Watch Senator Marco Rubio’s State of the Union GOP response in Spanish.
Senator Rubio is the first person to provide an opposition response in both English and Spanish. Yet, this is not the first time the GOP provides a Spanish rebuttal to the State of the Union:
Read the full text of Sen. Marco Rubio’s Republican address to the nation as prepared for delivery and provided by his office. Text in both languages – Spanish and English – after the jump. (more…)
The Republican candidates for President will focus on national security issues tomorrow in a debate co-hosted by The Heritage Foundation and CNN. The debate will air on CNN and CNN en Español, Tuesday, November 22 at 8PM ET.
The Heritage Foundation has created special pages for the debate in English and Spanish that include topics likely to be covered at the debate by the GOP candidates. Check out: http://foundry.org/debate/
Heritage is encouraging viewers to host or join a debate watch party. Interact with The Heritage Foundation on Facebook as they gauge which foreign policy issues matter most to conservatives via their Facebook polls: http://on.fb.me/sRU5vZ
Interested in getting content in Spanish/ Español?
Visit Heritage Libertad, www.libertad.org, which will include updated Spanish language content on the debate and has a great run-down on the topics:
“La Fundación Heritage, el American Enterprise Institute (AEI) y la CNN se complacen en anunciar que el debate presidencial sobre política exterior y seguridad nacional, coauspiciado por la Fundación Heritage, se llevará a cabo este martes 22 de noviembre en Washington DC.
Este debate es un hito para Heritage y el AEI y será transmitido en vivo a nivel nacional a las 8 pm (ET) en CNN, CNN en Español y para todo el mundo a través de CNN Internacional, CNN Radio yCNN.com. El moderador será el periodista Wolf Blitzer.
En preparación para el evento, estamos publicando una recopliación de artículos que tocan temas prioritarios en política exterior para la seguridad nacional y la defensa de Estados Unidos…” READ MORE
To get more information follow Israel Ortega, Editor of Libertad.org on Twitter: @IzzyOrtega
Telemundo will host its first-ever Republican presidential debate in Nevada this December. The Spanish-language network will broadcast the debate in prime time from Las Vegas. Telemundo news anchor José Díaz-Balart will host the debate, which will focus on a variety of topics, including the economy, health, immigration and education policies.
According to a press release from Telemundo, “the network has invited the Republican Presidential candidates to establish a direct dialogue with the Hispanic community and address the issues that matter to them at a critical time in our country.”
The battle-ground state of Nevada, one of the first states to vote in the Republican primary season, has a large Latino population. (Pew Hispanic Center Nevada Profile)
Politico’s “On The Media” blog reported the news of the debate:
“…Telemundo is pitching the debate as an open dialogue between the Latino community and Republican candidates. The state’s population is about 27 percent Latino. The economy will likely be a focal topic as well, with Nevada’s unemployment rate the highest in the nation, topping 13 percent. (more…)
In an interview with Univision’s Sunday morning politics show, “Al Punto,” U.S. Congressman and GOP presidential candidate, Ron Paul, discussed his views on immigration reform, Mexico and connecting with Latinos. When asked if his views might not appeal to the growing Hispanic electorate, Paul said he was not going to “kowtow” to Latino voters.
According to a report by ABC News, Paul shrugged off any worries that his message might not appeal to Latino voters who are concerned about immigration reform.
“For me to think I need to have a different message for Hispanics than I do for other people, I think that’s unnecessary. I think Hispanics have as much interest in freedom as everybody else…” said Paul. “I don’t want to punish anyone because they belongs to a group, and nobody should get special privilege either.”
Paul said that illegal immigrants shouldn’t be given any special route to citizenship. Paul told the show’s host, Jorge Ramos, he did not support mass deportation or amnesty, but suggested a program that offers illegal immigrants the possibility to earn a work permit and fold them into the American system legally.
“If everyone who comes illegally is automatically given citizenship, a vote, and can apply for welfare, that would not be good format because we would have more of it,” said Paul. Addressing the 11 million currently in the country Paul said, “you have to work out a program of assimilation, but you can’t just say borders don’t count and people should be rewarded for breaking the law.”
The Texas Congressman also discussed his interpretation of the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, adding that children born to illegal immigrants are not under the jurisdiction of U.S. government and should not be granted automatic citizenship. (more…)
Great piece with lots of juicy stats on Hispanics and the Latino electorate: “…Hispanics represent about 9% or 10% of the electorate, but in key states can make up 12% to 16% of voters, and as much as 35% of the voting population. And they’re not as interested in the immigration issue as politicians appear to believe they are.
“They’re more interested in the economy, jobs, education, government waste and higher taxes,” Mr. Mellman said. “Language is also important. A large percentage of the swing voters — one-third or more — is Spanish dominant. A relatively small group only watches English-language media, and even they think it’s important to advertise on Spanish-language media. They say that’s a sign of respect for their community.”
Reacting to the accelerated GOP Primary calendar, the Nevada caucuses may move up to January, getting ahead of Florida. Nevada has a growing Latino population, and estimated 14% of eligible Nevada voters are Hispanic: “Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and Georgia businessman Herman Cain have been working Nevada for months in advance of the caucuses. They’ve hired campaign staffs, opened offices and assembled networks of volunteers. The other candidates are starting to follow, mindful of the huge fundraising and popularity bump that comes with winning one of the three states that kick off the voting.”
Top Florida Hispanic Republicans are calling on the national GOP and their party’s presidential candidates to boycott a proposed Univision debate amid allegations that Spanish-language television network Univision tried to “extort” Sen. Marco Rubio. The GOP leaders sent this open letter to the Republican National Committee. READ MORE.
Former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart endorsed Thad McCotter for President. The two served in Congress and share a strong anti-communist conviction. In a video endorsement, in Spanish, Lincoln Diaz-Balart details the reasons why he is supporting the Michigan Congressman’s bid for the Republican nomination for President. The video is prominently featured on McCotter’s new Spanish version of his website: http://mccotter2012.com/inicio/
Lincoln Diaz-Balart opens the video discussing the important role the United States of America has played in our global history. Diaz-Balart states that he worries about the future of the America. Yet, what give him hope is that each time our nation has been in danger, a great leader has risen to save the United States of America, and that is why he has joined the Thad McCotter for President campaign. Diaz-Balart describes McCotter as a man who understands the reality of today’s threats, as well as the exceptionalism of America. He goes on to commend McCotter saying he has specific solutions to fix our economy and ensure a prosperous and free America for generations to come. The former Miami Congressman, goes on to ask others to join him in supporting McCotter for President.
Even with Diaz-Balart’s support, it is unlikely the endorsement will make a difference in Florida’s primary, or in his overall bid for President. McCotter has not meet the 1% support in the polls threshold the network and other sponsors required to be included in televised debates. McCotter will not be listed in this weekend’s Florida Straw Poll or featured in tomorrow’s Fox News/Google debate in Orlando. He will speak at FL CPAC.
UPDATE:
Well that was fast….Thad McCotter has dropped his bid for President. He will continue his efforts to be re-elected to Michigan’s 11th Congressional District.
In an email to supporters he writes:
“The time has come for the Tea Party and the Republican Party to come together to serve and save this great nation. Thus, upon having withdrawn my candidacy, I have endorsed Governor Mitt Romney to become our Republican Party’s nominee. We must unite behind the candidate best capable of defeating Barack Obama on November 6, 2012—Mitt Romney is that candidate.”
This past weekend California Republicans gathered in Los Angeles for their Fall convention. Among the chatter of who would run for Senate and which candidate would capture the Presidential GOP nomination, many activists were focused on how to grow the Party. The convention’s agenda included a forum focusing on Asian-Americans and a Latino town-hall.
My view at the CA GOP Latino Town-hall tweeted from @BettinaInclan
Saturday’s Latino town-hall was a first for the California GOP, who under the new direction of chairman Tom Del Bacarro, has undertaken a statewide effort to remake the image of the Republican Party through local town-halls and an aggressive media strategy. The town-hall conversation was moderated by popular Spanish-language media host Santiago Lucero of Univision’s Voz y Voto. It featured a variety of panelists including grassroots activist Luis Alvarado of Los Angeles and City of Downey councilman Mario Guerra. (pictured below)
A main theme throughout the event was the need to have a consistent message and a long-term relationship between Latinos and the Republican Party. Emphasis was made that Latinos are not a monolithic voting bloc and they are not single issue voters. Various panelists and attendees discussed the need to discuss the tone of the immigration debate, and the need to expand the conversation on issues like the economy and education.
It’s no secret the California Republican Party has had a complicated relationship with the state’s Latino voters. In the past, the Party has not adapted to the growing Latino community, which represents almost a quarter of the electorate. Those numbers will only continue to grow, as more than half of California children are Latino, according to the latest U.S. census.
As the Hispanic population has risen, the GOP registration has declined. Republicans now account for 31 % of registered voters, compared to 44 % for Democrats and about 20 % for independents. The reality of the problem facing California Republicans in connecting with Latinos is in the numbers, as SF Chroncile’s Joe Garofoli correctly points out “Key fact: No Republican Latinos hold statewide office or serve in the Legislature. El bupkis.”
Many in the California GOP are working hard to improve the relationship with the Latino community and establishing streams of communication for a long-term inclusion effort. Other activists are taking matters in their own hands, establishing independent organizations to create a farm team of Latino leaders to run for elected office. Read more about the town-hall event here:
Today’s Politco’s “Morning Score” reports on a new round of ads by the Republican National Committee (RNC). This fourth round of ads in the RNC’s “Change Direction” campaign features a 30-second spot depicting a little girl watching the news at the end of Obama’s second term in 2017. The ad continues the RNC’s focus on the failing economy saying: “Eight years ago we were promised hope… Today many believe their American dream has been lost.”
The spot is airing in key battle ground (toss-up) states Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Florida and Virginia, along with a Spanish-language radio buy in Florida focused on Hispanic voters.
During a conference call with Florida reporters, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus discussed the importance of the Hispanic vote and Florida voters. The Miami Herald reports:
“Polls show that Hispanic voters are leaving the Democratic Party “in droves,” and the DNC is afraid, said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus…”It’s clear that this president’s failed economic policies have Hispanic voters looking for a change of direction,” he said. “It’s obvious that this president, while in love with his own voice, is not in love with following through oh his promises. No matter your background, that truth is known across the country.”
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) appeared on Telemundo’s national news show “Enfoque” this past Sunday. The Spanish language interview, with anchor Jose Diaz-Balart, discusses the national debt crisis, cutting spending, immigration, and the Dream Act.
This morning the DNC went up with a large Spanish-language ad buy defending President Barack Obama’s policies to the Latino community. It is a direct response to the Crossroads GPS Spanish-language ad buy now playing in various Hispanic populous states across the country.
The Daily Grito has a translation of the Spanish ad here.
The RNC and Crossroads have been aggressively working to communicate with the Latino community this cycle. Both groups have released ads in Spanish, highlighting the bad economy and President Obama’s broken promises. READ MORE
The DNC ad will air on broadcast television in Denver; Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, Fla.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; and Washington, D.C. — cities also targeted by the Spanish-language American Crossroads spot, which started airing in Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. The regions targeted are critical swing states with growing Hispanic populations.
“This ad is a desperate attempt by Democrats to save face in light of the GOP’s successful messaging within the Hispanic community. Whether it is the economy, the debt debate, or the Hispanic community, the White House is consistently playing defense because of the failed policies and miscues from President Obama. More scare tactics and political theatrics from a party and President who know all too well that they have failed to deliver on their campaign promise of putting Americans back to work. Voters, especially Hispanic voters, know that they cannot afford four more years of President Obama,” said RNC spokesperson Victoria Martinez.
Martinez also pointed out that the unemployment rate for Hispanics has jumped from 9.9 percent to 11.6 percent since Obama took office.
Enjoying the adventure called life as I travel the country and attempt to make sense of politics, Republicans, pop culture and people through the eyes of a Latina ...
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