GOP's top tier to join Spanish debate

The Miami Herald ^ | November 9, 2007 | BETH REINHARD

[King of Florida]

Jilted by the GOP earlier this year, viewers of the nation's largest Spanish-language television network will get a chance to see the Republican presidential candidates debate in Miami on Dec. 9.

Three of the leading candidates -- Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney -- agreed Thursday to participate in the forum at the University of Miami, joining John McCain and lesser-known candidates Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter.

Only McCain and Hunter accepted a Sept. 16 invitation from Univisión, forcing the network to call the debate off and allowing the Democrats to lay claim the week before to a history-making opportunity to reach more than two million Hispanic voters.

Thompson wasn't an official candidate when the debate was proposed, giving him an opening to take the lead. With their candidate facing mixed reviews after two months in the race, the Thompson campaign said Thursday afternoon that he was in.

''Sen. Thompson is committed to sharing his vision for America's future with all Americans, and that is why he agreed to participate in this forum,'' said Carlos Curbelo, a Thompson advisor in South Florida.

Less than two hours later, Giuliani and Romney said they would be there, too.

[King of Florida]

This ought to be fun. I don't expect Tom Tank will change his mind.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Would like to see Tancredo there...he was the only GOP candidate to appear in front of the NAACP. Definitely some in the audience will be a little testy if he shows

[Romneyfor President2008]

They going to speak Spanish???

[King of Florida]

Nah, they're going to translate the questions into English and then translate the answers into Spanish.

I'm trying to think of a good Spanish translation for "gun-grabbing baby-killer."

[MrPiper]

I want to see if any of the “top tier” have the gonads to condemn the reason for the spanish language debate in the first place. If you can’t learn english,, go home.

[Verginius Rufus]

I'm trying to think of a good Spanish translation for "gun-grabbing baby-killer."

How about el/la demo'crata?

[chatham]

If these people must have the candidates on a spanish speaking show I sure don’t need them in our Government.

Besides these Language Challenged wetbacks can’t be Citizens since all citizens must speak and understand English before they can become citizens.

Are we all nuts or what, this is pure crap.

[USS Alaska]

They going to speak Spanish???

Como se llama esto en espanol? {What is this called in Spanish?}

Puta {whores}