The Board of Directors of The Latino Coalition (TLC) and over twenty other Hispanic organizations and heads of organizations from across the country, today announced they will support the reelection of President George W. Bush.No additional commentary needed...
"President Bush knows and understands the Hispanic community better than any other President before him," said TLC Vice Chairman Susan Alvarado. "He has appointed more Hispanics to the highest levels of government than any other President before him. He has taken the lead to address key issues that will improve the lives of Latino families all across the country, such as the No Child Left Behind education reform program, his tax cuts for working families, his proposal to reform our immigration system, his trade agreements within our hemisphere, and his efforts to assist uninsured Hispanic workers get access to affordable health insurance. But above all, he has been a strong and decisive leader on making sure that America is safe and secure, and that we win the war on terrorism."
On the other hand, the TLC Board cited the unimpressive and lackluster record of Senator John Kerry. "Throughout his career in the United States Senate, John Kerry has all but ignored the Latino community," said TLC President Robert Deposada. "In 20 years as a Senator, Kerry has not sponsored or co-sponsored any legislation to reform our immigration system, or to reform education, or to help uninsured workers get access to affordable health insurance. Also, he has been as inconsistent with his policies on trade with Latin America or on Castro's Cuba, as he has been with the War in Iraq. Clearly, this man does not have the decisiveness and the vision we need in a President, particularly at a time of war."
"His record in the U.S. Senate is so unimpressive on issues affecting Latinos, that a large number of Hispanic registered Democrats are crossing party lines to support President George W. Bush," Deposada added. "His many empty promises in the midst of a political campaign are falling on deaf ears, simply because he doesn't have the credibility in our community. We have yet to find a single high-level Hispanic appointment during his 20 years in the U.S. Senate or while he served as Massachusetts Lt. Governor. So when he talks about looking out for our community, most people realize that he cannot be effective, simply because he doesn't know or understand us."
Over 20 Hispanic organizations and the leaders of many organizations joined The Latino Coalition in endorsing the reelection of President Bush.
"In 2000, I voted for Al Gore for President. I am a registered Democrat and was not a fan of George W. Bush," said Hispanic Business Roundtable Board Member Elizabeth Fernandez, a registered Democrat in Fairfax, Virginia. "But after 9-11, as a mother of two girls, I began to admire the man. He is clearly a man of conviction, a strong and decisive leader and a man who I know will keep America, and therefore my family, safe and secure."
"I am the perfect example of the security mom. While I might not agree with him on all issues, I do believe that the security of our country against terrorist has to be our number one priority," Mrs. Fernandez added. "Domestic issues are secondary to our national security, simply because we witnessed first hand that another large scale attack on our country, could be devastating to our economy and all other appropriation spending on new domestic programs. This will be the first time I vote for a Republican candidate for President. But I do it because the security of my family and my country, is far more important than party labels."
"As a registered Democrat and an immigration attorney, I was looking forward to supporting my party's nominee to promote an agenda to help our community. But after a careful look at Senator Kerry's record, I cannot support his candidacy," said National Hispanic Restaurant Association Board Member Manuel Solis, of Houston, Texas and owner of the largest immigration law firm in the U.S. "In 20 years in the U.S. Senate, John Kerry has not sponsored or co-sponsored a single immigration reform bill. If he ignored our community for 20 years, why should we believe his empty promises in the middle of a political campaign? This will be the first time I vote for a Republican candidate for President, because I am convinced that George Bush knows our community and had the courage to address the immigration issue and propose a common sense approach to help the most vulnerable in our community."
"John Kerry says that he represents Hispanic values, but his record shows the opposite," said Rev. Arturo Soto, President of the Hispanic Clergy Association of New Jersey. "The Hispanic values are based on the strength of our families, and John Kerry's record in the U.S. Senate has not been pro-family. He has consistently voted against requiring that parents be notified before their teenage daughters have an abortion. He was one of the only 14 Senators who voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, signed by President Clinton, which defined marriage as only the union between a man and a woman. He opposed giving parents the choice to select the best school for their children and voted against tax relief for married couples with underage children. This is not the record of a politician that represents Hispanic values."
"We need a President who understands and knows the Hispanic community and particularly our business community," said Julio Gudino, a registered Democrat and business owner in Norwalk, California and member of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Business Roundtable. "Senator Kerry has ignored our community for 20 years in the United States Senate, so why should we believe his promises now? His record on issues affecting the Hispanic community is very disappointing. This will be the first time in my life that I will vote for a Republican candidate for President, simply because I have seen Kerry's record, and I simply cannot support him."
"As first responders, we have seen first hand the leadership and commitment of President Bush," said Ed Davis, President of the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters. "President Bush has been there every step of the way for our Hispanic firefighters throughout the country. While we have not always seen eye to eye, he reached out to us. He knows and understands the Hispanic community and has been our friend. He deserves our support."
"If you're in the military, you want a Commander in Chief who will stand shoulder to shoulder with you and fulfill the commitment to our men and women in the armed forces," said Bob Archuleta, Los Angeles County Commissioner for Military and Veteran Affairs and a member of the National Latino Peace Officers Association. "In President Bush we have a Commander in Chief who knows what he believes in and knows what he stands for. We as veterans and those currently serving in our armed forces feel that our nation is behind us and have a President that will not let us down."
"The last thing that our men and women in the field need, particularly those who face danger every day, is a Commander in Chief that will change his mind every time the going gets rough," Archuleta added. "We need steady leadership, and when I speak to many of my veteran colleagues, who like me are registered Democrats, we all agree that we can't gamble with the unknown. And the message that comes across from Senator Kerry and his advisors is one of appeasement and indecisiveness. At a time of war, this is not the type of leadership we need. And that's why like me, many Hispanic American Democrats are supporting President Bush."
Hispanics are three times as likely to be uninsured than any other group in the U.S. "We need a President that will promote an aggressive agenda to help uninsured workers get access to affordable health insurance and access to quality health care," said Dr. Rene Rodriguez, President of the Inter-American Coalition of Physicians and Surgeons. "President Bush has proposed an important common-sense plan to address the needs of our uninsured. He has doubled the funding for community health centers and proposed a $3,000 voucher for workers who do not get health insurance in their job. This in addition to the creation of the Health Savings Accounts, the proposal to allow small businesses to ban together to have access to more affordable health plans, and the push for medical liability reform, which is driving health care costs through the roof and forcing doctors to leave the underserved communities, will be great benefits to the millions of Hispanics without access to quality health care."
"Senator Kerry's proposal relies almost exclusively in the expansion of Medicaid to cover uninsured or underinsured workers, and this is not the solution," Dr. Rodriguez added. "The expansion of a poorly run government program that is already bankrupting most state budgets is clearly not the solution. It will add to the financial crisis, which translates into rationing of services and of medications as we currently see in the Medicaid program, solely on the basis of cost control on not on medical need. Having government bureaucrats, not doctors, making decisions over health care coverage, is not the best way to address the needs of our health care system."
According to the 2004 National Hispanic Survey, released by The Latino Coalition earlier this month, the economy was the number one issue in the minds of Hispanic voters, and the majority of voters believed that the best way to keep our economy growing and create jobs was to cut taxes on families and business. "That's why so many Hispanic business-owners and professionals are supporting President Bush," Deposada added.
"The tax and regulatory burden on small businesses is the most important issue affecting Hispanic businesses in this country. And on that front, President Bush stands head and shoulders above Senator Kerry," said Sal Gomez, a Denver businessman and Chairman of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "Senator Kerry does not understand that most Hispanic businesses are small businesses that file as sole proprietorships and sub chapter S corporations. These companies do not pay corporate taxes, they pay personal taxes on the income of their businesses. Senator Kerry's plan will raise the taxes on almost every Hispanic business in this country, and hurt their growth and the livelihood of their employees."
"President Bush has outlined an agenda that promotes an era of ownership among all Hispanics, including Hispanic small business owners. Under his leadership small businesses will be able to band together to provide more affordable health care for their employees," said Frank Rivera, a register Democrat in Arizona and Vice Chairman of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "Under President Bush, Hispanic homeownership has reached the highest levels in history, thanks in large part to the President initiatives to cut costs and regulation for first-time home- buyers."
"President Bush has outlined an agenda that promotes an era of ownership among Americans and Hispanics are reaping the benefits. Because of President Bush's policies more Hispanics, women and minorities own their own homes and small businesses," stated Otto Merida, Executive Director of the Nevada Latino Chamber of Commerce. "While President Bush is clear on promoting a pro- growth agenda, Senator Kerry is clear on an agenda that raises taxes and government spending at the cost of small business."
In addition, thirteen (13) members of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) and six former Chairmen of that same body endorsed President George W. Bush for a second term.
The Latino Coalition is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C. TLC was established to address policy issues that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States. TLC's agenda is to develop and promote policies that will foster economic equivalency and enhance overall business, economic, and social development of Hispanics. For more information, or access to the entire endorsement list for 2004, please visit their Web site at http://www.TheLatinoCoalition.com .
Mark's Remarks
What? A minority group that backs Bush?!??!? Why havent we heard about this? Why hasn't the media highlighted this the way they have highlighted the NAACP, et.al.? I smell discrimination!
