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CNN Live Saturday

President Bush Reaches Out to Hispanics

Aired May 05, 2001 - 16:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: And on this Cinco de Mayo holiday, Washington is unveiling a new push to engage Hispanic Americans. Today, President Bush delivered his traditional radio address in English and Spanish, the first ever bilingual radio address by a U.S. president. Democratic leaders followed suit with their response, and for more on this emphasis on Hispanic voters, we turn to CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace. Hi again, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi again, Donna.

Well, Donna, besides the fact that today, as you mentioned, is Cinco de Mayo, the day marking the Mexican victory over the French army back in 1862, there's another reason for the first ever back-to- back bilingual radio address, and that is because Hispanics, the percentage of Hispanics in this country jumped nearly 60 percent over the past decade, and that means that Hispanics now are roughly equal to African-Americans as the country's largest minority group.

And so, that is why Democrats, as well as Republicans and the White House, are actively reaching out. And so, in his radio address today, Mr. Bush showing off his Spanish a bit, spoke about how he came to appreciate Hispanic culture growing up in Texas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In Texas, it's in the air you breathe. Hispanic life, Hispanic culture and Hispanic values are inseparable from the life of our state, and have been for many generations.

The history of Mexican-American relations have had its troubled moments, but today our peoples enrich each other in trade, and culture, and family ties.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And since coming to the White House, Mr. Bush has taken steps to reach out to Hispanics. We saw him yesterday hosting the first ever Cinco de Mayo celebration here at the White House, complete with mariachi bands and Mexican food. Also on hand, his nephew, George P. Bush, who helped him during the campaign reach out to Hispanic voters.

Mr. Bush also, just a month ago, invited the members of the congressional Hispanic caucus to the White House. And interestingly, the chairman of the congressional Hispanic caucus, Congressman Reyes, delivered the first of what Democrats say will be weekly radio addresses in Spanish. And in that address, the Democrats accusing Mr. Bush of not doing enough for Hispanic.

Democrats have also taken what they say is an unprecedented step in an off-election year, launching a series of television ads. Take a listen to this new ad airing on Spanish-language stations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NARRATOR: SPEAKING IN SPANISH.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And as you can see, that ad is completely in Spanish. The ad criticizing Mr. Bush's record when it to the environment and taxes.

Now, while Hispanics traditional favor Democratic candidates, during the presidential campaign, George W. Bush captured nearly 35 percent of the Latino vote, that is the best showing for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan. That served a bit of a wakeup call to Democrats, so they say they are now actively courting Hispanics.

The White House says, though, it continues to reach out to Hispanics. And so, as we've been mentioning, Donna, the election -- the presidential election more than three years away, the midterms at least a year-and-a-half away, but the courting of Hispanic voters is definitely in full swing. Back to you.

KELLEY: All right, at the White House, our Kelly Wallace, thank you.

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