Minorities understand the pandering process

By Egberto Willies

Senator Marco Rubio ‘Loser,’ ‘A Token Slave Boy’ Says Univision Assistant

While Republicans in their bid to show that they are inclusive are placing minorities like Marco Rubio in the forefront, it is essential to understand that it is a failing proposition for one specific reason; it is dishonest. Latinos and all other prideful minorities understand the pandering process. This type of pandering makes the problem worse for Republicans because minorities know that the GOP assumes that they are less than intelligent by making a façade or semblance of inclusion, inclusion.

The Miami Herald picked up on a story in which an Univisión staffer attacked Senator Marco Rubio. On the surface it may seem like a silly Facebook type back and forth. What should be understood is it is a window into how most minorities feel about GOP window dressing when needed in high places (e.g., Michael Steele, Marco Rubio, Hispanic Governors, & Women), but with policies anathema to their demographic.

Miami Herald

It’s the latest attack in a lengthy feud between the Florida senator and the powerful Spanish-language network that conservatives charge is anti-GOP and anti-Rubio.

The latest incident began Wednesday night after Rubio’s spokesman, Alex Burgos, announced the high-profile Florida senator would give the GOP’s first-ever bilingual rebuttal to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech.

That led Univisión employee Angelica Artiles to let loose a string of partisan criticisms.

“Oh. wow, the loser is going to speak after our President,” Artiles wrote on spokesman Alex Burgos’ Facebook page at 9:33 p.m. Wednesday. “Anything to get publicity. Ask him to do us a favor and stay home that night.”

Sentiments like that reflect the prevailing political feeling among Univisión’s higher-ups at its Doral headquarters, say Univisión insiders. Artiles is executive assistant to Daniel Coronell, Univisión’s vice president of news.

When The Miami Herald picks up a story about major players at Univision placing disparaging comments about Rubio on Facebook it serves two purposes. It is a message to the body politic that they must not be fooled by superficialities. It is also a message to the GOP that the body politic is watching and/or will be made to watch.

When President Barack Obama was elected, the Republicans sensing a country was changing to be more inclusive, immediately elected Michael Steele Chairman of the Republican Party. Under Michael Steele, the GOP won big in 2010. When the Tea Party inspired “false nativism” took sufficient root, Michael Steele as a symbol of multiculturalism and inclusivity became unnecessary and was fired.

Reince Priebus was brought into power in 2010. In the 2012 election he was beaten badly. He lost senate races he should have won, he lost congressional districts he should have won, he lost a presidency ripe for takeover, and he lost the composite popular vote for the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. For all of that failure Reince Priebus was re-elected.

Republicans current attempt to seem inclusive will fail. Minorities are not looking to see tokens on TV, in governorships, or in high-profile places. That is not where power really resides. They want policies that give them equal access to success. They want a real opportunity to be at the table. In that light the Univision staffer is correct, Marco Rubio is “a token slave boy” and all the connotations that come with that statement.