Can Republicans Say "Viva Cuba Libre" Anymore? Republicans and The Hispanic Vote

Pretty depressing article from the Washington Post on Republicans and the Hispanic Vote. I know this is a touchy issue among Republicans and conservatives but it is not going away?

I have been screaming what this article says right here all year long:
I have never seen an issue where the short-term interests of Republican presidential candidates in the primaries were more starkly at odds with the long-term interests of the party itself. At least five swing states that Bush carried in 2004 are rich in Hispanic voters -- Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Florida. Bush won Nevada by just over 20,000 votes. A substantial shift of Hispanic voters toward the Democrats in these states could make the national political map unwinnable for Republicans.

Let me say he is not just whistling Dixie there. This is a real problem.

The fact is that this did not have to occur. I find many Hispanic voters are actually for a lot of common sense hard line regulations. They are against illegal immigration, in California many did not support the "delete the border" crowd ballot proposals. The problem is they wanted some sane humane workable solution to the people that are here illegally right now.

Goper's that want to win have got to convince Hispanic voters that their promise of Security First , then legalization when the border is secure is just not BS. That in fact the goal post will not just be moved again and regularization of status will never happen. I truly think Huckabee is ready to deal with the regularization issue once he can convince the American people the border is more secure. However, he nor any other GOPER , will get into the White House unless they can convince the hispanic community that they are sincere on dealing with some form of legalization down the line.

Again this is not scare tactics. I have friends that work in the GOP office and seen the internal dynamic in these states. It is troublesome.

Anywho. Go to GOP Will Lose Congress In ‘08 Due To Their Immigration Hypochondriacs and see AJ's take on the article.

Also I would strongly recommend that all GOP folks strongly support the National Hispanic Republican Assembly this year. They need all the help they can get.