In the "everyone's a racist" (except me and my friends) narrative of Obama supporters and members of our cultural elite, Right or Left, there is probably no reason to expect anyone to give any thought to other reasons why Hispanics may support Hillary in greater numbers than some other communities and demographics but let me suggest just one (of a probable many); cultural attitudes that are more receptive to female leadership.

Over the last few years, long before Obama was ever in the picture, I've had several conversations with Hispanic men who were quite enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton. At first, viewing it through, I admit, stereotyped ideas about "macho" latin men, I was surprised by this. But, as one man explained to me, it reflects very different cultural ideas about power. Hispanic culture sees power as both male and female (while our Anglo culture sees power as almost exclusively male) -- and believes that expressions of both "types" of power are important  to the life of a nation. This most likely explains why, despite the fact that many South American and other Hispanic countries have cultures that appear "traditional," with less "equal" gender participation in education and the economy than our own, they have been much more receptive to female leaders than the US,

"This most likely explains why, despite the fact that many South American and other Hispanic countries have cultures that appear "traditional," with less "equal" gender participation in education and the economy than our own, they have been much more receptive to female leaders than the US."

Yeah, but 3 out of 4 American Latinos are from Mexico, Cuba or Puerto Rico, and I've never heard  of a tradition of female leaders in any of those countries (territory).

naomi88 - actually, ther is a tradition of female leadership in Puerto Rico.  From 1947 to 1968, an incredible 21 year run, Felisa Rincon de Gautier was mayor of San Juan.  Sila Maria Calderon was mayor of San Juan from 1997 to 2000 and became Governor of Puerto Rico from 2000 to 2005.  I mention this not necessarily to support esmense' s theory, but just to set the record straight on Puerto Rico.

But for McCain to make inroads with working class voters on economic issues, he would mostly have to reverse his economic policies. He might make some inroads by pandering on gas tax cuts, but that is a terrible long-term idea unless the loss to transportation funds are made up some other way.

esmense - I lived in Mexico for years and the idea that latin cultures are somehow more open to women in power is a total joke.  

It also reduces the friends you mention - Hispanic Americans? Mexican? Argentian? Columbian? Venezualan? Cuban? First generation? Second? Third?  Fourth? Each generations has its own dynamics, as do each country.  Your generalities seem concocted to fit your semi-hidden but totally obvious complaining about the supposed sexism stopping your gal in this mean old anglo country.  

America is hundreds, if not thousands of years younger than any of the countries you presumably mean. There is nothing stopping a woman from being elected to any of these countries, especially ours. Perhaps when the right women comes along, this country will elect her, as have other countries.

JackR, thank you for correcting me. I hadn't heard about Ms. Rincon.

So that means about  9% of American Latinos are from a place more receptive to female leaders than the U.S.  

Well, Chile and Argentina currently have female leaders, Nicaragua did in the past, and there may have been others I'm forgetting. So actually Latin American countries in general have been pretty receptive to a female President/Prime Minister, despite the general machismo of the male culture.

La Malinche was nobody's patsy.