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August 28, 2006

Oregon GOP Shuts Out Hispanics

Wow, this is interesting. Apparently, the Oregon GOP, after passing a resolution back in July calling for English to be the official language of the Oregon Republican Party, removed the Spanish language portion of its Website.

Republican Chairman Ken Mehlman just last year proudly announced the national Republican Party had a new Spanish language website. A GOP news release at the time stated, "GOP en Español is another mechanism that encourages more Latinos to get involved, expands the party’s reach, and attracts new Hispanic faces and voices."

“Since becoming RNC Chairman in January, I have traveled across the country, speaking with Hispanic audiences,” said Chairman Mehlman. “I have asked Hispanics to ‘give us a chance and we’ll give you a choice.’ This is part of a genuine commitment to offer real opportunity to all Americans through a Republican agenda that is working to create jobs, ensuring our country has a strong national defense, demanding accountability in the classroom, and offering equal opportunity to everyone.”

So what's up with the GOP here Oregon? Much of the activist culture on the right in Oregon is of the extreme right variety, and the state party is well-known for bashing "RINOs." The party platform reads like a theocrat's wish list. It all seems very odd in a state known for its secular and liberal views, particularly when much of our economy relies on migrant labor. One would expect the Ken Mehlman view to be rather popular here. I, for one, am baffled.

Posted by Becky at August 28, 2006 03:13 PM