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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