(CNN)–On the evening the Democratic presidential candidates appeared in a candidate forum on a Spanish language network, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean blasted the GOP candidates for not doing the same.
"Every Democratic candidate, through their participation at tonight's forum," the former Vermont governor said, "made it clear that the Democratic Party is the party that welcomes Hispanics and that shares their values."
"The refusal of Republican candidates to address the Hispanic community not just at this forum but in national Hispanic gatherings in recent months, speaks volumes," Dean continued in a statement released Sunday night. "Sadly it is consistent with the Republican Party's strategy to scapegoat Hispanic immigrants for political gain."
Most of the Democratic candidates appeared Sunday night on the campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, for a candidate forum on the Spanish language network Univision.
A similar forum with the GOP Presidential candidates was supposed to take place next Sunday night. But only one of the Republican candidates, Senator John McCain of Arizona, accepted the invitation. That forum has been cancelled, although Univision hopes it can reschedule with the Republican candidates.
- CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford