Texas Democratic Party: Moving Texas Forward

Ted Cruz: Bilingual Ed. Creates Language Ghetto

Current Solicitor General and Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Ted Cruz, said that bilingual education creates a “language ghetto.” TDP spokesperson Rebecca Acuña released the following statement in response:

“Only in the Republican Party is speaking more than one language considered a liability.

Apparently the Republican Hispanic outreach plan is to launch unrelenting attacks on the Latino community. Unfortunately, Mr. Cruz’s comments aren’t an anomaly within his party. Latinos have sadly become used to hearing intolerant and hateful remarks coming from Republicans.

Cruz’s refusal to apologize for comments that even Newt Gingrich backtracked from shows just how far out of the mainstream Texas Republicans have drifted.

Republicans need to stop using the Latino community as a wedge to gain support from the extreme wing of their party.”

Other GOP Latino-outreach efforts:

• Ted Cruz forcefully opposes the DREAM Act, which is supported by 85% of Latinos.
• David Dewhurst brags about the devastating cuts he made to public education. The first time that Latino students made up more than 50% of students in public schools in Texas was the first time public education was cut.
• Mitt Romney promises to veto the DREAM Act and calls the bill a handout.
• Romney tied himself at the hip and is campaigning with the architect of anti-immigrant state-level immigration laws, Kris Kobach, who authored both the Arizona and Alabama immigration laws.
• Newt Gingrich called Spanish the language of the ghetto.
• Rick Perry touted the endorsement of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and named Arpaio chair of his presidential efforts in Arizona.

*Below you can read the statement in the language of the ghetto.

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Ted Cruz: La educación bilingüe causa un ‘ghetto’

El subsecretario de Justicia de Texas y el candidato para el Senado, Ted Cruz, dijo que la educación bilingüe cause un “ghetto de idioma.” La vocera del partido demócrata de Texas, Rebecca Acuña, emitió la siguiente declaración en respuesta:

“Solo en el partido republicano se considera una desventaja saber hablar más de un idioma. Aparentemente, el plan de los republicanos para atraer a los latinos es lanzar constante ataques hacia nuestra comunidad. Desafortunadamente, los comentarios de Ted Cruz no son una anomalía en su partido. Los latinos se han acostumbrado a escuchar comentarios ignorantes y odiosos por parte de los republicanos.

El hecho de que Cruz se niega a disculparse por un comentario del cual hasta Newt Gingrich se retracto, muestra lo extremista que los republicanos en Texas se han vuelto. Los republicanos necesitan parar de atacar a nuestra comunidad para ganar el apoyo de los extremistas en su partido.”

Otros esfuerzos de los republicanos para atraer a los latinos:

• Ted Cruz se opone al DREAM Act, que es apoyado por el 85% de los latinos.
• David Dewhurst presumió por los recortes presupuestarios a la educación publica, los cuales fueron hecho el primer año que los latinos representaron más del 50% de los estudiantes en las escuelas públicas de Texas.
• Mitt Romney promote vetar el  DREAM Act. Romney también recibió el apoyo de Kris Kobach, el arquitecto de leyes anti-inmigrantes de los estados.
• Rick Santorum se opone a cualquiera reforma migratoria.
• Newt Gingrich dijo que el español es el idioma del “ghetto.”
• Rick Perry recibió el apoyo del Alguacil Joe Arpaio y lo nombró presidente de sus esfuerzos presidenciales en Arizona.

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Austin—Tonight the Republican presidential contenders will be taking part in a CNN/Hispanic Leadership Network debate. TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña released the following statement:

“This momentary desire to appeal to Latinos will pass the second the polls close in Florida and the vehemently anti-Latino policies and attitudes that have dominated this presidential primary will return. The President has pushed for comprehensive immigration reform and passage of the DREAM Act while Republicans continue to view Latinos as little more than a political piñata.

As the GOP contenders tout their ‘moral values’ they won’t mention they are the party that punishes immigrant children because their parents dreamt of a better life for them.

Mitt Romney will probably not brag about the endorsement he received from Kris Kobach, the architect of the draconian Arizona and Alabama immigration laws. He won’t mention that as Governor, he vetoed the Massachusetts DREAM Act, and will likely try to gloss over the fact that he’s promised to veto the federal DREAM Act. He’ll have to defend his claim that ‘self-deportation’ is an immigration policy, which drew laughs at the last Florida debate.

Newt Gingrich is unlikely to repeat his comments that Spanish is the ‘language of the ghetto’ and will try to not dwell on the fact that he only supports the military provision in the DREAM Act.

It’s insulting that Newt Gingrich thinks it’s ok for immigrant students to risk their lives for this country, but not ok for them to practice their professions. Republicans are on the wrong side of every issue that’s important to Latinos. Before they got to Florida they were practically beating us off with a stick.”

According to a recent Latino Decisions poll, registered Hispanic voters in Florida support President Obama 67 to 25 over Mitt Romney and 70 to 22 over Newt Gingrich.

Austin- TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña released the following statement in response to Quico Canseco delivering Spanish-language rebuttal to the State of the Union.

“It’s laughable that Republicans think putting Quico Canseco on TV will help them with their Latino outreach efforts. There are few people better than Quico Canseco who can showcase just why Republicans are bad for Latinos. It is ironic that Republicans tapped the person whose district was drawn to have the lowest level of Hispanic voters possible to address Latinos.*”

*Republican redistricting emails from November 2010 that were released this week show that Republican mapmakers tried to draw Quico Canseco a districts that would leave the level of Hispanic registered voters at the lowest level possible. You can read those emails here: http://www.txdemocrats.org/downloads/OHRV.jpg

The following is a statement from TDP spokesman Anthony Gutierrez on tonight’s GOP presidential debate in Florida which included Newt Gingrich saying his proposal to spur the space program would include “offering prizes”, calling for a “second Bay of Pigs” and Mitt Romney proposing “self-deportation” as an immigration policy.

“I’m sure the folks who rely on the jobs and economic benefits generated by the Johnson Space Center are happy to hear that Gingrich has a plan modeled on CrackerJacks*.

Amazingly, Gingrich’s plan to give out prizes for space exploration was actually overshadowed by his call for a second Bay of Pigs and Romney presenting self-deportation as an immigration policy.

Somehow, with Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry out of the race, this group of Republican contenders were able to come up with proposals so crazy as to make Ron Paul seem like the moderate voice of reason.”

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*With apologies to Crackerjacks, whom we love.

Austin—Texas Democratic Party spokesperson Rebecca Acuña issued the following statement in response to General Abbott’s suit on the Texas Voter ID law:

“Abbott’s wasting tax dollars to inquire whether the Voter ID law is discriminatory in intent or just in effect, as if it made any difference to the people being discriminated.

General Abbott knows in-person voter fraud doesn’t exist. He already cost Texas taxpayers $1.4 million on a wild goose chase that turned up no cases of voter impersonation. Our question to General Abbott is, if there are no cases of voter impersonation, then what exactly is this legislation’s purpose? The absolute intent of this law is to disenfranchise voters.

General Abbott admits that the Republican voter-ID law would have a disparate impact on minorities, he just doesn’t care.* ”

According to the Secretary of State’s own data, more than 600,000 Texans who are currently registered to vote, including 174,866 Texans with Spanish surnames, don’t have the identification necessary under this draconian measure.

From Abbott’s complaint:

• *Page 14, #34 of the brief: “Extending “retrogressive effects” analysis to Voter-ID laws, by denying preclearance to any voter requirement that has an unintended disparate impact on minority voters, would present serious constitutional questions.”

Below is a statement from TDP spokesperson Anthony Gutierrez regarding the Supreme Court’s decision on redistricting:

“The Supreme Court did not strike down the interim maps. The issues they had pertained to the process by which the court arrived at new maps, not necessarily the maps themselves.

While it is not clear what the final districts will look like at this point, what is clear is that the state’s original maps have been found to be discriminatory in some way by every court which has examined them.

The state’s maps completely ignored the demographic realities of Texas. The Supreme Court did not approve the state’s maps and we don’t expect they ever will.”

Republican redistricting emails from November 2010 that were released this week show that the goal of Republican mapmakers was to draw districts that would leave the level of Spanish surname registered voters at the lowest level possible, while leaving a higher population of non-voting Hispanics. You can read those emails here: http://www.txdemocrats.org/downloads/OHRV.jpg

“Republicans would rather draw Latinos out of their districts than work to earn their vote,” said TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña.

TEXAS DEMOCRATS TO PLACE PAID STAFF ON ELEVEN CAMPUSES
Phase Two of TDP’s Promesa Project Includes Campus-Based Fellowship Program

(Austin) – The Texas Democratic Party today announced the second phase of their Latino engagement program known as The Promesa Project.

Through this project, Texas Democrats seek to engage young Latinos and ask them to be our Democratic messengers to their family, friends and social networks. Research found that young Latinos, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, are increasingly becoming the trusted sources of political information within their familial units. Another study found that young people are now getting more of their news via online sources than from television. Based on those findings, the Texas Democratic Party constructed Promesa to utilize a combination of online and grassroots techniques to recruit and engage young Latinos.

In this second phase of Promesa, Texas Democrats will launch a Fellowship Program and place fellows in at least eleven campuses across Texas, including: UTEP, UT-Pan Am, UTSA, UT, U of H, A&M-International, UT-Brownsville, UT-Arlington, UNT-Dallas, UH-Downtown, and A&M CC.

“These universities were selected because they have a large Latino enrollment and is perfectly located to provide the opportunity to affect several local competitive races,” said TDP Deputy Executive Director Anthony Gutierrez.

The Promesa Fellowship program will include a training program conducted by experienced campaign professionals. Fellows will then work to register voters, recruit Latinos to the campaign, organize campus events, get out the vote and much more. All the work done by Fellows will be geared towards turning out young Latinos in the Democratic Primary who would likely not participate otherwise.

“Several races across Texas are decided by a small number of votes every cycle,” said State Representative Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas). “We believe this project has the potential to have far-reaching electoral ramifications, including potentially at the statewide level.”

In addition to the Promesa Project, Texas Democrats will also have an item on their ballot asking Texas Democratic Primary voters whether or not they support the DREAM ACT. [1] The DREAM Act is supported by 80% of Latinos and has been widely denounced by Republicans including Mitt Romney, who has repeatedly said he would veto it if given the chance. This stance has been echoed by every GOP presidential contender except Ron Paul.

“Texas Democrats are working hard to earn the support of Latinos,” said Gutierrez. “Meanwhile, Republicans are tripping over themselves to attack Latinos in their quest to earn political points with the rightwing.”

Earlier this month, the Republican National Committee launched their version of a Latino outreach program. However, as was noted in media reports, the roll-out of the program coincided with GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney touting his endorsement from Kris Kobach, one of the architects of the highly controversial Arizona and Alabama immigration laws.

“Democrats are using our outreach program to let Latinos know who we are, what we believe and what we will do in office,” said Gutierrez. “Republicans are using their program as a front group to distract Hispanics from their party’s anti-Latino policies.”

[1] DREAM Act Ballot Language Any graduate of a Texas high school, who has lived in the state for at least three years and lived here continuously for the last year, should be eligible for in-state tuition at state supported colleges and universities and given the opportunity to earn legal status through a higher education or military service.

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Austin—TDP spokesperson Anthony Gutierrez released the following statement in response to Rick Perry dropping out of the Republican presidential race:

Dropping out of this race is the first smart decision Rick Perry’s made in a long time. Unfortunately, the aftermath of Rick Perry’s presidential bid will affect Texans for a long time.

Rick Perry’s presidential run didn’t only damage his ego; it had real, devastating consequences on our entire state. Rick Perry used our last legislative session and state budget as a prop to launch this run. He put his political aspirations ahead of the needs of Texas children, slashed billions from public education and refused to use any of the $6 billion in our state’s savings account.

Tens of thousands of public school teachers are unemployed right now because Rick Perry wanted to position himself for a presidential run.* Despite their shared affinity for firing people, not even Rick Perry could get excited about endorsing Mitt Romney. Even Perry was bright enough to recognize a vulture capitalist when he saw one.

Sadly, Rick Perry’s dangerous political agenda did not dissolve with his presidential campaign. Perry’s Texas Republican clones are marching on to implement the most extreme aspects of Perry’s out of touch policy proposals.”

*Perry prohibiting the legislature from using any of the state’s saving account known as the Rainy Day Fund led to $4 billion in cuts to public education funding and tens of thousands of teacher layoffs.

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Austin—In the South Carolina Republican presidential debate yesterday, the GOP audience booed moderator Juan Williams when he mentioned the word ‘Mexico.’

“It’s disgusting to see Republicans booing the mere mention of the word ‘Mexico’,” said TDP spokesperson Anthony Gutierrez. “Texas Democrats are making serious efforts to engage the Latino community while Republicans are downright hostile in both their words and actions.”

While Republicans continue to demonstrate hostility and disrespect towards Latinos, the Texas Democratic Party is making a concerted effort to reach out to this important community through the Promesa Project. The Promesa Project is the TDP’s aggressive Latino outreach program that will utilize online and grassroots techniques to ask young Latinos to be our Democratic messengers to their families and social networks.

In the coming weeks, the TDP will unfold phase two, or the field component, of the Promesa Project. The goal of the second phase of the Promesa Project is to generate a significant increase in Latino turnout for the 2012 Democratic Primary with a special emphasis on turning out new Latino voters. The TDP will place select college organizers in targeted campuses as fellows where they will conduct:

• Voter Registration Drives
• Campus Events
• Earned Media
• Video Production
• Social Media
• Social Media GOTV
• Phone Banks

To learn more about the Promesa Project, you can visit www.promesaproject.com.

In contrast, the Latino-outreach efforts of the Republican presidential contenders:

• Mitt Romney promises to veto the DREAM Act, which is supported by 85% of Latinos, and attacked DREAM Act students by saying they’re looking for a handout.
• Romney tied himself at the hip and is campaigning with the architect of anti-immigrant state-level immigration laws, Kris Kobach, who authored both the Arizona and Alabama immigration laws.
• Rick Santorum opposes any path to legalization for undocumented immigrants.
• Newt Gingrich called Spanish the language of the ghetto.
• Rick Perry slashed billions from public education the first year Latinos made up more than 50% of students in Texas public schools. Perry also touted the endorsement of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and named Arpaio chair of his presidential efforts in Arizona.