Outspoken immigration advocate Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) called Kobach’s affiliation with the Romney campaign “appalling” and characterized Kobach as the “Dark Lord of the anti-immigration movement” on a teleconference.

From FOX NEWS:

Among the strongest critics of Romney’s seeming embrace of Kobach, is Democratic Congressman Luis Gutíerrez from Illinois. “On the day we observe Martin Luther King’s birth, Mitt Romney and the Republicans are campaigning in the Deep South to restrict the civil rights of immigrants,” Gutíerrez said, “and to continue our nation’s neglect of immigration reform based on the fantasy that 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants could, should, or world leave the United States.”

Gutíerrez was a participant in a telephonic conference to criticize Romney’s approach coordinated by America’s Voice, which advocates for measures that would enable undocumented immigrants to legalize their status.

“On the day we observe Martin Luther King’s birth, Mitt Romney and the Republicans are campaigning in the Deep South to restrict the civil rights of immigrants.”

- U.S. Rep. Luiz Gutierrez, Illinois Democrat

“That Mitt Romney is [campaigning] with Kris Kobach,” Gutíerrez said, “the architect of the anti-immigration wave of bills at the state and local level, the author of the Arizona and Alabama bills, a man affiliated with the anti-immigrant movement’s worst elements, and the Dark Lord of the anti-immigration movement — is appalling.”

Several efforts — via telephone and e-mail — to get a comment from Romney campaign officials were unsuccessful.

Romney has said he opposes measures that would give undocumented immigrants any kind of break. He said he opposes the DREAM Act, a measure would allow some undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to earn legal status if they went to college or joined the military.

Kobach is a chief architect of some of the strictest state-level immigration laws in the country, including those of Arizona and Alabama. Parts of such laws have been blocked by judges from taking effect until they make a final decision on the constitutionality of states adopting their own immigration measures. The U.S. Justice Department has sued the states, saying that immigration is solely a federal matter.

Immigration has been one of Romney’s central campaign issues – he has pushed a hard-line position on the matter in an effort to draw a contrast against himself and GOP rivals who’ve taken a less tough stance on certain immigration issues.

Romney attacked GOP rival Texas Gov. Rick Perry during a debate last year for allowing undocumented students in his state to attend college at the same rate as legal U.S. residents and citizens. The exchange, in which Perry came off less firm and confident than Romney, has been cited as having helped topple Perry from his once leading position among the GOP presidential contenders.

Romney also has gone after former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has said he supports allowing undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States for 25 years or longer – and meet certain criteria – a chance to work legally in this country.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/01/16/immigration-advocates-blast-reports-mitt-romneys-campaigning-with-immigration/#ixzz1l525k4pY

SOMOS REPUBLICANS became the largest Hispanic Republican Group in the nation due to immigrant advocacy and endorsed Newt Gingrich for President during Republican primaries.

Mitt Romney is using the same language extremist Kris Kobach uses with regard to their inhumane views of self-deportation policies for undocumented immigrants.  Strangely enough, this language is used by the Federation of Immigration (FAIR).

FAIR supports the same positions as Romney and Kobach, and in fact, Kobach is the architect behind many of these anti-immigrant laws across the country.

In fact, Romney’s plan has support of FAIR’s spokesperson. From the New York Times:

“Obviously, you can’t deport your way out of the problem,” said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a leading restrictionist group. “You have to convince people who came on their own to leave on their own.”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/romneys-plan-for-self-deportation-has-conservative-support/

Gingrich Slams Romney’s ‘Inhumane’ ‘Self-Deportation’ Policy For Undocumented Immigrants

By Marie Diamond on Jan 25, 2012 at 11:00 am

<snip>

Today fellow GOP contender Newt Gingrich condemned Romney’s ideaas “inhumane” during an interview with Univision:

Republican Newt Gingrich says Mitt Romney’s call for self-deportation of illegal immigrants is an “Obama-level” fantasy that is inhumane to long-established families living in America.

The former House speaker ridiculed that part of Romney’s immigration policy during a forum Wednesday with the Spanish-language network Univision. Gingrich laughed at the idea and said it wouldn’t work.

Romney said during a recent debate that he favors what he calls “self-deportation” over policies that require the federal government to round up illegal immigrants and send them back to their home countries.

Gingrich has embraced a more moderate approach to immigration than Romney and was recently endorsed by Somos Republicans, the nation’s largest Hispanic Republican group.

SOMOS REPUBLICANS, largest Hispanic Republican group in the nation for it’s advocacy on immigration is in US NEWS.  Somos Republicans was the only Latino Republican group in the nation that fought against SB 1070 type of laws and Republicans who implemented those anti-immigrant and anti-Latino laws. Adam Bustos, new President of SOMOS REPUBLICANS resides in the State of Arizona (Immigration Ground Zero) after the foundress — DeeDee Garcia Blase left the Republican Party to start the National Tequila Party Movement which is a non-partisan female-led movement that Rocks the Latino Vote and pushes to support immigrant friendly politicians.

Somos Republicans stated they would veto Romney in 2012 since he would veto the DREAM Act and Mitt Romney gave money to Planned Parenthood.  The GOP is supposed to pride itself on pro life, yet it is hypocritical of Romney to be pro choice within the Republican Party.

From US NEWS:

Mitt Romney, GOP Reach Out to Hispanics

Democrats denounce efforts as empty

By Rebekah Metzler

“…..press release by Somos Republicans, an Arizona-based grassroots group, that called for Florida Latino Republicans to denounce Romney based on the Kobach endorsement.

“We didn’t support deporting Elian Gonzalez, and we are asking all Latino Republicans in Florida to stop supporting the GOP Presidential candidate who wants to deport our ‘Elian Gonzalez equivalents.’”

There are about 50 million Hispanics in the United States, making up about 16 percent of the population. Experts have said they will play an increasingly larger role in presidential elections as their population and participation grows.  Read full story here.

The need and rise of the Latino/Hispanic Independent Voter in 2012

By DeeDee Garcia Blase

This will be my last entry as  “Arizona Hispanic Republicans” for the Tucson Citizen. I will now be writing under the HISPANIC POLITICO.

SOMOS REPUBLICANS.

As many of you might already know, I have stepped down as President of SOMOS REPUBLICANS – the largest Hispanic Republican group in the nation.  It became the biggest because we grew out of crisis and we were the only ones in the nation who advocated for Immigrant and Latino Rights.  SOMOS became nationally known when we rebuked Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and State Senator Russell Pearce for demonizing immigrants and Latinos. SOMOS remains in good hands as I have ensured that the organization will not be hijacked by Tea Party extremists and anti-Immigrant supporters.

It’s time for  me to divorce the Republican Party, and go an Independent and new direction.

As many of you might already know, I am an Independent registered voter now.  I will vote in the Republican primaries for the sole purpose of weeding out the worst Republicans.  As an Independent voter who will vote in Republican primaries….I get to vote for the most immigrant friendly GOPers as feasibly possible.  Before you laugh at that, realize what effect we could have as a bunch of Latino Independents and how we could actually bring about some upsets for restrictionists and isolationists in both parties.

THE NATIONAL TEQUILA PARTY MOVEMENT.

I am ready to unleash my passions within the National Tequila Party Movement.  That’s where the real power is at because I get to work with the broader political spectrum and people across the nation during a time in which Latino Republican voter strength continues to dwindle.  Little do people know how the Tequila Party (where most members and leaders are of Mexican descent) will turn into a type of an American Party because we are the compassionate ones who remember that immigrants made this nation great.  We are the ones who still believe that the United States is that Shining City on a Hill and we still believe we are a beacon to the whole world.  The Tequila Party will prove that Latinos are just as patriotic as any other ethnic class because we know we have shed our blood, too, in American wars.  It is not the fault of Hispanics for leaving the GOP.  Latino Republicans are dwindling because of Republican extremists like Tom Tancredo, J.D. Hayworth, Russell Pearce, Jan Brewer, Pete Wilson, Joe Arpaio, Marco Rubio (Latino Republican who is anti-immigrant), Lamar Smith, Steve King, Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, Sharron Angle, Virgil Peck, and so one.

THE POWER IS WITH THE PEOPLE.

I have known it all along:  The key to 2012 is to motivate Latinos to vote.  In fact, I believe 2012 will be the year of the Hispanics when we vote in droves because we are fed up.   They should not feel disgruntled about the status quote, but instead be glad with the rising population numbers in our class as we look ahead and take matters into our own hands.  We have the power to change the course of this country.  We want to revive the American Revolution and we are not afraid of immigrants because we know immigrants made this country a great one. We are in control of our destinies to a point.  We should continue to change what is in our power to change, and that means we need to vote more assertively.  If Latinos don’t vote, it is our own fault for the situation that we are in.  If only Latinos could play the political game the way we play soccer and how passionate and strategic we are about futbol.

WHY INDEPENDENT?

Being an Independent voter puts us in a “free agent” type of status.  Both parties have to work harder to woo us and this is a good position for us to be in, particularly when the Party we might have ‘believed in’ took advantage of our votes.  As more of us become registered Independent voters, both parties will tread carefully on issues that are near and dear to our hearts like the broken immigration system and our wanting to fix it.  It doesn’t stop at immigration, we look ahead at securing our interests via redistricting issues, and ensuring fairness to that regard.

More importantly, an Independent voter recognizes how the far right and the far left are truly ruining this country.  There needs to be more Independent voters to moderate policy discussion so that we can bring this nation back on the right course.  The right course is being able to work across the aisle.  Federal lawmakers need to take care of American business.  We need to be united on the tough issues and not be for government shut downs and etc.

MALCOM X.

We ought to learn a small lesson from Malcolm X  specifically regarding his views during Civil Rights era for African-Americans to become Independent Voters.  But, substitute Civil Rights era with the Immigrant / Latino Rights era in today’s climate.

Little did I know how accurate X was on pushing for the Independent voter to influence POLICY ISSUES.  Latinos should should learn from this specifically as it relates to the immigration issue and fixing what we all know is broken.

In order for Latinos to push for IMMIGRATION FIXES, we must get more involved. As more of us register as Independents. This will force R’s and D’s in a position to work harder for our votes and they will not be able to predict our voting behavior. This is good for them not to predict and take advantage of us. Both sides must work on fixing the broken immigration voters.

We have just learned that CNN will be at Saturday’s discussion and debate to film Daryl Williams on the FIRESIDE on IMMIGRATION / ARIZONA COMPACT.

We have not heard from Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce.  He must not believe this issue is important to the people of Arizona and certainly to the LDS community in Mesa, Arizona.

4 day countdown to FIRESIDE on IMMIGRATION and ARIZONA COMPACT discussion between prominent Republican Daryl Williams and Arizona Senator Russell Pearce

Subject: Fwd: Mesa Discussion Invitation (Daryl Williams CC’ed)
From: info@somosrepublicans.com
Date: Wed, Nov 02, 2011 1:29 pm
To: rpearce@azleg.gov, “Daryl M. Williams”
Cc: Jose Penalosa, SGallardo@azleg.gov

Dear Senator Russell Pearce,

We still have not heard from you. We are assuming the FIRESIDE ON
IMMIGRATION and the ARIZONA COMPACT is not important enough to you to
render a response. We believe this issue is extremely important to
Arizonans and to the people of Mesa. We hope you are planning on
attending this coming Saturday, but we have not heard from you. Please
let us know, one way or another, whether you will be there. Also, let
us know if you need any audio visual or other equipment.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

DeeDee Garcia Blase
Founder, SOMOS REPUBLICANS
www.somosrepublicans.com

We have known about outside influences helping people like anti-immigrant Senator Russell Pearce.

This is why the November 8, 2011, special elections are crucial.  Russell Pearce has left a dark stain in Arizona’s history when he injected his bigotry into our political landscape.   This is why voting for Jerry Lewis is crucial.  Jerry Lewis will bring the Republican Party back to the Party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

This article in the East Valley Tribune confirms it.  Somos Republicans is quoted:

SB 1070 defense fund draws donations from across nation, globe

By URIEL J. GARCIA Cronkite News Service East Valley Tribune |

WASHINGTON – When Gov. Jan Brewer asked private donors last year to help pay legal fees to defend the state and its controversial SB 1070 immigration law against lawsuits, thousands of Arizonans responded.

And so did thousands of people from other states. And other territories and other countries.

Donations to the fund, which totaled $3.8 million as of Sept. 1, have come from all 50 states in the nation, several territories, the District of Columbia and countries as far-flung as Canada, Costa Rica and Micronesia.

<snip>

“I’ve always believed that outside sources were going to fuel these anti-immigrant laws,” said Dee Dee Garcia Blase, founder of Somos Republicans, an Arizona-based conservative Hispanic organization.

“It’s outside influences that are controlling these laws,” said Blase. She pointed to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who wrote both Arizona’s and Alabama’s immigration law, as an outsider promoting anti-immigrant sentiment in the state.

Among other controversial measures in SB 1070, which passed last year, the law originally let police officers ask suspects for their immigration status if there was reason to believe they were in the country illegally. Opponents said this would have let law enforcement engage in racial profiling.

Read the entire story here.

If former legislator and AZ State John Birch Society leader Barbara Blewster collected signatures for Olivia Cortes does this mean they actually support Cortes and no longer Pearce or was she being less than Honest? Either way something doesn’t pass the smell test.

We were told that Barbara Blewster is a member of the Latter Day Saints Church (LDS), but does this mean that Barbara does not support LDS views on immigration via the UTAH COMPACT? If Ms. Blewster does not support the Utah Compact or the compassionate views of the LDS church, then she is another person who is damaging to that compassionate image.  Mitt Romney’s anti-immigrant stance is already doing a number for that image since he wants to send all undocumented immigrants back to where they came from.  Mitt Romney, Russell Pearce, and Blewster are not helping the image and work of Mormon missionaries and that is unfortunate.

Picture below of Blewster collecting signatures for Olivia Cortes, a Hispanic female, who was more than likely persuaded or willingly participated in a sham candidacy to run against State Senator Russell Pearce in the upcoming recall election.

Great news just in!  Wonderful news, too.

We hope to see the Arizona Right to Life or National Right to Life’s endorsement of Jerry Lewis since it was Russell Pearce who was intent on changing the 14th amendment of the US Constitution? Every pro lifer I know knows how important the 14th amendment is to the pro life cause. We hope to see John J. Jakubczyk or other pro life leaders take a stand in this issue. This is an important election.

ARIZONA REPUBLIC ENDORSES JERRY LEWIS!

Rep. Lopez-Cantera refuses to meet with immigrant friendly Rep. Luis Garcia, and we want to know why.  It appears the only Cuban legislative voice in Florida that is immigrant friendly is Democratic Rep. Luis Garcia of Miami.  And even though the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, has one of the worst poll ratings in America, the Florida legislature is still Republican owned.  In fact, there are 81 Republican state lawmakers vs. 39 Democratic ones.

Latinos are tired of hearing about the lip service that comes from Cuban Republicans such as Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera.  Why is Carlos being evasive with regard to the immigration issue and the DREAM Act?   Before these Hispanics get elected into office, they would have you believe that they are immigrant friendly.  Yet it appears nothing could be further from the truth regarding Mr. Lopez-Cantera.

About a decade ago, Cuban-Americans and Cuban immigrants screamed loud and stepped up to the plate as it related to Elian Gonzalez; however when our “Elian Gonzalez equivalents” are up for deportation….these Cuban Republican shun our immigrants and look the other way.  Florida Hispanic Republican legislators are eerily silent on the immigration issue right now, and we believe it has everything to do with 2012 elections.

Cubans are the only ones who benefit from a privileged Cuban amnesty, but when it comes to other Hispanic groups who don’t benefit from Cuban Amnesty….it appears Cuban Republicans could care less about the other Latin groups who don’t get special treatment.

Why is Rep. Lopez-Cantera refusing to meet with pro immigrant friendly  State Rep. Luis Garcia Jr., D-Miami?  Is Luis Garcia, the only Cuban legislator in the Florida State legislature that is a pro immigrant voice in Florida?

We have already explained that the Cuban population within the Latino population pie makes up only 3% while other groups such as those of Mexican descent make up almost 70% of the total population pie.  Florida has a significant amount of immigrants particularly in South Florida moving in, so one would think that it would be time for Lopez-Cantera to stop with the lip service and commence with the action.

Little Havana property in Florida is primarily owned by Cuban-Americans, however, more and more Latinos from Central America, South America and Mexico are moving in and renting from wealthy Cuban property owners.   It is in the best interest of Florida to continue with REAL immigrant friendly solutions.

We are confident that Cuban-American wealthy property owners do not want to see vacant rental units and homes in the near future when policies do not address those living in the shadows of society.

We will continue to track the situation between Carlos Lopez-Cantera and Luis Garcia.

We know that Luis Garcia supports the FLORIDA COMPACT which was designed by business minded architects,  conservatives, Latter Day Saints Church and Catholic Church religious leaders.

FLORIDA INDEPENDENT writes:

State Rep. Luis Garcia Jr., D-Miami, called on state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, to schedule a Miami-Dade legislative delegation meeting to consider taking a unified position on immigration.

In his letter, Garcia refers to a Miami-Dade County Commission resolution approved this week; it calls on the state Legislature to not pass any immigration legislation, while expressing support for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level.

“In light of the resolution passed by the duly-elected commissioners that represent the same constituents we serve, and the recent news that Governor Scott is going to advance his extreme immigration agenda, I am renewing my call that you schedule a Delegation meeting prior to the start of the 2012 Legislative Session to consider this issue and take a Delegation position,” Garcia writes.

His letter adds: “While my previous efforts to address this important issue fell on deaf ears, and as chairman you chose to delay any action, I sincerely hope you will act on your statements shared earlier this summer that this issue will be addressed at a future meeting, prior to the start of Session.” (Read the full letter below.)

Entire article can be read here.

Why is Rep. Lopez-Cantera dragging his feet?  After all, on 9/20/11 – M-D County Commission passed a resolution supporting Rep. Garcia’s efforts - http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/09/miami-dade_county_commission_u.php

On 9/21/11 – Rep. Garcia released a statement about Lopez-Cantera’s reluctance to discuss immigration; there has been no response to date: http://floridaindependent.com/48673/south-florida-democrat-calls-for-legislative-delegation-to-take-position-on-immigration