The GOP is getting some negative feedback on its latest outreach effort toward Hispanics.
House Republicans released a video on YouTube on Monday to celebrate Latino contributions as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. But while the one-minute video strikes a positive tone, focusing on feel-good themes like family, economic growth and opportunity to the beat of a triumphant bass drum, most YouTube users’ comments focused on what went left unsaid.
“If you really care about Hispanics then let immigration come for a vote, there is enough votes to pass it,” said user Pabloco2627. “Words are nice but they don't mean much.”
The GOP video hasn’t exactly gone viral, with only 6,000 views since Monday. But it inspired a slew of almost invariably negative commentary slamming the GOP for failing to raise the issue of immigration.
A few GOP supporters did chime in, like user RossJohn69, who said: “Proud Hispanic! Proud Republican!”
The video opens with a message from U.S. Reps. John Boehner (R-Ohio), followed by three other non-Hispanic politicians. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fl.), Bill Flores (R-Texas), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fl.) and Raul Labrador (R-Id.) all make appearances, sometimes speaking in Spanish.
Other activists have criticized the video for failing to mention immigration reform. Polls consistently show that a large majority of Latino voters favor passing comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.
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