McCain Camp Hides Hated Hispanic Outreach Chief

Newsweek:

The job of Juan Hernandez is to win support for John McCain, particularly Latino votes. So it may seem odd that the campaign doesn't want its national director of Hispanic outreach to get any press. Repeated NEWSWEEK requests to interview Hernandez have been rebuffed or ignored. When a reporter suggested talking to Hernandez at a convention of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, where Hernandez was slated to appear June 28, his name was suddenly removed from the list of scheduled speakers. A NALEO spokesman, Eric Wagner, says someone from the McCain campaign called and asked to replace him, but didn't offer an explanation. (A McCain aide, who refused to be quoted discussing internal campaign strategy, later told NEWSWEEK that the campaign had never signed off on Hernandez as a speaker.)

Here's one possible reason: Hernandez is toxic to many conservatives. "He represents the opposite of everything conservative Republicans stand for," says a GOP strategist who didn't want to be quoted by name on a sensitive topic. The blond Mexican-American (with dual citizenship) was a senior official in the government of Mexican President Vicente Fox from 2000 to 2002. His main responsibility at that time was to advocate for undocumented Mexican immigrants in America--to help them get access to education and health services, and then citizenship. In 2006, Hernandez authored "The New American Pioneers: Why Are We Afraid of Mexican Immigrants?" Some conservatives have wanted McCain to deny Hernandez any role in the campaign. "Imagine a tree and people shaking it, trying to get him out," says the strategist. "Well, that tree went through a hurricane."

But one group's villain is another's hero. Hernandez has good ties to the Latino community, particularly church groups. McCain needs those votes, especially in swing states like Florida, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. "If the campaign shoves [Hernandez] to the side ... it would cause an enormous amount of trepidation," says the Rev. Sam Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. "He's the only real bridge the campaign has with us."

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[speakingtruth2power]

Once again, catering to the rabid right wing is losing the GOP centrist votes.

I'm quite happy that they are too dumb & subborn, o get this political realty.

[keepemhonest]

Another Top-Secret McCain Advisor.

I wonder if this list will grow?

1. Top-Secret McCain Advisor, Karl Rove
2. Top-Secret McCain Advisor, Juan Hernandez

Does anyone really think Phil Gramm is gone?

Could there be ....

3. Top-Secret McCain Advisor, Phil Gramm?

[joebiz]

A couple of things. The PAN or the Mexican conservative, center right party began its neo-right wing roots after the passage of the liberal and truly progressive Mexican Constiution of 1917. The founding members were primarily conservative insurgents that were defeated by the government. These insurgents, known as Cristeros (or Christ-followers) wanted greater rights for the Catholic Church.
The Church was mostly aligned with the wealthy classes and landed elites to suppress the poor.

The PAN, thus has its center right, Christian Democrat roots based on a counter revolution by the Church. Many of the modern day memebers of the party maintain many of the similar beliefs as the Republican Party. One can say that the PAN is the Mexican equivalent of the GOP.

This Hernandez character is generally a nobody. Although he should not be understimated, he's not known in the US at any level.

My concern is why is a foreign political party, and this case, Mexican government (the current head of state in Mexico is PAN) trying to influence policy in the United States. There are general and fundamental differences between Americans of Mexican descent versus Mexican nationals in the US. Beware of the latter.

It seems it's the Passion of the Christ strategy used by Mel Gibson to drum up support for his unwatchable sado-masochist blood fest. They went to all the Christian churches with a movie to gain support for the movie and the GOP. "The Passion" now is Senator McCain.

[nativeeyes]

Republicans pulling the race card, how Original!! Vile saps!!

[GravitonX]

This is so funny. These white people are so racist that they're trapped by their own racism. John McCain wants Latino votes but can't be seen trying to get them. This is like trying to shake someone's hand with your hands in your pocket then saying, "I'd like to shake your hand but someone might see me with you." I think Latinos get the message Blacks have been getting loud and clear. LOL

[DRaymond]

I can get why McCain would want Juan Hernandez. I can understand why they would try to keep him secret. But what I can't get is why Hernandez would put up with it.

[Shelly1970]

No wonder McCain supporters are so mad that democrats are excited about their candidate. Look at the glum faces on those sign holders!

[Teritt]

All I know is I hope the Hindu's have it right - when Lou Dobbs is reincarnated, i want him to be re-born is a desolate hilltop in the Mexican desert.

[JiminNC]

Maybe a sombrerro on the wall at a Tijuana donkey show?

[ChiGuy]

Maybe as the floor in that donkey stable.

[loax]

Hising another surrogate like Charlie Black McBush? Who would have thought that Mr. "Respectful" campaign would have thugs on his staff!

[DoTheMath]

Another example of the McCain campaign trying to have it both ways. They want to hang onto the conservative base, but there's no way conservative Republicans can elect a president by themselves this year. The twenty-something percent of voters who still like President Bush just aren't going to win an election for anybody. So the McCain camp tries to pull in other groups. The problem is that any position that would attract any other groups is abhorrent to the base.

The only thing McCain ever had going for himself was the maverick myth. It wasn't really anything more impressive than a stubborn refusal to change his mind or word his opinions more carefully. Now even that is gone, as he panders shamelessly to every group he addresses and tries to hide from one group what he or one of his spokespersons has said to another group.

[obamajusrocks]

ashamed ?

Cross-over.

[kellygrrrl]

dirty little secret?

no shortage of those in the GOP

[karela]

Oh Karl, Karl Rove, lookie over here! And I wonder how all the super conservative evangelicals will feel about this guy when they find out? Oh Netroots!!!! How about we do a viral email that sends this story to every email address that sends out an Obama smear? And then of course a lot of other people. We love having our own techies!

[Alfannell]

One way that Obama can really appeal to Hispanics is to put Bill Richardson on the ticket!

[nerakami]

Just goes to show the very hypocritical & deceptive nature of McCain's campaign and tactics. Hire the help but keep them hidden from the public.... kinda like the plantation mentality.­..

John McCain's candidacy is riddled with conflicting positions.­... makes me dizzy just trying to keep track