In a recent news article published at Capitol Inside, a deputy spokesman for the Texas Democratic Party criticized Republican Hispanic members of the Texas Legislature for forming a caucus whose purpose in part, is to address issues important to the Hispanic population of Texas. In the article, TDP spokesman Anthony Gutierrez criticized the formation of a Republican Hispanic Conference. The clear implication from his statement and the Texas Democratic Party is that only members of their own party can represent Hispanic Texans. The Texas Democratic Party believes that all Hispanics are monolithic in their thinking, political leanings, and party affiliation.

State GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri condemned this biased and prejudicial statement from the TDP by noting, “It is ironic that the Texas Democratic Party, which purports to be representing the interest of the Hispanic community, in fact does the Hispanic community a great disservice by assuming that all Hispanics support the Democratic Party, and that if Republican Hispanics meet to advance Hispanic concerns, that this is somehow inappropriate. Such a philosophy is premised on the prejudicial belief that all Hispanic voters think exactly alike and all are in lockstep with the Democratic Party. To have this philosophy demonstrates bias and prejudice against the Hispanic community. The fact is, Republicans believe that the Hispanic community, like every other community in our state, has a wide range of concerns and opinions. I applaud our Republican legislators for forming this Hispanic Republican Conference in order to ascertain the concerns of the Hispanic community so that these concerns can be considered by the Texas Legislature, as well as the Republican Party.”

Communications Director Chris Elam stated, “The TDP’s inflammatory rhetoric does nothing for the goals and needs of the Latino community of this state. As the last election amply demonstrated, Texas Democrats continue to lose support and votes from Texas’ rapidly growing Hispanic population. Offensive, blanket stereotypes against Hispanic legislators is the sort of acrimonious partisanship that voters soundly rejected last November. The Republican Party of Texas stands solidly in support of the new Hispanic Republican Conference, and thanks our legislators for working to build a new marketplace of ideas and discussion within the Republican legislative super-majority this session. Rep. Peña and his colleagues have made it clear that the Hispanic Republican Conference will work to achieve progress and influence in this legislative session by taking positions that represent their viewpoints and experiences. We sincerely hope that the example of the Hispanic Republican Conference will embolden other Hispanic legislators to speak their own viewpoints, and not operate under the inflammatory talking points released by the TDP.”