Mark Halperin should apologize to all of us
Political journalist/pundit Mark Halperin is taking a lot of heat for his what really amounts to a lazy interview of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, one of the 
Republican contenders for the presidential nomination.
In what some have characterized as a test of Cruz’s cubania — the Canadian-born Republican has a Cuban father — Halperin asked him what his favorite Cuban food was (picadillo) and who his favorite Cuban singer was (Cruz prefers country music). “On that, I’m more of a Texan,” he said.
“People are really interested in you and your identity,” said Halperin, co-managing editor of Bloomberg Politics. Then he asked Cruz to welcome his colleague, Sen. Bernie Sanders, into the presidential race — but en español. Cruz respectfully declined to be Halperin’s talking doll.
Several real journalists and bloggers whipped Halperin over the weekend for what they said were insensitive, racist and politically incorrect questions. My personal favorite was Daily Caller Senior Editor Jamie Weinstein (note: not Jaime Weinstein), who provided Halperin with 10 more insensitive questions to ask of the other presidential candidates.
Suggested for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal: “I’m curious how deep a connection you have to your Indian heritage considering you do not sport a dot on your head. Has anyone in your family ever owned a 7-11?”
For Sen. Marco Rubio: “How good are you at rafting?”
Halperin has since apologized and Cruz said no apology was necessary. You can tell in his interview that the senator wasn’t stumped or upset when Halperin asked if he ever identified himself as Hispanic on college applications and such.
While Ladra is mildly offended that Cruz or anyone would have to prove their level of Hispanicness to anyone, the cubania of a candidate — or how Cuban she or he is — is nothing new in the 305, where 20 years ago you could see placards or bumper stickers that read “Cubano vota por cubano.”
In 2012, State Rep. Michael Bileca — whose wife is Cuban and whose name sounds like it could be Hispanic — was outed as a non-Cuban in a robocall that said he didn’t even speak Spanish.
Read related story: Outing non Cubans in Miami politics
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is often called un cubano arrepentido, or an apologetic Cuban who does not embrace his culture.
In fact, we’ve even seen the “who is more Cuban” 
campaign tactic used against former State Rep. Ana Rivas-Logan, who was born in Nicaragua after her Cuban parents landed there in early exile. And nobody crucified State Rep. Jose Felix “One More Pepe” Diaz for that campaign message.
But even more egregious than Halperin’s grilling of Cruz was his dismissal of and complete contempt for the Latino vote as one big sheep herd nod for whoever’s name ends in a z or a vowel or for whoever eats arroz con pollo or listens to Willy Chirino. You know, because that is all that we Hispanics care about. Not substance. Not experience. Not the same issues that concern all Americans — like the economy, access to education, immigration reform, homeland security, international trade, civil rights. Nah. We’re hung up on the salsa music.
“A big part of your argument in terms of the party’s appeal to Hispanic voters is simply talking about the economic agenda,” Halperin said, referring to a speech Cruz made earlier to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. And then quickly dismissing that notion for the stereotype.
“But let me ask you, it seems to me your last name is Cruz and you’re from Texas,” Halperin said, and you can hear the rest of it coming. “Just based on that, should you have appeal to Hispanic voters?”
¿Como? ¿Que dijo el imbecil ese?
He is saying that we Latinos vote just based on name alone. You know, when we wake up from our siesta, that is.
Cruz tried to take the conversation in a different direction, citing his focus on school choice and the economy.
“I think the Republican Party should be winning a majority of the Hispanic vote. We haven’t historically been able to do that but if you look at who has been hurt under the Obama economy, the Hispanic community has been hammered,” Cruz said.
He is smart. And came out looking like a statesman. And maybe to him the apology was unnecessary.
But I just think it was misdirected. Halperin should apologize to not just the candidate, but all Hispanic voters everywhere.
Cuban ‘quiz’ for Ted Cruz is attack on all Hispanic voters, too added by Ladra on
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