Cafe Con Leche Republicans endorses Newt Gingrich for President. Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are both qualified to be president, are electable, and either would be a vast improvement over Obama as president. Our nation is in dire straits under the worst president in modern history. Our next president needs to walk into the oval office on Day One and shake up ‘government as usual’ in Washington. There is no time for ‘on the job training.’ Obama’s dismal job performance demonstrates the results when someone lacking in leadership experience is suddenly thrust into the role of President.
Newt’s experience and proven leadership in breaking the long-standing New Deal alliance and executing the first ‘Contract with America’ aptly demonstrated Newt’s leadership skills and vision. Newt demonstrated he could be tough, yet work across-the-aisle to get things done. Working closely with Congress to ‘get the job done’ will be critical to fixing our broken economy.
Newt’s ability to learn and adapt has allowed him to learn from challenges he experienced as speaker, and personal failings. Claims that Newt was a failure as speaker are overblown. We recall from history how Lincoln experienced many challenges in his career, even outright failures, but each time he learned, bounced back, and grew into one of America’s greatest presidents.
We were impressed early in the primaries at Newt’s boldness in proposing immigration reform, an important issue for New Americans. Most pundits predicted Newt’s campaign would fold, but Newt stuck to his principled position and his popularity soon surged. Newt also founded the Americano, a bilingual news magazine, and has made considerable efforts to engage Latinos, recognizing the importance of this rapidly growing demographic to the future of the Republican Party.
In contrast, Mitt Romney unrealistically expects all undocumented immigrants to “return home and get to the back of the line”, without recognizing that for most there never was a line to stand in. We need practical solutions to our broken immigration system, not more ‘enforcement on steroids’ as we have now under our ‘deporter-in-chief.’
Mitt Romney also actively sought the endorsement of Joe Arpaio, then praised Kobach when he received that endorsement, though virtually all immigration laws Kobach helped pass were struck down as unconstitutional, costing taxpayers millions and fueling racism. Kobach’s prominent role in a known anti-immigrant hate group does not enhance Mitt’s stature among Latinos.
We reviewed Newt’s immigration reform position and recent comments on immigration in-depth, as immigration reform is a key issue for New Americans. The immigration plan in the 21st Century Contract with America is very good, except there is a lack of clarity regarding Official English. The ‘red card’ solution presented during debates, but not in the immigration plan, also has shortcomings, particularly the 25 year cut-off for consideration. It doesn’t take 25 years for an immigrant to develop roots.
Newt recently stated in a debate that he would end lawsuits seeking to end state immigration laws. We do not believe the federal government should ‘turn a blind eye’ towards state immigration efforts. A number of states passed laws, such as Arizona’s SB1070, that would lead to the odious practice of racial profiling, and some state bills last year would have redefined citizenship in clear violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Newt’s immigration plan represents a sincere effort at finding a solution, and though we disagree in some areas, we are confident Newt will work with Congress, business and industry, and the immigrant community to find a practical solution. We plan to actively work with Newt and help refine his immigration reform stance, in a way that is a more viable solution, and also more appealing to New American voters.
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About Us – Cafe Con Leche Republicans is a national organization of Republicans who welcome “New Americans”, defined as immigrants and family of recent immigrants. Our mission is to make America and the GOP, more welcoming to “New Immigrants” through political activism, “in-reach” and education within the Republican Party, and lobbying government to adopt more immigrant friendly policies. We also seek to bring more conservative and moderate “New Americans” to the Republican Party. These efforts will strengthen the GOP, and lead more Republicans to embrace welcoming policies for immigrants and their families. We have chapters in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Arizona, Nevada, and California. Our members and leadership are predominantly Hispanic, though we define ourselves by mission and guiding principles, not ethnicity, and we welcome all who share our goals. Our leadership is 100% Republican.
Jerry was elected to this position as a result of the recall election of Russell Pearce, and has done an outstanding job as state senator! Some very positive qualities include fiscal conservatism, limited government, and sensible positions on immigration, supporting neither mass amnesty nor mass deportations.
