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SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Monday, April 12, 2004 · Last updated 5:39 p.m. PT
Jeb Bush rallies Hispanics for brother
By MIKE SCHNEIDER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Gov. Jeb Bush urged Florida Hispanics on Monday to re-elect
his brother, saying President Bush has done more to boost Latinos than any other
president.
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| Florida first
lady Columba Bush is applauded as she addresses a Hispanic rally for
President Bush at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., Monday, April 12,
2004. Joining her, from left, are: former Florida Republic Party
Chairman Al Cardenas; Gov. Jeb Bush; Rep. John Quinones, R-Kissimmee;
and former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin. (AP Photo/Peter Cosgrove)
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The governor spoke at the first of several rallies scheduled nationwide to
mobilize Hispanic voters for the Bush-Cheney campaign, appealing to a swing
voting group in a key state.
"This president, more than any other president, has recognized Hispanics,"
said Bush, who was accompanied by his Mexican-born wife, Columba.
President Bush has appointed Hispanics to top positions in his
administration, the governor said, including White House counsel Alberto
Gonzales, Small Business Administration administrator Hector Barreto and former
Housing Secretary Mel Martinez.
The Republican Party is making a special effort this year to draw Hispanic
voters, who cast just 35 percent of their ballots for President Bush in 2000.
Other GOP rallies for Hispanic voters will take place in Kansas City, Mo.;
Albuquerque, N.M.; and Las Vegas.
"We're starting earlier, and we're devoting more resources," said Sharon
Castillo, director of specialty media for the Bush-Cheney campaign. "We know
this is going to be a close election, so we want to do everything to attract the
Hispanic vote."
GOP efforts to court Hispanic voters are just a "smoke screen for their
failed policies," said Nelson Reyneri of the Office of Hispanic Outreach for the
Democratic National Committee in Washington.
Democrats' policies on jobs, health care and education are more beneficial to
Hispanics, he said.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apelection_story.asp?category=1131&slug=Hispanic%20Rally
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| Posted on Fri, Apr. 09, 2004 |
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Republicans
begin courting Hispanic votes with Florida event
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla.
- President Bush's re-election campaign will kick
off an effort to entice Hispanic voters into the GOP fold
Monday, with a rally led by Gov. Jeb Bush.
While Florida's Cuban-Americans have long leaned
Republican, other Hispanics are traditionally Democrats, but
are increasingly being wooed by the GOP.
"The message is, the Republican Party's principles are in
line with the values in the Hispanic community," said
Nancy Acevedo, Central Florida chairwoman
of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. "Family ties,
moral values; that's what the Republican Party's based on.
It's a matter of educating them and letting them know.
The rally at the Latin Quarter restaurant will also serve
to introduce the president's national Hispanic steering
committee.
The Bush campaign had little appeal with Hispanics beyond
the Cuban-American community in South Florida in 2000 as
most Latin American immigrants in Central Florida voted for
Al Gore.
The state has nearly 3 million Hispanics, only a third of
them South Florida Cubans.
The president's younger brother has shown popularity with
Hispanics. Jeb Bush speaks fluent Spanish and his wife
Columba is from Mexico.
One of President Bush's most high-profile Hispanic
supporters is from Central Florida, former Housing and Urban
Development Secretary Mel Martinez, a native of Cuba and
former Orange County chairman who is now running for U.S.
Senate.
Democrats claimed Friday that their candidate, John
Kerry, will do more for Hispanics than the president.
A group of prominent Hispanic Democrats from around the
country spoke to reporters Friday and said that the issues
of creating jobs, particularly in manufacturing, education
and health care are important to Latinos, as they are to all
poor and middle class Americans.
"John Kerry, I believe ... will make health care
affordable for all Americans," said state Rep. Bob Henriquez,
D-Tampa. "Over 18 million - and rising - Hispanics are
uninsured under Bush. I think it's important we get back to
an administration that realizes that health care is
important and it has to be affordable."
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Online at:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/8397032.htm |
© 2004 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights
Reserved.
http://www.miami.com
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Republican
National Hispanic Assembly