Hispanics

As Romney Courts Latinos, GOP Cuts Their Services

Sahil Kapur | April 19, 2012, 5:00AM

Exhibit A: Presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney is warning his donors that Republicans must win back Hispanic voters or face "demographic doom."

Exhibit B: House Republicans are pushing policies that disproportionately harm Hispanics.

This study in contrast leaves Republicans on the horns of an election-year dilemma: As they eagerly seek to rebuild bridges with Hispanics, party leaders are simultaneously pushing bills that would make life harder for members of that same community.

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Barack Obama

Obama To Hispanic Voters: 'The Democrats And Your President Are With You'

Benjy Sarlin | July 25, 2011, 1:48PM

President Obama urged Latino voters to stick with Democrats in 2012 in a speech to the National Council of La Raza on Monday, telling them he needed their support to overcome Republican obstruction and pass immigration reform.

"The Democrats and your president are with you," Obama said. "Don't get confused about that. Remember who it is that we need to move in order to actually change the laws."

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2012

Democrats Look To Protect Latino Vote From GOP Outreach

Benjy Sarlin | July 22, 2011, 1:34PM

DNC TV Ad "En quien confiar"

Democrats are looking to put the kibosh on conservative outreach efforts to Latino voters before they start.

The DNC's first major ad buy of the season is a Spanish-language ad running in areas with high concentrations of Latino voters around the country. The new spot comes just two days after the Republican National Committee and Karl Rove's Super PAC, American Crossroads, launched their own ad campaigns aimed at the key Democratic voting bloc in battleground states like Florida and Colorado.

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Latino voters

Democrats Court Hispanic Vote With New Ad

Benjy Sarlin | July 22, 2011, 9:44AM

DNC TV Ad "En quien confiar"

The DNC is up with a new Spanish-language ad in several states highlighting President Obama's record on issues related to the Latino community.

The spot, which focuses on Obama policies like an expansion of SCHIP to legal immigrants, will run in Reno, Las Vegas, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Denver, Albuquerque, and Washington, DC. It includes a dig at Republicans as well, over the House GOP's proposal to end guaranteed Medicare benefits.

Immigration

Obama Tries to Revive Far-Reaching Immigration Reform

Susan Crabtree | May 10, 2011, 6:00AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama will deliver a speech in Texas Tuesday intended to revive interest in a far-reaching approach to immigration, one of the nation's most divisive political issues.

The White House hopes to use the speech to "create a sense of urgency in Congress and the nation," according to a senior administration official. With a divided Congress and fewer advocates for comprehensive immigration than in 2007, the last time Congress tried to push through a comprehensive immigration solution, the speech undoubtedly will do more to reaffirm Obama's commitment to a key voting block in 2012 than to gain any legislative traction on Capitol Hill.

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Latinos for Reform

Univision Pulls Plug On "Don't Vote" Ad Targeted At Latino Reid Voters

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2010, 4:48PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Ben Smith breaks the news that the Spanish-language network Univision will not be airing a controversial segment by the conservative group Latinos for Reform urging Hispanic voters to stay home on election day in Nevada.

"Univision will not be running any spots from Latinos for Reform related to voting," according to network spokeswoman Monica Talan. "Univision prides itself on promoting civic engagement and our extensive national campaigns encourage Hispanics to vote."

Talan also distanced Univision from Robert de Posada, the founder of Latinos for Reform, whom we interviewed here.

Latinos for Reform

Maker Of Ad Telling Latinos Not To Vote Has Long History In GOP (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2010, 1:20PM

The man behind a new Spanish-language ad, encouraging Nevada Latinos not to vote is a veteran of Republican politics and now an advocate for what most would consider conservative, business-friendly immigration policy.

In an interview with TPM, Robert de Posada, founder of Latinos for Reform, said he's become equally disgruntled with both parties. His current goal, though, is to punish Democrats for failing to deliver on a promise to pass comprehensive immigration reform. And his CV includes a long list of affiliations with conservative immigration reform groups.

In 1994, according to de Posada, he helped create the Hispanic Business Roundtable, which later became the Latino Coalition, where he was president until 2007. He served as co-director with Dick Armey on Americans for Border and Economic Security, on George W. Bush's Social Security Commission, and as director of Hispanic affairs at the Republican National Committee until becoming disgruntled with the GOP and settling into conservative advocacy.

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CA-SEN

Carly Fiorina: 'Every Speech Should Begin With A Shot Of Tequila' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 11, 2010, 12:02PM

Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina

Viva California!

Republican Senate nominee Carly Fiorina sure can trill, and both she and gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman seem to be able to hold their liquor.

Friday night at the Hispanic 100 Lifetime Achievement award dinner, the women -- both former CEOs of Silicon Valley businesses -- were captured on video doing tequila shots and getting into the spirit as a mariachi band played.

The video, shot and edited by NBC's John Boxley and NBC's Domenico Montanaro, also portrays Fiorina saying the night had "spoiled" her forever.

"I think every speech should begin with a shot of tequila," Fiorina said, letting out a loud trill.

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