By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Sometimes it’s not what you say that matters, but rather how you say it — and in what language. Before even giving his welcome speech, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush gave an impromptu press conference to the large number of Spanish-language reporters at the Hispanic Leadership Network conference in Coral Gables. The words — and his fluency — were an embrace of the Hispanic community.
Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño joined Bush for a bilingual press conference at the Hispanic Leadership Network. Bush tried to reconcile the Republican Party’s immigration policies with his outreach to Hispanics and explained his ideas on Florida education policy at a time of massive budget shortfalls.