Convención Nacional Republicana En Español

I received the following, today, from the RNC 2008:

2008 Republican National Convention Expands Outreach to Hispanics
New Web section, staff additions highlight commitment to
engaging as many people as possible

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The 2008 Republican National Convention today announced the launch of the Spanish language section of its official convention Web site. The Spanish section…will feature Spanish versions of convention information, fact sheets and press releases. The section will feature regular updates in Spanish leading up to and during the 2008 Republican National Convention.

“The launch of the Spanish-language section of our Web site is another important step toward creating a fully interactive online community to engage millions around the country,” said convention President & CEO Maria Cino. “It is our goal to carry the Republican Party’s message to all communities, so they may experience Sen. John McCain’s extraordinary leadership and his positive vision for America.”

As part of its outreach to Hispanics, the convention also announced today two new hires who will engage media leading up to and during the four-day event. Joanna Burgos will serve as Press Secretary and will lead the convention’s press operation for national media. Burgos previously served in various communications positions at the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security. She is a fluent Spanish speaker and native of Miami.

Yohana de la Torre will serve as Deputy Press Secretary for Specialty Media and will oversee outreach to several constituencies, including Spanish-language media. Also a fluent Spanish speaker and native of Miami, de la Torre is currently owner and managing editor of the Gulf Coast Times in Fort Myers, Fla. She previously served as a communications specialist for Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) and at the Republican National Committee.

For the first time ever, and in conjunction with its Official Live Video Streaming Provider Ustream.TV, the convention will stream live gavel-to-gavel coverage in Spanish on its Web site…As has been done in the past, the convention proceedings translated into Spanish will be available free of charge via satellite on the second audio path (SAP).

Oprima aqui para leer en español…

I called the contact on the press release, Joanna Burgos, a who turned out to be a very friendly woman, who spoke English at least as well as I do (and English is the only language I know). I asked her just exactly which voters the GOP is reaching out to with this endeavor?

She answered that the RNC’s goal, “is to reach as many people as possible…and to engage another consituency.”

I explained that my understanding is that in order to vote, people must be citizens, and in order to be citizens, they must know English. She explained that while that’s mostly true, if I checked the citizenship guide, I would find that elderly immigrants don’t need to know English to pass the citizenship test, and that as a daughter of immigrants herself, she also speaks Spanish, and knows how important it is for people to be able to read something in their native tongue.

So, if you’ve been donating to the RNC, this is how they’re spending your money.