“Tequila Party” sounds like somebody’s been drinking too much

"Tequila Party" could take on a new meaning ...

On the one hand, it is encouraging to hear of Latino activists realizing the need to gain more influence within electoral politics and the current governmental structure in order to make the changes in our society that are so desperately needed.

But when I read accounts such as the one published in the Las Vegas Sun newspaper where activists are contemplating the creation of a new organization (which, in mocking the Tea Party activists, is tentatively being called the Tequila party), I have to wonder who is getting delusional.

IN SHORT, WHO has been downing too many shots at Tequila parties.

I get my giggles from the Tea Party types who get so worked up in their rhetoric that it becomes all too apparent they live in their own little worlds, and their anger about our society is because they are misfits. The more extremist of those Tea Party types are un-electable, and they will be the reason that movement’s future is limited.

They’ll either assimilate, or die off. Either fate is fine with me.



... if some Latino activists get their way.

But when it comes to the growing Latino population, I’d hate to think of our political future falling into the same fate.



I HONESTLY BELIEVE that if a significant number of Latino activists persist with talk of splitting off into our own future, all that would happen is that we isolate ourselves to the point where we get nothing.



In fact, I can’t help but think that the more rabid Tea Party types would like that idea. A part of me wonders if it is Tea Party types who are trying to put up Latinos into spewing such nonsense-talk.

For better or worse, we have two established political parties in our government. The goals of our ethnic brethren are best served by working to gain as much influence within those two parties as is possible.

I have no desire to back some political entity that has the feel of H. Ross Perot – only with a light-brown complexion and an occasional word of Spanish thrown into the mix.

BECAUSE THAT IS what I truly think of the sound of a “Tequila Party.” It would be as loopy and irrational as anything spewed by that Texas billionaire back during his presidential bids of 1992 and ’96.

About the only thing I can understand about these people talking about Tequila Parties is their level of discontent with the two established parties – a Republican Party that is so intent these days of gaining the nativist vote that it seems to openly encourage the use of Latinos as a political punching bag.

That is the only reason such large percentages of Latinos vote for Democrats – it’s purely by default. Too many Latino activists see Democratic officials who seem too scared to challenge the GOP partisans on any issue that remotely impacts Latinos in a positive manner.

In campaigning in the month prior to the November 2010 elections, President Barack Obama tried appealing to Latino voters on the grounds that a Republican-influenced federal government would be blatantly hostile toward our interests.



IN A SENSE, he is correct. Just consider that in Indiana, Tea Party types are seriously considering a challenge to long-time Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., because they’re offended that he doesn’t share their opposition to the DREAM Act.



LUGAR: Upsetting his "allies?"

He is committing the cardinal sin, in their mini-minds, of trying to get Republicans to support the measure that would allow for eventual citizenship for young people who complete a college education or serve honorably in the U.S. military.

We know that many Republican officials these days are not our allies. Although I say the way to deal with that is through our numbers who persist in voting for the GOP.

The more Latinos who consider themselves Republican would mean increased exposure. Just like more political pressure from those who are Democrats is what it will take to get party officials there to get off their collective duffs.

IN SHORT, WE need to increase our numbers within the two established parties to become a serious part of them. We need to kick the door down to the establishment so we can get in. Isolating ourselves would give the government officials all the more reason to ignore us, while also providing a stupid punch line for their gags.

Tequila Party? Please!

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