Mitt’s Commie phrase sparks rage

The Boston Herald ^ | 03/20/2007 | Dave Wedge

[JohnSheppard]

Cubans in Miami are steaming mad at former Gov. Mitt Romney for shooting his mouth off in stumbling Spanish, mispronouncing names and erroneously associating a notorious Fidel Castro-spewed Communist catch phrase with freedom fighters.

Politicians in South Florida have lashed out at the former Massachusetts governor and 2008 presidential hopeful for describing the socialist saying “Patria o muerte, venceremos” as “inspiring” and for claimingthe phrase was swiped from liberty-seeking Cubans by leftist admirers of Castro.

The phrase, which means “Fatherland or death, we shall overcome,” was bellowed as a political speech sign-off by the dictator for decades.

At another point in the speech to the Miami-Dade Republican Party, Romney bungled the names of prominent Cuban GOP politicians, referring to Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio as “Mario.”

Romney also garnered criticism for his hard-line stance on immigration and ending the talk with the phrase “Libertad, Libertad, Libertad,” a revolutionary saying made famous in the gangster movie “Scarface,” which many Cubans feel plays on cultural stereotypes.

But it was the former Bay State governor’s use of an infamous Fidel Castro line that sparked the most controversy.

“Hugo Chavez has tried to steal an inspiring phrase - Patria o muerte, venceremos,” Romney said. “It does not belong to him. It belongs to a free Cuba.”

But scholars and prominent Cubans contend the saying has always been a Communist rallying cry and that it represents the very essence of Fidel Castro’s oppressive regime.

“It means communism. It means Fidel Castro,” said Florida state Rep. Rene Garcia, a Republican who was at the March 9 speech. “It’s a Communist catch phrase.”

[nowandlater]

It is a non story. It is two weeks old. If you think it was a big deal like 'Heil Hitler', then it wouldn't have taken two weeks for it to show up in the papers!

[FairOpinion]

Clearly it was unintentional, but it was very stupid.

Somobody in his staff did't do his/her homework.

[nowandlater]

Not really. The first complaint was this morning from an editorial in the Miami Herald.

Like I said, it was two weeks ago and NOW we are hearing this! LOL!

[cookcounty]

Maybe he should take Spanish pronunciation lessons from Senor Jorge Arbusto, El Presidente.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I found it covered on March 10th.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Well, at least he's not speaking with a fake Southern accent...

[M. Thatcher]

I wouldn't put ANY credence in anything the Boston Herald publishes

I think you mean the Boston Globe. The Herald is the conservative paper.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Mitt’s Commie phrase sparks rage
By Dave Wedge
Boston Herald Chief Enterprise Reporter

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Cubans in Miami are steaming mad at former Gov. Mitt Romney for shooting his mouth off in stumbling Spanish, mispronouncing names and erroneously associating a notorious Fidel Castro-spewed Communist catch phrase with freedom fighters.

etc...

[MHGinTN]

I'm not convinced of that ... there is too much askew in Massatwoshits. re, Fwanks is so twisted, Kerry seems sane and Kennedy appears to be only a drunk.

[M. Thatcher]

The Boston Globe is moonbat left. The Herald is The Washington Times of Massachusetts.

[webheart]

It shows that the locals are ignorant also.

I don't know about that. I think it shows that the Boston Herald has a political agenda, and the resources to manufacture news stories. The MSM destroyed Dan Quayle over a potato, they have been calling G W all sorts of stupid because he has a penchant for mispronouncing words, and now Romney. They are really building up our candidates, then pointing out their weaknesses to keep it even, and they will ignore Duncan Hunter completely. The MSM really sucks.

[SmoothTalker]

"Putting this story in the news, helps Romney because it will sear in the Cubans mind that he is the only Republican who cares about addressing the issue."

Now thats some serious spin!

[nowandlater]

He explained the context of the remarks quite well and it was a damn good speech. If you watch the video of the speech he was applauded very vigorously by the Cuban-Americans at the dinner.

http://mittromney.com/News/Speeches/Miami-Dade_Lincoln_Day

"I said at the outset that the threat in Latin America is unprecedented. I say that because the Castros have a second tyrant and he has great wealth, from oil. We must stand just as firm against caudillos like Hugo Chavez, tutored by Fidel Castro. Chavez and Castro are brothers in blood, intent on personal gratification at the expense of their people. Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro have stolen the phrase – 'Patria o muerte, venceremos.' This phrase should not be used by dictators, but by liberators.

"There are two spheres of influence in the Western Hemisphere. One is dark, bellicose and spreads misery by denying people basic freedoms; the other shines like a powerful light, is peaceful and wants only for its people to live in liberty and prosper.

"It is time for the United States to adopt a Latin American strategy that will strengthen human rights and freedom, that will advance our own interests, and that will weaken the threat of the Castros and Chavez. I propose seven elements in this strategy.

"First, we must continue to isolate Castro with economic and diplomatic sanctions.

"Second, we must help our friends. Foreign aid and foreign investments must be focused on those who stand alongside us.

"Third, we must once again act to inform public opinion in Latin America. We should use our world renowned media and communications savvy to spread the truth about American freedom, and Castro tyranny.

"Fourth, we must improve our economic ties. The President has negotiated vital free trade agreements with Latin American neighbors like Peru, Columbia and Panama, but some Democrats in Congress are so beholden to their labor bosses that they have refused to confirm them. It is time to put the interests of humanity and of the nation first.

"Fifth, we must rebuild relationships of respect and trust and friendship. Our Latin American friends must always feel welcome in the White House. And congratulations are in order to the President for his travels this week to Latin America.

"Sixth, as we finally and belatedly secure the border and solve the problem of illegal immigration, we must reaffirm our appreciation of legal immigration. We are a nation of immigrants and refugees, and they have contributed a great deal to our culture of hard work, entrepreneurship, faith in God, love of family, and respect for human life.

"And finally, we must never again ignore Latin America. It is a great deal easier to prevent a crisis than to end one. Since the end of the Cold War and since the terror of 9/11, America has become so preoccupied with other regions that we have forgotten our friends in our own hemisphere. And we have ignored the potential threat. Consider with concern the visit here from Ahmadinejad, the aspiring nuclear terrorist and genocidist.

"As we face these challenges, there is one more principle we must remember. America must remain the world's military superpower.

"It is the strength of our military, the strength of our families, the strength of the American people, the strength of the many Americans who trace their roots to the soil of Cuba and Latin America, it is all this strength that gives me such confidence that someday, soon, the people of Cuba will be free. I look forward to the day when the stain of Castro is rinsed from the Cuban soil, when the Cuban people can stand with their American brothers and sisters and say these words - Libertad, Libertad, Libertad."

[dr_lew]

The MSM destroyed Dan Quayle over a potato ...

You mean a potatoe !

[nowandlater]

It is true. The account by the Boston Herald is misleading. Watch the speech and you will see he was well recieved. LOL!

[MHGinTN]

Case in point ...

[Robert Drobot]

"....He is not that bright...."

Compared with whom???

[OldFriend]

Not to worry, his new speechwriter is Peggy Noonan!

Perhaps this next speech will be done in an Irish brogue!

[muawiyah]

Complaning about mispronunciation is SOOOOOO FRENCH ~ so when did the Florida Cuban community come to be populated entirely by cheese eating surrender monkeys.

[napscoordinator]

It would not have been so bad if he was not in a class of fifth graders who caught him. That is why the story was so big!