Will Repubs put more Spanish names on ballots in hopes it allows them to win?

[Honeycombe8]

Will Republicans get more Spanish names on their ballots, and when they do, will they win the hispanic vote because of it?

The reason I ask is because I think that's what happened here in Dallas County. Dallas County is the ONLY blue county in north Dallas. I was happily perusing the election results yesterday. Race after race, the Democrat (when there was one) won handily over the Republican. Only when there was a Republican vs. Libertarian did the Republican win.

Until you got to one race that I cared very much about: Republican Villalba vs. Democrat Carole Kent for state rep. Neither was an incumbent. Villalba, unlike the other races, defeated Kent by a large margin. In BLUE Dallas County (which has a very high hispanic population).

Both advertised heavily. In fact, in my area, Kent advertised more, did polling, phone calls, passed out yard signs, etc. I think I had one robocall for Villalba, and some mailers.

The only thing I can figure is that latinos not following the elections (this was a small race compared to the others), simply selected the Spanish name.

Villalba is not just Republican. He's TEA PARTY. There is no way that blue Dallas County would've voted a Tea Partier into office, had they known what he was.

So I'm thinking....this is part of the Republican plan. Find as many Repubs with Spanish names, get 'em on the ballots, and latinos will vote for him because they will think he's like they are. Keep the candidate in low profile. No debates. Mailers and phone calls, where questions don't have to be answered. And ba-da-boom, they have a built in constituency who will vote for them. Many people don't follow politics like we who blog on pollitical forums. That's why so many Republicans were shocked that Obama won; they just watch a little TV about politics, and that's it.

Could it be? I'm afraid so. Possible to counter their plan, if that's their plan?

[Avalux]

1. Absolutely.

And it will be a charade, and it won't work.

[GitRDun]

2. I agree

Saying "lower taxes" and "job killing regulations" in Spanish won't help.

[Honeycombe8]

3. But it did work. That's why I'm asking. nt

[JeffHead]

5. I Agree

Just putting a name on a ballot like Miguel Romniguez doesn't guarantee you votes. It's what you stand for.

[robinlynne]

4. great point. makes sense to me.

[Loudly]

6. Changing your name to sound Irish has worked for years where I'm from.

Dump on anyone who would try to cheat that way today.

[Honeycombe8]

8. I don't mean faking a Spanish name. Hunting and finding Spanish people who will run as a Repub.

Spanish people would naturally assume he's a Democrat (I think), since most latinos in our area are. Not all, but most.

Vallalba's name really is Vallalba, and he really is of Spanish heritage. But he's also really Tea Party. He did mailers and robocalls, but nothing talked about his policies, no way to tell he was Republican from the mailers and such. There were no debates that I know of.

[flamingdem]

7. You mean like McDonaldito or maybe Jindalito? nt