It was the first night to make an impression at the convention. Republican leaders, including a number of Latinos, used their national platform to make their case for a Romney presidency with less government and regulation, while at the same time reassuring Hispanics they are indeed welcome in the party.

“President Obama’s campaign is going -to tell Hispanics that we’re not welcome here…” said Texas Tea Party Republican candidate Ted Cruz,who is running for U.S. Senate. Instead, said Cruz, what is “tragic” is Hispanics’ high unemployment and regulations on their small businesses. Using religious imagery about a Great Awakening brought by the Tea Party and America as a “city on a hill,” the Cuban-American candidate argued the need to make a “stark choice” and advocate for the government to get out-of-the-way.

“Fifty five years ago, when my dad was a penniless immigrant, thank God some well-meaning bureaucrat didn’t put his arm around him and say let me take care of you,” said Cruz. “Let me give you a government check and make you dependent on government. And by the way, don’t bother learning English. That would have been the most destructive thing anyone could have done,” said Cruz.

Brian Sandoval, governor of Nevada, described himself as a “child of working class Hispanics.” In his state of Nevada, he said government had not been an answer, but a problem. Sandoval also talked about immigration – but only in a very specific way.

Read more at NBC Latino