Democrats’ Castro: Romney ‘doesn’t get it’

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro’s keynote speech to the Democratic convention was a potent message blending immigrant dreams with partisan bite.

The 37-year old Castro, a rising star in Texas but little known on the national stage, roused the packed audience at the Time Warner Center by claiming that “Mitt Romney, quite simply, doesn’t get it.”

Castro’s tale was in part standard political fare for a party seeking to solidify its standing among immigrant voters.

Raised by a single mother born in the U.S. and a grandmother who had emigrated from Mexico, Castro and his identical twin brother Joaquin achieved happiness and success through hard work and a good education made possible by the American dream. But from there, Castro pivoted to an assault on Republican Mitt Romney, whose policies Castro said would “dismantle” the middle class if elected.

“We know that in our free market economy some will prosper more than others. What we don’t accept is the idea that some folks won’t even get a chance,” Castro said. “And the thing is, Mitt Romney and the Republican party are perfectly comfortable with that America.”

He added, “I don’t think Gov. Romney meant any harm. I think he’s a good guy. He just has no idea how good he’s had it,” — a pointed jab at Romney’s considerable wealth.

Castro also taunted Romney for his shifting positions on issues like abortion rights, gay marriage and his own push for universal health care as governor of Massachusetts.

“Gov. Romney has undergone an extreme makeover, and it isn’t pretty,” Castro said.

The Romney campaign shot back at Castro’s claim the GOP presidential nominee is insensitive to the middle class.

“Middle class families understand that they are not better off than they were four years ago because President Obama’s liberal policies have failed to turn around the economy,” spokesman Ryan Williams said.

Until now, Castro has enjoyed a spate of favorable media profiles, a landslide re-election last year and speculation about whether he’ll become the governor of Texas or even the country’s first Hispanic president. His well-received turn at the convention all but guarantees more of such chatter.

Castro was introduced onstage his brother Joaquin, a Texas state legislator from San Antonio now poised to win election to Congress in November

“My family’s story isn’t special. What’s special is the America that makes our story possible,” Julian Castro said. “Ours is a nation like no other, a place where great journeys can be made in a single generation. No matter who you are or where you come from, the path is always forward.”

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Weber reported from San Antonio. Associated Press writer Luis Alonso Lugo in Charlotte, N.C., contributed to this report.

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Comments

1) Comment by 8.3 - 07/09/2012

so GoldenSage, in a muddled paroxysm of confabulated tirades, says that "progressives" ( a term he might have heard on the radio) "believe "they" must "tell" THE PEOPLE what is right and wrong" but he then he states what "progressives" believe in a direct, humorous contradiction by telling progressives what they believe. Besides, this spouting of ill-reasoned convective does not convince that child labor laws, women's right to vote, reasonable and safe working conditions, the right to clean water and safe food,etc. are necessarily bad things. The only perceived "progressive" agenda that the the faux anti-progressives seem to really know about and vociferously object to concerning progressivism (with liberal use of quotation marks) is equal rights for all Americans, which might reflect overtones of racism to a thinking person. Otherwise, why would anyone other than plantation owners object to child labor laws, etc.? GoldenSage, were you lazy in school? You have my sympathy. I am sorry.

2) Comment by 8.3 - 07/09/2012

Yeah GoldenSage, that pesky two party system. One party rule works very well in some of your favorite countries, Iran, China, North Korea, Nazi Germany, USSR,Burma, etc.

3) Comment by GoldenSage - 06/09/2012

Well, first things first... Let's get the name right... Progressive Party NOT Democrat Party... THERE IS NO DEMOCRAT PARTY... PROGRESSIVE PARTY!!! is the right name. Anybody that support government owning THE PEOPLE can't be democratic. Progressives believe THE PEOPLE cannot rule themselves. Progressives believe "they" must "tell" THE PEOPLE what is right and wrong...while stealing THE PEOPLE's money... of course. So, if you are as honest as you say you are...you puppets, then should use the right name...PROGRESSIVE PARTY. The DEMS and DNC can't even get that right. The funniest thing is the puppets who are so intellectual can't get it right either... oh, I forgot, they need to be told what to say... my error. Puppets can only be puppets. They do not real talking/thinking...THEIR PUPPET MASTERS DO THE THINKING and talking through the puppet's mouths. LOL.... Racism is voting for a man because he is a certain color, but puppets tend to forget this...they love having someone doing their thinking....

4) Comment by 8.3 - 06/09/2012

racism in Louisiana? There is no racism, people just need to know their place. That's worked so good in the past, just look at the results. Last in everything except football and murders.

5) Comment by chem - 06/09/2012

For anyone to say there is no racism in this country, in this world, they must have their head waaaay up their rear. What struck me while watching the republican convention and the Democratic convention was when the camera panned across the audience. At the republican convention, there was a sea of dour white faces. At the Democratic convention, when the audience was panned, you saw whites, blacks, asians, young people, and latinos, a great cross section of America. That tells me that Obama/Biden will win this election. Romney got only a 1 point bounce from his convention. 1 point! That is pretty sad.

6) Comment by 8.3 - 06/09/2012

Sure appears Clinton's economic record eclipses any republican record in this modern era. But in true republican fashion, I guess, Vitter paid for his dalliances while Clinton got them for free so the categorical comparisons and criticisms may have some merit outside of right wing parrot talk. I particularly enjoy some of the more grotesque conservative caricatures that appear on these advocate boards, actually quite humorous when considered in the context of a schadenfreude world of their own creation. I still don't know that one can avoid the consequences of thoughts and actions, in a word, karma. But now I must go watch television in order to formulate a more acceptable, mediocre, unintelligent and compliant world view (philosophy might be a gross mischaracterization).Keep trying.

7) Comment by Whatnow - 05/09/2012

@DMJ, so, what's your point? Care to elaborate?

8) Comment by foldgers - 05/09/2012

@whatnow: I really just do not get how anyone does not have an ID or can't get a ride to get an ID. I got my most recent new license in the MAIL! And yes, poor people need ID's for welfare, for alcohol, for cigarettes, for cashing checks, to open bank accounts, and to do many many other things... yet, they don't need it to vote, because that is disenfranchising. And they may argue back, well, it is a right guaranteed by the constitution and I will argue back, so is the right to bear arms...which, I think you need an ID for. Just like to work for the government, EVERY employee HAS to take a drug test, but asking a random sample of people who get "free" money from the government without working (and now Obama trying to make it where you don't even have to LOOK for work), that is "racist" (even though I hear more whites are on welfare than blaques. This whole system is messed up.... It is funny when it is greed to want to keep the money YOU EARN, but not greed for one to assume they deserve the money that someone else EARNED....

9) Comment by DMJ - 05/09/2012

So...the Democratic Party "promotes selfishness at the expense of the common (yes, "common") good." Let's just pause a moment to drink in the irony of that statement for a minute.... Ahhh....that's nice.

10) Comment by TommyRucker - 05/09/2012

What he really means is Romney doesn't accept the LIES that the democratic party mob tells to the American people. Romney does not adhere to to these flawed and dishonest policies that the democratic mob is trying to sell to the American people. The democratic party is the most SELF driven party in the history of America as it promotes selfishness at the expense of the common good and continues to lie to the people in order to remain in power. This has been their formula to gain power and will continue as it is now being financed by the corporations they claim to hate. There are more contradictions among the present democratic party mob than there has ever been in the history of America.

11) Comment by TommyRucker - 05/09/2012

This guy is in the same mob as Bill"it is not sex" Clinton. America is is in big trouble when it follows people like Obama, Pelosi, Reid and Clinton, etc. I wonder if Clinton still thinks when he and the female intern did in the White House was NOT sex. Now he is going to tell everyone who to vote for. It is time for Clinton to retire along with Edwards. It is amazing what these two have in common along with their big egos and self serving attitudes. Clinton is getting the mob primed up to support his 'wife' in 2016. The democrat party mob has done more to divide this country than anyone has done in the history of America. What is amazing is we will one day look back at this mess and the media and the democratic party mob will blame it on the republicans-it does not matter if they control everything, their policies are flawed and they will fail as they have failed in all past societies in the history of the world.

12) Comment by Whatnow - 05/09/2012

@foldgers, there are just as many poor lazy whites, and I didn't mention race. People can read into what I say and spin it around all they want.

13) Comment by Whatnow - 05/09/2012

@foldgers, Do you think I care when someone spouts out that useless word "Racist"? It no longer has any meaning. It's been hurled around so much that no one cares anymore. If they use that word on me, I know I've just won an argument, because they use that term when they have nothing else to use or argue with. But blaques can vote for a blaque man because of the color of his skin and could care less who he is or what he has done to this country and we are called the racists! By the way, I just read that in order for all the people from Issac to receive food stamps after the storm, they have to show a picture I.D., now isn't that funny? When Republicans insist on picture I. D. to vote, they are called racists by the Democrats and accused of discrimination because the poor do not always have a picture I.D., but they have them for food stamps. What a bunch of hypocrites!!

14) Comment by foldgers - 05/09/2012

Watch out Whatnow, you might be considered a racist or a troll with comments like that! :-)

15) Comment by foldgers - 05/09/2012

Jeez DMJ!! I was just joking. I thought it was funny. I NEVER said anything about them shouldn't be in office! It is people like you that attack and use the race card for NO REASON that make this world a crappy place. Calm down. I am not trolling or being racist, plus I think that having 2 ex girlfriends being Asian, one middle eastern, one black and my best friends are actually Asian and Middle Eastern would say that me as a White guy, is not as racist as you like to think. I vote Kip and tell him hello every time I see him. You really need help.

16) Comment by Whatnow - 05/09/2012

"What we don’t accept is the idea that some folks won’t even get a chance,” Castro said. Now, who in this day and age doesn't get a chance? The poor are given more than most. Affirmative action, low income housing, food stamps, welfare, free college, free phones, free medical care are some pretty good instances of chances to get out from under. They are given more than most middle class families with jobs. But, they insist on ignoring the free schooling that provides the way out. Ah, you say it's their poverty and society that keeps them down. Poverty is no excuse for ignoring the only way out and until their society understands that, they will never take the chance. Now the illegals are coming here for those chance. And they come for the jobs that our poor wouldn't think twice about doing. Talk about a spoiled, lazy, poor society we have. And I'm not talking about the truly needy. There is a difference between the truly needy like the ill and elderly poor, and the lazy poor. Biden was right about the chains, but the chains are not the Republicans platform. It is the Democrat platform to keep the poor dependent on the government handouts for votes. Romney gets it, and most middle class and wealthy get it. We are all just tired of it. It's time for equality for all. The handouts are just making our country a cesspool.

17) Comment by TommyRucker - 05/09/2012

Hopefully he does not GET the idea that socialism is good, high unemployment is someone else's fault and that a 16 trillion national debt is nothing to be concerned about, almost 50 million people on food stamps (doubled in last 4 years), cuts in defense are good, class warfare is to be encouraged, private ownership needs to play second to government ownership, and the government 'knows best' thus we need to give it more money. Tonight we are going to have Bill Clinton tell us again that what he did in the White House was NOT sex-what a role model and leader!!!!!!

18) Comment by CountryAttorney - 05/09/2012

Freudian slip there, Jan? Lol!

19) Comment by janbrady - 05/09/2012

I also meant to say, "Romney doesn't get it."

20) Comment by janbrady - 05/09/2012

Clinton/Castro 2016!

21) Comment by janbrady - 05/09/2012

DMJ--you're feeding the Trolls. They aren't worth your intelligent sincerity. And Romney does get it.

22) Comment by DMJ - 05/09/2012

Yes, for the racist simpletons out there, someone's last name is enough to disqualify them from office. I mean....because you yahoos all chose your names, right? No? That's what I thought...

23) Comment by foldgers - 05/09/2012

Seems the people in this government are getting better last names by the day, first "Hussein" and now "Castro." What's next? "George Ahmadinejad"

24) Comment by gvm - 05/09/2012

@The_Host: Think about it - if fair shots had been granted all along, then Affirmative Action would not have been needed. Also, the truth of the matter is that the old American establishment has done more to foment discord on the basis of race than anyone else. In the "good old days" you guys are always pining about, winners and losers were picked expressly on the basis of skin color. The face of the nation is changing - you can either get on board or be left behind. It's your choice.

25) Comment by The_Host - 05/09/2012

Someone should tell him if he was born here he is not an immigrant to begin with. He says we should all have an equal shot. How about getting rid of affirmative action for starters there Castro? Government sponsored picking of winners and losers based on skin color. That is the Democrat way. That is how government will insure "we" all have an equal opportunity. They will decide for us what is fair and equal!

26) Comment by The_Host - 05/09/2012

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