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Ruben Navarrette: Commentaries

Oh no, he didn't go there. Even in a political climate where it sometimes appears that anything goes, Bill Richardson crossed the line.

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Boston bombing shouldn't derail immigration reformupdated Sat Apr 20 2013 09:47:42

We already knew that opponents of immigration reform had no good arguments in favor of preserving the status quo. Now we know they have no shame.

Rubio's tough line on immigration makes senseupdated Mon Apr 15 2013 08:26:12

Every gang needs a leader. And what has become undeniably clear in recent days is that the de facto leader of the Gang of Eight is Marco Rubio.

Why North Korea worries Dick Cheneyupdated Thu Apr 11 2013 08:57:12

You know a global scenario is serious when even Darth Vader seems scared.

Obama's 'best-looking' remark was sexistupdated Fri Apr 05 2013 16:57:50

It's a good thing that Barack Obama is only the president of the United States and leader of the free world, and that he doesn't have a really important job like television sportscaster.

Stop using the 'w-word' updated Tue Apr 02 2013 08:16:37

In a recent interview on Ketchikan Public Radio in Alaska, Rep. Don Young, the state's only congressman, offered this unhelpful tidbit:

California wants a do-over on same-sex marriage voteupdated Tue Mar 26 2013 08:11:49

In November 2008, after an ugly campaign that stirred emotions and split families along generational lines, California voters narrowly approved Proposition 8. The ballot initiative defined marriage as between a man and a woman and banned same-sex marriage in the Golden State.

Mick Jagger's lesson on parentingupdated Fri Mar 22 2013 08:35:49

Here are six words I thought I'd never hear myself say: "I can relate to Mick Jagger."

Pope pick a signal to Latino Catholicsupdated Thu Mar 14 2013 11:14:03

"It's about time!"

Shame on Democrats for race-baitingupdated Thu Mar 07 2013 08:16:15

Did you think the Republican Party had cornered the market on racism, nativism and ethnic demagoguery? If so, think again.

How GOP can get right with Latinosupdated Fri Mar 01 2013 05:33:17

After the epiphany that the GOP must -- for its own survival amid changing demographics -- learn to talk to Hispanics without offending them, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus made a smart move: He got out of Washington and headed to the Southwest.

When U.S.A! U.S.A! chant is not patrioticupdated Tue Feb 26 2013 11:21:21

It never occurred to me that the chant "U.S.A, U.S.A!" -- something you might hear from enthusiastic sports fans at the World Cup or the Olympics -- could be used as an insult. That is, until I saw (and heard) it for myself.

Guest worker issue may kill immigration reformupdated Tue Feb 19 2013 08:40:49

All those who are hoping that comprehensive immigration reform is going to happen this year -- Latinos, businesses, churches, agriculture industry, law enforcement and others -- are in for a rude awakening.

A kinder, gentler, wiser Marco Rubioupdated Wed Feb 13 2013 12:25:31

Sen. Marco Rubio was ready for his close-up, and he got it. Now you know what all the fuss is about.

Path to citizenship should be a long hikeupdated Fri Feb 08 2013 07:43:43

Being native-born means never having to think about citizenship. Those concerns are for immigrants, either those who are in the U.S. illegally and want a chance to get legal status or those who already have legal status and would like to upgrade to full citizenship and all the perks that come with it, including voting.

Why Limbaugh is gushing over Marco Rubio updated Fri Feb 01 2013 08:46:31

The phrase: "President Marco Rubio" is music to the ears of conservatives who are eager to prove they are not anti-Hispanic while still supporting one of their own: a solid conservative. And so it is that, as the immigration debate reignites, the Florida senator's star power is winning over the world of conservative talk radio.

Phil Mickelson should feel free to speak his mindupdated Mon Jan 28 2013 14:20:30

Phil Mickelson has apologized, which is the right thing to do when you do something wrong. Yet I can't accept his apology, since I still haven't figured out what the champion golfer did that was so wrong.

Obama's pretty words on immigration ring hollowupdated Mon Jan 21 2013 17:58:03

Second inaugurals are rarely as fresh and exciting and full of promise as the first.

Solve immigration without a quick path to citizenshipupdated Wed Jan 16 2013 10:03:26

What is President Obama up to? When it comes to immigration, it's usually no good.

Latino should have played lead in 'Argo'updated Wed Jan 09 2013 16:24:18

The upcoming Oscars are no stranger to causes or controversy. And this year, there is a strong dose of both surrounding the film "Argo" -- and its star and director, Ben Affleck.

The real issue is runaway spendingupdated Thu Jan 03 2013 08:42:13

Did Senate Republicans have too much bubbly on New Year's Eve and pass a bill to avert the fiscal cliff that some in the GOP insist includes too much in new taxes without cutting spending? Are House Republicans so stubborn in their pursuit of spending cuts that they're ready to go to war with members of their own party?

If I offended demanding DREAMers, I'm not sorryupdated Fri Dec 28 2012 08:44:57

Even for someone who has written more than 2,000 columns over the last 20 years, sometimes the words come out wrong.

DREAMers are pushing their luckupdated Wed Dec 19 2012 08:57:26

I know just what a lot of those so-called DREAMers deserve to get for Christmas: a scolding. There are good and bad actors in every movement, and the bad ones -- if not kept in check -- can drag the good ones down with them.

My Mexican-American identity crisisupdated Fri Nov 30 2012 08:24:01

On a recent trip to Mexico City, I had barely made my way down the concourse and arrived at the immigration processing area when I got stumped.

To-do list for Obama and Mexico's new presidentupdated Mon Nov 26 2012 09:44:38

On a recent trip to Mexico City as part of a delegation of Mexican-American and American Jewish leaders, I heard a joke that is circulating among the intelligentsia:

In Mexico, racism hides in plain viewupdated Tue Nov 20 2012 07:10:33

Mexico City, home to 20 million people, represents the paradox of the modern Mexico, the side-by-side juxtaposition -- in everything from politics to architecture -- of old and new.

Why isn't Disney's Princess Sofia Latino? updated Thu Oct 25 2012 16:02:22

The breathtakingly incompetent way that Disney handled the introduction of what was thought to be the Magic Kingdom's first Hispanic princess has me wondering: What kind of Mickey Mouse operation is this?

Today, talking politics is plain uglyupdated Thu Oct 18 2012 11:40:51

Our politics have changed in America -- and, unfortunately, not for the better.

Obama hits a foul by honoring Cesar Chavezupdated Mon Oct 08 2012 10:50:09

On March 10, 1968, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy made a pilgrimage to the central California farm town of Delano to attend a Catholic Mass and to help Cesar Chavez break a 25-day fast intended to draw attention to the plight of farmworkers.

'Dreamers' deal a roll of the diceupdated Wed Sep 26 2012 08:26:05

Imagine what it must be like to be born in one country but only know another, to be labeled "illegal" but feel 100% American, and to be asking for special dispensation from a government that has shown a flair for arresting and deporting people just like you.

Chicago teachers strike a Democratic feudupdated Fri Sep 14 2012 07:19:39

A lot of Americans probably look at the teachers strike in Chicago and think that this is just another labor dispute with workers making demands and causing a work stoppage until they get what they want.

Is Ryan an immigration pragmatist?updated Fri Aug 24 2012 08:34:22

Immigration groups, Obama surrogates, the media and the Democratic Party have a message for Latino voters, who some say could swing the election because they are heavily represented in four battleground states -- Colorado, Nevada, Florida and New Mexico.

As two politicians ascend, new sway for Latinos?updated Fri Aug 03 2012 08:15:55

This week, Latinos experienced their own version of "Super Tuesday."

Bloomberg's out-of-order remarks got one thing rightupdated Thu Jul 26 2012 09:23:21

When an elected official whose heart seems to be in the right place offers a courageous perspective on an important subject, I'm inclined to try to find some good in it.

'Illegal immigrant' is the uncomfortable truthupdated Fri Jul 06 2012 07:58:01

What's in a name? For my friends and simpaticos in the immigration reform community, enough to go ballistic at the mere mention of the phrase: "illegal immigrant."

How Arizona law hurts Hispanic citizensupdated Tue Jun 26 2012 11:09:43

First, here's what Arizona got wrong: Once upon a time, some lawmakers there decided that the state had a problem with illegal immigrants -- most of whom are Hispanic. So they drafted a sweeping law that wound up inconveniencing, singling out and foisting second-class citizenship upon all Hispanics, including those who were born in the United States.

Not all Latinos are illegalsupdated Fri Jun 08 2012 07:56:37

In my CNN.com column last week, I wrote that the first thing a candidate running for office needs to know about Latino voters is that they value nothing more than respect.

Minorities are not looking for 'payback'updated Thu May 24 2012 07:41:13

You've probably read those articles about how, in the United States, minorities are becoming the majority. That's a polite way of describing what is really going on. Namely, that the U.S. population is becoming more Latino and less white. More than any other group, it is Latinos who are driving demographic changes.

On drug violence, Mexico must look inwardupdated Fri May 18 2012 08:26:50

It used to be that when Americans thought of Mexico, they imagined a festive getaway where margaritas flowed, mariachis played, and every day was Cinco de Mayo.

'Daddy, help! They're killing me!'updated Wed May 09 2012 18:33:46

As evidenced by media stories and public awareness campaigns, Americans have resolved to get tough on bullying. In that spirit, it's time to send a message to bullies with badges.

The truth about Arizona's immigration lawupdated Mon Apr 23 2012 11:15:32

With the Supreme Court poised this week to hear arguments in the legal challenge to Arizona's immigration law, it's a good time to explain what this law and the ruckus surrounding it are really about.

Latino, Hispanic labels don't matter; issues doupdated Thu Apr 19 2012 07:40:07

What's in a nombre?

Nation divided over Trayvon Martin case?updated Thu Apr 12 2012 09:51:13

The case against Florida neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman -- which has, for the last several weeks, been exhaustively tried in the court of public opinion -- is now headed where it belongs: to a court of law.

GOP version of Dream Act holds promiseupdated Thu Apr 05 2012 07:18:41

You may have heard that a group of Republicans in Congress -- including GOP rock star and possible vice presidential pick Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida -- are getting ready to introduce their version of the DREAM Act.You also may have heard that Democratic lawmakers and liberal advocacy groups despise the Republican alternative and derisively label it "DREAM Act Lite."

Trayvon Martin killing raises loaded racial termsupdated Thu Mar 29 2012 08:29:00

Over the years, Americans have become familiar with terms such as "white" and "Hispanic" and even -- on government forms -- the more specific "non-Hispanic white." Now, courtesy of the mainstream media, there is a new phrase to add to our national lexicon: "white Hispanic."

A Texas mayor, a mural and a Mexican stereotypeupdated Fri Mar 23 2012 13:46:38

Julian Castro is not cooperating. The mayor of San Antonio knows full well what I want to talk about, and yet he is determined to change the subject to what he believes is a much more pressing story. Where I want to drag him, my friend refuses to go.

Can Romney win without the South?updated Wed Mar 14 2012 20:24:32

Now that Rick Santorum has scored victories in this week's Republican primary contests in Mississippi and Alabama --this after his earlier win in Tennessee and Newt Gingrich's victory in South Carolina -- it's time to confront three questions:

Taking affirmative action personallyupdated Wed Mar 07 2012 07:56:22

Now that we have Sonia Sotomayor, a Latina, on the Supreme Court, the esteemed body will soon find itself in the middle of a telenovela.

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