A month ago, when Mitt Romney addressed the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials during its annual conference in Orlando, Florida, many thought he was on a path to adopting a more nuanced tone on immigration and coming up with an aggressive strategy to woo Latino voters to his side.
Instead, he lately seems to have adopted U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's messaging strategy, using a version of the Minnesotan's line from the 2008 campaign when she went on a rant about the views of then-Sen. Barack Obama and his wife being "very anti-American."
Romney is not making it easier for Latinos to support him. In fact, the strategy will continue alienating this critical demographic group, along with independents and women.
Maria Cardona
We heard former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, one of Romney's top surrogates, use similar language on Tuesday.
"I wish this president would learn how to be an American," he said.
Granted, he apologized for it later that day, but the subtext is still there. Romney himself is using a version of the line when he says that Obama's way of doing things seems "foreign." To many voters, that is code for "un-American."
Sununu apologizes for anti-Obama remarks Bachmann's unproven claim about Abedin
Repeat offender Rush Limbaugh has also been making headlines.
On Monday he declared, "I think it can now be said without equivocation" that Obama "hates this country." And Republicans don't seem to be in a hurry to admonish him or distance themselves from those statements. Romney has not responded.
To be clear, as a Democrat, I am not surprised or complaining that the GOP is resorting to such low levels. As for House Speaker Tip O'Neill was fond of saying, "Politics ain't beanbag."
As a political strategist, however, I find this new tactic reckless and dangerous for a political party that needs to broaden its base of support to win -- among independents, women and especially Latinos. This kind of language will do the opposite.
As an American Latina born in Colombia, I recoiled at this language, the same way I did in 2008 when Bachmann used it. It reminds me -- and I suspect it reminds many other Latinos in this country -- of the lengths to which many in this Republican Party have gone to marginalize those who represent the new and changing demographics in the United States.
Given that experts say Romney needs at least 40% of the Latino vote to win, this is an odd strategy for someone who enjoys Latino support in the low 20s. Contrast that to the effort going on in the Obama campaign to continue speaking to Latinos about the issues they care most about.
For example, I recently moderated a chat between first lady Michelle Obama and Latina moms from Mamiverse.com, a website for bilingual/English-dominant Latina moms.
It was a masterful political stroke by the Obama campaign. In half an hour, through this historic live chat, they demonstrated they understood just how important the voices of Latina mothers were going to be this election cycle and how critical that would be to Obama's re-election in this very tight race.
Obama won 67% of the Latino vote in 2008. A few months ago, I would have said it would be a big challenge for him to repeat those numbers, especially given some disappointment among Latinos about the president's not being able to deliver on immigration reform, as well as his record on deportations. But he is now on track to gain the same amount, if not more, of the Latino vote.
This week, Latino Decisions released a poll that gives Obama 70% of the Latino vote to Romney's 22%, the highest support the president has enjoyed from the Latino community to date. If those numbers hold, it will be very hard for Romney to win the election.
This jump in support is a clear sign that the Obama campaign is doing a much more aggressive job of reminding Latino voters what this president has done to help Latino children and families get ahead:
-- Health care reform gives 9 million Latinos and millions of Hispanic children with pre-existing conditions life-saving coverage.
-- The Recovery Act has kept 1.9 million Latinos out of poverty, and the president's actions to create 4.5 million jobs include millions of new jobs for Latinos.
-- Obama has passed 18 tax cuts for small businesses that benefit hundreds of thousands Latino entrepreneurs.
-- Obama's support for Pell Grants gives 150,000 additional Hispanic students the chance to go to college.
-- A $5 billion investment in the Head Start program benefits hundreds of thousands of Latino children who are more than one-third of Head Start participants.
-- Extensions of the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and unemployment benefits help 5.4 million Latino families, including 11.3 million Latino children and nearly 1 million Hispanics who didn't lose their unemployment benefits.
-- And facing the "party of 'no'" on immigration, Obama has given temporary relief to almost 1 million "dreamers" -- undocumented kids who came here through no fault of their own and know no other country to call their own. They will be able to study or join the military without the threat of deportation.
But Obama is getting some help from the GOP as well.
The Romney campaign's attacks on Obama as being less than all-American and "foreign" will bring to mind everything the GOP has said and done in the past to make Latinos feel unwelcome in their own country.
For example, it will bring vivid memories of Kris Kobach, architect of the harsh Arizona SB1070 law, Romney's own "self-deportation" comments that won him the not-so-honorary title of being the most right-wing GOP presidential candidate on immigration, U.S. Rep. Steve King's remarks comparing immigrants to dogs and GOP Kansas State Rep. Virgil Peck's comments on fixing immigration by shooting immigrants from helicopters like feral pigs.
What's worse for the GOP is that not one national GOP leader has strongly condemned such voices. Some Republicans now, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, warn their own party members they must change their tune.
Will these elected officials and party elders now warn their party about the danger of taking Bachmann's lead on messaging in this new line of attack against Obama? They should.
But Democrats probably won't lose any sleep if they don't.
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The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Maria Cardona.
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Showing 25 of 4767 comments
abby0802
From the very night that Obama was elected the Republicans have had one agenda: make sure Obama is not re-elected. Republicans like O'Connell has publicly and explicitly said that that has been the goal of the GOP. It's ALL about power and money. Nothing more, nothing less.
What the GOP wants is to destroy the Obama administration at all costs by all means fair and foul and if America and the American people suffer, so be it. The GOP does not care. All they want is power.
Like Reply
4 days ago 1042 Likes
huntjumpp
if there is any party that is un-american, it is the GOP. Destroying the middle class and using bigots like Rush Limbaugh as mouthpieces for the party. GOP will lose bad this election, they won't learn either. They will chalk it up to the "invasion" of non-whites and how this country is being ruined by dark people. They wont say that, at least not publicly. Talk to a staunch conservative, they are often the most racist, vile people. not all, but lots
Like
4 days ago in reply to abby0802 730 Likes
mikeyboy
It's not all about power and money. There is another important element: the effort to exploit the ever present racial bigotry without using overt racist rhetoric.
Like
4 days ago in reply to abby0802 398 Likes
Taxtruth
Spot On! The die-hard GOP-ers cannot bring themselves to believe the basic facts of the GOP clown show the beginning of this year brought us... Bachman, Cain, Perry... They refuse to accept that lunacy, and now embrace Mittens while holding their noses. So pathetic.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 132 Likes
cyberidian
I don't see any evidence that the GOP cares about the American people. They have prevented recovery from the recession to make Obama look bad. If they win this election, they will make decisions good for the ultra rich and could careless about anyone else! I think people will look back and see Obama as a great President. I sure hope he is re-elected. I think he could turn this country around if he wasn't blocked by the GOP. The GOP cares about ultra-rich white men only.
Like
2 days ago in reply to abby0802 100 Likes
miclyn1
Americans are sick of the Bullies= Tea Party Bigots= Joe Wilson S.C. and Birthers=
Trump that are running the Republican Party. If they stay on this path they are doomed.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 104 Likes
mogran
No, the GOP and me want Obama replaced by a president with our country's interest at heart.
Like
4 days ago in reply to abby0802 147 Likes
thanksforreading
In reply to mogran below.
Don't you find it ironic, that in response to an editorial on how the GOP is using race baiting and ignoring minorities and immigrants, that your response did not even use proper English? You can google "ironic" to see what it means.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 104 Likes
whybs
24% of '08 voters are birthers (50% of GOP). By not disavowing them, the GOP are extremists.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 78 Likes
Bruce Lee
The GOP is a dying breed, their tent is getting smaller and smaller. They keep talking to themselves, getting louder and louder, on Fox and talk radio,but they're down now to their core tea party crowd. There is no new blood coming from anywhere - they're only hope for more members is ignorance, lack of education, hate and fear. That's not a bad bet, but no way to build a nation. They will be gone in a generation.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 64 Likes
casper191985
@focker48 if u think that the United States doesn't need the government already, then let me take your wick away, let me take your grand parents social security, and medicare/medicaid, let me cash in your unemployment checks, and buy groceries on your food stamps.. oh and when you accidentally start a fire in your house, don't call the fire department.. let me come and I'll wash it away =)
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 59 Likes
Ian82
And it's a good thing. Any president whose economic policy is: give productivity to those who don't/can't/won't generate it themselves is doomed to fail the entire electorate (cycle of poverty anyone?). Except the freeloaders, of course.
Like
4 days ago in reply to abby0802 85 Likes
camprc
Wrong, Abby. What the GOP, and all intelligent Americans, want, is a president who can articulate his views without a Teleprompter.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 45 Likes
jh1289
I don't give one whit about teleprompters. I want a president that cares about working class Americans. Does Obama? I don't know, but I'm certain Mitt Romney isn't that man.
Like
2 days ago in reply to camprc 59 Likes
GoldenEagle9
Getting rid of Obama is what will save America.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 47 Likes
heresthecheese
Focker48 then how do you explain the bailouts? Was that a reward for business sucess? Did they invest 'real' blood, sweat and tears? Nope. And they never have. There is a reason that there is FDIC insurance - can you figure out what reason that is? Trust issues, maybe? History proving a need? You and your kind are on a 'soon-to-be' consumed list: Be it the effects of global warming - drought, higher food prices, etc...- or outright FRAUD by big banks like Barclays, with people like Madof nibbling on our thighs - scattered throughout. It's just a matter of time. And that window will close.
The Latino bubble - is just one piece. Just look around you. Or not. Beware, either way.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 47 Likes
DM0009
Actually, Obama is the one that wants more and more power. He recently passed immigration and welfare policy without going through congress. He uses executive privilege that he once criticized. He also has raised and spent more money on the campaign than Romney. Call it like it is please.
Like
1 day ago in reply to abby0802 9 Likes
Biotechdev
Obama proposed ONE jobs bill that the GOP didn't like because it was just another stimulus. The GOP in the House have passed 25+ jobs plans - Obama and Reid have blocked these bills from even coming to DEBATE on the Senate floor.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 39 Likes
fred37ify
Not true at all ! When Barrack told the GOP they had to go sit in the back - Was when the GOP said they would make him one term ! That was a direct insult to the GOP and over half of America ! In November you will see !
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 38 Likes
Biotechdev
Your post makes no sense
Like
3 days ago in reply to fred37ify 47 Likes
carolk9064
After any election, the party out of power immediately focuses on how to get the position back. If this were not so, there would be little point of having more than one party. This is such a mundane observation, it is surprising the Democrats are still using it.
Obama is the most power hungry president we've ever had. He has used his executive power to put in place over 800 laws that bypassed the congress. He has illegally bypassed the congress on several decisions that have been serious enough to begin impeachment proceedings. He does not care about this county nor does he care about the people. He listens to no voice but his own, and follows no agenda but for the one he is committed to, and be assured it does not include your welfare or mine.
Like
1 day ago in reply to abby0802 7 Likes
BigInMemphis
Abby - The cure for coolaid poisoning is jobs. Do you honestly think that 4 more years of Obama will fix our country? No, it will kill us completely. Obama had enormous political capital and a congress unified around the terror created by bankers; Obama chose corruption with the stimulus. Then he spent the next year pushing the worst piece of legislation in American history.
This election is about a "Hand Up" versus a "Hand Out". And we all know where the latter ends up (Greece).
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 24 Likes
Nick Jackson
abby0802,
Yes, the gop has been trying to ensure that Obama is not re-elected.
Why? lets think about it for a minute. First, health care. Nevermind the
immediate effects of it, such as forcing small businesses to slow down
hiring because they cant afford the extra cost, but think of it in legal
precedent terms. The government has and always will be moving toward
grasping more power from its citizens, as this is human nature to grasp
for more power. Now the government has the ability to tax people for not
going along with what the government wants, which vastly increases the
governments ability to CONTROL the individual. Not to mention over half
the country wishes for its repeal, yet Obama is still forcing it down
our throats.
Then there was the stimulus, which did absolutely nothing.
Now he is trying to get rid of the work...
show more
Like
2 days ago in reply to abby0802 14 Likes
Commojoe
Abby, if you haven't noticed, politics IS nothing but power and money. You think Bozobama is in this for FUN and the vacation? This diehard liberal idealogue has done nothing but pursue big-government takeover of everything since he lied his way into office, promising some ethereal "hope and change" . How's THAT working for you, with OVER 8% unemployment (a point Bozobama promised we'd NEVER reach if the porkulus bill was passed) as far as the eye can see?
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 16 Likes
lds2000
you've said it all bro. The racist only see but they don't perceive.
Like
3 days ago in reply to abby0802 11 Likes
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