Friday, August 1, 2008

Republican National Hispanic Assembly forms Tennessee chapter

"A forum for Hispanic Americans to play an influential role in local, state, and national political activities"

Born from candidate Nixon's "Spanish Speaking Committee" and George H.W. Bush's "Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee"

Thanks to Kleinheider for pointing out the newly formed local chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.

From the press release:
The Republican National Hispanic Assembly announced the formation and slate of officers of its Tennessee Chapter at the inaugural state chapter meeting on Thursday, July 31, 2008. The mission of the chapter is to build a membership organization to foster the principles of the Republican Party in the Hispanic community, to provide a forum for Hispanic Americans to play an influential role in local, state, and national political activities, and to create and maintain a network of Hispanic Republican leaders.

“The Tennessee Chapter is excited about spreading the core principles of the Republican Party throughout the Hispanic community in our state,” said Chapter President Raul Lopez. “In addition, we look forward to electing Republican candidates who represent these core values of family, faith, and freedom. As a growing voting bloc, Hispanics will play an increasingly important role in the political process in Tennessee and across the country.”

Guests at the inaugural meeting included Republican officials from across the state including Governor Winfield Dunn, State Senators Jack Johnson, Jim Tracy, and Bill Ketron, and State Representatives Debra Maggart, Beth Harwell, Glen Casada, Susan Lynn, and Dolores Gresham.
According to the national web site, the RNHA's origins date back to the 1972 Republican presidential campaign, which included a "Spanish Speaking Committee":
The 1972 Presidential campaign, for the first time in U.S. history, created an outreach committee to involve Hispanic American voters in politics. The Spanish Speaking Committee for the Re-Election of President Nixon was instrumental in the acquisition of 60% of the Hispanic vote.

In 1972 President Nixon appointed George Bush as Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Reviewing the substantial gains scored by GOP candidates among voters of Hispanic background during the past election, Bush believed there was a need to keep all those Hispanic Americans who participated in President Nixon’s presidential election in the ranks of the Republican Party.

In April of 1973, Chairman Bush announced the formation of the Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee to the RNC to expand and improve the participation of Spanish surnamed persons in the Party.

Under the leadership of the national members of the Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee the RNHA was officially born...

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