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Hispanics push for McCain

Group's members say Republican knows key issues




Making a play for Hispanic votes in Nevada, Republican presidential candidate John McCain is preparing to roll out a coalition of Southern Nevada Hispanic supporters.

The group is to be formally announced Saturday in a news conference headlined by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, who said in a phone interview Thursday that Hispanics can trust McCain because he knows their community and has championed their issues.

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  • "My Hispanic heritage is important to me personally, and I believe Hispanic heritage is important to the country," said Gutierrez, who was born in Cuba. "Senator McCain not only has a big Hispanic-American constituency in Arizona, but Hispanic-Americans have been important in his life, some of his best lifelong friends. He has an understanding of the community."

    McCain also will be in town Saturday. He is scheduled to give a speech to the annual convention of the Disabled American Veterans at Bally's. Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama is scheduled to address the group in a video message.

    Today, Obama's erstwhile rival, Hillary Clinton, is scheduled to campaign for him in Henderson.

    McCain's Hispanic coalition in Nevada is chaired by Otto Merida, president of the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce. The coalition's state director is Fernando Romero, a Democrat and president of Hispanics in Politics.

    The coalition includes James Campos, director of the state's Consumer Affairs Commission; KRLV-AM radio host Xavier Rivas; Eddie Escobedo Jr., part owner of El Mundo newspaper and son of its publisher; and Javier Barajas, owner of Lindo Michoacan restaurant, who previously was a member of Clinton's group of Nevada Hispanic supporters.

    Others in the group include local Republican activists Fely Quitevis, Irma Aguirre, Didi Lima and Tibi Ellis.

    Gutierrez said immigration is an important issue to Hispanics, who remember McCain's work championing immigration reform last year. The immigration bill damaged McCain's stock among conservative Republicans, but Democrats say McCain later turned his back on the legislation to appease the right.

    "Senator McCain was an advocate for comprehensive immigration reform before it became fashionable, and he did it at great risk to his career," Gutierrez said. "He took on many members of his own party. That is something I believe Hispanic-Americans will recognize."

    Without mentioning Obama by name, Gutierrez accused him of lacking such courage.

    "I have not seen Senator McCain's opponent take on his own party because he believes passionately in something," he said. "I see him taking positions that are politically expedient, that have political support among his party. I have not seen him be a maverick."

    Obama's supporters responded to that accusation by pointing to a compromise on energy by a bipartisan group of senators, dubbed the "Gang of 10," which they said Obama supports.

    "People are looking for their leaders to work across the aisle for solutions that work, and that's what Senator Obama is doing," said Travis Brock, executive director of the Nevada Democratic Party.

    Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball @reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.



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    the ghost of desert inn wrote on August 08, 2008 06:44 PM: white people are fat and lazy...did i mention trailer park trash. quit looking at hispanic woman because they look better than your pale white wife with smelly feet.


    David Cohen wrote on August 08, 2008 04:49 PM: Cubans have their own agenda and its in the interests of the Republican Party and not the Hispanic mainstream.
    Reason being is that since Cuba is a Communist Country, and because of a special law that makes Cubans legal if they make it here and ask for asylum, Cuban Americans support Republican initiatives to keep these asylum laws on the books. If a Democrat were to be voted in as President and favored normal relations with Cuba, Cubans would stand a larger chance lose their asylum law they need to get here and be blessed legally. Hence, this is why most of them are staunch Republicans.


    Joe C wrote on August 08, 2008 03:03 PM: To V,
    The only ignorant statements are those claiming we are all illegal immigrants.
    The settlers bought NY from the natives.
    We bought the southwest from Mexico that never returned the land back to Native Americans after defeating the Spanish.

    Historians are finding evidence that European were here 15,000 years ago.

    Plus those making the claim we are all illegal do so to benefit mostly one group, that continues to disrespect current times and laws. So they can justify their criminal behavior no matter the harm or costs it causes others.
    It’s like using 400-year-old medical practices.
    We a long established country and have the same right as Mexico to strictly enforce our immigration laws if we choice.
    It’s is the Hispanic’s marching in our streets waving the Mexican flag chanting Mexico, Mexico and the article above, your own makes that statement that this is an important issue to Hispanic. As they are the biggest supporters of criminal activity benefiting mostly their own.

    So the attention drawn to Mexicans is of their own actions, many action illegal.


    Me wrote on August 08, 2008 02:11 PM: Somone PLEASE make them go away.


    To dearillegal- wrote on August 08, 2008 02:10 PM: Well said.


    Joe C wrote on August 08, 2008 12:52 PM: Well I hope Gutierrez is right about Obama, lacking the courage to grant amnesty. That sure would get my vote for Obama.
    Or I should say truly lacking the ability to justify betraying the majority of U.S. citizens.
    As the majority of all races oppose the traitorous actions of McCain and the amnesty.
    Although I feel both McCain and Obama will prove to be traitors to the U.S. people.

    While Gutierrez says immigration is important to Hispanic's prove how selfish he is dismissing the adverse affect illegal aliens have on all other citizens.
    This issue hugely favors one group of people whose loyalty to all U.S. citizens and our country is truly in question.
    As it seems they are loyal to race first.

    To ccdemocrat,
    News for you Mctraitor is lying to get elected.
    He like all the candidates are the pawns of greedy business and the first campaign promise this low life will break is his position on securing the border.


    Steve wrote on August 08, 2008 11:43 AM: ccdemocrat,



    You are 100% wrong. John McAmnesty will grant unconditional amnesty to all illegals currently in this country and will then open up millions more "worker" visas with absolutely no way to track and ensure they leave. He will then work to grant amnesty to those millions. He has absolutely no intention of doing anything toward securing the borders.


    Steve wrote on August 08, 2008 11:43 AM: ccdemocrat,

    You are 100% wrong. John McAmnesty will grant unconditional amnesty to all illegals currently in this country and will then open up millions more "worker" visas with absolutely no way to track and ensure they leave. He will then work to grant amnesty to those millions. He has absolutely no intention of doing anything toward securing the borders.


    ccdemocrat wrote on August 08, 2008 10:14 AM: Senator McCain's comprehensive immigration reform:

    John McCain believes America's immigration system is broken. He is committed to a two-step process to reform.

    Securing Our Borders First. John McCain's top immigration priority is to finish securing our borders in an expedited manner. Governors of border states will be required to certify that the border is secure.

    Comprehensive Immigration Initiatives for a Secure Nation. Once the borders are secure, John McCain will:

    Prosecute “Bad-Actor” Employers. John McCain will implement a secure, accurate, and reliable electronic employment verification system to ensure that individuals are screened for work eligibility in a real-time fashion.

    John McCain will use this new system in conjunction with other Department of Homeland Security resources to identify and aggressively prosecute employers that continue to hire illegal immigrants.


    dearillegal wrote on August 08, 2008 08:54 AM: Yes my dear V! You must resort to petty name calling to get your point across? Of course Mexicans are not the only illegals in the country but last time i checked i didnt see Chinese or Dutch illegals standing in front of a nursery nor did i see Russian illegals clogging up the waiting room at UMC. So now im illegal? How do you know me and my entire family are not Native-Americans?? Please talk so we can understand you, you sound like a HS dropout.


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