This is part one of three-part series on the 2012 US Presidential Election and the Latino Vote. In this edition, we look into the Republican National Convention and their efforts to attract Latinos, a demographic they have struggled to gain from Democrats.
With the Republican National Convention (RNC) done for another four years, one could not miss the various themes celebrated during the last few days, and one is the attracting Hispanics.
More than ever before, Hispanic speakers and visual presentations were featured this year, from the first female Hispanic governor, a Senate candidate in Texas, and even Mitt Romney's son Craig.
It is not the first time the nation has seen Craig thrust to speak to Hispanics. He previously was seen in a Spanish-language advertisement promoting his family's background and his Mexican traits.
It is unclear if he is the only Romney offspring that is capable of speaking the Spanish language but he was given the spotlight again on Thursday.
It is possible each Hispanic speaker was given a role to gain a Hispanic's trust, as many spoke about immigration, economic struggles, and healthcare. Craig Romney, he commented on the immigration issue.
"It's easy to forget that the story of my father's success begins with the story of two immigrants - my grandfathers - who came to this country with little more than hope in the opportunity of America."
According to the Florida-Times Union, Florida Senator Marco Rubio is fully aware of the struggles the GOP must overcome to attract Hispanics.
He said, "The challenge that I have posed to my friends in the conservative movement and the Republican Party is: we can't simply be the anti-illegal immigration party," Rubio said. "We have to become the pro-legal immigration party."
At the RNC, Rubio, who many consider as the next leader for the Republican Party, stuck to attracting Hispanics stating Lincoln and Reagan share the same values that Hispanics share.
Continuing with the Romney family, Mitt's wife Ann also spoke to attract the Hispanic women.
As Latinos Post reported, Ann stated, "I spoke to women. I wanted women to understand how important this election is for their children. As I was sitting backstage, I was thinking how important for the Latino community this election is. They are mistaken if they think they are going to be better off with Barack Obama as president. The simplest way I can say this, if Mitt Romney wins, America wins."
For Ann, her statements can be considered different as the GOP is using her to "humanize" her husband for looking "stiff," "cold," and lacking personality.
She would add on about her trip to Puerto Rico and have "the most rocking time" while attending a political rally in the island.
"You people know how to party. It was crazy," said Ann. "It was a wonderful chance to peek into a culture, and vibrancy and energy and passion that I saw from that little island - that is really what represents the best of America. It is what you give to this country. A vibrancy. A color. A fabric of family and joy that anyone that's near your community recognizes that and feels it just coming from you."
To some Hispanics, being known just for knowing "how to party" won't work. The struggles will continue after a range of miscommunication led to a Puerto Rican representative to be hounded by "USA" chants and boos. Although the patriotism can be right, it led many to believe it was hate towards the Puerto Rican community and minorities.
Most speculated that many of the white Republicans with cowboy hats were opposing the female Puerto Rican speaker, Zori Fonalledas, but the actual problem was from Ron Paul supporters who were complaining their votes and voices weren't counted.
It was simply a bad timing moment for it to happen and even caused the Republican National Committee Chair Reince Preibus demanding for decorum and respect.
The RNC wasted no time in clarifying the confusion.
"During today's Republican Convention Committee Reports, the Ron Paul followers exercised their right to free speech and protested the report by the Committee on Credentials. The Report by the Chairwoman of the Permanent Organization Committee followed. The protesters continued their boisterous protest of the Credentials Report which spilled over to the rest of the proceedings," the RNC said in a statement. "To be clear, the attempt to disrupt the proceedings had to do with the report, not the Puerto Rico National Committeewoman. Puerto Rico and its delegation play a very important role in this Convention, and are an integral partner in the National Committee."
And it wasn't all bad for Puerto Ricans as their Governor Luis Fortuno delivered what many considered a great speech.
Fortuno spoke on Wednesday and stated how Puerto Ricans, over 200,000, have served and defended the US.
"Like in your home states, we raise and salute the American flag. Just like our fellow citizens in Florida or Virginia, we share the same undying spirit that all Americans have."
Fortuno would transition his speech to how Romney and Paul Ryan will fix the economy.
"[Romney and Ryan] understand that each community's challenges are unique, but the answers are the same. Our families cannot grow their budgets if politicians keep growing Washington's budget. Get government out of our way, and let freedom and the spirit of the American people shine through. We can out-think, out-dream, out-work, and out-produce anybody in the world. I know it, you know it, and Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan know it," said Fortuno.
The first female governor in the US, Susana Martinez of New Mexico, also delivered what many consider an impactful speech.
"Growing up, I never imagined a girl from a border town could one day become a governor. But this is America Y, en América todo es possible," said Martinez, that in America, all is possible.
She shared her family's struggles, another theme for this year's RNC, and how her parent's small business grew and that "they built it," knocking on a statement President Barack Obama made about how businesses don't succeed on their own, but with the assistance of others.
"In many ways Mitt Romney and I are very different. Different starts in life. Different paths to leadership. Different cultures. But we've each shared in the promise of America, and we share a core belief that the promise of America must be kept for the next generation. El sueño Americano es tener éxito. It's success. Success is the American Dream," added Martinez.
"If Bill Clinton is the first black president, I am definitely the first ... Latino governor of the state of Florida," said former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
Jeb was the only Bush in attendance and granted to speak at the RNC. Jeb is fluent in Spanish and would regularly talk to reporters in the language when necessary. Despite the mixed message of his statement, he is already a contender for the 2016 Presidential Election if Romney's second attempt at the presidency fails this November.
The RNC capped off festivities with a video showcasing how Republicans and Hispanics are a great combination.
But what are other GOP leaders doing to attract voters? Latino and non-Latino?
Latinos Post reached out to the New York (NY) GOP office located in Albany. The response was simple and short yet surprising.
When talking to Jamie Mercle, a member of the NY GOP, he stated he's "not really up on that too much," on watching the RNC events.
"I hope Obama doesn't win," said Mercle when it comes to his expectations for the November presidential election.
As to what the NY GOP is doing to attract voters, he stated, "Signs, trying to survive."
Although NY is mainly seen as a Democratic state, one would think more would be done to promote Romney and Ryan ahead of the election aside from signs
Attempts were made to contact the Florida GOP office, the same state hosting this year's RNC but calls were not returned.
On a state level, it seems the GOP is not making strides in reaching out to Hispanics, but would rather use nation-wide mediums such as televised speeches or online videos to get their message across.
As Sept. 4 arrives, so does the Democratic National convention, where Democrats are far likely to maintain their lead with Hispanic voters. Eyes are also set for their first Hispanic Keynote Speaker, San Antonio Mayer Julian Castro.
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