A GOP Party of One

Statesman ^ | 06/29/2007 | Eunice Moscoso

[Ultra Sonic 007]

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials invited all Republican presidential hopefuls to its annual convention at Disney World in Buena Vista, Fla.

Only one showed up — Rep. Duncan Hunter, of California.

A grateful audience gave Hunter a standing ovation Friday and some convention goers posed for snapshots with the congressman after his question and answer session.

Standing at the lone candidate podium which was decorated in red, white and blue, Hunter was asked about his plan to fix the nation’s immigration system.

“We need to build the fence and build it quickly,” he said.

An 854-foot fence would help national security, stop crime along the border, and protect the United States from terrorists, he said.

After the forum, he told reporters the fence would also keep people from dying in the desert of heat exhaustion.

“If 200 kids a year were dying in a canal the first thing you would do is fence it,” he said.

On Saturday, seven Democratic presidential candidates were slated to attend a forum at the NALEO conference, including Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Barack Obama of Illinois, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Joseph Biden of Delaware, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Hunter's the only Republican who went, and he gets a standing ovation.

It pays to capitalize on other candidates' lack of presence.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Hunter ping!

Well, first round of reports about NALEO and Duncan's trip there as the "Lone Hunter". ;)

Hope there'll be pictures/audio/video up within the next few days!

[elizabetty]

How do you say GOP in Spanish?

[cripplecreek]

It would be interesting to hear the contrast between Hunter’s speech as opposed to the democrats speeches.

[RasterMaster]

WOOHOO! I knew he'd be well received!

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Que?

This is America. We speak English. What is this Spanish you speak of?

;P

[ichabod1]

Yo Soy El GOP!

[Cacique]

Most AMERICANS of hispanic background oppose amnesty and open borders. Even the ones that vote for the Dims.

STOP AMNESTY NOW!! WE CAN DO IT!!

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Yeah.

It doesn’t hurt that Hunter had the whole stage to himself. The Dems will have to share.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Immigration ping.

[csmusaret]

GOP in Spanish is puta.

[Cacique]

I don’t think so, but I can say that “tu eres un hijo de puta por decirlo”===

[SIDENET]

GOP in Spanish is puta.

Beat me to it.

[Kevmo]

Thanks for the ping. It would be interesting if Hunter picks up some endorsement from some latino organizations.

[Cacique]

Y tu tambien. Hay que separar el partido, que consiste de los miembros Y los que mandan que son otra cosa.

[bill1952]

This is hilarious! The conference was held at Disney World.. LOL! how appropriate...

[miliantnutcase]

Will Hunter get a shot at debating the dims this weekend as well? He could take all of them on at once.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

It just means that Hunter had a lot of free time, that's all.

Do you realize how hectic campaigns are and they can't meet with every Tom, Dick and Harry outfit.

[SIDENET]

In Ingles, por favor. I only know a few words of Spanish.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

He’s attending the same Iowa event tomorrow. The same event many of the contenders cited as the reason they couldn’t come.