Simon announces new Spanish language TV ads

Simon Campaign Email ^ | 06/18/2002 | Bill Simon's Campaign

[daviddennis]

SANTA MONICA - Gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon debuted today his first television ad of the general campaign, a Spanish-language spot focusing on Gray Davis’ failure in fixing the educational system.

“I’m introducing myself to voters in Spanish in order to highlight the priority I’m placing on the Latino community,” said Simon at a press conference at the Santa Monica airport. “I’m doing this to let Gray Davis know that I cede no faction of the electorate to him. I will not take the Latino community for granted as he has done by neglecting their needs and their children’s needs.”

Simon specifically cited statistics showing that Latinos are disproportionately affected by the state’s failing education system.

“The facts speak for themselves when it comes to the education of Latino youths in the state of California,” said Simon. “Forty five percent of Latinos won’t finish high school and fewer than 25 percent will attend college. Latino students are being sent to the worst schools in the state and consist of 78 percent of students in lower-performing schools. This situation is unacceptable.”

The advertisement, the first time a gubernatorial candidate has started his television ad campaign in Spanish, highlights the poor condition of California’s schools.

“Gray Davis promised to improve our schools – and he didn’t,” begins the announcer in Spanish. “Gray Davis’ politics has placed our children near last in math, reading and science.”

The television advertising campaign will include a statewide buy spanning the two leading Spanish language broadcast networks – Univision and Telemundo.

The campaign will also be advertising on Galavision, the leading Spanish language cable television network in the U.S. with 24 hours of programming Rounding out the Spanish language electronic media campaign is a statewide buy on Spanish-language radio. The buy includes the Radio Unica and Nueva Vida radio networks.

###

[daviddennis]

The more I look at this guy, the more I like him. He is one canny political operator. He knows that, however much we wail, we're going to turn out to vote for him. He needs to neutralize Davis' base. On paper, Davis should get about 2/3 of Latino voters. Simon's going to get great publicity doing this, and it's definitely going to erode Davis' theoretical majority.

Unlike Blacks, the Liberal political order has not been great for hispanics; its greatest achievement, bilingual education, has been proven to be an exceptionally poor idea. So now it's time for Hispanics to consider that maybe Democrats aren't their party, after all. I'd count this as a golden opportunity to change a few minds and win a few hearts.

I know a few of you are going to talk about immigrants being like cockroaches feasting on our dying cities and whatnot, but I don't believe it. They are also hardworking people who serve us our fast food and repair our cars. The ones who are parasites are going to support Davis anyway.

And, in any event, they are here and becoming increasingly political as they find their sea legs. Simon's giving them a hand to grasp.

A lot of the reason people in this city vote Democratic is that the Right is known historically for xenophobia, for prejudice against certain groups. This is definitely one of those things that makes me occasionally disappointed and even appalled with the right. Simon is sending a message to people of all races, sexes and political persuasions: We're not bigots, we admire many of our state's Hispanics, and we want to help them succeed.

And isn't that the American - and Republican - way?

D

[daviddennis]

I'm sure I left a lot of you out, so feel free to add others. This one's going to be a bit controversial - especially my commentary - so fasten your seatbelts ...

D

[nathanbedford]

The race card is about the most effective theme for the left to animate the rank and file - but it is an exceptionally potent weapon when cleverly and cynically exploited. It serves them as both a sword and a shield. Clinton could hold the whole of the Democrat party against impeachment as long as he held the blacks. Lying, cheating and stealing campaign contributions are all condoned because of the overweening need to keep the racist conservatives out of power. No telling how many more churches we will burn if we win elections.

The intellectual vapidity of the left remains largely unexposed to the large majority of politically inactive voters who decide elections as long as the chattering class, indoctrinated in left wing journalism schools, implicitedly shares this view.

Clinton tried this tactic out on Limbaugh but Limbaugh wisely went to great lengths to debunk Clinton's insinuations contained in his Janet Rino anecedote. Had Limbaugh not done so, the smear probably would have stuck.

I hope this forum can resist the temptation to label those of us who see no commensurate benefit to us in our support of Israel as anti- Semites.

[ElkGroveDan]

DITTOs -- we have to sit down for a beer sometime.

[heleny]

I checked the Simon campaign ads page but didn't find the new ads. Does Simon speak at all in the ad, or is it just a Spanish-speaking announcer?

I think these Spanish ads a great idea, especially since those who listen and watch Spanish radio and TV probably have gotten much less exposure to news about the Oracle scandal and other no-bid contracts, the huge budget shortfall, planned tax increases, etc. that we see/hear in the English-language news.

Are any of these ads going to show during the World Cup soccer game halftimes?

If you have ever heard Gray Davis try speaking Spanish, it sounds awful.

[Pelham]

I take it most of you don't live in California. It's a foolish idea, guaranteed to insure that the grassroots will sit out yet another election in this State. Simon needs better advisors than these Karl Rove clones.

[heleny]

Part of Simon's campaign is about improving education. Schools don't need more money, but they are doing poorly with little or no improvements despite the huge increases in money we give them. Davis' plans are a failure.

The Spanish-speaking population has some interests in common with conservatives. For instance, a few years ago we passed the proposition to limit the failed bilingual education only to those students whose parents request it. Studies show that the English-immersion students end up scoring much higher on tests. Even the Spanish-speaking population supported the proposition. But, the schoolteachers union, which influences Davis, opposed it because the state would hire fewer bilingual teachers. We need to remind people how Davis' awful plans and ideas will hurt the education prospects of all children, including those of Spanish-speaking voters.

Besides, the "base" probably doesn't listen to Spanish radio/TV. You're right that Simon shouldn't neglect us, but it helps to expand his appeal to Spanish-speakers by simply advertising the ideas he already shared with us.

[StoneColdGOP]

Huh? Every California Republican that I know (and were all grassroots folks) thinks this is a great idea.

Yeah yeah, we know it'd be preferable to campaign to people in English only, but damn it, face facts. As long as there are voters out there who DON'T speak English, the Democrats will do their damnedest to get to them first and give 'em that "racist Republicans don't even try for you" line.

The time has come to compete for every vote.

[Eddie Haskell]

Yawn.

[q_an_a]

That was a well written comment. Does anyone doubt that the Irish got the same treatment as Latin immigrants? It would be nice if more of them tried to speak English in the presence of anglos, but they work hard and do the work yuppies won't let their kids do.

[Poohbah]

I take it most of you don't live in California. It's a foolish idea, guaranteed to insure that the grassroots will sit out yet another election in this State. Simon needs better advisors than these Karl Rove clones.

There are two possible explanations for this post:

1. You didn't think before posting.

2. You did think, and you want Davis to win.

[Gophack]

You are right on. I agree completely. We have an incredible opportunity bring Hispanics into the Republican Party. The key is to talk about common ground ideas, like education and taxes and small business and crime. These are the issues we share, and issues that the liberal Democrats have exploited.

There will always be radical leftist Hispanics like there are radical leftist whites. We need to reach out to those we share ideas and values with. Hispanics are overwhelmingly Christian, and we can appeal to them on social issues as well once we break down the false barriers that have separated us.

Go Simon!

[daviddennis]

I haven't seen the ads myself, so I don't know. The press
release sort of implies that he speaks, but the only voice
quoted is an announcer. So we'll have to wait until they
appear on the site.

I'm going to guess that he will speak, but only a few very
carefully enunciated words.

I hope they have a translation on the web site for the gringos
among us - it would be a real pity if we couldn't understand
the commercials!

D

[heleny]

From an article today:
Simon woos Latinos with ads in Spanish
Mercury News | 6/19/02 | Laura Kurtzman
Posted on 6/19/02 7:45 AM Pacific by NormsRevenge

Simon's ads, airing on Spanish television, cable and radio, criticize Davis, a Democrat, for failing to improve schools. They say that Simon, a Republican, will do a better job.

At the end of the television ad, Simon looks into the camera and says in Spanish, ``The future of California depends on our children -- yours and mine.''

The ads are aimed at the large Latino audience that is tuning in to World Cup soccer.

[snopercod]

Bueno!

The hispanics I work with are hard-working, freedom-and-fun-loving types.

We can only hope that Simon is the same.

[Political Junkie Too]

I think that the Hispanic population in California are, for the most part, family-oriented, religious, church-going people. I think that's why gay marriage initiatives fail at the ballot, to the surprise of its supporters.

Simon's past as head of California Catholic Charities may endear him somewhat with the Hispanic community.

-PJ

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Got too much traffic coming at me.

I missed this !

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[CounterCounterCulture]

Does Simon speak at all in the ad, or is it just a Spanish-speaking announcer?

I've seen a clip on the news (more like a hit-piece on Simon)...spanish-speaking announcer going over points, then at the end, Simon is speaking español...it sounded adequate.

Simon said in a news-bite that he is learning spanish.

[Pelham]

And the actual case eludes your limited but coarse intellect.

[Pelham]

I suppose it depends upon where you live. If you now have to live with grafitti, gangs, and drive-by shootings then you're likely not to be the slightest bit enthusiastic over this strategy. This is what now surrounds my aging parent's neighborhood, in what was once one of the nicest parts of southern California.