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On a conference call this week, Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Xavier Becerra discussed how, as part of his failed attempt to close the deal with Republican voters on Super Tuesday, Romney went even further to the right and drew a wider breach between himself and the priorities of Hispanic voters. Mitt Romney has repeatedly proven he will say and stand for anything to get elected, and has locked himself into his extreme positions on immigration and stepped up his attacks on Justice Sotomayor – even when five of her Republican Senate confirmation votes came from Mitt Romney endorsers.
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The speakers’ remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below.
Sen. Robert Menendez
Mitt Romney has repeatedly proven he will say and stand for anything to get elected. As part of his failed attempt to close the deal with Republican voters on Super Tuesday, Mitt Romney went even further to the right and further away from priorities of the Latino community.
The result is one Romney might come to regret: He is locked into his extreme positions and Republicans have seriously undercut their chances of making inroads with the Latino vote.
A recent Fox News Latino poll had Republicans hovering around the 14 percent mark with Latinos.
Still, the Romney campaign seems to think they have a green light to continue their assault on priorities of the Hispanic community, and have even continued their attacks on Justice Sonia Sotomayor this week – going after her once and again, using her as a political tool for the Republican Party.
The Romney campaign seems to forget: Justice Sotomayor was confirmed by a bipartisan majority for her exceptional experience, intellect, common sense and respect for the Constitution – and those nine Republican confirmation votes included five Romney endorsers.
Justice Sotomayor, the first Hispanic ever to serve on the nation’s highest court, should not be Mitt Romney’s campaign strategy. She is a role model to Hispanics and women across the country. Romney’s political attacks are hurtful, and they will only further alienate the Hispanic voters who already are running from him in droves.
These attacks are reprehensible and Mitt Romney should walk them back.
Perhaps even more distressing than the attacks themselves, is the fact that this is part of a broader pattern with Mitt Romney. He really will say anything to get elected, and his attacks on Justice Sotomayor are part of an apparent strategy to move to the extreme on positions and priorities that are important for the Hispanic community – from Justice Sotomayor, to health care, to jobs and housing, and of course, immigration, where Romney would be the most extreme presidential nominee of our time.
Rep. Xavier Becerra
Recent poll numbers show that Hispanics are paying very close attention to the Republican primary and Mitt Romney’s lurch to the right. So while Mitt Romney continues his attacks on Justice Sonia Sotomayor, he is further moving to the wrong side of every issue important to the community. Just to name a few:
Romney supports a Congressional Republican budget that would slash 700,000 jobs.
Hispanic families are hit disproportionately hard by the foreclosure crisis, but Romney said we should let the housing market “hit the bottom,” letting investors come in and make a quick buck while hardworking Americans lose their homes.
Romney would repeal the Affordable Care Act, which will insure 9 million previously uninsured Hispanics
The plan Romney supports would inevitably slash Social Security, which nearly half of Hispanic seniors rely on as their sole source of income.
Romney would end Medicaid and Medicare as we know them – critical programs that Hispanics rely on to stay healthy.
Romney said recently that students shouldn’t expect the government assistance when it comes to higher education. He promised no help on student loans or student debt.
The President provided 150,000 additional Hispanic students with Pell Grants, investing in the future of our country by allowing so many talented kids to continue their studies.
Romney would be the most extreme presidential nominee on immigration in modern history: He supports a national version of the controversial Arizona immigration law, and thinks all undocumented immigrants should “self-deport.” Romney has promised to veto the DREAM Act, calling it a “handout,” and turning his back on all of the talented children who came here through no fault of their own and want to contribute to and serve our country.
So what we’re left with is that Romney has taken one position after another and promised things to the Tea Party, but in the process he has grossly turned off Hispanics across the country.
His ongoing attacks against Justice Sotomayor will not help, and his extreme immigration policies will continue to be rejected by our community.
