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Thousands of demonstrators march during a May Day immigration rally in this file photo from Los Angeles, California.
With polling showing Mitt Romney getting crushed by President Obama among Latino voters, the presumptive GOP nominee admitted to donors last month that the data "spells doom for us” if the party cannot find ways to reach out to the crucial voting block.
But with the election just six months away, the Republican National Committee’s Hispanic Outreach Director Bettina Inclan told reporters at a briefing Tuesday that the RNC has just begun its effort to find and persuade Latinos to vote for Romney and the rest of the Republican ticket in six crucial states.
Inclan introduced Latino outreach directors for Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Virginia and North Carolina – all battleground states that Obama carried in 2008, with the help of Latino voters.
Analysis of exit poll data from 2008 indicated that without Latino support for Obama, New Mexico and Indiana would have switched into Republican John McCain’s column. But even without those two states, Obama would have still won enough electoral votes to win the White House.
But if Latino voting this November even partly reflects the increase in Latino population in states such as Colorado, North Carolina, and Virginia, then it could be decisive.
Related: RNC official says Romney 'still deciding' on immigration
Inclan said the RNC’s state-specific targeting of Latino voters and potential voters is “unlike anything we’ve done in the past …. Anyone who says we have one plan for all Hispanics doesn’t get the Hispanic community” because Hispanics in Florida differ from Hispanics in Nevada and even within Florida, for example, Hispanics in Miami will differ from those in Orlando. The RNC’s message will be bilingual and tailored to reach specific groups within each state.
When a reporter asked why Arizona, with its large Latino population, wasn’t on the GOP target list Inclan said, “All of our numbers show that it is going to be a Republican state. It’s not one of the battleground states.”
Inclan said “we need to rebuild some of these relationships” with Latino voters. “We need to do better with the Hispanic community because we haven’t done enough to reach out to them, we haven’t done enough to go to Spanish media and talk about issues that impact the Hispanic voter …. We’re not having enough of a conversation on the issues.”
She said the RNC has “a lot of specific data” on “who we have to reach out to” – but she was unwilling to give reporters any specifics about the RNC’s voter targeting strategy or its benchmarks for success in the six battleground states where the outreach directors will be working.
Will it be possible, for example, for Romney to do in New Mexico this November what President George W. Bush did in 2004 – winning the state by about 6,000 votes?
“I can’t give you our entire strategy, but clearly what we’re trying to get is a lot these swing voters, a lot of people who are disappointed with President Obama and trying to bring them over to the Republican Party,” Inclan said.
Stanford University political scientist Gary Segura, who is a principal in the polling firm Latino Decisions, said the RNC faces an exceedingly difficult challenge.
If the RNC tries to find hidden or potential Republican Latinos to register and mobilize, that’s not likely to work, he said. “I don't think there is much in the way of ‘latent’ GOP support that has yet to be tapped,” he said. “Latino Republicans are so exceptional--that is, uncommon--that they are effectively all registered. Those who aren't are demobilized by cross-pressures of ideology and social identity. That problem would have gotten worse, not better, in the last several months.”
Segura said if he were a GOP consultant trying to figure out how to find Latino Republican votes, he would take the 2008 vote percentage of the Latino vote in each precinct, compare it to 2004, and look at places where the precinct was more Republican in 2004 than in 2008, holding the Latino share of the vote constant. “If were them, I would be looking at counties where estimated performance among Latinos got measurably worse from ‘04 to ‘08 and see if you could switch those back.”
But he said the electorate in a state such as New Mexico has changed since 2004 when Bush won. “Eight years is a ton of time in a population whose median age is 27 so there’s a lot of new voters in the system.” He cited one recent estimate that 50,000 Latino citizens turn age 18 every month.
Although much focus has been on illegal immigration and efforts such as Arizona’s S.B. 1070 law to deter it, Inclan said the economy and unemployment will trump the issue of immigration.
“Hispanics are so disappointed with this president. A big reason they are disappointed is how things are going: when Hispanic unemployment is so high, when so many kids living in poverty are Hispanics, the numbers speak for themselves. That’s what’s going to get people riled up.”
But she did slam Obama on immigration, saying Latinos were “incredibly disappointed” with his immigration policy and his failure to persuade Congress to enact immigration reform.
“He talked about uniting families and all he’s done is deport more immigrants than any president in American history,” she said. “It’s another example of how he’s failed the Hispanic community.” Her message on that point seemed to clash with the views of conservative Republicans in Congress who say that immigration laws ought to enforced and those here illegally ought to be deported.
Many Latinos, Inclan said, see Obama as “another politician that promises the world as a candidate and now he becomes president and doesn’t feel the need to make the issues that he promised Hispanics a priority.”
Inclan blundered when she said, of Romney, “My understanding is that he’s still deciding what his stand on immigration is, so I can’t talk about what his proposals are going to be,” a comment she later said on Twitter was a misstatement.
And Inclan pushed back at reporters who focused on immigration during the briefing, arguing that “people continue to pretend that the only thing that Hispanics care about is immigration. Most Hispanics were born here in this country. We are American citizens. While immigration is an important issue, we are American citizens, so to assume the only thing we care about is immigration is false” and “almost insulting.”
Romney said at a Florida fundraising event last month that his party must offer a "Republican DREAM Act," and his potential running mate Sen. Marco Rubio is in the process of drafting such a bill to allow younger illegal immigrants brought to America by their parents to get non-immigrant visas and continue to work and study in the United States.
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I love how you liberals bash Republicans with a bunch of false statements but can never list Obama's accomplishments as President. It's kind of hard to list them because there aren't any that don't involve spending other people's money on frivolous projects, taking credit for Navy Seals or promising the world while delivering a "world" of debt. Liberals cratered this country starting in January of 2007 and the bleeding won't stop until we kick them all out of office.
I wonder why you libs never mention the famous speech when Nancy and her liberal friends took over Congress in Jan. 2007?
"After years of historic deficits, this 110th Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: Pay as you go, no new deficit spending,” Pelosi said in her speech from the speaker’s podium. “Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt."
The debt was 8.6 trillion on that day and now stands at almost 16 trillion. Hmm, so tell me again why anyone would vote for a liberal?
Pelosi has served as speaker in the 110th and 111th Congresses.
You are a tool.
Better to be a "tool" than a fool.
The "God" Reagan increased the debt 275%, a feat Obama isn't even close to.
1. Got OBL
You are right, Reagan increased the national debt from 900 billion to 2.8 trillion in 8 years, he also added 25 million jobs, which you forgot to mention. There is no "god" in politics, only power hungry politicians who care more about getting re-elected than they do about this country.
Higher taxes, more government spending, more entitlements, more Federal programs and more debt aren't going to create prosperity only power for a select few.
son-"Got OBL"! Really, Obama did that all by himself? Funny, I seem to have read that the interrogations starting in 2002, the water-boarding of shiek "whatshisname", the nickname of Osama's courier and ultimately his real name, years of investigations and Seal Team Six "got OBL".
But, here are the REAL numbers. . .
Reagan: plus 14.9 percentage points
GHW Bush: plus 7.1 percentage points
Clinton: down 13.4 percentage points
GW Bush: plus 5.6 percentage points
Obama: plus 24.6 percentage points
Obama is looking pretty bad. From the Washington Post, not Media Matters of Nancy Piglousy
lukewarm,
You missed my point on OBL. I was listing all of Obama's accomplishments over the last 4 years and since he is spiking the football on that one, it is his only one.
While I and most right thinking Americans understand that all Obama did was give his ok and our brave soldiers did the work.
Obama's accomplishments are available to anyone who does their homework. That is a big hurdle for Republicans.
Hey Latinos, don't believe this bullsh-t! THEY DON'T WANT YOU, JUST YOUR VOTES, then they'll tell you to go to hell just like they have done to the 99% American People with their corrupt Republican OIL & FINANCIAL corporates! They stole from us & they are STILL TRYING TO STEAL FROM US!!
Latinos, you are part of the 99% Americans, and you are smart enough to know it! Vote 100% DEMOCRATIC, the lives you save WILL be YOURS & your CHILDREN! BELIEVE IT, BECAUSE IT'S TRUE!!!
TR - if we are smart enough to know it then we do not need the advice from you thank you very much, and it is obvious that you do not think we are smart enough or else you would have not made that post...
and enough of the the whole 1% vs the 99%..how about a little unity there..we all have skin in the game
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL...I can't breath...LOL LOL LOL LOL...LOL LOL LOL...it is too hysterical...LOL LOL LOL...etc etc...
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. ;)))
Why did so many Republicans vote against Sonia Sotomayor? Google "Republicans who voted against Sotomayor" and see all 32 names.
Now they love Latinos. November 7th they'll be calling for more "Papers Please"
Because as she said herself, she is a "product of affirmative action" and admitted that others were more qualified than her and in college she received scholarships in spite of other classmates who outperformed her.
Republicans believe in the most qualified person for the job, Democrats believe in racial division and pandering, that is why they voted FOR her... to be used as a political pawn.
Republicans don't vote for candidates based on race.
It's a sad day when Republicans start engaging in the type of racial pandering that Democrats depend on.
Obama using health care law to court Latinos
"Bucking conventional wisdom that Obamacare is a political liability in November, President Barack Obama's re-election campaign on Tuesday unveiled three new ads targeting Latino voters..."
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-using-health-care-law-court-latinos-170534946.html
The GOP did such a great job wooing the female vote with that wand shoving thing I can't wait to see what gem they come up with for the Latino vote!!
If your dumb ass is too stupid to prevent pregnancy and you are against seeing how developed the fetus is before you have it vacuumed out of your vagina, you are probably a Democrat.
I can't say that the "probe" is all that offensive if you consider the fact that the woman has already had a pelvic exam with a speculum and is about to have a person removed from her vagina. But, logic was never a friend of the left.
Interestingly enough, you can do a sonogram without going through the vagina. But, Democrats clearly do not want anyone to have second thoughts about offing their children.
Obama would probe "anything" if he thought he could find a vote in there!
Ask Larry Sinclair and Donald Young about what Obama likes to probe. Oops, you won't be asking Donald Young since he was murdered before the last election.
@NLoves
Man, the tea potty has just flooded the Vine with trolls lately. NLoves, you just joined and all you do is troll. I hope they aren't paying you. Your hatred and complete lack of logic gives you away. Speaking of away, maybe you should slither back to the Fux boards.
This is pretty sad. A bunch of white leftists who have never heard of a Latino US citizen. There are way too many comments referring to illegals. Do you people live under a rock? There are 4 generations of "legal" hispanic immigrants in my family.
As with most groups, the left thinks they know what's best for Latinos. The life of Julia is not exactly my cup of tea. I will vote straight Republican and encourage all of my family members to do the same.
NOBAMA!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe the Latino's that are U.S. citizen's, should start fighting to protect this Country and quit sympathizing with the illegal's that are sneaking into the U.S. for the entitlements. They are impacting their lives, as well.
We all need to get behind the message, "come in legally, or stay the he!! out"!
a good majority of us do dave.....what happens though is when you run into the situation where a family member is the illegal and as they say "blood is thicker than water"
Now don't get me wrong i fully support tough immigration laws and that you shall do everything in your power to become a citizen
VH, you raise a good point, but something needs to be done. They are bankrupting this Country. 60% of the children in my granddaughters class, don't speak any english. I estimate, by that percentage, that at least half of her class is probably illegal. In addition to a U.S. education, most are given free school supplies, breakfast, lunch and in many cases dinner, to take home with them. They even have a program where they can get free meals over the weekend. Shouldn't these families be sent home so their own government can care for them? ....and we keep asking why our children's education's are deteriorating, when we know damn well why they are. Someone needs to stand up and take charge, before it's too late.
i am a firm believer that at the very least you should learn English..my grandparents did.......and like you i feel that someone does need to take charge and either A) make them become tax paying citizens or B) show them the door no matter nationality..and that is something that i want to stress..but because I grew up in southern California I tend to focus on the Hispanic side...after all not to many Norwegians making the San Diego dash these days...and this is the rub for me, because i am a full believer in tough laws at the same time I have seen the poverty and I can see why a kid takes the food home with them and i will never fault a child for doing that due to it falls on the parents
this is a touchy subject with Hispanics being that for many it hit home...
but at the end of the day I am an American who feels that the free ride needs to stop, it might seem nasty and mean but we have to think of our economy first
"Most Hispanics were born here in this country. We are American citizens."
Hm. Wonder if that is true. Well Mitt is the right person for the job to say what this group wants to hear and then if he became president have an etch-a-sketch moment and change what he said to something else. I believe that Mitt's real feelings about Hispanics was said during the Republican debates. "He cannot have an illegal immigrant working for him because he is running for president."
another leftist who sees no difference between the terms "illegal immigrant" and "hispanic". You are all a bunch of leftist bigots.
as an American of Hispanic descent I find it amusing to see a large group of non Hispanics talking as if they know how we feel or pandering to us as if we are the flavor of the week..and to be fair both parties do this......
we are perfectly able to figure out who we wish to vote for and do not need to dished out promises from either side knowing full well that a great deal of them will never be met due to budget constraints or what other reason pops up...
all of us Americans of Hispanic descent just want a stable economy, jobs and for us to be a whole country once again..
politicians need to stop dividing us into little pockets of constituents and talk to us as a whole...and that is directed to both sides..
so please excuse this term but gringos quit talking for us and acting as if you know what is best for us, believe it or not we can think for our self's
Well put VH Navy! And thank you for your service.
thank you MCA
LOL
Yea, go ahead Latinos, vote for republicans, when they try to make America "lilly white," they'll know where you live and come kick you out.......
Obama/Biden...2012!!
may i make one point if you will - do you realize in the time that Pres Obama has been in office he has deported more illegals than the 8 years Pres bush was in office....just thought i would let you know
so it would appear that illegals have more to fear from a Democrat than a Republican
N loves usa....I have read your rants, and one thing that comes across loud and clear...you may say you love the good ol USA, but you sure are full of hate for its citizens.
As a Latino, I will never vote for Mitt Romney.
Many people say things from anger, political rhetoric etc., they don't mean. It doesn't change the fact that they've spoken the truth. The following impassion speech explains what is going on in Congress. It should be mandatory reading for all Americans as it is just as pertinent today as when it was spoken.
The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit
is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t
pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial
assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal
policies.
And the cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the
Federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing our cities
and States of critical investments in infrastructure like bridges, ports, and
levees; robbing our families and our children of critical investments in
education and health care reform; robbing our seniors of the retirement and
health security they have counted on.
Every dollar we pay in interest is a dollar that is not going to
investment in America’s priorities. Instead, interest payments are a
significant tax on all Americans–a debt tax that Washington doesn’t want to
talk about. If Washington were serious about honest tax relief in this country,
we would see an effort to reduce our national debt by returning to responsible
fiscal policies.
Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally.
Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting
the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and
grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.
Americans deserve better.
I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt
limit.
Sen. Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., (Senate – March 16, 2006)
For you Obama supporters who are looking for an excuse for the above Obama speech, I have one for you.
Obama appeared on Good Morning America and told the audience that this speech was only political rhetoric, but that doesn't change the fact that this speech was telling the truth.
For our States, cities, townships, villages and school districts are all feeling the impact of Obama's debt crises just as he stated they would in this speech.
Anyone want my opinion????? :)
By the looks at your other drival, no we don't.
Oh well,
Ron Paul 2012!!!!!!!! heh heh
Hey, anyone is better than Rommey or Obama LOL
Have a nice day America heh heh
The GOP HATE Latinos unless they are being held in a FOR PROFIT PRIVATE PRISON. Who are these CLOWNS trying to kid, LOL
"Ann and I just love to eat at Taco Bell". "My great grandfather chose to take all his wives to Mexico to live". "Don't you people call you FBI, Federalies?" " A female burro is a burrito and my grandfather rode one."
Why would the 1% hate Latinos? If deported who would cut the grass, pick the veggies, dust the shelves, make the beds in their mansions?
Amazing it is how they can show utter contempt for aliens (legal or illegal) and then expect the same to embrace them come election day. Dream on pubs, dream on.
Here's the Constitutional TEA PARTY immigration reform Americans want: 1) an end to mass LEGAL immigration to the US annually; according to NumbersUSA, over a million more legal immigrants are admitted; and 2) an end to family reunification visas; chain migration refers to the endless and often-snowballing chains of foreign nationals who are allowed to immigrate because the law allows citizens and lawful permanent residents to bring in their extended, non-nuclear family members; and 3) abolish sanctuary city policies and punish all the perpetrators; and 4) improve security over voting and introduce mandatory government photo ID, to cast a vote in all elections; and 5) make it a mandatory felony on stealing or impersonating a U.S. citizen to gain work or use their credit; and 6) Enact mandatory E-Verify nationwide that employers must use or be heavily fined or face imprisonment; and 7) an amendment to the 14th amendment that only children born in the United States, must have at least one parent who is already a citizen, to gain birthright citizenship; and 8) secure our border.
Arizona and a number of other states have been caught up in the illegal alien invasion financially, while other states like California, New York, Nevada who prefer to ignore the consequences forced on them by ‘Unfunded Mandates” by the courts still carry heavy billion dollar deficits. Arizona has been incessantly hit hard by foreign nationals crossing the borders and taking advantage of welfare programs, but the U.S. government has always remained invulnerable to public outcry and believes they are blameless? With Arizona carrying a burden of $2.4 billion payout for uncompensated health care, education and other free assistance programs, that undermines citizen’s rights by pampering elected officials for unwelcome invaders. All 50 states should stand their ground and its legitimate residents should undertake to evict all lawmakers from their seats in the federal or state capitals, and replace them with TEA PARTY leadership.
Mitt Romney better be carefully aware, that part of the deciding vote will depend on the gargantuan TEA PARTY vote. Flip Flopping on any immigration enforcement, could have consequences. He had already inspired thousands of usually non voters by stating that self deportation or ‘Attrition through Enforcement’ would be his illegal immigration banner, so he cannot renege upon this ultimatum. Agricultural and farming owners should pay towards Guest Workers who pick crops and furnish the labor a fair wage and well regulated immigration system of temporary workers and that they must leave when their visa expires. In addition, only a special allowance of the most highly credentialed scientists, engineers of this caliber should be allowed expedited and visa fraud must be eliminated and the culprits held responsible. Such is an example of Senator Grassley outlining concerns of abuse within the H-1B visa program that raises questions about Boeing's use of B-1 visas, to bring Russian contract engineers into the country?
If you cherish your liberty from the corruption in Congress that benefits all of us, we need a balanced tax code with no subsidies, loopholes for corporations, sugar industry or anybody else; a right to drill on the Peoples public lands and sea with its massive reservoirs of oil, natural gas for the consumer and to alleviate our out-of-control 16 trillion dollar deficit. No more government bail outs for the friends of the Oval Office. Throw out all the profiteering lawmakers and clean house; put familiar TEA PARTY leaders in their place. Introduce a waste and reduction law, which begins the process of shrinking the size of government. Voters need to insist from Congress, specifically from GOP House speaker, John Boehner of Ohio and Dave Camp of Michigan, as the Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee to stop blocking the 50-state E-Verify bill. Call the Washington switchboard at 202-224-3121 Washington, DC. For further truth, not propaganda on this crisis matter, check with NumbersUSA website, where even Congress consults on immigration matters.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has introduced a major piece of legislation that would require most employers to use E-Verify within two years of enactment. Large employers, federal, state, and local agencies and federal and state contractors would need to conform within six months. The bill would also make the E-Verify program permanent and reinstate the no-match letter program to help identify the 7 million illegal aliens currently holding non-agriculture jobs. "E-Verify is a flourishing program to help ensure that jobs are reserved for citizens and legal workers," Rep. Smith said. But it’s only on a voluntary basis at this time. It takes just a few minutes to use and easily confirms 99.5% percent of work-eligible employees. There is no other legislation that can be enacted that will create more jobs for American workers." There is a total 79 Sponsors and we need every American, who believes in the “Rule of Law” to aggressively call their Senators and House Representatives to pass this law.
The United States government currently recognizes any person born on American soil as a “natural born” citizen and ignores the Constitutional requirement that one must also be “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States in order to automatically gain citizenship. The U.S. is one of only two industrialized nations (Canada) to still grant automatic citizenship to newborns. Despite several media reports, the U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled on whether or not children born to illegal-alien parents, or to parents visiting the United States with temporary visas, are entitled to birthright citizenship. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) has introduced the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 that would, eliminate the practice of Birthright Citizenship by requiring at least one parent of children born in the United States to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Birthright citizenship for illegal aliens not only rewards illegal immigration and adds to the population growth, it also acts as a “foothold” for illegal-alien family members to remain in the United States and eventually legalize their status. There are 87 Sponsor for the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 (H.R.140) and needs every patriotic American assistance to get this amendment passed.
ARIZONA: "If they are brown, crack down". Arizona, however, was Hispanic before the English hit the Atlantic coast, was wrested from Spain, and was not a state until 1927. I hope it is still a provisional state until it agrees to the U.S. Constitution as primary.
AZ became the 48th state in 1912
Oops. They are 100 years old, and still aren't civilized as a state government.
I wonder where the RNC is looking?
That's another way of saying "We haven't done jack for the man on the street but we haven't forgotten about you!"
Romney is intending to capture the Swedish American vote with free jars of lingonberry jam. He doesn't care about Native Americans because they have a safety net.