HispanicVista Columnists

From Ben Lubbon
For good reasons, Sen. McCain has stated many times he has 'gotten the message to secure the border first' due to the fact he was in 'primary mode' appealing to the social conservative base. Now as the presumptive nominee, he must appeal to all voters to win the general election.

Last year, Congress heard loud and clear from the anti-immigration forces. 'Smart border' comprehensive advocates were out-foxed by the right's hard-line. In 2006, the RNHA was present with Pedro Celis' campaign with the Hispanic Evangelicals. In 2007, the Evangelicals with my participation fought valiantly absent of RNHA support.

Hispanic leadership has the opportunity to unify the Party addressed in the following article.

US News & World Report: McCain Must Appease both Hispanics and Conservatives on Immigration http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/03/14/mccain-must-appease-both-hispanics-and-conservatives-on-immigration.html

Since coming onto the McCain team last July, Rick Davis and HQ have directed the National Hispanic Advisory Board that immigration is a non-discussed issue until a 'back-backlash' surfaces. If and whenever, this political phenomena would ever arise.

Apparently, the tide is changing. Senator McCain fired a shot over the bow Monday morning on NPR warning Republican candidates the hard-line on immigration is a loser due to the outcome of the special election in Dennis Hastert's district going to the Democrats. A Politico.com report is included below.

Senator McCain is unable to influence the issue by himself. An organization outside the Campaign influencing immigration would be most beneficial since the issue is still a very hot-button topic. Our Hispanic leadership and influence is critical. The RNHA is the organization.

A perfect opportunity presents itself in Rep. Tom Tancredo's open-seat in Colorado's 6th District.

The following article reports a poll finds overwhelmingly support for a guest worker program, rejects the idea most illegal immigrants should be deported, and even finds many Republican constituents supporting the idea of amnesty.

Poll confounds immigrant issues for 6th CD race
By Michael Riley
The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_8552360?source=rss Article Last Updated: 03/13/2008 02:03:59 AM MDT (The full article is included below.)

We may influence the outcome in Tancredo's backyard. Doing so would be a real coup. Supportive polls are nice to have in the quiver. Favorable election results are better.

Colorado holds district caucuses / conventions May 3rd to May 16th. Caucuses are easier to influence than an all-out primary, although a high degree of organization remains the rule to success.

Fortunately, Colorado has excellent grassroots in the Republican Hispanic community. Colorado immigration and interfaith coalitions have been very successful in stalling the SAVE Act discharge petition. With the right synergy of organizations, the 6th District race will garner national media attention. Geraldo Rivera would be very interested in covering this action for Fox News. Do read his new book; HISPANIC: Why Americans Fear Hispanics In The U.S.

As you well know, Gil Cisneros is very active on many fronts. As Colorado RNHA Chair, he is the pivotal contact. Butch Montoya has also been very helpful on immigration and will be very influential in moving the issue forward.

In conclusion, we are all very active on many fronts including Hispanic chambers of commerce and interfaith organizations. Being typecast as single-issue oriented on immigration is highly unlikely when we confront all the issues.

And, here lies our strength regarding our Hispanic leadership in unifying the Party. As we assert and influence on immigration, our core beliefs on all issues will surface; 'Our Issues are Everyone's Issues.'

We have great energy presently. The time is now to seize the moment and rally our forces. I look forward in assisting in any means possible in order to drive this energy towards establishing a solid winning platform for the Party.

Arriba McCain!

Sincerely,
Ben Lubbon
(415) 290-7060
Managing Partner
Jude Benedict & Associates
Government Affairs - Public Relations
Washington, DC Sacramento San Francisco

THE POLITICO: McCain Cautions Candidates On Immigration
Mar 17, 2008

(The Politico) The hot-button issue of immigration doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon - at least not in Republican circles.

On NPR's "Morning Edition" today, John McCain suggested that strong anti-immigrant rhetoric contributed to two recent, high-profile GOP Congressional losses - of former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, who badly lost to Sen. Bob Casey in 2006, and Jim Oberweis, who lost the heavily Republican seat of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert this month in a special election.

"I know that there have been some races, like here in Pennsylvania, where Senator Santorum emphasized that issue [immigration] and lost by a large number," McCain said on NPR.

"We just had a loss of Denny Hastert's seat out in Illinois. The Republican candidate out there, I am told, had very strong anti-immigrant rhetoric also, so I would hope that many of our Republican candidates would understand the political practicalities of this issue."

McCain campaigned for Oberweis last month, helping the campaign raise about $257,000. Oberweis will be on the ballot again in November, against Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.)

During the campaign, Oberweis proposed his own plan to crack down on illegal immigration, and aired a television ad arguing that politicians in Washington "can't seem to fix" the problem.

McCain's advice is going against the strategy of a handful of leading Republican Congressional candidates. Just today, one of the Republicans' top Congressional recruits, Hazleton mayor Lou Barletta, invited all three presidential candidates "to come to our great city to discuss the issue of illegal immigration in the United States."

Barletta, who is running against Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), has built a national political following over his strident opposition to illegal immigration and the punitive measures that he took as mayor to curb it.