Newt Gingrich Spanish-Language Ad: Mitt Romney Is 'Anti-Immigrant'

Newt Gingrich Spanish-Language Ad: Mitt Romney Is 'Anti-Immigrant'

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Newt Gingrich came out with a Spanish-language ad on Thursday calling fellow GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney "anti-immigrant" and "goes around using Castro phrases," the Miami Herald reported.

The ad is airing on radio stations in Miami. The race for the GOP nomination moves to Florida after South Carolina's primary on Saturday. The ad goes after Romney for his record on a number of issues, putting special attention to his accidental use in 2008 of a phrase often used by Fidel Castro, the dictator of the nation from which many Floridians fled. The phrase is "patria o muerte, venceremos," which translates to "fatherland or death, we shall overcome."

"Unlike Mitt Romney, who goes around using Castro phrases, Newt Gingrich fought against the regime," a voice says in the ad, as translated by the Miami Herald.

Although the ad does not go into immigration issues in depth, Gingrich has taken a softer stance -- if only slightly -- than Romney on the issue. He said he would allow some undocumented immigrants, such as those who have been here for 25 years or more, to stay, but only if approved by a citizen review board. Romney opposes all legalization and said he would veto the Dream Act, a bill supported by most Latinos that would provide legal status to some undocumented young people.

Romney has also been running Spanish-language ads in Florida, including a video featuring his son speaking in Spanish about his father. Romney also won endorsements from prominent Cuban-American politicians from the state, Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart and former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, all of whom have said they disagree with some of his views on immigration.

Gingrich is attempting to move in on Romney's efforts to woo Latino voters before the Jan. 31 primary in Florida.
The Miami Herald translated part of the Gingrich radio ad:

Newt Gingrich is a candidate who has committed himself to the Hispanic people, a Republican in the style of Ronald Reagan with experience. Unlike Mitt Romney, who goes around using Castro phrases, Newt Gingrich fought against the regime alongside Ileana and Lincoln to approve the Helms-Burton law. He supported the creation of Radio and TV Martí and is in favor of prosecuting the Castro brothers for bringing down the Brothers to the Rescue planes. Newt Gingrich has given his word to the Hispanic community in writing and won't let us down.

UPDATE, 7 p.m. -- Romney spokesman Albert Martinez said the ad makes false claims, comparing it to something the Obama campaign would release.

“This ad is false and full of ridiculous claims," Martinez said in a statement. "Mario Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart all stand with Mitt Romney because he has laid out a clear vision for spreading democracy in our hemisphere.

By attacking anyone who supports common-sense border security and immigration reforms as 'anti-immigrant,' Newt Gingrich is once again reading from Barack Obama’s liberal talking points.

Source: Newt Gingrich Spanish-Language Ad: Mitt Romney Is 'Anti-Immigrant'

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UPDATED In Miami, Newt Gingrich goes up on Spanish-language radio bashing Mitt Romney

When Newt Gingrich stopped by WAQI-AM (710), better known as Radio Mambí, last Friday, he promised to soon be on the South Florida airwaves in English and Spanish.

He has followed through, at least in part, airing a Spanish-language ad on some of the most influential radio stations in Miami.

In the piece, a man's voice (not Gingrich) calls Mitt Romney a "liberal" who is "anti-immigrant" and may have "fame" but not be up to the job of president. Perhaps most damning, the ad says, "Mitt Romney goes around using Castro phrases," referring to the 2008 presidential campaign when Romney, campaigning in Miami, mistakenly associated a Fidel Castro slogan with a free Cuba.

Romney talked about Patria o muerte, venceremos -- Fatherland or death, we shall overcome -- a trademark phrase Castro used to close his speeches. Romney's use of the phrase did not sit well with Cuban Americans, who, according to a Miami Herald report at the time, "winced."
The ad also refers to Miami Republicans Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, who have backed Romney but whom Gingrich served with in Congress.

Of course, it might be too little, too late for Gingrich, considering Romney has been on the TV and radio airwaves in Spanish and English for weeks.

Here's the text of the latter portion of the ad. The translation is ours.

Newt Gingrich is a candidate who has committed himself to the Hispanic people, a Republican in the style of Ronald Reagan with experience. Unlike Mitt Romney, who goes around using Castro phrases, Newt Gingrich fought against the regime alongside Ileana and Lincoln to approve the Helms-Burton law. He supported the creation of Radio and TV Martí and is in favor of prosecuting the Castro brothers for bringing down the Brothers to the Rescue planes. Newt Gingrich has given his word to the Hispanic community in writing and won't let us down.

UPDATE: Here's a response from Romney campaign spokesman Alberto Martinez:

"This ad is false and full of ridiculous claims. Mario Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart all stand with Mitt Romney because he has laid out a clear vision for spreading democracy in our hemisphere. By attacking anyone who supports common-sense border security and immigration reforms as 'anti-immigrant,' Newt Gingrich is once again reading from Barack Obama's liberal talking points."

Source: UPDATED In Miami, Newt Gingrich goes up on Spanish-language radio bashing Mitt Romney | Naked Politics

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More signs of Mitt Romney's war chest in action: a South Florida Spanish-language radio ad

Just in case Mitt Romney's primary-mailer operation, television ads and Spanish-language spot weren't enough to show that he's the only Republican candidate with deep enough pockets to seriously compete in Florida, here's another sign: He's also up on Spanish-language radio.

The minute-long ad airing on morning drive-time talk shows features Romney's Spanish-speaking son, Craig, repeating a line from the TV spot: "Mitt Romney believes in our American values because he has lived them, and will fight to restore the greatness of our nation."

A woman's voice then touts Romney's business experience (no mention of Bain Capital) and endorsements from three Miami Republicans:

Mitt Romney knows how to create jobs and has a plan to awaken the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of the United States. Mitt Romney believes in us and is convinced that our best days are ahead of us. That is why Congress members Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mario Diaz-Balart and Lincoln Diaz-Balart are supporting Mitt Romney to be our Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States, and they respectfully ask you to vote for Romney...

Then Romney himself wraps up with a disclaimer: "Soy Mitt Romney y apruebo este mensaje. Muchas gracias."

SOURCE: More signs of Mitt Romney's war chest in action: a South Florida Spanish-language radio ad | Naked Politics