NOTICIAS de LATINO: We have our cranky old men too

I can’t say I’m surprised to learn that some Latinos are finding an appeal in the Tea Party movement – we have our share of cranky viejos who want to be perceived at all costs as part of the establishment, instead of being with the people fighting it.

I also know there are those among us (particularly an older generation) whose views on many social issues aren’t too enlightened.

SO I DON’T consider it some bizarre move that a person of Mexican ethnic origins (albeit several generations back) is the head of the Tea Party “chapter” that exists in San Antonio, Texas. Heck, San Antonio is so overwhelmingly Latino that I’d be surprised if they DIDN’T have a Latino leader.

That is the case with George Rodriguez, who earlier this week was named president of the local chapter of people looking to provoke a political battle with the Democratic establishment (and the Republicans too, if they won’t comply with their strict ideological demands on many issues).

I do get a kick out of the chapter’s logo, which incorporates the Gadsden Flag’s snake wrapped around The Alamo. I also noticed that Rodriguez was the head of the Juan Seguin Society – which commemorates one of the Tejano fighters against Mexico, who eventually had to flee an “independent” Texas to head back to what was left of Mexico after the white settlers became hostile toward the “natives.”

Which is what I honestly think will happen to Latinos who get mixed up in Tea Party-type groups across this country. They will be used for political cover in the early days, then discarded when the ideologues no longer want to be bothered with these people they think should not be allowed to think of themselves as belonging in this country.

SO WHILE I’LL agree with Rodriguez’ statement (published on his Tea Party chapter’s website) that many Latinos, “are naturally conservative,” I’m not sure that translates into many of my ethnic brethren signing on with the GOP. It ought to, but the hostility expressed by many of these types will scare them away. Democrats by default, is the reality of today.

Now I have never met Rodriguez. I have some relatives who live in San Antonio, but to the best of my knowledge, they don’t know him personally either. But when the day comes that these Tea Party types decide they don’t particularly want Latinos on their side, I will join many others in welcoming back Rodriguez to our ranks.

At the very least, I suspect if we ever did meet, it would turn into a serious afternoon of arguing over issues. Which might be a pleasant challenge, since life would truly be boring if we all looked and thought alike.

What other items of interest to the growing Latino population were worthy of note?

GIVE IT UP, YOU WON ALREADY:  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., seems a little too eager to surround himself with people who love him, really, really love him.

For Reid on Thursday made a trip to Rancho High School in Las Vegas. That is where Reid’s opponent in last year’s election cycle got herself the negative press that did her in as an anti-Latino nincompoop when she managed to offend a group of Latino students.

Reid went to the high school to speak to those same students who are members of the Hispanic Student Union, some of whom responded to Sharron Angle’s comments by volunteering to work for the Reid re-election campaign – which he barely won.

Yes, these students want another go in Congress this year at the DREAM Act, although Reid went out of his way to avoid promising anything.

IS THE BURGER KING HOLDING BACK A LATINO-THEMED BUSINESS?:  Carrols Restaurant Group has plans this year to spin off its Hispanic Businesses division, which operates franchises of the Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana fast-food restaurants.

Those companies had combined revenue of $439.1 million last year, according to the Reuters wire service, and sales during the fourth quarter of last year rose 10.7 percent and 2.3 percent respectively.

So why make the split? It seems the company also owns over 300 franchises of the Burger King fast-food brand. Those sales fell by 6.1 percent during the same quarter, and some speculation is that the split is to prevent Burger King’s decline from holding back the other, growing, fast-food brands.

So could it be that people are choosing to eat more Caribbean fajitas (served with chicken) at Pollo Tropical outlets? Or is it that we’re all just tired of the Whopper?

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