By EMILY FREDRIX
The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 28, 2006; 6:38 PM

MILWAUKEE -- The head of the Democratic Party told the nation's oldest Hispanic rights group on Wednesday that Democrats will not use immigration to divide the country and win in the upcoming midterm elections.

"Immigrant bashing and scapegoating is wrong in order to win elections and we're not going to do it," Howard Dean said at the League of United Latin American Citizens convention in Milwaukee.

The Democratic National Committee chairman said Republicans have been in control of Congress and the White House for years and could have done something about immigration and border security, but they were waiting for the approaching elections.

"This was going to be the group that they were going to point to to win the election," he said.

He added sarcastically: "Point a finger, talk about a problem but for God's sake don't solve it. That's how you win elections."

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman was scheduled to address the group on Tuesday but could not make the trip because of flooding on the East Coast, the RNC said.

In a letter to convention attendees, he said it was important for the party to reach out to Hispanic voters and continue working on the immigration issue.

"The President and I believe that the answer to the immigration issue is a comprehensive solution, one that embraces our history and our compassion, one which continues to welcome new immigrants _ but one which also recognizes the rule of law and keeps our nation secure," Mehlman wrote.

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On the Net:

League of Latin American Citizens: http://www.lulac.org