the star of a new comic book, and he has boricua roots, if you will. we'll tell you how the comic book's creator is trying to pass on old world culture to young latino comic-book readers. more on that coming up in just a few minutes. right now, though, with the presidential general election just a few months away, we focus today not just on the 2016 latino vote but, more specifically, latinos and the republican party. now, through his actions and his words and his proposals, g.o.p. front-runner donald trump has infuriated many latinos. that's just one of many sort of interesting backdrops leading in to the annual new york city republican gala. it takes place here in manhattan in the next few days, and, of course, many latino republicans will be in attendance, as well as all three g.o.p. presidential candidates. joining us now is arcadio casillas. he is the finance chairperson of the new york state republican party. j.c. polanco is a republican strategist. welcome to you both. up -- is it more lifting up presidential politics? is it a fundraiser? is it all of those and more? >> it's all of those, but it's also to create an awareness about the latino individuals and citizens that are very part of new york state and of our party but, at the same time, what makes america tick. the latino community is very large. it's very hard-working, is very influential, and it's one that is growing that needs representation. so, this is a way of also honoring our latino heritage by honoring governor susana martinez of new mexico, which is being honored for her americanism, and also because she also has been elected chairperson of the republican governors association by her other 38 peers, which we have 39 republican governors. >> she's a trailblazer. >> and she is the chairperson. and she is very accomplished, very smart, which indicates that any latino can reach any level as governor or even president of the united states. >> and i have to tell you, casillas is a trailblazer himself. he's the finest chairman for the state republican party. he's doing an amazing job. his dinner will raise over $1 million for the state republican party. this is a great event, and not to mention that governor susana martinez will be on a v.p. short list for sure. >> she's a trailblazer. >> there's no question about it. >> give me the 30-second sales pitch that you make to latinos when they're still deciding whether i want to commit to a democratic point of view or a republican point of view. you go. >> the republican party is a home to latinos, and i think that they should join us. we have the right idea when it comes to education, when it comes to jobs, when it comes to national security. i mean, when you look at the grand scheme of things, the republican party is on the right side of history on each and every one of these. unfortunately, joe, we have a little problem right now, and his name is donald trump. and donald trump is pushing a lot of our guys away. and it's important that latinos don't lose focus. we have to separate the message from the messenger. this is a beautiful party, this is a great party, and i think you should be part of it. detail, but if that's the message, if the republicans are on the right side of those issues, particularly for latinos, how do you go about convincing them, especially here in the new york metropolitan area, where so many people -- not just latinos -- lean democrat, lean liberal, not republican, not conservative? how do you get 'em to the other side? >> well, i think you have to see what has happened with the last eight years of this administration, where they claim that it's 5% unemployment, when, in fact, you have over 100 million people unemployed. and you take right here in new york city, where the school systems are failing our children and future generations in which they're not getting a good education and yet the charter schools have 18,000 children of poor neighborhoods that are in line on waiting lists to go into the schools, and the mayor and the governor and everyone else is really trying to maintain incarcerating our future generations of latinos and other children of all nationalities better education and getting ahead and having the opportunity that our country provides. >> all new yorkers have to see, and especially the latinos of new york, is look what happens in the republican leadership in new york city. when you look at the reign under governor pataki, under mayor giuliani, under mayor bloomberg, even though he left us halfway along the way, you could see a much better city, a safer city, a city where charter schools flourish across new york, and a place where people felt safe. look around, new yorkers. do you feel safe with the number of slashings and murders? >> but for one reason or another, that hasn't translated into more latinos casting ballots on a republican side. >> the reason for that is -- and i'm telling you, joe, you want to talk a little later, but it's the national message. we have to make sure that latinos feel welcomed in our party, and right now we have a problem that we have to address. >> all right. we'll talk strategy, then, when we come back about how you go about doing that. and if you have a republican front-runner that's getting in the way of that -- >> i think -- >> well, hold tight, because we're gonna go to commercial break, and we'll hit that when we come back. when we come back, more on latino voters, republican candidates, and the 2016 presidential election. still ahead on "tiempo," how increasing cultural diversity in comic books. the character groot in the "guardians of the galaxy" spin-off has some latino spice. we'll tell you all about that, coming up on "tiempo." all across america families are coming back to time warner cable that's because we've been working hard to give you better service, and it shows. we came back for internet speeds so fast even the kids are impressed. oh she's impressed. we're catching up on movies and shows on demand just as fast as we can watch them. for $89.99 a month you'll get 100 meg ultra-fast internet, popular hd channels and unlimited calling. twc's home wifi is so strong we can use all our devices at the same time. so we can all watch whatever we want. and that's kinda cool. call now. for $89.99 a month you'll get internet, tv and phone. there's no contract, no risk and our money-back guarantee. come back today and we'll give you free installation with our exclusive one-hour arrival window. feels good to be back. come back today. you'll get free installation, tv equipment and epix included. and now get a $300 reward card. >> welcome back to "tiempo." we have been discussing this morning latino voters, the republican candidates, and the 2016 presidential election, and we're joined this morning -- what a pleasure -- arcadio casillas, finance chairperson of the new york state republican party, j.c. polanco, republican strategist, and with strategy in mind, let's talk about it. we ended the last segment talking about the strategy to bring latinos in, but when you have someone like donald trump, who's blamed -- the comments, i don't even want to repeat them that he said about muslims and immigrants and mexicans. how much harder does it make you to get your message across and the party's goals when you have him at the top, gathering so much attention? >> joe, for 16 years, i've tried to build the party in new york city, working very hard. here comes a guy who just became a republican yesterday -- right? -- and has destroyed any opportunity i have right now to bring new people into the party. how do i go to the son of an happens to be an american citizen and tell him, "this is your party" when the front-runner for the g.o.p. presidential primary doesn't even want his dad in the country? >> so, how do you do it? answer your own question. >> it's very hard. what i have to tell them is, "hey, listen, donald trump does not represent republican principles in no way." you have to understand that we have to separate the message from the messenger and that this party is their party by making sure that donald trump does not win this election. we can rally behind a guy like ted cruz today and make sure that donald trump does not win the 1,237 delegates that he needs at the national convention to be the republican nominee. >> yeah, but the issue is that trump could win, and if trump was to be the candidate of the republican party, the nominee, we have to make sure that he also aligns with the ideals of the republican party that is one that is inclusive of all americans and that everyone has the opportunity to have a life with freedom, with liberty, and opportunity. >> but some will tell you that ship has sailed, that he -- >> but that's okay. to have access to donald trump and for him to understand. i think that he made some errors, and the key is for us, because he will need the latino vote, and that's where we come in, because that's where we have to have access to be able to talk to him, and he's been able to do that, and to be able to begin to make those changes and be able to, in effect, also say, "hey, i made a mistake. maybe i spoke too fast." >> he is firm on that, 'cause he's -66% on the approval rating. >> if he is the nominee, which is all possibility, we still have to unite to make sure that we win in november, because four more years of what we have now will be a total disaster for america, and, finally... >> hang on. >> ...that we include all latinos and all americans. >> but that's part of exactly what you're hoping to do at your event on thursday, correct? you're gonna have all three candidates. trump, ted cruz, john kasich will speak to those people in attendance, and then you've arranged for them to have face-to-face meetings with who? >> before that, we're gonna have a breakout with all the county chairs and members of the republican committee in the state of new york, so 400-and-some, so that they those members of the committee and county chairs to address them and take q&a, something that never has happened. so, they will be able to know, five days before the primary, whether they should vote for "a," "b," or "c." >> do you think they'll hold his feet to the fire? >> absolutely not. >> absolutely. >> he says yes. you say no. why? >> this is a man who -- you cannot win the presidential election with less than 40% of the latino vote. there is no way donald trump gets 40% of the latino vote. his remarks against our mexican immigrants have been awful, and they have actually hurt our chances to win the latino vote in this election cycle. he cannot be the nominee, or we not only will lose the white house, casillas, but we lose the senate and we lose the house. it is important that republicans across new york realize that donald trump cannot be our republican-party nominee. >> i think that what we have -- we're not having a coronation, like the other side. at least we're having the opportunity for individuals to be able to let other people vote. he's gotten about 40% of people voting. that's something that everyone for office. and i believe that what you're saying, j.c., with all due respect to you, is there is a fear about making sure of stopping trump. i believe that if he was to be the candidate, and i am neutral in this -- i have to be, as finance chair of the state -- that he would do the best he can. "a," he would say, "i will hire the best people and do what is best." i think there would be judgment, and you -- >> he is too aggressive. >> you also need the party. he cannot win without the party. and he will have to make modifications to his behavior. >> whether it's trump, cruz, or kasich, let's talk some numbers. 17% of the u.s. population is latino. >> yes. >> 27.3 million eligible voters. but no matter who the republican nominee is, can he win with -- >> he cannot get -- he cannot win the nomination and the presidency with less than 40% of the hispanic vote. he's made a fatal mistake when he's come after muslims, he's come after latinos, he comes after women. this guy is a disaster. and to tell me that he's gonna hire the right people and he's gonna say the right things later >> but the point is, whether it's trump, whether it's cruz, whether it's kasich, can they get 40% of the latino vote? >> absolutely. cruz and kasich could do it, but there's no way that donald trump -- donald trump is dead on arrival if he wins the nomination. there's no way he wins. casillas, i know you have to be neutral. i don't. >> but i disagree. i also disagree. it has nothing to do with neutrality. it has to do with facts. he also has been able to bring more people to come out to vote, which also -- in the primaries -- which also include a lot of latinos that are voting for him. >> that's not true! >> that is true. that is true. so, the bottom line is that no matter who our nominee is, we will make sure that our message gets out that we are the party of opportunity, the party of jobs, the party of education that represents everyone else, and that we win come november... >> we're gonna end it there. >> ...because we have a candidate on the other side who, right now, has committed treason and is lying and doing things that are terrible. >> we're gonna end it there, but i think what we're seeing here is exactly part of the issue with the republican party -- is that it can be divisive, and i think, as republicans, you're especially as you're trying to convince latinos in new york state and elsewhere to come on board. convince them. i want them to be aware and educated about the facts. and i want to make sure that we have a dialogue and a communication of telling them the truth about what the republican party is all about. >> casillas, we cannot have that dialogue with a man like donald trump. we cannot have that dialogue with a man like donald trump, who has disparaged all these the nomination. he's dead on arrival. >> we'll see at his event... >> you can have a dialogue with whomever you feel like. >> this is what the convention is gonna look like, by the way. >> understood. understood. un placer. thank you guys very much. >> thank you, joe. thank you so much. >> still ahead on "tiempo," creating diverse characters in comic books. now the "guardians of the galaxy" comic spin-off has boricua roots. qu\ bueno. announcer: todd's a great guy. i mean, look at him. what. a. sweetheart. wait, todd, what are you doing? how totally selfish and un-toddlike of you. come on, todd, come on, man. >> okay. you heard it here first. the coolest character in comics right now is going to be un puertorriqueo. marvel comics recently created a spin-off for the hit series, called "guardians of infinity," and it reveals that groot's roots are boricua. yo soy groot. remember that line. here to tell us about this great creation, the editor in chief of dmc comics, edgardo miranda-rodriguez. un placer, seor. this is fantastic. the time is right, correct, for this? why so? i mean, i need you to take me to that moment where you had an epiphany that said to you, "okay, boricua superhero or boricua star," if you will. >> for the most part, i thought it was important to incorporate into comic books in general. >> why so? >> marvel comics had a history of doing that with norse >> okay. >> they did that also with greek mythology, with hercules. so, it was only a matter of actually dabbling into other mythologies. joe quesada, who is marvel's chief creative officer, recently did it with the santerians, so, kind of like in that same tradition, i said, "well, let's expand the universe. let's actually talk about boricua, puerto rican, mythology. let's explore ta^nos, mysticism. let's explore the significance of ceiba trees in puerto rico. and for me, it was a perfect opportunity to blend that with the backstory of this alien, groot. perhaps his roots are actually rooted in the ceiba tree in puerto rico. >> okay. so, that's how it came about to you? and when you pitched the idea, did they look at you like you were an alien, like you had three heads, or were they on board? >> well, one of the things marvel is pushing for right now more than ever is diversity. they're bringing a lot more people of color into the writing staff and also into the creative staff. jose molina is another puerto rican who's also writing for marvel. david walker, an african-american, is also writing for marvel. pretty much expand the horizons. the kind of, like, big question mark was, "are they gonna allow me to let groot speak spanish?" that was actually the big question, and i waited about a week to get that answer back, and it was like, "totally cool. vamo!" so we went from "i am groot" to "yo soy groot." >> but does groot speak english and spanish or spanglish? does he talk the way we would on the street? >> the thing about groot as a character -- he speaks three words, but those three words mean so many different things, depending on the intonation. >> yes. >> so it's the same thing in spanish, you know? so, it's like on where we're from. [ speaking spanish ] you say it like that, with pride, or you say [speaks spanish] it's all about -- it's the same word, but it's that little, like, inflection that gives it more attitude. >> inflection makes a huge difference. >> exactly. >> now, it's not just having a character with boricua roots, but the culture is also expressed in the comic book, correct? how did you manage to do that? i mean, is it rice and beans, or are we celebrating three kings' day? >> okay. well, check it out. on the lower east side, you had a character that was called benjamin grimm, "the thing," in this story, he teams up with groot. jack kirby and stan lee created the thing, kind of like an amalgamation composite character based on their experiences, particularly jack kirby, of the lower east side. the lower east side that jack kirby grew up, which is like the 1920s and '30s, is not the lower east side of today. the lower east side of today is very much puerto rican, dominican, cuban, african-american, so to kind of, like, really reflect that kind of real culture, real-time culture, i had to show the diversity that exists there. so, there's a lot of great institutions, like loisaida, inc., that's actually been there, celebrating the loisaida festival every year in the lower east side. you have even restaurants like casa adela, and still mixes in sofrito in everything they cook. poetry on the stages of nuyorican poets cafe. so, you need to have that kind of, like, real relevance in these stories that they're going to actually appeal to a broader audience. >> abuela estela -- tell me about her. >> abuela estela was a composite character that i created. she was inspired by dr. marta moreno vega, who's actually founder of the el museo del barrio and also founder of the caribbean cultural center. it was actually marta moreno vega who actually its mysticism. it kind of opened up a door, and i actually explored more of its history. i learned that in ponce, puerto rico, there's a ceiba tree that's over 500 years old. >> wow. >> an archaeologist actually found ta^no artifacts around it which predated columbus on the island, so that's actually, like, phenomenal. >> so, is the comic book more to entertain or to inform? >> both. it's both. it's kind of like what krs-one would call "edutainment," you know, because it's an opportunity for me to write. i always look at every opportunity i have as my only opportunity. if i'm only gonna get that one shot, i'm gonna make it count. so when i had the chance to write this story along with darryl mcdaniel, who's my partner with dmc comics, i said, "let me put a little bit of my flavor, un poquito de sabor m^o, sofrito m^o," you know what i mean? so, i had to put those ingredients up first, and, for me, if it was gonna be a story about new york, then it had to be nueva york for me, and if it was gonna be about nueva york, had to incorporate ourselves organically. now, that doesn't mean we're gonna have puerto rican superheroes running around with, like, babas and machetes and stuff like that, but it meant the actually supporting cast new york city, a real new york city, a real nueva york. >> is it your fear or trepidation about where you draw the line so that you're not so culturally sucked in that other readers who might not be latino can't relate to what they're looking at between the pages? >> honestly, i don't worry about that. why? because i'm only one out of many other writers that are writing for the marvel universe, so if you don't like my book, you can pick up somebody else's book or somebody else's book or somebody else's book. but that book that i actually co-wrote appeals to a certain demographic that has been overlooked significantly for many, many years. and that demographic is actually celebrating this, and if that little demographic is happy and us latinos -- vaya, then that's what it's worth. >> is it spreading? >> it is. it's actually going viral. you could actually click on "yo soy groot" on twitter, and you can see that many people all across the united states and parts of latin america are actually, like, vibing off of this. i've been interviewed from puerto rico to across the united states in terms of, like, the press that this has generated because it's something positive. why? because when we see ourselves, we get excited. little spanglish in a play or in a book or in a show, we get excited. but if there's actually cultural reference, actual significant cultural reference -- historical, mythological, whatever they be -- that speak to our experience, vaya, that's what we need. >> i mean, i looked at it, and i thought of my abuela, so, immediately, there's a connection there. so, fantastic. sit tight. we're gonna come back with more on latino featured in marvel comics' new spin-off, "guardians of infinity." it's about time, right? when we come back on "tiempo." this is everything i have, my family. i got to see my dad die on national tv. they don't know what they took from us. people are dying. we need a president that's going to talk about it. he's not scared to go up against the criminal justice system. he's not scared. that's why i'm for bernie. i'm bernie sanders and i approve this message. thank you so much. did you say honey? hey, try some? mmm that is tasty. is it real? of course... are you? nope animated you know i'm always looking for real honey for honey nut cheerios well you've come to the right place. great, mind if i have another taste? not at all mmm you're all right bud? never better i don't know if he likes that. >> we're back with edgardo miranda-rodriguez, the editor in chief of dmc comics and the creator of groot, a comic-book superhero with a boricua heritage. >> well, i didn't create groot. >> okay, understood. that's true. we can't give you that. i want to be sure that the viewers understand or know where to go if they want to read and learn about groot and his adventures. >> well, you can go to marvel.com, and you can purchase "guardians of infinity" number 3 to see that story that i co-wrote with dmc, and you can also go to any comic-book shop. and also this june, that story's gonna be collected in an anthology. "guardians of infinity" is actually gonna be a graphic novel, and it'll be available in june, and it's gonna include that story that i wrote for them. >> what's the biggest compliment that you could get from somebody who has just finished reading all about groot? >> well, specific to this story, the biggest compliment that i've actually received is that i was actually a hero, and that blew me away, 'cause i'm just a writer. i'm a dad of two sons, husband. and for me, it was something that kind of resonated. activist in new york city. i did a lot of work for social justice with organizations like the national congress for puerto rican rights and el puente. so, for me, i take that compliment kind of like not lightly but very much of a big responsibility... >> sure. >> ...because as a latino, as a puerto rican, i'm very much given this opportunity to represent my people, my community, and i don't take it very lightly. so, every opportunity i have, i do it responsibly and i do it with as much authenticity and integrity as i can when i do that. >> has groot and this adventure opened new doors for you? >> actually, it has. i'll be going to puerto rico in december for the aguada con comic fest. they actually invited me to come down there this december, which is fantastic, 'cause, you know, when you actually get to go home and you're received kind of like in this manner, it's kind of like, "wow!" it's mind-blowing. so, i'm helping them out. i have a lot of contacts with a lot of other puerto rican artists, and i'm inviting them, as well, to come along to that comic con, as well. so, that's helped out. be participating in an art talk later in may, actually. on saturday, may 28th, i will be at loisaida, which is right where the story took place, and this is a sheer coincidence, but i'll be doing a talk, along with christopher sotomayor, who's the book's colorist, and nelson faro decastro, who's the book's illustrator, and we're gonna show off some of the artwork, and that's gonna be right there in loisaida may 28th. >> so, reality and fiction are gonna collide right there. >> it's mind-blowing. it's totally mind-blowing, 'cause i just happened upon that space, and they invited me in, and i'm like, "wait a minute. this is literally happening place." and we're not talking, like, a couple of blocks. happening. talk about, like, reality and fiction kind of, like, colliding. >> we've got 30 seconds left. you got something happening on the saturday of memorial day weekend? >> yep. that was it. loisaida inc. is presenting -- it's called "guardians of loisaida," and that's gonna be saturday, may 28th. i'll be there, along with christopher sotomayor and nelson faro decastro. we'll be talking about this story, showing off the art, more or less giving a talk about how to make a comic, how to make a >> yo soy groot. i think we all feel that way, right? >> gracias. >> way to go, my friend. congratulations and continued success. how good is that? before we go, how 'bout this? a look at the "tiempo" community calendar for this week. here it is. coming up wednesday in manhattan at el museo del barrio, will have its monthly book club in espaol to discuss the classic colombian author emma reyes' book "mail memoirs." the free event starts at 11:00. and museo del barrio is located at 1230 5th avenue in east harlem. go. you should. on friday in the bronx, you can enjoy an evening featuring all things women with nuyorican michele carlo at the bronx museum of the arts, located at 1040 grand concourse. that event gets under way at 6:30. much^simas gracias. we thank you so much for spending at least part of your sunday with us. if you missed any part of our show, don't worry. you can watch at abc7ny on the web, on your tableta, even on your smartphone, as well. i'm joe torres. we thank you for watching. on "tiempo." >> "here and now" -- the program featuring the news and interests of the african-american community. here's your host, sandra bookman. >> coming up as we celebrate black history month, a conversation with dr. khalil gibran muhammad, as the schomburg center for research in black culture turns 90.

Related Keywords

Puerto Rico , Mexico , New York , United States , East Harlem , El Puente , Zacatecas , Colombia , New Mexico , Cuba , Nueva York , Magdalena , Spain , Greece , Colombian , Americans , America , Mexicans , Puerto Rican , Spanish , Mexican , Greek , American , Cuban , Jose Molina , Joe Quesada , David Walker , Sandra Bookman , John Kasich , Stan Lee , Christopher Sotomayor , Susana Martinez , Benjamin Grimm , Casa Adela , Marta Moreno Vega , Darryl Mcdaniel , Joe Torres , Jack Kirby , Nelson Faro , Ted Cruz , Khalil Gibran Muhammad , Bernie Sanders ,