Latino voters -- an electorate that is less than thrilled with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney -- are getting a new pitch from his campaign in the form of a Spanish language website and ad that offer a vague answer to the question: "Who is Mitt Romney?"
One of Romney's sons, speaking in Spanish, describes the candidate a "man of great convictions."
We believe Romney was speaking his convictions when he spoke during past campaign appearances about issues that are of great concern to Latino communities and working families. What he said -- in his own words -- do not match what his campaign website is now presenting.
Romney's own words tell why Latino voters are worried about the prospects of a Romney presidency.
On jobs and the economy, Romney joked during the GOP primary campaign about his "unemployment". That is not a laughing matter to voters, especially when they look at the hundreds of millions Romney accumulated in his business career. He and his partners made millions, even when the companies they took over were driven into bankruptcy. Workers lost their jobs and promises for health and retirement benefits were broken.
Romney also has shown his indifference toward those not in the 1 percent -- "I'm not concerned about the very poor," he has said. "You can focus on the very poor, that's not my focus," the GOP candidate said on another occasion.
Families facing housing foreclosures are not his concern. "Don't try to stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom."
Regarding a GOP plan that would cut funds to the Medicare program, Romney was all in favor. "I'm going to cut programs," he said. Romney also has promised to eliminate President Obama's health care program that expands access to affordable health care to 9 million Latinos. It would also ensure that Latinos and all Americans could get coverage even with pre-existing conditions, and provide for life-saving preventative care.
A particularly insulting comment Romney has repeated was his accusation that immigrants come to the United States looking for a government support or a "free deal." The remark shows Romney's lack of regard for the millions of immigrants who helped build our country and who continue to contribute to its growth.
The truth is that Mitt Romney has embraced the most extreme policies in the history of his own party, especially those that affect the Latino community.
The electorate he has shown little regard for so far understand how devastating his policies would be to working families. In a Romney administration, the corporations and wealthiest Americans would get wealthier, while the middle class would pay the bills.
The record is clear. Mitt Romney's own words tell a story that is not lost in translation, no matter how hard he may try.