New Spanish ad casts Romney as 'two-faced'
January 24th, 2012
03:31 PM ET
11 years ago

New Spanish ad casts Romney as 'two-faced'

(CNN) – A new Spanish ad hit the Florida radio airwaves Tuesday, blasting Mitt Romney as a "two-faced" candidate to the Latino community.

Co-Sponsored by Priorities USA, a Democratic super PAC, the ads come one week before Florida's high-stakes primary.

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Priorities also paired up with one of the nation's largest unions, Service Employees International Union, to produce the six-figure ad buy, which is set to air in Orlando and Tampa.

Titled "Dos Caras" (Two Faces), the commercial paints Romney as a disingenuous candidate simply pandering to the Latino community.

"Mitt Romney has no shame," the narrators says. "He shows one face to the Hispanic community and another completely different one to everyone else."

In a conference call with reporters, Eliseo Medina, SEIU secretary treasurer, pointed to an ad Romney released in Spanish last week, which featured Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart saying, "(Romney) believes in us."

But on the other hand, Medina argued, Romney's conservative positions on illegal immigration won't convince voters of his faith in the community.

The former Massachusetts governor has said if he becomes president he would veto the DREAM Act, legislation that would offer a path to citizenship for young adults brought to the country illegally.

During Monday night's debate, however, he added that he would only consider the law for those willing to serve in the military.

He also argued that illegal immigrants should adopt a form of "self-deportation" and go back to their home countries, "get in the back of the line," and apply to enter the United States legally.

"He's in a deep hole in the community," Medina said in the call. "He can't seem to help himself and stop digging himself further in the hole."

Latinos make up about 13.5% of the Florida's more than 11.2 million registered voters. Among them, about 30% are registered Republicans, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

And with Latino voters comprising roughly 11% of the Republican voting base in the Sunshine State, the GOP presidential candidates haven't been shy in courting the community.

Romney boasts the support of several Hispanic leaders in the state, including Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart.

Responding to the ad, his campaign called the Democratic-led attack a "dishonest smear" against the candidate.

"This is a dishonest smear from President Obama's liberal allies and a desperate attempt to distract from his abysmal record," Romney adviser Albert Martinez told CNN. "It will do nothing to help the millions of Hispanics who have been hit especially hard as a result of the Obama economy. Hispanics, like all Floridians, are supporting Mitt Romney because they know he has a proven record as a conservative businessman, and is the best person to rebuild the economy that President Obama has spent three and half years destroying."

Also see:

Gingrich close to 'money bomb' goal

Gingrich lands Fred Thompson endorsement

New year, old fights in Congress


Filed under: 2012 • Ads • Florida • Latinos • Mitt Romney • Priorities USA • SEIU
soundoff (22 Responses)
  1. Biggge

    Romney saved more than $5.6 million thanks to tax cuts introduced by President George W. Bush and a loophole for carried interest that benefits partners in private equity firms and hedge funds.. It is an Outrage, this is who the GOP is going with...Good Luck.....

    January 24, 2012 03:39 pm at 3:39 pm |
  2. Whatever

    K A R M A!!!!!! I hope Romney likes it served up cold cause it is coming at him extremely cold!!! LOL

    It is all a game... I think Romney will be the nominee and all the GOPers will fall in line behind him. Just fun to watch them slay each other...

    January 24, 2012 03:42 pm at 3:42 pm |
  3. Hongli

    Is this any "Surprise"? This is the biggest baggage around Mitt Romney....... FLIP-FLOPPER.

    January 24, 2012 03:53 pm at 3:53 pm |
  4. guest

    The way Dems are bashing Mitt shows clearly that they are scared of him

    January 24, 2012 03:54 pm at 3:54 pm |
  5. Dominican mama 4 Obama

    We Latinos identify with hard-work, ethics, high moral standards, one-face one person, loyalty to God,country and our fellow man. In other words Latinos are for OBAMA. Period.
    The fact that your ancestors are from Mexico, Mittens, is not going to help you one bit. Ask Rubio.

    January 24, 2012 03:59 pm at 3:59 pm |
  6. Independent Voters

    Nobody scare of Mitt which is the richest person in politics he dont understand middle class and poor people.
    Romney is the biggest flip flopper I ever seen before running for office.

    January 24, 2012 04:03 pm at 4:03 pm |
  7. Josaphat Daniels

    @ guest.What is there in romney to be scared of, if anything republicans should be scared of nominating a potential sore loser like romney, he always reacts and overreacts when he is under pressure, he thought he was being a man when he said he would released his tax returns on april and then after his humiliating defeat in SC rushed to release them. The repubs has a better chance with gingrich, and not santorum.

    January 24, 2012 04:08 pm at 4:08 pm |
  8. lstro

    Democrates are not scared of Mitt, they are giving you a non FOX tv version of the truth.

    January 24, 2012 04:13 pm at 4:13 pm |
  9. The GOP opens mouth and inserts foot

    Mitt still hasn't shown anyone his birth certificate. Until he does, he can't legally run for president. The GOP set that standard 4 years ago, remember?

    January 24, 2012 04:35 pm at 4:35 pm |
  10. T-RUTH

    Mitt made hundreds of millions of dollars off the backs of regular workers. As a corporate raider he destroyed peoples lives and jobs. Truly he is the most repullsive person to ever run for president. He and the corporate bankers are whats wrong with America.

    January 24, 2012 04:36 pm at 4:36 pm |
  11. unsub

    @ guest

    in my Chris Matthews laugh...HA!!!

    January 24, 2012 04:38 pm at 4:38 pm |
  12. jess

    Corporate raiders and corporate bankers are what is wrong with America today. Mitt made his fortune off the hard work of others.

    January 24, 2012 04:39 pm at 4:39 pm |
  13. John

    I am very surprised that out of all the things CNN wrote today about the debate, nothing was written about Mitt's' "self-deport" comments. It's one of the biggest thing on Twitter right now and somebody needs to write a piece about it. Another topic which shows that Mitt is only as prepared as his strategists' prepare him AND how out of touch he is with reality. LINES Mitt? smh

    January 24, 2012 04:39 pm at 4:39 pm |
  14. tim

    I dont care who wins the election just as long as it is not the corporate raider mitt rominey.

    January 24, 2012 04:40 pm at 4:40 pm |
  15. Stacey

    @guest – I have no reason to fear a greedy, dishonest flip flopper like Willard Mittens Romney! Besides, more republicans are bashing him than democrats

    January 24, 2012 04:41 pm at 4:41 pm |
  16. willie floyd

    Our pres. has nothing to fear from that circus parade of clowns!! It isn't just Latinos, it's the entire country that would suffer from a Mitt presidency. Thankfully that will never happen.

    OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

    January 24, 2012 04:41 pm at 4:41 pm |
  17. Fat Rat

    Who cares?which president is going to put more money on our work check is who i wanna vote for?

    January 24, 2012 04:42 pm at 4:42 pm |
  18. Hair bear

    Mitt is truly a fake! Wearing the BlueJeans and open collar on the shirts, want cut it. He probably can't wait to put back on those expensive suits. The ads right here's a guy with two faces! Nice face for the votes and stiff face when he can't deliver! Motto I've Got Mine Now U Get Yours!

    January 24, 2012 04:47 pm at 4:47 pm |
  19. Me

    The only difference between Mitt Romney and a statue of Mitt Romney is that a statue will never change positions. Both have the same amount of personality

    January 24, 2012 04:58 pm at 4:58 pm |
  20. LayneP

    As an immigrant myself I don't understand why some people think they don't have to obey the rules. Should the system for gaining citizenship be simpler, yes! But, Mitt Romney is absolutely right to insist in maintaining the rule of law.

    If you don't like the process maybe we should work to get it changed so others like us can enjoy the same freedoms we do without having to fear the law. Romney has stated over and over that he is for legal immigration and, I am guessing here, if pushed would would probably be open to streamlining the process to provide a better way for those seeking the benefits of U.S. citizenship.

    January 24, 2012 05:00 pm at 5:00 pm |
  21. Typical Miami

    Its to typical of the Miami hispanic commmunity to talk trash, whine and be drama. I moved out because of this GARBAGE I BET if Romney had some kind of Hispanic blood in him, they'd be singing his praises. IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHO IS RUNNING? Too bad - and F Elian

    January 24, 2012 05:10 pm at 5:10 pm |
  22. DumbasRocks [R]s

    If 'stupid' were pennies, Mitt would be rich........oh wait.....

    January 24, 2012 05:18 pm at 5:18 pm |