Rosie Perez takes aim at Romney in Web video satire

Actress Rosie Perez mocked Mitt Romney for suggesting he would have a better chance at winning the election if his father was "born of Mexican parents" in a video released on Monday.

"Actually Mitt, that is so true. All you have to do is look at the statistics and Mitt's point becomes crystal clear. Hispanics represent 17 percent of the population and account for less than two percent of all elected and appointed officials. The advantage is obvious," Perez says sarcastically.

The video, which is part satire and part serious critique of the GOP candidate's remarks, is the first in a series released by the American Bridge 21st Century in conjunction with the Jewish Council for Education and Research. The groups partnered to launch the website Actually.org, which will feature a series of videos starring and written by famous comedians and entertainers.

The series is designed to "give Americans a funny, accessible — and truthful — take on Mitt Romney’s most outrageous lies and most out-of-touch statements," according to press release sent out with the Web site's unveiling.

In the first video in the series, Perez jokingly reminds viewers of all the "Hispanic presidents" from "Jorge Washington to "Jorge Bush, uno y dos."

"Oh my goodness, what if you were just a little bit gay, Mitt? Think of all the advantages that would provide. No, wait for it. What if you had a vagina? If you were a gay Latina this election would be in the bag for you. Unfortunately, for you Mitt, you were cursed with the hard-knock life growing up as the son of a wealthy governor and auto executive," says Perez, as she wipes away fake tears.

The Hollywood star takes a turn for the serious at the end of the video, blaming Romney's policies for his lack of Hispanic support.

"Being Latino wouldn't win you the election, but saying jokingly that you wish you were may actually lose it for you," she says.

Romney's remarks were taken from undercover video footage from a May 17 at a fundraiser hosted by Marc Leder, co-CEO of the private-equity firm Sun Capital Partners Inc., that was posted last month by liberal magazine Mother Jones.

"[M]y dad, you probably know, was the governor of Michigan and was the head of a car company, but he was born in Mexico. And had he been born of Mexican parents I'd have a better shot at winning this, but he was [audience laughs] unfortunately born of Americans living in Mexico. They'd lived there for a number of years, and, uh, I mean I say that jokingly, but it'd be helpful if they'd been Latino," said Romney at the fundraiser, according to the transcript provided by Mother Jones. 

The Romney campaign has released numerous Spanish-language television ads targeting Hispanic voters, including one last week that accuses President Obama of stifling the economy.

"Our economic recovery needs the success of the Hispanic community. But President Obama’s misguided policies are dragging down businesses. You deserve better. We must end unnecessary regulations and cut taxes. I’ll work to help you create jobs because when Hispanic businesses grow, America grows," says Romney in the ad with Spanish subtitles.

Despite Romney's attempt to win over Latino support, Obama has held a wide lead over Romney among Hispanic voters. Two polls released earlier this month by the nonpartisan pollster Latino Decisions found Obama with a strong advantage among Hispanics in two swing states. Obama was ahead 78 to 17 percent with Nevada's Hispanic voters, and in Florida Obama led by a 30-point margin, at 61 percent to 31.

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