By ,
Published January 10, 2017
This is my fifth Republican Party Convention. I have had the high honor and great privilege to participate in this beautiful process called democracy.
This is the process where a party comes together to choose its nominee and rally behind that person so that he or she can make the case for either continuity or change.
I have helped make both cases and sometimes we have won and sometimes we have not. But it is unarguable that history is made every single time.
Latinos have been part of this history-making process for a long time. I give a shout out to my friend Antonio Villarraigosa who is the chair of the Democratic Party Convention. And while some will argue that this is just an honorary title, I nevertheless congratulate him on that distinction.
I will always remember watching the TV and seeing George P. Bush at the tender age of 12 say the words "Viva Bush!" during his speech at the Republican convention in 1988, where his grandfather was nominated to be the president of the United States. It made me feel very proud that a young Latino was there speaking to the world about his grandpa.
America has seen Latinos come a long way since then. During this Republican convention we will have more Latinos address the convention than ever before. For the first time in any convention, history will be made: we will see three Latino governors--Republican no less--address our country. That is a huge achievement for the Latino community!
We already saw the First Lady of Puerto Rico, Luce Fortuño, introduce Ann Romney and on Thursday we will witness Senator Marco Rubio introduce our Republican nominee, Governor Mitt Romney. I believe it will not be long before we have someone introduce the first Latino to be nominated for President of the United States. With the great bench that we have, I don't think it's a stretch to think it will be a Republican.
For all the negativity that the Democrats throw at the Republican party concerning the Latino community, why is it that they have not achieved the same results that the Republican party has achieved in reaching not just the quantity, but more importantly the quality of Latino representation at the highest levels of power?
Latinos in the Republican party have a great story to tell. It's a story of struggle, of blood, sweat and tears, but it is also a story of success, of achievement and of honor.
Yes our journey has not been easy. Nobody told us it would be, but it's is a wonderful journey that we have been blessed to travel. Our journey continues and as we assume those important positions of power, as we become the history-making protagonists, we can take great pride in knowing that we are the fabric of America.
When given a chance, our contributions continue to build this great country. Our ever-expanding participation every four years at these conventions will ensure that the greatest democracy in the world will continue to be the shining light on the hill.
God Bless America.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rosario-marin-latinos-in-the-republican-party-have-a-great-story-to-tell