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FNC’s Geraldo Rivera on the GOP candidates competing for the Latino vote ahead of the Florida primary.
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Can governor as well there are a formidable are cast of supporters.
Within the Hispanic our community.
At the same time we're not seeing much more back from the national media on this.
I he has staked our ground he's been straightforward in -- Univision debate debate discussion.
With -- Jorge Ramos serve and we both know.
-- Univision.
I -- Romney did something very Smart he said he was and he would not pander these are going to change his position even though he was being enticed to do so.
That played well I suspect with both the Hispanic viewers of Univision as well as the broad the broad audience of across the country.
I disagree.
Erica.
Here's why remember in Florida -- talking about a closed prime it's Republicans only.
Right the independents can vote they can't cross the line as they did in New Hampshire and other places and the Democrats clearly cannot -- it's yet to be a register Republicans about.
Most Hispanic Republicans demographically speaking our Cuban Americans Cuban Americans.
Immigration is a non issue because Cuban Americans have most favored nation status in other words -- do you swim ashore from Cuba.
Once you touch the sands of the you know the blessed shore of the United States you are here is a political refugee you would not be deported -- -- your fell.
And the community -- Cuban American community and in South Florida is far more conservative very can compared to the rest of the country.
But interestingly Hispanic Americans.
Are not monolithic by any stretch of the imagination in their politics.
In in fact.
McCain.
Got just about a third of their vote.
In in 2008.
As you know George Bush about 44%.
We're sure we're seeing I -- and a lot of discussion about a group of folks the Hispanic American voter.
That I think is often misguided because they tried to attach the same sort of monolithic nature.
That you would have perhaps from the African American community which votes overwhelmingly.
On the Republican side you have this heavy influence of the Cuban Americans in Florida and Florida being a key state not only in them in the primary run up to who gets the nomination but obviously in the general election.
Florida has it's a great microcosm Florida has changed the Hispanic community -- has also changed.
You have all of these Cuban American mostly Republicans in South Florida but you also have.
But there's a one point five million Hispanic voters in Florida yet half a million -- Republican the other million.
They are largely reporter -- again and diminished in and Mexican American they are largely Democrats.
And I believe -- that the immigration issue resonates far more strongly would that community.
And that I think is president Obama's secret weapon and I predict you'll carry Florida on the back -- this issue.
-- and the Republican nominee will have another secret weapon of their own though.
And that is a president who when he control both houses of congress did not push through.
Amnesty also orders -- comprehensive immigration reform one -- you wanna call -- And prevent.
I I can't imagine a group why there would be any forgiveness so all in folks who are if there is this -- straight line equation.
-- -- American voter equals illegal immigration.
Amnesty supporter which it doesn't but it that but national media suggests itself.
I could imagine why they would vote for the man at all -- so.
Oh right and analytic -- viewed President Obama has been the toughest on illegal immigration have any president in modern history is deported.
More undocumented immigrants than any president he has strengthen the border more disproportionately more than its predecessor George W.
Bush did.
You're absolutely right but what President Obama has done.
Is.
He has tweaked his message as he approaches the election season -- -- -- it very cynically.
But he has now that instead of deportation -- yes we agree there.
He says of deportation let's only be port the criminals now.
Let's concentrate our efforts on the law -- not -- grandma and grandpa and I believe we'll see him also -- the DREAM Act.
Before 20.
-- he's push the DREAM Act out three times over the course of the past three years he's been rebuffed.
A comprehensive immigration reform or amnesty whatever you prefer to call it.
As -- why don't agree that there Saddam.
Winds -- this anonymous but there we are just describing the two terms by which the same thing is known depending on your position.
And the reality it is that that effort.
Has been just repeated and repeated and repeated -- become the Bush Administration whether in.
The Obama administration at some point people have to understand we're gonna try something differently here to resolve what they have good point good point but I just wanna go back to -- -- -- -- about McCain's vote and George W.
Bush is -- because these are two very different -- Remember John McCain co authored the comprehensive immigration reform act.
-- -- the Teddy Kennedy and the Kennedy -- in -- idea of the mid.
Thoughts 2002000 sexual.
And then later said he would not support his own bill.
Hispanics remembered that McCain's vote was barely 30% in 2008 compared to George W.
Bush.
A border governor a much like Rick Perry a man who understood what the dynamics were of the Mexican American relationship.
George W.
Bush got 44%.
You need -- Republican needs 40% of the Latino vote I think to prevail demographically.
This huge population that now is a reality.
And with a harsh rhetoric on immigration -- -- Romney comes there.
We're going to as I say -- look forward to continue the conversation my pleasure irrelevant thanks for being thank -- for all the repair.
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