It is impossible to escape the news nowadays.  Media outlets, bloggers, and pundits argue that while GOP ignores Latinos, the White House is engaged in a desperate e-mail frenzy to reach out to them.  Both Democrats and Republicans take Latinos for granted or use them in an ad hoc fashion. What can Latinos do? They should look beyond dominant parties, form a political party of their own, bargain with their collective voting clout and ultimately, at the 2012 presidential and key elections, spur a national frenzy of Latino voters in favor of candidates of their choice.

In the last six days, from September 19, 2011 to today, Sunday, September 25, 2011, I read over a dozen e-mails from the White House targeting Latinos (i.e., Hispanic Heritage Month events, more appointments of Latinos, etc.), and dozens of blogs and news articles from different sources stating that the GOP takes Latinos for granted and that it has blatantly failed to strike a chord with them.

One article by Julia Preston entitled, “Hispanic Congressman Is Arrested in Deportation Protest,” indicates that with his broken immigration reform promise and betrayal of his own fellow democratic pro-immigration reform leaders such as U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Obama has betrayed Latinos while Republicans scapegoat them.

A second article (huffingtonpost.com) tells of Obama’s record on Latinos, which includes not only an increasing Hispanic 12% unemployment rate as of September 2011, but also over 1 million deportations since he took office. Critics claim this number turns Obama into the President who has deported more immigrants in U.S. history.  With such a record he is being judged as a Washington politician who doesn’t practice what he preaches. If looked upon closely, one would conclude that Obama seems to be aligned with GOP’s deportation and anti-Hispanic immigration policies. However, he does this masterfully while publicly promising Latinos that he will take care of immigration reform next time around.

A third argument (www.newstaco.com The Texas Tribune) says that GOP’s record on Latinos includes not only anti-immigrant and anti-Latino rhetoric and tougher deportation policies, but also congressional redistricting proposals in Texas, Virginia, New York and other U.S. states to curtail Latinos political representation. GOP is not alone regarding advocating for partisan redistricting proposals that will imperil Latino representation. Democrats are at work as well, and primarily in states such as New York where Democrats outnumber Republicans 3 to 1. Democrats in public office fight to make sure they and their peers are protected regardless of civil rights gains and provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 protecting minorities. It is revealing to observe U.S. Congressman Charlie Rangel and his Democratic New York delegation in power turning into almost Dixiecrats as a way to secure their elected positions and total control of their party.

A fourth argument (The Wall Street Journal) tells how the GOP continues to preach its social conservatism, which seems to appeal to some Latino leaders including U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, from the State of Florida, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, and from New York, Dr. Ramon Tallaj, Fernando Mateo and others who, for some reason, have not officially come out as Republicans.

A last argument (washingtontimes.com/) talks about how Obama is turning his administration into a big government and the nation into a liberal welfare state (washingtonexaminer.com). Under Obama Care for instance, men and women are now to be included in their parents’ health coverage until their 26^th birthday. This measure, and the welfare programs enacted by the Democrats back in the 1930s, during and after the Great Depression, have condemned generations of Americans to accept an entitlement mentality as normal.

Considering these arguments, one ponders, via which of the two parties should Latinos engage in U.S. politics to achieve fair representation. Apparently, judging by their actions, Obama and the GOP do not seem to worry about losing the support of Latino voters, considered the fastest-growing voting bloc in the country.

Latinos should seriously consider looking beyond the Democratic and Republican Parties. Their focus should be on identifying a candidate that really represents their interests, whether from an existing minor party, or a party of their own. Maybe then, the anticipated frenzy of Latino voters would materialize.