They're both rising political stars, Hispanic and scheduled to speak at their party's respective national conventions this year. So what do Ted Cruz and Julián Castro's politics — and political futures — mean for the state's Hispanic population?
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Comments (7)
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Will separate the sane from not so sane.
Joe Cutbirth via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Great first salvo on a story that is probably the fundamental story in texas politics at least for the next 4-5 years.
Robert Blain via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The Castro brothers have the potential to be more of a political dynasty than the Kennedys... and are squeaky clean guys. We could get one in the Senate for 2 decades and the other in the governor's mansion...
Cruz, on the other hand, scares a lot of people because he doesn't realize he's just as much of a politician as anyone.
Tom Berg via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Cruz probably not much since he did not live the Mexican-American experience of most Texas Latinos or even the the Central-American experience of most of the balance. The Cuban experience, with instant legal status upon touching the shore, distinguishes him (along with his Canadian birth) from those families who themselves or their relatives had to deal with historical discrimination here. Castro and his brother have to show they are something new and relevant and not just a revival of some sort of Raza Unida sentimentalism. Also what Bambi Clark said.
Bert Chadwick
The difference between Mr Castro and Mr. Cruz is that, for decades the Republican Party has been the WORST enemy of the Latino community. There are tens of evidence of that. Then Castro is a true Latino [Mexico-Americano from the heart of San Antonio] involved in the Hispanic community as oppose Cruz that even he is a Texan, he is Cuban American and unfortunately [there are exemptions] Cubans are for themselves only. They jump into the Latino wagon only when is convenient for them. They are absolutely different from Mexicans, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Central and South Americans.
During all his campaign Mr. Cruz NEVER played the Latino card. After winning the election now is starting to make his Hispanic background relevant in order to get the Latino vote. Well, I don't think so.
Same as Marco Rubio[Cuban-American] Rubio is not good for Hispanics. In fact he against a series of pro-immigrants proposals. My Latino friends, be alert because the saying goes " after the war we are all generals."
Finally, traditionally Latinos tend to vote Democrat so many of them see these new young Latino Republicans as traitors to their community due to all the harm the GOP has done to Hispanics. History does not lie.
David Spratt
Jesus Christ,,,, The Hypocrisy is oozing from the comments here. Attacking Cruz because he is not Hispanic enough? TALK ABOUT RACISM. CUBANS ARE DIFFERENT????? REALLY,,,, HOW SO???? I GUESS THEY ARE THE ANOITED ONES SINCE THEY BRAVE 90 MILES OF OCEAN FILLED WITH SHARKS PACKED INTO HOMEMADE BOATS MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT CROSS THE TRINITY RIVER IN,,, FLEEING A DICTAOR AND NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT LIKE THE MEXICANS HAVE.
What about the myth that whites vote for whites ,,,, blacks for blacks ect, ect?
I guess Ted Cruz proved that one wrong.
No Ted Cruz did not make race an issue , nor did anyone else,, until now when libs are the first to make an issue of it, but then that seems to always be the case.
They step off the plantation ,, so to speak,, and instantly they are traitors to their own people. If Ted Cruz were a Liberal , Progressive Democrat he would be hailed as the next rising star of the party. He would be the " Cuban" coming to the rescue of his fellow Hispanic brethren. The duality of Liberals is always amazing. At least you can say Conservative Constitutionalists,,,, and not RINO'S,,,, are consistent in their beliefs and in their statements about where they stand and what they stand for. Yall may not like it but at least it never changes.
David Spratt
Furthermore most the comments here should be offensive to The " Latino Friends. " Are Latinos pigeon holed into thinking, voting or believing a certain way? Or maybe only " THOSE KIND OF LATINOS" think that way,,, the Good Latinos or the right thinking Latinos?
This is the equivalent of making the statement that all Jews are greedy or that they control the Banking system or have some type of conspiratorial plan to dominate the world.
Or how about the fact that all blacks are shiftless and lazy and on welfare.
How about all Irish being drunkards?
Yes we all know about how " THOSE PEOPLE ARE."
How about certain people defining others as racist when they are the ones who view the world through colored lenses and seem to differentiate between people as to how they think, act or behave according to where they are from what color they are or their ethnic background.
The liberals , not all but the majority,,, claim the Tea Party is " Obviously Racist." This has been repeated over and over again ad nauseum. Tea Party voters White , Black , Hispanic , Asian voted for Ted Cruz en mass. Did they miss the memo that he is of Cuban Heritage? Marco Rubio , Allen West ,Susana Martinez, Brian Sandoval, J.C Watts, Gary Franks, Tim Scott have been elected by these very same people. Did nobody notice they were Hispanic or Black?
Cruz did not " live the Mexican American experience?" His grandparents and Father did live under Batista and I am sure he has a much clearer picture of what effect an oppressive government can have on a people than anyone commenting here including myself.
From one comment here, his Father being imprisoned and tortured by Batista does not carry as much weight as those " Other Latinos" ,,, The good ones,,,, who had to live under and endure a prejudicial , racist and oppressive system here in the United States. I guess escaping a ruthless dictator that murders his own people and throws them into prisons does not rise to the same level as simply walking across the border and taking up residence in the U.S. just because you want to.
He is a legal U.S Citizen . How he got to be one is not in question nor is the question of whether or not he is any better or any worse than any other Citizen on the basic human level. His Mother was an American to begin with, and he is just as much an American as anyone else.
Not one single person here has criticized him for his opinions , political positions on the issues or anything of real substance relating to public policy. He is being ripped up just simply for being Cuban and not a member of the " Right" party, and not Latino enough.
It really is disgusting. And if I were a Latino I would be highly offended.