Published: Jan. 20, 2012 Updated: 3:09 p.m.

Republican Latinos want more to join them

But while they embrace many GOP values, they criticize many Republicans on immigration reform.

By MARTIN WISCKOL
COLUMNIST
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
mwisckol@ocregister.com

Latinos seem only to enter the Republican primary dialogue when it comes to illegal immigration, but that will change for at least a few hours Thursday when the Hispanic Leadership Network co-sponsors a GOP debate in Jacksonville, Florida.

The year-old, right-leaning HLN is made up of accomplished Latinos eager to spread their business success to others in the community – and to bring more Latinos into the GOP fold. In 2008, Barack Obama outpolled John McCain among Latinos by more than 2-1, according to the Pew Research Center.

"We get to the immigration issue and that's where the problems start," said HLN's Mario Rodriguez, a San Clemente businessman and a former vice chairman of the California Republican Party. "A certain faction of the Republican Party is wrong on this. When you start attacking illegal Hispanics, you hit at the heart of Hispanics who are here legally as well. It's the most personal issue."

Mitt Romney's position that all immigrants in the country illegally should first leave before being considered for legal residency may play well among some in the non-Latino Republican base, but it's not endearing him to Latinos. Newt Gingrich, on the other hand, has won over some Latinos in part because of his proposal to allow a path to legal residency without leaving the country.

"We as a Republican Party have a real opportunity on the national level and it's time for us to step up and do the right thing," said Rodriguez, a Gingrich backer.

Latinos' GOP friends

HLN's Rosario Marin, who was U.S. treasurer under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003, agreed that some of the Latino rhetoric is offensive. But she argues that while Democrats may talk a good game to Latinos, it's Republicans who have actually walked the walk. Marin's list starts with Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the war that turned a large chunk of Mexico into the southwest United States and in the wake of the war developed a positive relationship with Mexico and President Benito Juarez.

Marin points out that it was Ronald Reagan who signed into law the 1986 immigration reform that gave a path to legal residency for most of those in the country illegally. She applauds George W. Bush for appointing far more Latinos to top jobs than any of his predecessors and for supporting proposed immigration reform that would provide a path to legalization.

"It's Republicans who've improved the lives of Latinos," said the Huntington Park resident. "I grew up in a Latino family where you were responsible for yourself. Personal responsibility, self determination, self empowerment. Those are Republican values."

Rodriguez agreed and, like Marin and many Latinos on both sides of the aisle, pointed out the Obama has fallen short on his 2008 campaign call for immigration reform.

"Obama has promised a lot to the Hispanic community and he hasn't delivered," he said. "There's an opportunity for Republicans."

Latino trends

Florida, where Thursday's debate takes place, is a rare region of the country where Latinos favor Republicans. While those with roots in most Latin American countries tend to favor Democrats, Cuban Americans have traditionally favored Republicans – in good measure because of historical anti-Communist positions of the GOP. Florida is home to the largest population of U.S. Cuban Americans.

All four of Florida's Latino Congress members are Republicans and are of Cuban descent. In California, there are six Congress members descended from Latin America – all are Democrats and all have Mexican roots.

Read the Register special report, "The GOP's immigration problem."

Contact the writer: 714-796-6753 or mwisckol@ocregister.com

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