Conservative Latino Leader Quits GOP In Texas

DALLAS -- Lauro Garza, head of Somos Republicans, the largest organization of Latino conservatives in Texas, has quit the Republican Party because of what he described as the anti-Latino rhetoric of GOP leaders.

"There is no place for Latinos in the Republican Party", Garza, who had identified as a Republican for 30 years, said in Spanish.

Garza said he made his decision after Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain proposed building an electrified fence across the U.S.-Mexico border that could kill those crossing illegally. Cain also called for an armed military presence on the border and the use of real ammunition against immigrants.

"What Cain said contradicts the Constitution and shows how we were infiltrated by nativist ideas highly hostile towards Hispanics and immigrants," said Garza, who made his decision and spoke to The Huffington Post on Friday. "I am not going back to that dump until the party goes back to the principles held under Ronald Reagan."

The Republican Party leadership has been ceding to the influence of the Tea Party, which has fundamentally altered the GOP, and has allowed messages of hate and intolerance against Latinos, Garza said.

"They don't want Latinos in the party or in the country. They don't want immigrants or the undocumented,” Garza, a retired police officer and detective, said of the party. “They think that step by step, they can make [Latinos] disappear like in Arizona, Georgia and now in Alabama."

And the hard-line against immigrants could hurt Republicans in the upcoming presidential election, Garza warned.

Garza said it is not okay to discriminate based on race or ethnicity. “I was born here; I live here; and I speak perfect English. I look Latino because I am of Mexican origin, but I will not be discriminated against because of that."

Chris Elam, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Texas, told the Austin American-Statesman on Friday that state GOP leaders never discussed the idea of an electrified a border fence.

"Most Republicans I know are a little more thick-skinned" than to take offense and leave the party because of Cain's controversial remarks, Elam said.

Garza is a political veteran, and had been considered one of the more militant and better known leaders of the Texas Republican Party. He said he had received many calls from Republicans throughout the country inquiring about his resignation.

Garza said he is still a conservative, but considers himself an independent, not aligned with the GOP.

"The Republican Party has turned radical and unreasonable," he said. It was unacceptable, he added, that party members applauded and GOP leaders did not condemn Cain's remarks when Cain twice defended the the idea of killing of innocent migrants while discussing his an electrified border fence proposal GOP leaders did not condemn the remarks.

An earlier version of this report appeared on AOL Latino's Spanish-language news channel.

WATCH:

An earlier version of this report appeared on AOL Latino's Spanish-language news channel.

Comments

[Clearing-Brush]

12:05 PM on 10/27/2011

WHAT TOOK HIM SO LONG?

If you're not rich, christian or a redneck, you have no business being a Repub.

[danusgram]

10:29 AM on 10/27/2011

It is my hope as an African American that my brown brothers and sisters wake up and see that these people mean you no good. If you think things are bad now vote a republican into an office and you will see some of the worst oppression of Latinos that you have ever seen! I look at their little polls and believe me they are not calling us black or brown to give our opinion the polls are off as they discredit our vote and try to keep us from voting.

[THISIKNOW]

04:23 PM on 10/26/2011

Elections do have consequences and I’m glad Mr. Garza has realized he no longer wants to be affiliated with the Republican party. The amount of negative talk by Republicans running for office, and talk show hosts on am radio and tv and Republicans blocking of important legislation, let alone introducing bills (12 I believe) banning federal dollars for abortion which is already a law for decades now, and wasting our time is what the Republican party seems to be about. We have never been told in this country that we could not attend a church of our choosing, but yet the Republican party incites hatred in people towards their fellow citizens by pitting citizen against citizen. Shame on you.

[MrMusicFlood]

03:15 PM on 10/26/2011

Just shows how Republicans are alienating anyone who isn't rich, white, straight, and a man.

[stupid humans]

11:35 AM on 10/27/2011

and old....the old need to move aside....let the new generation in!!!!

[sajc05]

02:15 PM on 10/26/2011

How do liberals here defend uneducated comments by this guy like this:
""They don't want Latinos in the party or in the country. They don't want immigrants or the undocumented""
1.Being for border security is not anti latino
2. no one here can name one party member who said they do not want any legal immigrants or said anything anti legal immigrant.. that oges against wall st journal, chamber, heritage and is just a lie.
3."they don't want undocumented" in the country? to vote? what does he mean? Do democrats want illegals in the country and to vote?

[guitargeorge1964]

08:30 AM on 10/27/2011

"3."they don't want undocument­ed" in the country? to vote? what does he mean? Do democrats want illegals in the country and to vote?"

Just curious, where did that come from? This is an article with real quotes from a Republican about the Republican party. Why are you addressing fictional comments to Democrats?

Reagan signed off on amnesty and W tried to do the same. Maybe you should be addressing these questions to Republicans like this guy?

[Clearing-Brush]

12:09 PM on 10/27/2011

Do you live in some alternate universe? You have to be real dense or completely disassociated with reality to believe that Repubs (most but not all) are straight-up white cone hat wearing racists.

[seealaska]

09:19 AM on 10/26/2011

Well, well,well.At last a politician is coming out with the truth. Cain and West, we will be waiting .
The day you realized that the Rep are actually racists , be like Lauro Garza and spill the bean.

[Bigdaddy Milkman]

08:54 AM on 10/26/2011

He doesn't mind the discrimination of gays, blacks, poor people or women, but now that they're disriminating against him, it's a different story.

[Jonas Planck]

08:38 AM on 10/26/2011

This raises an interesting worry that I've kept quiet about for some time now... More and more it seems like the GOP is concentrating not on political maneuvering, but on elborate tests of loyalty. As more and more rational, sane republicans hit the road, saying "enough of this horse@#$%!!" the inner circle silently nod their heads and think, "good. One less potential traitor to have to worry about." ... It suggests, albeit indirectly, that they're planning something monstrous, something that will only work as long as nobody in their ranks spills the beans, something that will require the unquestioning, unswerving loyalty that they now seem so obsessed with forcing their acolytes to demonstrate. Something that will NOT require a popular consensus or election... I'm not usually one for tinfoil headgear, but all I'm saying is that they look REALLY suspicious.

[Taz2212]

08:10 AM on 10/26/2011

Finally! For years in the states bordering Mexico the GOP took pains to cultivate the Hispanic vote and downplayed their divisive beliefs about immigration. Now the Latino voter sees the true colors of the GOP during this GOP race for the top. I hope other Latino voters wake up and vote for their self interest rather than vote for the party of "NO".

[Jonas Planck]

08:06 AM on 10/26/2011

Of course, if you're an electrified fence, you ALSO can't differentiate between legal and illegal. Same goes for land mines.

[bptrav11]

08:39 AM on 10/26/2011

I am sure that your fellow Republicans and Tea Baggers are able to tell on sight that you are a legal citizen! Don't bet on it!

[GravitonX]

09:57 PM on 10/25/2011

As I said a month ago, but some Republicans didn't believe me, (legal) Hispanics, who once voted Republican have switched to becoming Democrats, and with the young Hispanics, they've completely lost them. You can keep claiming, until you're blue in the face, the immigration laws were only to target "illegals," as if even that was okay with legal Hispanics who had friends or family who lacked documentation. Republicans can blame their rac.ism for their own demise.

[Viper1st]

11:14 PM on 10/25/2011

unless BHO deports them all before the 2012 election

at 1 illegal deported, every 79 seconds

[GravitonX]

07:51 AM on 10/26/2011

You obviously lack reaing comprehension skills. What part of legal do you not understand? This is your problem. Whether legal or not, white Americans are incapable to thinking that Hispanics are anything but illegal, and that's why your rhetoric will ultimately fail.

[Bigdaddy Milkman]

08:59 AM on 10/26/2011

I wonder how many 'illegals' have been deported to Canada, France, Spain, Kenya, Belgium, et cetera. Less than half the "illegals' in America are from Mexico.

[sajc05]

02:20 PM on 10/26/2011

But the guy in this article l.ied over and over.

Which republicans are anti legal immigrants like he claims?

Also, if i were the member of a political party, i wouldn't want people who have no respect for the law in my party anyways.

It's like the Latino community is saying, don't enforce immigration laws, borders, let all of mexico come here on taxpayer dime OR we wont vote for you.

sad

[hearmeloudandclear]

08:53 PM on 10/25/2011

AMERICA IS OURS - Not HIS or HERS; US or THEM -- ...BUT OURS...we citizens.

I understand the offense at having to hear, read or view day-after-day the implied negatives aimed at the Latino population...sometimes subtly, sometimes blatantly suggesting that you're NOT quite as good as....nor quite as smart...not quite as American as...not quite as "christian" as... And finally - "you're probably illegal."

One post reads: "large parts of TX has Mexican families that were there from Spanish rule.

Let NOT any other MAN define you. Contributions to this great nation were the result of peoples from multi-ethnicities of which Hispanics played a major role in making up the fabric of America today.

You don't have to ask permission to be treated with civility - you walk as tall as ANY OTHER MAN and with the rights of EVERY MAN.

Finally - no political party is worthy of your efforts UNLESS they understand your equal share in and equal footing in your own country...a country that espouses liberty and justice for all, and who imparts (on the Statue of Liberty)..."..so I will defend, each man as my brother - each man as my friend."

The ignorance of CAIN...doesn't deserve mention; he's selling a book and is selling himself out at the same time...but at a cost to others.





OBAMA in 2012 - VOTE !

[marilyn 63]

08:15 PM on 10/25/2011

ahhh!! the hard line of the GOP could hurt the GOP in the elections? well it dam well should because the tea-GOP dont like hispanics or blacks or actually average to poor any race Americans. they have shown us time and time again who they are we have to believe them and vote smart all Democrats for 2012 to help Obama get things passed and moving. now thats getting your country back for all Americans.

[sonjasmom]

07:06 PM on 10/25/2011

Mr. Garza should be more thick skinned? I guess they want women to laugh at rape jokes, too.

[Nativo Lopez IX]

10:43 PM on 10/25/2011

Rapists are tantamount to unauthorized seducers as today's illegal immigrants mimic legal residents.

[Thorinn]

03:24 AM on 10/26/2011

Why do you assume he's thin-skinned for opposing his party's apparent support for deadly force against those who aren't using deadly force themselves? I thought the punishment was supposed to fit the crime. I don't see murdering someone for attempting to cross a border fair or just.

[sajc05]

02:23 PM on 10/26/2011

you'd have to show me where that is a part platform/policy and not just one yahoo.

Can't do it, can you

[333Cathy]

06:40 PM on 10/25/2011

TX denies its history, but, the Spain flag flew before the American one and large parts of TX has Mexican families that were there from Spanish rule.

It was the whites who started squatting on Spanish land.

[Erik77]

08:26 PM on 10/25/2011

True, but old news. They are not denying history. You can't deny something you don't know.

There were very few Spaniards who stole the land from the Aztecs.

Some one may end up there after Americans.

What makes Texas different from the rest of the world? Any nationality that claims to have always owned any piece of land is deluded.

[Bigdaddy Milkman]

09:04 AM on 10/26/2011

Like Isreal?

[sajc05]

02:25 PM on 10/26/2011

Can you imagine how terrible it would be if Mexico still owned TX?

they'd be fleeing TX for NM, OK, LA

[Clearing-Brush]

12:16 PM on 10/27/2011

Maybe if the Europeans had not come here "illegally", taken the lands from Mexicans "illegally" and by force, and stayed put in the first place, we wouldn't have that problem. And TX, NM, OK, CA, LA, CO, AZ etc. would still me Mexico.