”Thank you for coming. And, special thanks to Jimenez Bakery and Restaurant for allowing us the opportunity to hold this press conference at their place of business.
My name is Victor Hernandez and I am the current Chairman of the Lubbock Chapter of Tejano Democrats.
Yesterday, Gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott visited the Hub City. His campaign stop took place at this same location.
The purpose of today’s press conference is to address issues raised by Mr. Abbott as well as the overall tone being taken by those Republican candidates vying for their parties’ nomination. Specifically, the issues raised and tone taken as they relate to the Hispanic community in general, and more precisely, the Hispanic community in Lubbock County and surrounding counties.
I have been politically involved, both as a candidate and managing political campaigns, for well over 25 years. As a result, I know that a candidate is bombarded with suggestions as to how to best manage their campaigns. I have no doubt but that the Abbott campaign has had plenty of advice given as well.
To that end, on February 11, 2014 State Representative Jason Villalba, a Republican from North Dallas, wrote an open letter to his GOP colleagues running for lieutenant governor, of which Greg Abbott is aware of. In summary, Republican State Representative Villalba admonishes his fellow Republicans to attempt to address Latino issues “with compassion, understanding and … knowledge … “
In this day and age, in the year 2014, Villalba has to remind his fellow Republicans that the Hispanic community is comprised of “fellow human beings” and not “war-mongering foreign adversaries,” Villalba has to remind his fellow Republicans that Hispanics are “people,” and Representative Villalba further admonishes his fellow Republicans to, “take just a moment to acknowledge the humanity of a hard-working and productive people. Respect them. Engage them. Understand them."
Recently, Greg Abbott invited controversy into his campaign by associating himself with rocker Ted Nugent who has referred to the President of the United States as a “subhuman mongrel.” And although Abbott apologized I submit, that that is not enough.
With Greg Abbott being at the top of the Texas Republican ticket, he needs to do more, much more.
I am here today to deliver a message to Greg Abbott. The message is as simple and as direct as I can make it. The message, Mr. Abbott, is this, “The approach being taken by the Texas Republican Party towards the Hispanic community is beyond any sense of decency. The caustic behavior being exhibited by the Texas Republican Party is creating a schism that will be difficult, if not impossible to mend, both in the short term and most definitely in the long term.
Nonetheless, and as a potential solution, I urge you to listen to your fellow Republicans. Individuals such as such Lionel Sosa, and former state Representatives Aaron Pena of Edinburg and Raul Torres of Corpus Christi who have also admonished you and the Republican Party on the divisive tactics being used.
Yesterday, Greg Abbott came into our house uninvited, wanting to somehow give the illusion that the Lubbock County Hispanic community is supportive.
A bit of advice from one elected official to another, “If you want to come into my house, the first thing you have to do is to see me. See me as a person, see me as a human being, see me as a fellow Texan. See the Hispanic community as anything, anything, anything other than a problem to be dealt with or worse yet, to be dismissed. The position you vie for, the positions your fellow Republicans vie for deserve it. The people of the State of Texas, regardless or race or ethnicity, demand it.
In closing, I’ll offer Greg Abbott one last piece of advice. The advice comes from Esther Cepeda, columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group in an article entitled, “Here is what Hispanics want from news media. And I quote, “Covering” Hispanics is actually pretty simple: if the “mainstream news media” wants serious Latino attention, all it needs to do is report Hispanics’ issues respectfully, fairly and consistently — no Chihuahuas, Sofia Vergara or Spanglish required.” A logical extension to this analysis would be the same in a political campaign - the Latino community wants to be treated respectfully, fairly and sincerely."
[font color=green]If an apology is deserved (which does seem in doubt), then let the councilman make it.[/font]
= new reply since forum marked as read
