AS Published by Fox News Latino

By Lili Gil, Media Contributor, Hispanic Market Expert, Cofounder XL Alliance

As I tuned in to write this opinion piece about the Republican National Security Debate, I was ready to jot down perspectives surrounding Afghanistan, terrorism, Israel and wars… While those were eloquently addressed by the candidates, my heart, attention and voter-gears shifted unexpectedly when Newt Gingrich set the stage on Immigration.  Unexpected and hopeful statements like: “I do not believe that citizens of the U.S. would take people that have been here for a quarter of a century, separate them from their families and expel them”, said by Gingrich, or practical comments like “I’ll staple a green card to the diploma of any immigrant who gets a masters degree” by Romney; gave me goose bumps as I watched closely a topic that has personally torn me as a naturalized citizen and voter who finds herself struggling between parties. While I share deeply the value system of a conservative mindset, the traditional draconian perspectives on immigration had kept me floating in the middle with no real political loyalties…until today…

A topic typically perceived by Latinos as the GOP’s Achilles’ heel became a shining moment for the party. To date, this was the very first debate that demonstrated a genuine acknowledgement and approach that supports the DREAMAct and emphasizes the importance of keeping families united. Could this be THE crucial moment that finally demystifies the party and opens doors for Latinos to listen closer and get engaged with the Republican Party?

The financial crisis, unemployment and leadership frustrations with the current administration serve as a perfect storm to gain momentum. As I mentioned after an earlier debate in October, The GOP has a Golden Opportunity to Win over the Latino Vote, and it seems someone, somewhere, has finally started paying attention to the fastest growing segment and largest minority group in the U.S. that could put them in the white house.  

As I mentioned in my previous OpEd, in 2008, Hispanics’ 2-to-1 support for Barack Obama’s presidential bid was credited with making the difference in four crucial swing states: Florida, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. Also, it is estimated that 21.5 million Latino citizen adults will be eligible to vote in November 2012, up from 19.5 million in 2008. According to 2010 census data, there are 118 existing congressional districts in which more than one-fifth of the population is Hispanic. That is up from just 28, according to 2000 census data, as applied to 110th Congress districts. Furthermore, 93 of those districts are in California, Texas, Florida, and New York, the four states with the most 2012 electoral votes.   Florida is a crucial swing state, alongside Colorado and Nevada, which have seen 41.2 percent and 81.9 percent growth in the Hispanic population, respectively, since 2000. The opportunity becomes even more evident given that only 1 in 3 Hispanic voters strongly approves of the President, suggesting his popularity among a constituency that were among his most ardent backers in 2008 is softening. In addition, 53 percent of Hispanic registered voters indicated that they are less enthusiastic about President Obama now than they were in 2008. 

You don’t need an economics or math degree to realize that the opportunity is real, sizable and could mean the difference for the Republican party in this election.

What were the hopeful shining moments of the debate, which could potentially win over the million of Latino voters that were possibly “floating in the middle” like me? Here are the highlights from a very different tone set primarily by former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.

• “We ought to have an H-1 visa that goes with every graduate degree in math, science or engineering, so that people stay here…Einstein came here as an immigrant”, Gingrich
• “I think you’ve got to deal with this as a comprehensive approach… You’ve got to find some system, which includes a guest worker program…” Gingrich
• “If you’ve been here for 25 years you have 3 children and 2 grandkids, you’ve been paying taxes, obeying the law and belong to a local church, I don’t think we’re going to separate you from the family”, Gingrich
• Addressing a sticky point that lies within the DREAMAct, Gingrich was clear in supporting that undocumented children who serve in the military have a process to acquire citizenship. “I don’t see any reason to punish anyone who came at three years of age but who wants to serve the United States of America”, said Gingrich
• “This is a party that loves legal immigration”, Romney
• “I do not believe that the people of the U.S. would take people that have been here for a quarter of a century… separate them from their families and expel them”, Gingrich
• “I don’t see how the party that says is the party of the family, is going to adopt an immigration policy which destroys families that have been here for a quarter of a century, and I am prepared to take the heat for saying ‘let’s be humane’ in enforcing the law, without giving them citizenship, but finding a way to create legality so they are not separated from their families”, Gingrich.

Great job and felicitaciones to el Señor Gingrich, who set the stage for a potential new wave of “LatiNewts” following! Your sound perspectives, compassion, and common-sense approach could mean the difference not only to secure your win as the Republican nominee, but also that of  an important (and very influential) community…which could ultimately result in winning the White House

Lili Gil is an award-winning business and Hispanic market expert and business and political media contributor. She is also co-founder and managing partner of XL Alliance a multicultural strategy and marketing firm dedicated to helping business leaders navigate and enter emerging markets. Gil was recently selected by the World Economic Forum as one of only 190 Young Global Leaders identified across 65 countries for her leadership, community and business impact. You can follow Lili on twitter @liligil