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Opinion: Could Mitt Romney be America's first Hispanic president?
Mitt Romney speaks at Southern New Hampshire University after winning the New Hampshire GOP primary.
January 12th, 2012
10:54 AM ET

Opinion: Could Mitt Romney be America's first Hispanic president?

Editor's note: Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a CNN.com contributor and a nationally syndicated columnist.

By Ruben Navarrette Jr., CNN Contributor

San Diego (CNN) - Mitt, we hardly knew ye.

Or should I say, "primo!" As much as it embarrasses me to admit it, given some of his views and how he expresses them, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee and I could be distant cousins. Romney's father, George, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and so was my grandfather, Roman.

Que? You didn't know that Mitt Romney was half-Mexican? It's true. In fact, if he makes it to the White House, in addition to becoming the first Mormon in the Oval Office, he could also be the nation's first Hispanic president.

Don't laugh. Technically, Romney is just as "Mexican" as former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who was born of a Mexican mother and American father. When Richardson ran for the White House in 2008, he was often touted by the media as someone who would become the nation's first Hispanic president.

Read Ruben Navarrette Jr.'s full column

 

 

soundoff (5 Responses)
  1. Mimi

    I think Romney did. McCain was so smug and arrogant! His only arensws talked about his military career. Romney made valid points. Huckabee and Ron Paul did fairly well to when they were allowed to talk. Was this answer helpful?

    April 19, 2012 at 8:41 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Shawn

    Sure why not? Bill Clinton was the first black president after all.

    January 14, 2012 at 9:17 am | Report abuse |
  3. cujo47

    That explains it all. Anyone still wondering why the GOP is determined to elect their newest puppet?

    January 13, 2012 at 2:20 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Ohsotired

    It is my understanding that his father is not of Mexican descent – only that he was born in Mexico. Check out Wikipedia to see how this guy flip flops – the issues you agree with him on may not be what he decides down the road...

    January 12, 2012 at 10:42 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Ironicus

    I think that in Romney's case, he would be a "token minority" since his political party is clearly racist, obstructionist, and against immigration from "down south" in the first place.
    And no one is saying he should be elected because of his ethnic background, anyway.
    They are saying he should be elected because he is as bigoted and narrow-minded and a right-wing religious extremist who follows the party line. I'm quite sure they are all wishing he weren't also one of "them"....

    January 12, 2012 at 6:35 pm | Report abuse |