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October 26, 2010

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Senator airs TV ads with dramatically different messages in English and Spanish–bragging that he’ll send U.S. Troops to the border in English ads, while saying he “has always been with us” in Spanish ads.

WASHINGTON – Two Latino advocacy organizations today demanded that Nevada Senator Harry Reid apologize to Nevada voters for his duplicitous advertising in English and Spanish, and clarify to Spanish voters why he would air such dramatically different and anti-immigrant advertising in English, while promoting programs for immigrants in his Spanish advertisements.
 
In July 2010, Reid launched an ad in Spanish, Mundial, which tells Nevada’s Spanish speakers:  “In good times and bad moments, our senator has always been with us.” This ad has strong hopeful language and tone, telling Spanish speakers that no one has done more for Nevada.
 
But several weeks after the launch of Mundial, Reid launched an English-language television advertisement “400 Miles” – where Reid boasts about being responsible for 400 miles of new “barriers” for the U.S. Mexico border, 4000 new border agents, drone aircraft and National Guard troops protecting the border.
 
Most troubling are visual images from the English ad, which depict border arrests, military drone aircraft to patrol the border, and National Guard troops wearing flack jackets, helmets and full military attire to protect the border.
 
“Harry Reid needs to explain to voters why he is engaging in such shamelessly duplicitous double-talk--telling Spanish-speaking voters that he will promote programs favorable to immigrants, while telling English-speakers that he’ll use military troops and aircraft to secure the border,” said Mario H. Lopez, president of the Hispanic Leadership Fund, a group that advocates for Hispanic voters.  "Harry Reid killed immigration reform in 2007, and ofers only increased government dependency and massive debt to our children.  This is another blatant attempt to hide his failed record as a Washington politician."
 
“This type of cynical messaging takes Latino voters for being totally naïve,” said Alfonso Aguilar, Executive Director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles. “Reid is plainly trying to get away with something here, by telling Latinos that he supports them, while telling English speakers behind their backs that he’ll even use the military to stop immigrants from coming across the border.”
 
The groups today sent a letter to Senator Reid (text below) demanding that he explain the duplicitous nature of his ads, why he is using such dramatically different messaging with Spanish-speakers than with English speakers, and that apologize to Spanish speaking voters for taking them as naïve.
 
The Hispanic Leadership fund is The Hispanic Leadership Fund is a non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening working families by promoting common-sense public policy solutions rooted in free enterprise, limited government, and individual freedom.
 
The Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles is an initiative of the American Principles Project, an organization dedicated to preserving and propagating the fundamental conservative principles on which our country was founded.
 
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OCTOBER 25, 2010
 
FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID
426 C ST. NE REAR BLDG.
WASHINGTON, DC 20002
 
Dear Senator Reid:
 
It has come to our attention that your campaign has been running two different television advertisements in Nevada for your re-election campaign with dramatically different messages to English and Spanish-speaking audiences. We believe the duplicitous nature of these ads is insulting to Spanish speakers in the state and we urge you to clarify why your messaging would be so different among two groups of people.
 
Your Spanish ad “Mundial” tells Nevada Spanish speakers:  “In good times and bad moments, our senator has always been with us.” This ad has strong hopeful language and tone, telling Spanish speakers that no one has done more for Nevada.
 
But several weeks after the launch of Mundial, you launched “400 Miles” – a television ad in English, where you brag about being responsible for 400 miles of new “barriers” for the U.S. Mexico border, 400 new border agents, drone aircraft and National Guard troops protecting the border.
 
Most troubling are the visual images you employ: Photographs of border arrests, military drone aircraft to patrol the border – and military troops in flack jackets, helmets and full military attire to protect the border.
 
Your campaign is obviously double-messaging here, with one message to Spanish speakers – hope and growth – and a dramatically different message with English voters – that you are so concerned with border security that you would actually use soldiers and military aircraft to secure the border.
 
Why, senator, do you not employ those images of soldiers and military aircraft patrolling the border in your Spanish ads?
 
Your campaign is plainly double-talking to Spanish-speaking voters. This approach is duplicitous, condescending and runs totally contrary to the “hope” message of your Spanish ads. Please clarify to Spanish speakers why you would run such a contrary message with English voters.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Mario H. Lopez
President, Hispanic Leadership Fund
 
Alfonso  Aguilar
Executive Director, Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles