voters. Latinos have always been a big part of Brown's political base, and will be crucial for him if he's going to put together the coalition he needs to win the governorship in November.
Whitman has been aggressively courting Latino voters since winning the GOP nomination in June -- after pivoting from her "tough-as-nails" position on illegal immigration in the primary. Her current immigration position seems to be that everyone can get along.
Whitman figures that every Latino vote she takes from Brown gets her closer to victory in November. 
Her campaign says she will demonstrate to Latinos, as well as other voters, that her plan for restoring California will be good for eveyone.
Whitman spokesman Hector Barajas points to a SurveyUSA poll that shows Brown leading Whitman 52% to 40% among Latinos and a Field Poll that shows him ahead 50-39. Brown must do much better among Latinos to win the race, he said.
Brown's campaign counters that the polls Whitman cite still show Brown way ahead of her among Latino voters. In addition, Brown spokesman Sterling Clifford says a poll by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials shows Brown ahead 49-15. (Barajas said the NALEO poll is from June, which was before Whitman began her Spanish-language ads. He said it is evidence that Brown's support among Latinos is fading.)
Jerry Brown doesn't have a problem among Latino voters, Clfford said, but Whtiman does because of her "shape-shifting" position on immigration issues. She's been on every side of the immigration issue, depending on which voters she's courting at the moment.
Barajas said Brown is taking Latino voters for granted and they can't be counted on to support him just because he "shows a picture of him with Cesar Chavez."
"Jerry Brown won't even commit to debate in Fresno in a Spanish-language format," Barajas said. "This is a vote a candidate can't buy, nor one that a candidate can ignore. . . He's acting as though he believes that he has the Latino vote in his back pocket."
We all have a latino problem when we are the minority and our politicians need to go after the latino vote to win. We are not California anymore or America. We are Mexico and the latinos are calling the shots.
That last comment was racist and even worse, amazingly ignorant. Guess what? ONLY AMERICANS can vote here, you moron! It's people like that last commentor who illustrate that by continuing slash-and-burn governmental Bush policies with Whitman we will have more gutting of public education, thereby more dumbing down of the electorate, creating more idiots like this who will vote against their own self interests. Thus the corporations will have completed their bloodless coup in California without most of those idiots even noticing.
"ONLY AMERICANS can vote here, you moron!"
Now who is displaying their ignorance?
To the previous two commentors I not a racist or a moron but they seem to know the word very well so perhaps it is they that are morons. Not once did I say I was referring to illegals because I know they cant vote. The illegals do influence the vote through family and friends. If you havent seen all the protests they are not only illegals. They want to come here then change America from evertything it was founded on when they could be expending the same energy in their own countries to change. Brown never did anything good before and has no plan to do it now. Im not gonna further defend my rights to say or think as I do to those of you that think you know everything and can only attack others because you have nothing valuable to say.
Jackie-
I hope you realize you've just had a "Dr. Laura" moment courtesy of "Janet". Unfortunately, Dr Laura is leaving- I hope you stay.
Jim,
Don't buy the Whitman campaign's spin.
She hired former Governor Pete Wilson (of Prop. 187 infamy) to lead her campaign...
Link: http://bit.ly/bj8Fne
...supported the goals of Proposition 187 in her “Tough as Nails” radio ad.
Link: http://youtu.be/jVheLuooLUw
...supported the round-up and prosecution of California’s undocumented population...
Link: http://bit.ly/czcQSK
...and was criticized by the Sacramento Bee for her immigrant bashing during the GOP Primary.
Link: http://bit.ly/9o7K5w
Now Meg Whitman is trying to deceive Latino voters into thinking she’s a friend. Whitman is spending millions of dollars in double talk ads and billboards.
But according to recent public polls, Latinos are not buying what she's been trying to sell them.
The PPIC poll shows Brown leading Whitman by 24 points (42 to 18) and the PPP poll shows Brown leading Whitman by 22 points (50 to 28).
PPIC Link: http://bit.ly/aKveKZ
PPP Link: http://bit.ly/drTYc5
As political reporter Steve Harmon recently noted, Meg Whitman’s “…ramped-up attempt to appeal to Latino voters has not yet paid dividends.”
Link: http://bit.ly/cfe4xm
If there is ANY candidate with "a Latino problem" in the race for Governor, it's Meg Whitman.
Nick Velasquez
Brown for Governor 2010
Brown is quite frugal in just about everything he does and was with tax dollars when he was Governor. Almost 2 million jobs were created during his term as Governor.
Whitman just spent $70,000,000 to win a primary for God's sake, Brown spent about $450,000 to win his. Whitman spent over $45 a vote, Brown spent less than 23 cents. She is almost out of money and Brown has over $20 million left. Whose got the voters behind them?
Hispanics vote all over the spectrum like any other group and probably will become as much Republican as Democrat if the Republican party ever gets a leash on conservatives that express views that are xenophobic to say the least.
Asking who is going to get the so-called 'Hispanic vote' implies a uniformity that doesn't simply doesn't exist. I believe that a lot of conservative Hispanics want to go with the Republicans but as soon as they hear how many of them feel about non-whites they get turned off.
Whitman's tough talk to win the primary and nice talk to win the election isn't going to fly well. It shows that she will do anything for votes and voting is something she just doesn't know much about. Having a previous job as CEO is very different from having to reach a consensus with opposing sides. She can't just fire people that she disagrees with. Finish that off with proposing tax cuts for herself and other extremely wealthy people tops off the cake. Oh wait, she worked with Goldman Sachs on compensation issues, I almost forgot.
The problem is, when you consider the choice between Whitman and Brown, you are choosing the lesser of two evils - and that is not a choice! Why does anyone want to elect the same failed mentality that we have throughout ALL of our politics? Make a difference - vote for Chelene Nightingale for governor of California, and make a POSITIVE DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!
Jackie,
I was quoting Janet and responding to her, not agreeing with her assessment of your comment. My point was that it is ignorant to think that only American citizens vote in our elections.
All I had to do was read your first paragraph to know you are an idiot. Who was Brown going up against in the primary? No one!! He won the primary when he announced his bid for governor!Therefore he did not have to spend any money. Lets not forget that Whitman was almost tied with Poizner about a month before the primary election and had to dump a huge chunk of her change to win. Also, she has poured quite a bit into reaching out to the Latino community. Lastly, she has raised close to the same amount she has spent so she is practically breaking even. Know what you are talking about before you spew your garbage out online.
Logan -
- All I had to do was read your first paragraph to know you are an idiot.
He WAS frugal and jobs were created. And you obviously don't have the faintest idea how to have a civil conversation.
- He won the primary when he announced his bid for governor!
Yes, he has a lot of support already at the mere mention of his running. The Republicans are much more divided. Thanks for making my point.
- Lastly, she has raised close to the same amount she has spent so she is practically breaking even.
Which means she has little money as I pointed out. Breaking even when you haven't even gotten into the back stretch isn't as good as having the funds to work with, it indicates to me inadequate planning and poor use of resources.
- Know what you are talking about before you spew your garbage out online.
I did, thanks.
It's not up to you to decide whether or not I post here. I am curious, can you add any constructive thoughts to this online forum or do you truly believe anger and insults are better than communication and ideas to help solve America's serious problems? We need to work together as much as possible, no one point of view will dominate the political scene for long, we always swing back and forth.
Jerry Brown is a democrat and a former governor. He thinks he has it made in the shade here in deep blue California and need do nothing more than exist.
It's always despicable when politicians pander, regardless of who they're pandering too.
BTW, anyone who believes anything any campaigning politician says is too stupid to vote.
What is so hard about this vote, Jerry you win. Who want's another Arnold
i laugh at every Meg Whitman commercial where she says she'll do this and do that.
I wouldn't vote for Mug Whitman, even if they offered to pay me. It was funny how both her and Poizner were trying to outdo each other.
There is a problem with illegals. However, there is also a benefit to illegals. There's a way you can get the best of both worlds, without endorsing Soviet quasi laws. Create a guest worker program; you reap the benefit of cheap labor and keep America competetive with the rest of the world, and Mexicans get to go back to their country. Believe me, most would prefer to go back, but with the beefed up border, they arent able to go back and forth like they used to back in the 80's and prior.
Jerry Brown doesn't have a Latino problem.
I roll on the flkoor laughing everytime I see the one where Brown says we need a plan and He didsnt have one then or now.
The funniest part is that he is most likely to be our next governor, again! You'll really laugh then!
Even money.
It might be funnier if Brown wins! Meg has less support numbers wise now, it will be interesting to see what really happens in the fall.
im latino and there is no way im voting for that to faced lying *****. she's there for one reason her own financial gain, know one spends over 100 million dollars to only make a little over 200 hundred thousand a year. like arnold she doesnt need the money and we seen the great job he did. one more check mark for her bucket list. dont make the same mistake three times. arnold twice and meg once. meg not at all. she has no experience in polotics thats why she has pete wilson, were just getting done with pete with the last eight years. and he didnt do much when he himself was in office.
I vote for Jerry Brown. If Jerry Brown is elected the Democratting of California will be complete. That will be shortly followed by the Obamafication of the state which will result in a dispatch of liberalism for a time. If Whitman gets elected she'll be no different than the Democrats and the Democrats can always point to a Republican (RINO) to blame. If Brown is elected, the Democrats will have no one but themselves to blame.
Jerry Brown is a clown. Go Whitman!
I've got to buy the spin, cause Jerry Brown will never be an option for me....
Meg Whitman's commercial which she plays relentlessly with that small sound bite from Jerry Brown saying he did not have a plan seems similar to the highly edited tape that was used to malign Shirley Sherrod and completely reverse the true meaning of her entire speech. I'd love to hear the full context of Brown's comments. But it shows the lows of misleading politics that Whitman and her cohort Pete Wilson are willing to go to. It is up to us as reasonable people to not fall for these political ploys.
Joe Im not going anywhere. Im entitled to my opinions like anyone else and Janet calling me a moron only shows that she has nothing of value to say.
Brown has been in politics since kindergarten and still doesn'nt have a clue. He has'nt done anything to make the vstate better and wont if he gets elected governor again. Hes just a power hungry look at me kinda of a politician. I'd rather take my chances with Meg. I don't believe she could do worse than our current administration that just rolls over and lets people rub his belly. Brown is the yuou scrtsatch my back Ill give you anything you want guy.
Can you point to any evidence that non-citizens are voting in our elections? If you can't, then it's not ignorant to think that only American citizens vote in our elections. And in that case, it would be ignorant to think that non-citizens are voting in our elections.
What do you know Joe, I agree with you for once!
Mike-
Well, if that's possible I can't wait to see what else can happen. ;)
The Republicans are so funny, when the economy is good you say let’s all celebrate “Cinco de Mayo, my brothers” but when the economy is down “it’s all your fault, you damn immigrant”. When most Americans (with Latin America roots) go to the polls this November we will remember that the GOP has gone on a nationwide rant in proposing and passing several anti-immigration legislation and have continue to blame the immigrant for the flat economy or worse. We will remember who stands with us and who stands against us, so trying to stop it now is somewhat funny, but go ahead, you will not change our minds. Is does not help that the GOP has recently attacked the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Your hate made you do it, in November; you will reap what you have sown.
Actually, I don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo when the economy is good or bad. If Latinos vote en masse against Republicans because Republicans simply wish to enforce the nation's immigration laws, that reflects poorly on Latinos, not Republicans. You write that Latinos will remember who stands with "us"; presumably that means La Raza, whether here legally or not. When my ancestors came to this country, they chose to assimilate and become Americans (and not hyphenated ones at that); to them, "us" or "we" meant Americans. Apparently you and too many or your fellow Latinos and Latinas (not all certainly) do not wish to assimilate and put America first.
This "Chelene Nightingale for governor" constitution party, is one devious woman. I took some advise and googled "Chelene Nightingale Minutemen" and found so many articles written about her radical ties with skinheads, lawsuits, murder..it was appalling to say the least. I also saw online bankruptcy filings from her decalring she was insolvant, (why would anyone back someone with this background?) I think I know, this group of thieves..collect campaign donations, and use the money for personal use. Its the oldest trick in the book. Read about how she bankrupted a 501c non-profit group as well. Dear people, this is one crook whose only place in CA should be behind a locked cell.
Not only Latino immigrants will vote against GOP. People from all over the world are outraged with GOP. Most GOP members are undereducated old farts who are stuck in history 50 years ago. They are like 5th wheel, it is time to vote them out.
My name is Ramesh Kumar. I wish both Meg and Jerry a healthy dialogue, and run for the election. I admire Meg for her entrepreneurship qualities, and would suggest that she turn to India's IT firms for its solution to all of California's problems. India can design a database to that will streamline many different processes. In fact, India can run DMV system, prison system, and highway traffic lights from our technology hub in Bangalore. In the meantime, you dumb white americans can go back to channel surfing your pornos, and blaming latinos for all your problems. In a matter of time India will be ruling over all you ignoramuses.
Mr. Kumar, you were so much nicer in Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle.
Mr. Kumar with that kind of attitude it's no wonder why Pakistan wnats to blow-up India.
Seamus: The most outrageous racial profile law was AZ SB1070, the one that failed in our US Courts that the proponents claimed was Constitutional. The current GOP/Tea Party wants to decide for you when they will apply the Constitution in the bent minds. Considering that all the numbers of crime are down (even ex-governor Janet Napolitano agrees).
So we have Brewer signing a bill (that she probably did not even read), lying about the crime rates in AZ, and now we find out that she is in the pockets of PRIVATE PRISONS who stand to benefit with the increase Federal jailing.
So quit lying, with your pathelic rhetoric, stand up and be men, no, no I am sorry your leaders are now just Birthers, Baggers and Blowhards and will contine to take the GOP towards obscurity because they are no longer a party of ideas, just of empty suits. Good bye, fawell….
snicker
Benito where do you get your information from. Isn't it undisputed that Arizona has the highest rate of kidnapping in the nation, and that is directly related to the illegal drug trafficing caused by the unsecured border? In addition, the final verdict on the 1070 is not yet rendered. You have one judge, but appeals will follow. Furthermore the law simply followed federal law, it is not racial profiling at all. You say Brewer probably did not read the law, without having any facts to support your claim. Unlike the admissions made by Congress and Obama that they never read the health care bill before it was voted on and signed into law. Yes there is some seious "pathelic rhetoric" going on here but it is by you not Seamus.
All valid points Twainsmark. Benito, I understand overall crime is down in Arizona. Brewer should not have played the crime card as much as she did. However, whether crime is up or down in Arizona is irrelevant to me. There are a lot of other public policy reasons for enforcing the immigration laws. Moreover, as an even more fundamental point, our immigration laws ought to be enforced; otherwise, why have them? I and a majority of Americans want our immigration laws enforced, period.
The more important question is why you and too many of your fellow Hispanics do not want the immigration laws enforced. It appears to me you and your compadres basically want an open border (with Mexico at least; I doubt you would be so passionate about the issue if our Canadian border was so porous). Could it be that La Raza trumps our laws and sovereignty in your mind (and in the minds of a large portion of our ever-increasing Mexican-American population)? If so, that is very troubling, and does not bode well for the future, at least for California and the southwestern states.
In the last four months Jan Brewer has been caught lying, three times and counting.
The comments made on June 16, 2010, and June 27, 2010, clearly indicates that the Brewer says that immigrants are beheading people in the United States desert. She first ran away from the question and the press when confronted with the question. She finally when to FOX/ FAKE News to recant her lie.
When Brewer was confronted with the fact the two of her top Advisors (Paul Senseman, Chuck Coughlin) are lobbyist for “Private Prisons” giant CCA she first ran away from the question and the press.
In an attempt to gain sympathy, she first said her father had died in Germany fighting the Nazi in World War II (which ended 1945) but of course we find out the truth that her father was never in Germany and died in California in 1955. Do you see a trend here?
Brewer signed into law SB 1070 Bill (Did she even read it?), lied about the crime rates in AZ (even Janet Napolitano knows that all crimes rates went down), and now we find out that she is in the pockets of PRIVATE PRISONS who stand to benefit with the increase Federal jailing, and thus they will pay her back, I wonder if it has to do anything about the fact that her son was transferred to a brand new prison, he was convicted for rape and sexual assault, I guess the fruit does not fall far the tree.
“Private Prisons Lie”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMcgXxzcBeY
“AZ Crime Rates”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eb4mMk6XgQ
“Father Lie”
http://vodpod.com/watch/3771595-charles-krauthammer-rips-jan-brewer-for-lying-about-her-father-dying-in-ww2
Yes, lately Jan Brewer is hardly distinguishing herself (at least in a positive way). However, that has nothing to do with the merits of SB 1070. Moreover, it is apparent that you do not want the nation's immigration laws enforced on the southern border because the ultimate goal of you and your ilk is to recapture land lost as a result of the Mexican-American war.
Re: "He [Brown] thinks he has it made in the shade here in deep blue California and need do nothing more than exist."
That's nonsense. Brown goes out and campaigns everyday. He communicates with voters and with the press. He just doesn't have 100 million dollars to buy ads.
Whitman avoids the press and avoids taking any questions from voters and just lets her ads, which are full of lies and distortions, speak for her. It's sad that to some voters campaigning just means running ads that are full of lies.
I really hope Brown wins. California cannot take another incompetent Governor like Arnold, which is what Whitman will be.
Jerry Brown is the moron. He was known in his previous governorship as moonbeam in case any of you have forgotten. This latest rouse by Gloria Allred and Meg Whitman's former employer is such a political ploy it's sickening. This isn't California anymore it's Mexifornia and anyone who disagrees is also a moron. They've ruined and corrupted this country as they've ruined their own. Call me what you want, racist I could care less. Face the facts. Gangs, north and south should just face off and start shooting. At least they would know who they are killing rather than taking the coward's way and just drive by and taking out the innocents. The whole thing sickens me and to think that our own government is suing one of our States of the Union with the endorsement of our so called president is off campaigning in another state tells all. He is the biggest moron of all. No, don't get me started. I don't expect any support this opinion, it's too controversial.