RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman Announces Hispanic Advisory Committee

5/4/2005 1:23:00 PM
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=46821

To: National Desk

Contact: Tara Wall of Republican National Committee Communications, 202-863-8614

WASHINGTON, May 4 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Speaking at the Latino Coalition’s 2005 Latino Small Business Economic Conference today, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Ken Mehlman announced the formation of the RNC’s Hispanic Advisory Committee. This group of respected community leaders will meet monthly with RNC officials to assist in the strategic implementation of the RNC’s Hispanic outreach efforts.

"Broadening the GOP is one of my top priorities as Chairman. The Latino community and the Republican Party share many common values and I look forward to meeting regularly with Latino community leaders to shape the Republican Party’s message. The Hispanic Advisory Committee provides a great opportunity to unite the perspectives of a diverse group of leaders in building on our party’s recent gains," said Mehlman.

President Bush won 44 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2004, up nine points from 35 percent in 2000 (1.7 million more votes). Compared to 2000, President Bush’s support among Latinos increased:

-- Six points in Nevada (from 33 percent to 39 percent)
-- Twelve points in New Mexico (from 32 percent to 44 percent)
-- Nine points in Arizona (from 34 percent to 43 percent)
-- Five points in Colorado (from 25 percent to 30 percent)
-- Seven points in Florida (from 49 percent to 56 percent)

The RNC Hispanic Advisory Committee’s members include:

To read the text of Chairman Mehlman’s remarks as prepared for delivery, please visit: http://www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=5420

To read them in Spanish, please visit:
http://www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=5424

Excerpts from RNC Chairman, Ken Mehlman's Speech to The Latino Coalition Small Business Conference

In 1979, an ex FDR Democrat named Ronald Reagan predicted that others would soon follow his path, "Hispanics are Republicans, they just don't know it yet," he said. Twenty-five years later, more and more Hispanics do in fact know that their political home is in the Republican Party.

...And what are the bedrock principles that the party of Lincoln shares with Hispanics? First, in America, your aspirations matter more than your origins. We are not defined by our race, our religion, our national origin. We are united by something more important: our commitment to freedom and opportunity.

...There's a reason the Party of Lincoln favors tax relief. We respect how hard people work today. We don't believe that politicians in Washington should choose between a carpenter in Cleveland, taxi driver in El Paso, or accountant in Chicago as to who can keep more of their money. They all work hard. They've all earned it. And we need to let all of them keep more, which is why we need to make all of their tax relief permanent.

...For the sake of younger workers, Democrats should end their obstructionism. For the sake of fairness, they should allow every worker in America the same opportunity to choose a personal retirement accounts that today is only available to a select few. And for the sake of more economic equality for America's hardest workers, Democrats should join with the President in saving Social Security and offering a better deal for the future.

...On June 12, 1999, Governor George W. Bush first announced his campaign for presidency in Iowa. A simple theme wove together the various pieces of his speech. And that theme was, "The American Dream is for you." For five years now, President Bush has been as good as his word. In his appointments of more Latinos to top posts than any president in history to his policies of economic growth and empowerment, President Bush has proven that the American dream is indeed for all Americans.

...The party of Lincoln will build on this progress. Today I am pleased to announce the RNC will establish a national Hispanic Advisory Committee, made up of respected community leaders from around the nation who will develop and execute our plan to earn the Latino vote.

...We welcome any and all Americans who share our values and our vision for the future. After all, we believe the American dream is for every American.