Hispanic Coalition Takes Aim At Trump, Rubio and Cruz

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., left, spars with Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right as Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Republican presidential candidate, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson listen during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., left, spars with Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right as Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Republican presidential candidate, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson  listen during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College  Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Nine Hispanic so-called advocacy groups have formed a coalition to partner with Google, Fuze, Instagram and YouTube to urge Hispanics to register and vote. The coalition, the National Latino Civic Engagement Table includes:

Advertisement
  • Hispanic Federation Labor
  • Council for Latin American Advancement
  • Latino Victory Foundation
  • Mi Familia Vota Education Fund
  • National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
  • Educational Fund
  • National Council of La Raza
  • Voto Latino
  • League of United Latin American Citizens

The announcement came just before Nevada caucuses where Latino voters are expected to play a key role. Latinos represent 28 percent of the state’s population, and about 17 percent of eligible voters. So Tuesday’s Nevada Republican caucuses will be the first true test of Republican Latino voters.

The coalition of nine left-leaning organizations claims to be nonpartisan, but the leaders left no doubt that they intend to go after Trump, Rubio, Cruz and others who have criticized illegal immigrants and comprehensive immigration reform. Brent Wilkes, national director of the League of United Latin American Citizens made it clear:

In 2016 our organizations are working to ensure that the state’s 328,000 registered Latino voters are well informed, not only on where to vote, but also on the candidates’ views on issues that matter to Latinos. Our efforts in Nevada will build on our recent success in Iowa.

[. . .]

In the end, we will demonstrate that the Latino vote matters and candidates who engage in hateful rhetoric will pay the price at the ballot box.

Advertisement

LULAC contacted nearly 50,000 Latinos in Iowa through phone calls, mailers and caucus training, attracting more than 10,000 Latinos to participate in the Feb. 1 Iowa caucus.

Contrast the confrontational attitude of the new coalition to the Conservative Latino organization The LIBRE Initiative, which last week criticized President Obama’s proposed fiscal year 2017 budget for failing the Hispanic community. Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, said the following in a written statement:

The Hispanic community is a critical part of America’s success. Each day we play a greater role in the economy, and in our political leadership. Nevertheless, in yielding to federal policies and programs that rely on the power of the state, over the individual – with promises of improved well-being and increased opportunities in the private sector – we are left with greater debt, lower wages, and potentially a reduced standard of living and a diminished private sector for our children and grandchildren. We can no longer acquiesce to those who seek to double down on these failed policies that have only served to hold back minority communities – especially to those who pursue a big government agenda on a much grander scale of magnitude. Lawmakers need to recognize where the agenda of the last seven years has failed us, and take a new approach.

Advertisement

In the past, several of the organizations in the new coalition criticized LIBRE for opposing Latino candidates. Now they’re out to destroy the Latino candidates Cruz and Rubio.

Recommended

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on RedState Videos