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Subscribe to RSSIn an interview with NBC's Brian Williams, the wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney shared her concerns about America's economic future. When asked about the headline-grabbing speech from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ann Romney said he "clearly came out and supported my husband." She was pleased with her RNC debut, as well. "My intent was to speak from my heart to other people's hearts and I think that happened," she said.
TAMPA, Fla. -- Ann Romney today placed blame on the Democratic Party for creating "biases" in the Latino community that, she argued, are anti-Republican.
The wife of the soon-to-be GOP presidential nominee said she, like many Republicans, understands and sympathizes with Latinos and how many came to this country for a better life.
"So it really is a message that would resonate well if they could just get past some of their biases that have been there from the Democratic machines that have made us look like we don’t care about this community. And that is not true," she said. "We very much care about you and your families and the opportunities that are there for you and your families."
But Democrats and even some Republicans -- like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush -- say that it has been the Republican Party's tone toward illegal immigration that has hurt the GOP with this demographic group.
Ann Romney talks about her marriage to Mitt Romney, her children and their lives together as she characterizes the GOP nominee as a trustworthy, compassionate leader.
For his part, Mitt Romney has been accused of using illegal immigration as a political weapon against his intra-party rivals.
In 2007-2008, Romney's campaign aired a TV ad with the candidate stating, "I opposed driver's licenses and in-state tuition for illegal aliens. As president, I'll oppose amnesty, cut funding for sanctuary cities and secure our borders. Legal immigration is great, but illegal immigration -- that's got to stop.”
NBC News' Andrea Mitchell joins Morning Joe to discuss Ann Romney's speech on the first night of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. Mitchell was on hand at the Tampa Bay Times Forum for the speech.
During this GOP primary season, Romney touted the endorsement of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (who helped co-author Arizona’s controversial immigration law), and he recommended that illegal immigrants self-deport.
Speaking to nearly 150 members of the Latino Coalition at a luncheon as part of the convention, Ann Romney tried to emphasize the magnitude of the November election that pits her husband against President Barack Obama.
"It's also very important that the Latino community recognize how important this election is for them. And they are mistaken if they think they are going to be better off with Barack Obama as their president," she said. "There really is only one way for prosperity, for small business, and that is this is the simplest way I can say this: If Mitt Romney wins, America wins."
Obama won two-thirds of the Latino vote during the 2008 election. In the recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Telemundo poll, Obama held a similar lead over Romney among that demographic group.
Ann Romney said reaching out to specific pockets of the electorate, like the Latino community and females -- as she did this morning and in her speech Tuesday night -- is a key role of hers during her husband's campaign for the White House.
"For me, I feel like my importance in speaking out is making sure those coalitions that would nationally be going for another party wake up and say you better really look at the issues this time. You better really look at your future and figure out who's going to be the guy that's going to make it better for you and your children. And there is only one answer," she said.
Did Ann Romney humanize her husband? Did Chris Christie talk about himself too much? The National Journal's Major Garrett and The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson share their thoughts on the big RNC speeches Tuesday night.
Craig Romney, Mitt and Ann's youngest son, who introduced his mother at the luncheon, is fluent in Spanish and has played a big part in Hispanic outreach in the Sunshine State -- a state with 29 electoral votes up for grabs.
"It's very important that we get our message out in Florida to the Latino community, in particular. And I know this boy right here has been doing a great job of representing my husband with a great voice," Ann said "I know he’s been doing a lot of advertising, radio advertising and TV interviews and everything else. We’re so proud of him."
And showing off her motherly side, Ann Romney added:
"I have no idea what he’s ever saying when he’s speaking Spanish, but I’m so proud. I just sit there and beam when I hear him speak, as a mother always would."
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Ann, next you'll be tauting all the "black friends" you and Mittens have........
How do you say "self-deport" in Spanish?????
Here is an excerpt of an article about a state republican sponsored ammendment in Texas showing just how much the Republican party and Ann Romney are helping the poor, hispanics and minorities. It really shows just how much they care about these groups. This year Texas is not the only state to pass or try to pass such laws under the cover of protecting elections from voter fraud. Most if not all of they bills were sponsored by republicans.
A minority disenfranchizing a majority to became the majority even when they're really not.
When it comes down to it, they'd just rather not have some segments of our population voting. Maybe they're just NOT RESPONSIBLE enough to vote the way they'd like them to.
“Moreover, uncontested record evidence conclusively shows that the implicit costs of obtaining SB 14-qualifying ID will fall most heavily on the poor and that a disproportionately high percentage of African Americans and Hispanics in Texas live in poverty. We therefore conclude that SB 14 is likely to lead to ‘retrogression in the position of racial minorities with respect to their effective exercise of the electoral franchise.’”
Read the court opinion (.PDF)
The ruling was the second legal blow to Texas this week. On Tuesday, another federal court panel threw out a Texas redistricting plan, finding evidence of discrimination in voting maps drawn by the state's Republican-controlled Legislature.
At least she said "Latinos" instead of "you people" this time.. hahahahahaha is she natural blonde??
This just an older "BARBIE" speaking, still plastic!
ROMNEY/RYAN 1040
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Ann Romney's opinion is laughable. Her husband stood there silently while primary debate observers cheered at the thought of an electrified fence, Herman Cain's lauded idea for "dealing with" the immigration issue. That's just one example of why Latinos don't trust him. His idea of self-deportation is another. Does he not realize that the "solution" of self-deportation is quite literally a joke created to mock a 1990s Californian politician? Apparently Romney could not take the time to do even the quickest research. He just heard it from someone and thought - Good idea! We'll just make their lives so miserable they'll leave! Yeah, he's the milkman of human kindness. And Latinos see right through it.
Let's be real. If Mitt Romney would have shown any sort of backbone or ounce of decency any one of the times he has had a chance to challenge the lunatics in his party, he wouldn't need his wife to try to sell him to America in a RNC speech. The one Romney son should tell Ann and Mitt, in Spanish perhaps, "give it up."
Ann Romney is so worried that the US is going to go the way of Italy and Greece. Does she understand what is causing the long term downfall of these two countries.......THEIR CITIZENS DO NOT PAY TAXES!!!!!!! THEY HIDE THEIR MONEY!!!!!! They put their money under the mattress, or in off shore accounts AND THEN THEY HAVE THE GALL TO BRAG ABOUT IT. REALLY, ANN, CAN YOU SEE THE REAL SIMILARITIES NOW.....
WAKE UP HONEY -- I have travelled to both countries and have colleagues and friends whose families are from these beautiful countries. The people laugh at the taxman.
The citizens expect something from nothing.
To be a great nation there needs to be great infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc), a strong middle class of buyers ((who in fact are the JOB CREATORS - no shoppers, no profit)), great education systems from grade 1 to graduate level, rapid transit, a strong civilian police and fire protection servoce, affordable health care (one of the top reason people go bankrupt and-or die, a healthy and fit population, honest citizens and leaders and on and on. The US trails most of the western world in literacy, math and science. Finland, Canada, and South Korea are at the top of all three areas of academia.
"Why we like them and understand them; they are just like us" Mrs. Romney. Meaning if they had inherited stocks while they were in college and they didn't have to work because they could sell their stocks and meaning they were born into wealth like the Latino Aristocracy then they are just like us eh Anne? By the way not all common people can afford Olympic dressage horses either. You wanted to talk about how poor yo were, but in 1984 you said you two did not have to work because Willard sold stocks to pay for college from the multi millions he inherited. My they are just like us no?
Since Mitt's father was born in Mexico and other family members chose to stay there , maybe he, Ann and their brood could self deport themselves to Mexico and live off of their riches.
Oh my goodness, Latino people have two eyes, two ears, a brain and a mouth. They can see, hear, think and speak for themselves. Based on what they have seen & heard from your husband and republicans they can think and vote how they so choose. Their vote will be their voice.
Mrs. Romney,
There are many Latinos who support the GOP.
Just fewer after this speech.
We are better off than 4 years ago. We were at the brink of collapse due to the failed policy's of 8 years of Bush. I mean the Republicans gambled this ccountry away, hid money offshore, gave themselves tax breaks. We had the worst crisis since the great depression. It is gonna take a lot more than 4 years to straighten the mess the GOP - now the Tea Party. I voted a republican straight ticket for years, now they won't get the time of day, Crooks! You go Obama!
No, Queen Ann,it is not the Dems,it is your political party and your chameleon husband that is the cause for your whining. You are showing your sense of priviledge which does not matter. Please go back to your mansions.
As one of the "THEY", I must ask, does she really think that her remarks make any sense. Because her son can speak Spanish, which I'm sure he learned for some sort of mission trip, does not in any way help a person who has NEVER had to struggle financially really understand how it is to make ends meet. I'm sure the ironing board was there personal little perk to make them feel good about being financially secure all of their lives.
If I'm wrong, then let them use their money and resources to find me and give me a real and believable explanation.
I have and am still struggling to make ends meet to keep a roof over my families head and food on the table. I am also a proud Army Vet who is not asking for a hand out.
So if any GOP types think that is what I am hinting at, it only goes to show that your money always comes first, that is unless your going to get something out of that you can brag about. How can you really understand what you have never faced.
Ann Romney is an intellectual lightweight. For God's sake, Latinos can think very well for themselves!Stop blaming Democrats for what the Republican Party and her clueless husband Mitt Romney are completely clueless about. The have no idea how to put themsleves in the places of minorities and their struggles for acceptance in this country. The privileged classes have built-in tunnel vision which prevents them from really connecting with those who have to fight for their rights!
By the way Michelle Obama's inclusive, exxpansive speech last night made yours look so superficial in comparison.
The only person you can blame for Gop's Latino problem is the GOP'S.
Ann Romney has problem with the truth-telling, she said that it was her choice to be a stay home mom, well thats not the hold truth, the head of the mormon Temple said that a GOOD WIFE stay home with the Kids, and keep the Family together.
I guess Ann Romney wanted to be a good MORMON wife, so she become a stay at home mom. Yes right !!!!!!!!!!
She needs to go back to her garden parties, and country club, she don't have a clue to what is really going on in the real world. The hatred of the GOP was their own doing and they can't blame any one else. Minorities are not on their list of priorities! I wonder how many nannies she had helping with the 5 boys? How many of them were Latinas? Her son learned his spanish for one of his nannies!
Ann, have you actually stepped out of one of your many mansions and looked at/reviewed what the Republican party stands for now? It is lilly white (I am too), women can't think for themselves and men should make their decisions for them, and does most everything possible to promote "if you aren't lilly white-you don't belong in our country. They didn't used to be like that, but they are now. Sorry, Ann - but that is the opposite of what this country was built on-and not what this country is-we are "Americans".
Regarding the Leno-miller interview, miller is an ass of the highest magnitude and continues speak form the south end of his anatomy just south of his spine. I'm sorry, I should have said A — — HOLE.
Maybe Latinos' don't like someone not understanding Spanish and admitting "looking dumb" when her son speaks Spanish. . Maybe Latino's don't like their women "looking dumb." It's not the democratics that turned them from republicans, Ann Romney would turn anyone with mind away.
Democrats have definitely taken advantage of the GOPs fiery rhetoric on this topic but that is what opposition parties do.
President Bush had plenty of support from Latinos. If the GOP wants to know where that went they should look in the mirror and stop trying to blame other people for their own failure.
"hi, I'm Ann, it's YOUR fault I'm too stupid to learn another languange and it's YOUR fault I'm not popular, and God LOVES me cuz he blessed me with riches I could use to pay for immigrant nannies and housekeepers!"
Oh and Ann? No es necesario hablar espanol, solamente comprender una populacion significa en America. You keep telling them you don't mind if their grandparents, or parents have to go back and be killed by the cocaine guerillas.
"hey, they're illegal right? we don't care if you have to die. We don't have to see it in MY happy multi-million dollar home. Just go away while I have my maid make my herbal tea. OH! and please "LIKE" me on facebook cuz I just LOOOOVE my husband for all the money he brings home!"
Can we say "lyin like Ryan?"
Ann, I forgot to ask you. How many Latinos did you help out during Hurricane Isaac? Oh yeah.. that's how many are going to vote for you too!
She is either "clueless" or "just been spending too much time at country club garden parties and missing what is going on the world". Look at the Republican party/supporters, Ann. Lilly white old people (mostly country clubbers) - that is not fully reflective of our great country. Get out of the spa, one of your many mansions and/or the club and get into the real world.
I can't believe the amount of people who are falling for the Obama hype. And, hype is all it is. Obama is a compulsive liar. He promised America he's stand up for Main Street against Wall Street. It turned out to be just the opposite. The QE3 is just lining the pockets of Wall Street with trillions of dollars while Main Street and the middle class are dying. Obama promised the Hispanics amnesty when he first took office. Then he went ahead and deported 1.2 million illegals which is more than any other president in our nation's history. With election time drawing near, he throws the Hispanics a little bone and promises some of them jobs that don't even exist. Obama is not loyal. Oprah Winfrey got him elected. He repaid her by throwing her under the bus. He did the same with the Kennedy family. Before deciding on who to vote for read the book called The Amateur. This election is the most important in our nation's history. We have to make the right choice.
It's Mitt who has stood on every side of every issue, not Obama. You are right, we have to make the right choice and it's Obama.
Ann keeps showing zero percent understanding of issues. Her voice is welcomed but it'd be nice if she learned something about the issues before speaking.