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Sen. John McCain addresses Hispanic audience in Miami
Sun-Sentinel ^ | 5/20/08 | BY MIKE CLARY

Posted on 05/20/2008 11:17:33 AM PDT by mgist

Sen. John McCain used the anniversary of Cuban independence from Spain to declare his opposition to talking to the Castro government until extensive Democratic reforms take place, while sounding his support for a free trade agreement with Colombia.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee also attacked his Democratic rival, Barrack Obama, saying the Illinois senator was "naive, inexperienced and lacks judgment."

McCain won applause from the mostly Hispanic audience of 700 at the Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel when he lambasted Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. He touched on other themes as well including Haiti. "We have not been successful, and there are still thousands of people sitting in garbage dumps today trying to find something to eat."

Recognizing the deep poverty that continues to plague Haiti, McCain said: "I just think we've got to keep the pressure on, provide aid where necessary."

In a question from the audience that drew boos from the supportive crowd, McCain was asked about "prisoner rights in Guantanamo."

In response, the McCain said: "We need to move forward with these cases, move them to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, [for trial]. Some of these people are the most evil that's ever existed. I think they can be given trials but not the same trials that U.S. citizens receive. It's important we move forward and determine if anyone deserves to be free."

McCain was accompanied on the podium by Miami congressmen Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart. From here he is to visit a museum in Little Havana dedicated to Cuban political prisoners.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 2008; fl2008; hispandering; hispanicvote; immigration; mccain; outreach; rino
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I can proudly say that there was a very diverse group of Americans, South Americans, Haitians, and of course Cubans there supporting McCain. I was REALLY impressed with McCain's foreign policy stance(and Pro-Life). I had front row seats. One elderly lady stated she was terrified that Obama caused the same unquestioning messianic loyalty in American youth, that Castro did 50 years ago in Cuba. She is worried for this country and what was McCain going to do about it? I'm not Cuban but certainly take my hat off to them for their passion and love for this country.
1 posted on 05/20/2008 11:17:36 AM PDT by mgist
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To: mgist

Was this a free event or a fundraiser?


2 posted on 05/20/2008 11:20:17 AM PDT by Cinnamon Girl (McCain calls it "radical islamic terrorism," the dems don't refer to it at all)
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To: mgist
http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLR_en___US222&q=McCain%20in%20Miami&um=1&sa=N&tab=wn

Very Cool!

3 posted on 05/20/2008 11:22:21 AM PDT by mgist
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To: mgist
I really see this election as a great opportunity for Republicans to capture the Hispanic vote for many years to come.

I understand the anger Americans have about illegal immigration, especially with 500,000 protesting in the streets claiming the Southwest as their homeland, but we need to understand that many Hispanic cultures are rooted in God and family. Most are pro life and believe in earning their keep. To allow the Dems to use race as an issue divide this vote is crazy.

The last thing the Dems want is for Hispanics, or anyone for that matter, to think of themselves as American.

4 posted on 05/20/2008 11:24:22 AM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: mgist

McQueeg HAS to get the hispanic vote. None of em are going to vote for Obammi and if they sit home it could be the election. This is the actual key to this and every national election from now on. As much as I despise Juan he understands the numbers.

The Rat party understands this too. Obammi better double up his security.


5 posted on 05/20/2008 11:24:34 AM PDT by gost2
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To: mgist

“...very diverse group of Americans..”

I’m glad to see that phrasing.

Just Americans, and not Hispanic-Americans.

I did not read the entire article, but I thankfully did not see any mention of “addressing the needs of Hispanic Americans”. As if those “needs” should be any different than those of ...ahem...European-Americans.


6 posted on 05/20/2008 11:24:42 AM PDT by EyeGuy
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To: Cinnamon Girl

This was a “Town Hall” type of event with questions from the audience. We needed tickets to get in for security purposes I’m sure. There were a few commie’s in the room. McCain had to asked his supporters to be respectfull, when they got offended with a couple of questions.


7 posted on 05/20/2008 11:26:49 AM PDT by mgist
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To: mgist

I am from Nicaragua and my second birthday was on January 20th, 2006 when I became an American citizen and I have to say that lady is not too far off. Every time I hear excerpts of Obama speeches my heart sinks and my skin writhes with discontent. All I remember are the fanatical rants of Daniel Ortega in his many re-election speeches. The social utopia that these twisted individuals conjure in their minds to agitate the dumb and stupid (for lack of better terms), is exactly what America stands AGAINST.

I remember a very useful quote from Hugh Hewett about how some people are encouraged by young people being involved in politics, but in reality it is the wrong perception. Young people are inexperienced and radical in most cases. Another useful quote I always remember is from Winston Churchill as described Rudy Giuliani: “If your not a liberal in your 20’s, you have not heart; but if you’re not a conservative in your 40’s you have no brains.” I’m in my mid 20’s so I guess I have no heart, but I think I have as much heart as the next person.


8 posted on 05/20/2008 11:31:01 AM PDT by GauchoUSA
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To: EyeGuy
I hate to say it but Hispanic Americans do have different needs. There are Venezuelan professionals who are in limbo because they can't work here and are threatened in Venezuela for simply opposing Chavez. You can only live off your savings for so long.

Cubans have a real concern for freedom fighters that are starving in Cuban prisons. FARC and Chavez are supporting despots and destabelizing South America. Congress refuses to support our allies like Uribe who are fighting these terrorists. The welfare of South America directly effects immigration and the welfare of the US. Republicans seem to understand this. If you don't want more illegal immigration vote McCain. He has the best policies that will keep Latin America stable and not force people into exile. Obama will probably put Americans in exile.

9 posted on 05/20/2008 11:36:32 AM PDT by mgist
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To: All

Some things never change....Juan McAmnesty pandering to a race group instead of trying to become a leader for all Americans

I am sure McAmnesty will push his Guest Worker Amnesty plan and try to get the non-American vote.

Imagine both parties candidates running against America


10 posted on 05/20/2008 11:37:09 AM PDT by UCFRoadWarrior (McCain/Hillary/Obama: All Liberals To Me)
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To: GauchoUSA
Like my Nicaraguan friend says, many people who have experienced totalitarian poplulists regimes have told me that they are horrified by how much Obama resemebles those despots that put them in exile.

This is serious folks. We really have to put our preferences and pride aside to support McCain.

This country is not above self destruction with the support of Pelosi, Reid, Carter, and Obama.

11 posted on 05/20/2008 11:42:49 AM PDT by mgist
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To: UCFRoadWarrior

The really funny and twisted part is that McCain won’t garner the support he’s expecting from hispanics, especially in Florida. The Obambi phenom is huge there among hispanics and growing. Same deal in Kalifornia and Texas. Obambi appeals to their socialist nanny expectations more readily- especially the massive amount of illegals standing by to vote with fraudulent credentials.


12 posted on 05/20/2008 11:44:57 AM PDT by TADSLOS (The GOP death march to the gravesite is underway.)
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To: TADSLOS

With the help of our log cabin governor, mccain has captured the Cuban American vote. I wouldn’t lump all Hispanics together though. Cuban Americans tend to be a lot more on the ball than the typical mexican or central American 3rd grade educated illegals coming to America. I’m sure the dims are working inner city kiosks all around the country churning out illegal voter registration materials.


13 posted on 05/20/2008 11:52:27 AM PDT by yorkie01
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To: normy

Republicans at every political level and U.S. conservatism at every political level will both eventually die off sometime after January ‘09 if both the Fairness Doctrine is eventually fully implemented and if illegal immigrants throughout the U.S. are not only eventually given amnesty “to the max” but are also eventually legally allowed to vote in all future U.S. elections! A fully implemented Fairness Doctrine will truly gag all politics that’s not “leftist politics” forever throughout the U.S. and officially end the right to free speech forever throughout the U.S.! Illegals will truly end up always voting in super-majorities for “far leftist” politicians at every political level, and conservatives and Republicans throughout the U.S. won’t be able to match the numbers of new voters who are illegal immigrants.


14 posted on 05/20/2008 11:52:46 AM PDT by johnthebaptistmoore (Vote for conservatives AT ALL POLITICAL LEVELS! Encourage all others to do the same on November 4!)
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To: GauchoUSA
"I remember a very useful quote from Hugh Hewett about how some people are encouraged by young people being involved in politics, but in reality it is the wrong perception. Young people are inexperienced and radical in most cases."

That's absoultely true Gaucho. In my late teens, I believed that the only reason not to vote for McGovern was because Che wasn't running. Young people, particularly weak minded ones like I was are very easily seduced by the idealistic rhetoric of the left.

15 posted on 05/20/2008 12:04:58 PM PDT by VR-21
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To: yorkie01

“Cuban Americans tend to be a lot more on the ball than the typical mexican or central American 3rd grade educated illegals coming to America”

I would be offended if that wasn’t half true. It is reality that the people who come here illegally are the least educated of them all. These are the same people who allowed the radicals to take over their home countries and the same people who will eventually do the same to the US if we AMERICANS stand by and watch. It is the sad truth that these people are swayed and will always lean towards the radical left because they make the craziest promises of entitlement. That is what they wanted their original governments to do and they are not educated enough to understand why it failed so they are doomed to repeat it over and over again.


16 posted on 05/20/2008 12:16:01 PM PDT by GauchoUSA
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To: UCFRoadWarrior

McCain seeking media approval, he thinks they will love him, it has failed with Bush, and will with him.


17 posted on 05/20/2008 12:23:19 PM PDT by boomop1
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To: GauchoUSA

By the way I am Central American. I was educated in Nicaragua and received a degree from CSU Long Beach in California. I know it will seem like I’m torpedoing my own people but the truth hurts.

Cubans are usually above the fold because their best and most educated citizens fled communism when Castro took control, thus they were better prepared to establish an organized community outside of Cuba. People who are fleeing now and coming into the US illegally are not the same. These are farm workers, physical laborers who have no glimmer of hope by staying in their ruined countries so they flee to the US to work as fruit pickers, janitors and any job that will pay them anything. These people want help from anywhere they can get it and with the crazy promises from the Radical Left, if they are ligalized they will only vote for them.


18 posted on 05/20/2008 12:25:45 PM PDT by GauchoUSA
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To: TADSLOS

“The really funny and twisted part is that McCain won’t garner the support he’s expecting from hispanics, especially in Florida. “

There is another factor at play with the Hispanic vote that might help McCain, and that is the fact that some portion just will not vote for a black candidate. Some believe this is a large percentage and some downplay it. I don’t know, but I’d guess it’s fairly significant, maybe 33% to 67%, giving a wide spread.

Of course, there are some whites and others who will not vote for a black candidate. But this will be a factor. It’s just hard to estimate how significant a factor it will be.

But I completely agree that, in general, the Hispanic vote (especially recent arrivals) will go heavily to the Democrats in most races, 67% and more.


19 posted on 05/20/2008 12:31:04 PM PDT by Will88
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To: normy
I really see this election as a great opportunity for Republicans to capture the Hispanic vote for many years to come.

Are you joking? How many members of the Hispanic caucus are Republicans? Answer: None. The majority of Hispanics have and will vote Dem. It is a form of self-delusion to believe otherwise.

The Republicans’ Hispanic Delusion: Amnesty is not just wrong in principle, it’s bad politics.

20 posted on 05/20/2008 12:36:49 PM PDT by kabar
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