Thread: GOP candidates ignore Latino leaders

GOP candidates ignore Latino leaders










http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/25040

From the link:

GOP candidates ignore Latino leaders
editorials and opinion
By RAUL REYES
Hispanic Link
Friday, July 06, 2007

From Cesar Chavez's 1960s boycotts to the immigrants rights movements of today, Si se puede has long been a stock phrase in Hispanic politics. While it translates as "Yes, we can," the real message has always been greater. Si se puede means we'll fight the good fight, we'll persevere, we'll never give up.

These three words are routinely invoked everywhere from high school assemblies to presidential campaigns. It's the Latino call to action.

Yet lately I'm wondering if the GOP has decided on a strategy of No se puede --No, we can't -- when it comes to Hispanic voters.

At the June 28-30 convention of the National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials, Republicans opted out of the forum for presidential candidates. All of the GOPers except for Rep. Duncan Hunter of California sent their regrets to the nonpartisan group, and the forum was canceled. In contrast, all of the major Democratic hopefuls appeared at a separate forum at the event.

The GOP no-shows are surprising considering Florida is home to the USA's most conservative Hispanics. The state's three Hispanic House members are Republican, as is Sen. Mel Martinez, chairman of the Republican National Committee. Some state leaders did not even try to put a positive spin on the lack of interest from their candidates.

"Republicans have blown off the state of Florida," said Republican State Rep. Juan Zapata. "Turning their back on this event is kind of shameful."

Coming in the wake of the harsh rhetoric from conservatives who contributed to the collapse of the Senate's immigration proposal, does this mean that Republicans are giving up on Latinos?

If so, they have a lot to lose. Until recently, the GOP had been making inroads among the Hispanic electorate, which traditionally has leaned Democratic. George W. Bush made a concerted outreach to Latinos and in 2004 drew a record 40 percent of the Hispanic vote.

A new USA Today/Gallup poll shows those gains have eroded. By a three-to-one margin, Hispanics say they are Democrats or lean that way. Only 11 percent of Hispanics called themselves Republicans, down from 19 percent in 2005. Meanwhile, the number calling themselves Democrats rose from 33 percent to 42 percent.

Although Latinos are still underrepresented at the polls, our political influence is rising. Under the 2008 primary schedule, more than three-quarters of the Hispanic electorate will have a chance to vote for a presidential nominee before Feb. 5, giving us a historic chance to influence who will be the next occupant of the White House.

Florida's Jan. 29 primary offers nearly another million Latino voters an opportunity to weigh in early on presidential nominations.

Several states voting on Super-Duper Tuesday Feb. 5 -- Arizona, California, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Illinois and New Mexico -- and March 4, when Texans chime in, have significant Latino populations.

I can understand why Tom Tancredo, who once derided Miami as "a Third World country," might not want to attend a gathering of influential Hispanics. Ditto for Fred Thompson, the potential candidate who recently linked Cuban immigrants to "suitcase bombers." Yet it's hard to see why John McCain, architect of the failed Senate proposal, would not make time for the Latino convention. And aren't Milt Romney and Rudolf Giuliani, both of whom have Spanish-language Web sites, interested in meeting the leaders of our community?

The Republicans damaged their standing among Latinos by allowing the tone of the immigration debate to become offensive to most Hispanics. So the Latino convention would have been a prime opportunity for them to demonstrate they are still committed to the nation's largest minority group. Instead, by snubbing the convention, the Republicans sent the misguided message that Latinos are not important to the GOP. In the future, even more Hispanics just might say Si se puede -- to Democratic candidates.

(Raul Reyes practices law in New York City. Reach him at rarplace(at)aol.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com)

Why should they get attention from the GOP? Why should they get attention from anyone? They are promoting illegal immigration ... they are the cause of it .... they are the aiders and abetters ... this Republican will start paying attention again when they start standing up for American Citizens and standing with US to stop this madness .... !! Until then, only Latino and Hispanic Americans and any other group that stands with US to protect our country from this disaster will get my attention.



Why are they having a "Latino Convention" in the United States anyway?



Last time I checked there is a Latin America ... maybe they should go there and have a convention ... maybe if they go to LATIN AMERICA, they won't need a "convention".

I guess they can just tune into the debates that are already scheduled FOR ALL AMERICANS. Why would they want extra ones anyway - they are so friggin' boring! Why should they get an exclusive debate? Whatever!

Hey Gordo, The pro illegal Immigration groups out there cut their own throats on this issue.

They were Blasting Bush and Bush was for it. Now what do you think Republicans ARE going to be thinking when they saw that going on????

My group has no one to blame but themselves. Y eso es la verdad.

According to the Duncan Hunter campaign, the event wasn't canceled - only downsized. IMO, Duncan Hunter showed real guts speaking to a potentially hostile crowd.

[quote]GOP Candidates Skip Hispanic Conference
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Posted in Duncan Hunter News
Related Topics: George Bush, US House of Representatives, Republican, Country, Duncan Hunter, Walt Disney World
“It's too soon for the Democrats to crow victoryâ€

Judy wrote:

Why should they get attention from the GOP?

Well, maybe because many of them are actually American citizens. Have you heard of the group "You Don't Speak for Me?"

Check them out, they are American patriots (just so happens their also Hispanic).

http://www.dontspeakforme.org/

Why are they having a "Latino Convention" in the United States anyway?



Last time I checked there is a Latin America ... maybe they should go there and have a convention

Amen.

Originally Posted by TexasCowgirl

I guess they can just tune into the debates that are already scheduled FOR ALL AMERICANS. Why would they want extra ones anyway - they are so friggin' boring! Why should they get an exclusive debate? Whatever!

Tom Tancredo was correct in not attending this gathering of amnesty supporters.

Tom Tancredo was also correct when he said Miami was like a third world country. I grew up in south Florida. Tom Tancredo hit the nail on the head when he said that about Miami. I'm glad Tom Tancedo had the courage to point out the truth about Miami. Many people in south Flroida agree with his comments about Miami.

Tancredofan wrote:

Tom Tancredo was correct in not attending this gathering of amnesty supporters.

Judy wrote:

Why are they having a "Latino Convention" in the United States anyway?

Last time I checked there is a Latin America ... maybe they should go there and have a convention

Please don't turn ALIPAC into a Latino hate group website. We are supposed to be Americans against illegal immigration.

FYI Tancedofan, unfortunately there are American citizen amnesty supporters in all walks of life in this great country of ours. Just because we don't agree with them doesn't necessarily make them ALL the scum of the earth. Those that knowlingly hire illegals are the exception though.

The President of the United States represents all AMERICANS, no matter their skin color. I can't believe there are those of you that would actively seek to marginalize Hunter's commitment to all Americans simply because he exhibitated true grit in spreading his message to the enemy. I stand by what I said earlier, he showed true guts in attending the function and he should be commended for it, not ostracized. If you hadn't noticed, other special interest groups also hold social functions for presidential candidates. We should always strive to get our message out, even to the enemy. Perhaps this bears repeating:

Mr. Hunter answered questions about immigration, border fence, education, and health care. His answers were not crafted for a Hispanic crowd as many were in the Democratic forum. Mr. Hunter’s answers and remarks were for American Citizens, in the same manner if he had been speaking to any GOP conference anywhere in America.

Sounds like someone attempting to help our cause, not hurt it. Anyone that questions Hunter's motives hasn't done much research on the man. I applaud Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) on his efforts to personally deliver his message to all American citizens!