Rebirth of the Raza Unida Party?

[pampango]

Many Latinos have become disgruntled with both political parties, and I can easily see why. One ignores us while the other seems intent on driving us away. The last straw was when Democrats flunked immigration reform, then tried to fool Latinos into thinking Republicans were to blame -- an easy trick to pull off given how often the GOP flirts with nativism. Now I hear from people in their 20s who, in their disillusionment, are pining for something that had its heyday before they were born: the Raza Unida Party.

These days, (Raza Unida co-founder Jose Angel) Gutierrez's hobbies include tweaking nativists with provocative comments about how Anglos are losing sleep over the browning of the United States. "They think this is a white country," he said. "And when someone says the opposite, then that's the demon."

Speaking of fear, one wonders what Gutierrez finds frightening. Answer: The tea party movement. "It's kind of scary," he said. "They hate everyone."

Back in the day, those at the bottom knew what they were angry about -- and at whom to direct that anger. Today, it's more like a shotgun effect, anger for anger's sake. This might get you some attention. It might even get you elected to a few offices. But, in the end, it won't get you very far. "Republicans don't have to pay attention to us because we don't give them anything," Gutierrez said. "And Democrats don't pay attention to us because we have no other options."

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_16659416?nclick_check=1

Wiki on the Raza Unida Party: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raza_Unida_Party

[douglas9]

1. Ramiro "Ramsey" Muñiz

Ramiro (Ramsey) Muniz imprisoned for life without parole on a bogus drug charge. A Corpus Christi, TX native, he "contributed greatly to the Chicano Civil Rights Movement during the 1970s as a leader for justice and equality for all Mexican Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos throughout the United States. In 1972 and 1974 (at ages 30 and 32), he was Texas gubernatorial candidate for the La Raza Unida Party (RUP), established to help Mexican Americans achieve greater economic, social, and political self-determination, especially in South Texas, where, though a majority in many counties and locales, they held little or no power.

http://www.phillyimc.org/en/ramsey-muniz-guilty-being-latino-and-activist-america

http://www.freeramsey.com/

[backscatter712]

2. The original Raza Unida Party did light a fire under the Democratic Party.

and forced the Democrats to start paying attention to Latino issues.