Campaign 2012
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Hector Becerra of the Los Angeles Times identifies the importance of the use of Spanish by speakers at both the Republican and Democratic national conventions as both parties hope to connect with Latino voters.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Pausing briefly during his speech to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., Craig Romney told the delegates that it was his "privilege" to say a few words in Spanish.
"Mi padre, Mitt Romney, es un hombre de familia," he said. ("My father is a family man.") In fluent if slightly halting Spanish, the 31-year-old said his father valued that the United States is a country of immigrants.
"El ama a nuestra nacion," he said. ("He loves our country.")
The Republican platform advocates making English the official national language, but the audience cheered speaker after speaker after they sprinkled Spanish into their speeches.
