I used to jokingly tell my gringo friends that one day they would be working for me because there would be so many Latinos here that we would rule the workplace. We’re not there yet, but those friends are not laughing anymore. The 2012 election showed that Latino voters had a huge impact on the re-election of President Obama. The President received 70 percent of the Latino vote and those voters helped him win key states like Colorado, Nevada and Florida. According to pollster Matt Barreto, Jay Inslee likely benefited from the Latino vote as well in his successful campaign for Governor. Barreto estimates that 140 thousand Latinos supported Inslee. He figures there are another 140 thousand who were eligible, but did not vote.

Barreto directed the KCTS 9 Washington Poll and his polling was right on the mark in the final outcome between Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna. It should be noted that McKenna worked hard to get Latino support. Remember the Yakima gubernatorial debate? McKenna’s opening statement was delivered in Spanish. Yes, it was for effect since the debate was sponsored by the Association of Washington State Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. But I truly believe McKenna was sincere in his bid for Latino voters. I think unlike other less aware Republicans, McKenna and his campaign manager Randy Pepple could see the shift in demographics here and elsewhere in the country. Still, McKenna’s positions on health care and drivers licenses for the undocumented probably hurt him with Latino voters.

I find it interesting that Republicans are just now realizing they have a Latino problem. Duh! It is common sense that when you disrespect a group of people over a long period of time that those folks are not going to be supportive of you. With the growing number of Latinos in the Midwest and the South, the white vote will be neutralized. It is important to remember the Latino population is not only growing, but it is also becoming younger. Pollster Matt Barreto, who also is involved with an independent polling effort called Latino Decisions, found that Latino attitudes about the economy, jobs and religion are not in step with the Republican ideology. Ronald Reagan once said that Latinos are Republicans, but they just don’t know it yet. That might have been the case when Reagan was President, but not in today’s hard line, right wing Republican Party. Remember that Reagan knew how to compromise. Too many of today’s Republicans don’t.

But Democrats listen up: Latinos may have your support now, but do not take us for granted. If you do not make progress on comprehensive immigration reform, fixing the economy and other social justice issues, you will lose Latino support. Both political parties should grab a dictionary and look up the definition of “respect”. They need to understand that Latinos are all about respect.

And Latinos, you need to listen up too. The outcome of the election and the demographic shift in the country gives us a great opportunity to make tremendous progress politically and socially. But we need to get involved in the process. We need to be involved in our communities, with our school boards, city and county councils, and on commissions and boards that create policy. We have an obligation to be a part of the process for the sake of our community and our children. We need to speak out against gangs and gang violence because we are losing too many of our young men to the thug life. And we have to STOP fighting among ourselves. We can be so petty. C’mon folks. Let’s get it together because we have a great future and a heck of an opportunity to make America a better place.