Romney Campaign Press Release - Hispanic Leaders Call On Newt Gingrich To Pull Down Offensive Spanish Language Ad

Today, Hispanic leaders wrote an open letter to Newt Gingrich asking him to pull down an offensive Spanish language radio advertisement running in the Miami market. Hispanic leaders calling on Newt Gingrich to pull down the ad include former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and former Florida Senator Mel Martinez. The full letter is below:

Open Letter To Newt Gingrich From Hispanic Leaders

Dear Speaker Gingrich,

Recently, you began airing a Spanish-language radio advertisement in Miami where you attack Governor Romney for being "anti-immigrant."

This advertisement is untrue, offensive and unbecoming a candidate for the Republican nomination for President.

We are writing to you today to pull down this offensive radio ad.

Immigration is an important issue not just for Hispanic Republicans, but for our country.

President Obama and his liberal allies have worked hard to caricature all Republicans as being "anti-immigrant." Your radio ad borrows from those talking points, hurts the progress that Republicans have made with Hispanics, and undermines our party's efforts to win Hispanics over on economic and limited government arguments.

For a Republican candidate for President to reinforce President Obama's attacks on Republicans is counterproductive, and damaging to the national dialogue on immigration issues. It will also help President Obama get reelected.

Governor Romney has worked aggressively to campaign among all Americans, including Hispanics. His message of economic opportunity and limited government are the same principles that have been espoused by conservatives and rallied Hispanics to our party since Ronald Reagan. Governor Romney understands that America should remain a land of opportunity for anyone willing to come here, work hard, and play by the rules.

While we may have differences of opinion with regard to some of Governor Romney's policies on immigration, we nonetheless stand firmly behind him because we know he is the most qualified conservative candidate to defeat President Obama and to lift up all Americans, including Hispanics.

Like your attacks on the free market, attacking Mitt Romney as "anti-immigrant" only serves President Obama and his liberal allies.

Mr. Speaker, our party deserves better.

Sincerely,

Secretary Carlos Gutierrez

Senator Mel Martinez

Raquel A. Rodriguez

Zoraida Fonalledas

Jorge Arrizurieta

R. Alexander Acosta

Remedios Diaz Oliver

Rudy Fernandez

Jeanette Prenger

Jerry Natividad

Sal Gomez

Allen Gutierrez

Hector Barreto

Jose Fuentes

Bertica Cabrera Morris

Rafael Elias-Linero