Ron Paul Won't 'Kow Tow' to Latino Vote

[OV Man]

What do you think? Is this the right move politically?

Ron Paul has a reputation for saying what he thinks regardless of the expectations of his audience. This was on full display when he appeared on a Spanish-language news program. During an interview on Univision's "Al Punto" on Sunday, the Republican presidential candidate said he is against a special route to citizenship for illegal immigrants, many of them from Mexico.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/politics/2012-election/ron-paul-i-wont-kowtow-latino-vote

[Philhelm]

Ron Paul has a reputation for saying what he thinks regardless of the expectations of his audience.

That's one of the things I respect most about Ron Paul

I work in an immigration law firm, and see the fees that clients have to pay to the government (not to mention legal fees). American citizens can't even legally bring in a spouse without paying. So, should illegal immigrants get amnesty while American citizens can't freely marry without hassle?

[Rael]

It shows he is the only candidate who is actually different.

[The Free Hornet]

I think it is spin bordering on libel for them to have printed the title, "Ron Paul: I Won't 'Kowtow' for Latino Vote". The quote, best as I can hear it is:


For me to think that I have to have a different message for Hispanics than I do for other people is unnecessary. Hispanics have as much interest in freedom as everybody else so to say that I have to "kowtow" in a sense is saying, "Well, the only way you can get a vote for any special group - you know - is by giving special privileges". I don't want to punish anybody because they belong to a group, but nobody should get a special privilege either.

Interviewer Ramos is oddly silent regarding the drug war which Ron Paul clearly states is responsible for the 40,000 cartel-related death in recent years. Ramos had tried to spin these deaths as resulting from, being caused by US arms (he attributes the sentiment to former President Fox). And Ramos did not blame the gunrunner scandal. Maybe that is how the drug war issue is spun by some, "it is not prohibition of drugs that is the problem but a need for even more prohibitions but on arms".

For what it is worth, the interviewer had asked Ron SPECIFICALLY how he was going to get 35% of the Hispanic vote. Ramos, asked how Ron Paul would - in essense - kowtow. Kowtow is an OK but not perfect description of what Ramos was asking:

http://www.google.com/search?q=define+kowtow&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial&client=firefox-a



Kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in worship or submission as part of Chinese custom.
Act in an excessively subservient manner.




Ramos had also presumed - with zero evidence - that Hispanics disagree with Ron's positions. I doubt this. Ron Paul clearly stated offering a path to "work permits" - not citizenship and securing the borders. I do not know that birth-right citizenship is all that important but it would be Congressional issue (I assume). My 'zero evidence' belief is that most would be happy with work permits which would also give them the opportunity and time (and money) to go through the same channels as everyone else.

I don't doubt some would want more but the realists would have to see that Obama gave them nothing.

This version of the story has GREAT Ron Paul comments:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/ron-paul-im-not-going-to-kowtow-to-the-latino-vote/

This other version, not so much,
http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/10/ron-paul-i-wont-kowtow-to-hispanic-voters/

Ron Paul was clearly talking about treating everyone equally. Anyone who spins it otherwise is a liar.

[ZanZibar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9i6RnbpTUY