Thread: Republicans say no to Hispanic gathering

Republicans say no to Hispanic gathering
June 11, 2007

By BETH REINHARD
breinhard@MiamiHerald.com
All of the Republican presidential contenders have turned down an invitation to speak in Orlando to the nation's largest gathering of Hispanic elected officials, at a time when their constituents are poised to be a powerful force in the 2008 election.

Making the GOP field's absence particularly conspicuous, all of the leading Democratic candidates are planning to address NALEO, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, on June 30. The Republicans were asked to participate in a forum the previous day.

About 1,000 Hispanic leaders, representing the fastest-growing part of the electorate, are expected at the conference. Hispanic voters could be particularly influential this year because of their strong presence in big states that have scheduled early presidential primaries, including Florida and California.

''If you're a candidate for president, this is the gold mine of Hispanic support,'' NALEO's senior director of programs, Marcelo Gaete, said Monday.

Three of the highest-ranking Republicans in Florida -- U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, Gov. Charlie Crist and House Speaker Marco Rubio -- are scheduled to address the group. Republican state Rep. Juan Zapata of Miami, who serves on NALEO's board, lobbied for the annual conference to be held in Florida for the first time in a decade.

''The Republican presidential candidates turning their back on this event is kind of shameful,'' said Zapata, who represents a heavily Republican Cuban-American district. ``Politically, it could have been huge for us. I want to know why they're not coming.''

Representatives for Rudy Giuliani and John McCain confirmed that they were not attending the conference. The McCain campaign issued a written statement that read: ``Unfortunately, Sen. McCain's schedule will not allow him to attend. . . . With that said, Sen. McCain's campaign is taking his common sense conservative message, which includes spending restraint, strong national security addressed in comprehensive immigration reform and support for traditional values, directly to all Americans, including Hispanics.''

A spokeswoman for the other leading Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, did not return a call late Monday.

NALEO announced Monday that nearly all of the Democratic candidates -- Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Dennis Kucinich -- will participate in a two-hour forum. Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, is the only Hispanic in the race.

The absence of the GOP field comes at a time when the national debate over immigration has divided the party. Martinez, who also serves as general chairman of the Republican National Committee, criticized Giuliani and Romney last week for opposing a plan to legalize millions of undocumented workers.

Martinez helped craft the legislation, which collapsed in the Senate last week. McCain came to the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables earlier this month to deliver a speech defending the proposal.

The presidential candidates from both parties have also been invited to come to Miami for the first presidential debates to be conducted entirely in Spanish. Univision, the nation's highest-rated Spanish-language network, will broadcast the forums in September. So far, only Richardson and Dodd -- who both speak Spanish -- have accepted.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breakin ... 36491.html

The presidential candidates from both parties have also been invited to come to Miami for the first presidential debates to be conducted entirely in Spanish.

I cannot believe this...

NALEO announced Monday that nearly all of the Democratic candidates -- Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Dennis Kucinich -- will participate in a two-hour forum. Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, is the only Hispanic in the race.

Yeah, they'll all be down their kissing butt and pandering for votes. All taking place at a forum conducted in SPANISH. Tells us what these Democrats think of America and the English language. Collectively, they are not worth a bucket of warm spit.

I am surprised McCain won't be there. He is such a big sellout and Hispanic ass kisser.