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Obama's Poor English Lesson
American Thinker ^ | July 10, 2008 | Bruce Walker

Posted on 07/10/2008 2:45:21 PM PDT by Uncle Ralph

Barack Obama has questioned, implicitly, the value of English as a primary language. Why shouldn't the rest of us learn to speak Spanish? What is so "special" about English?

Pandering to Hispanic voters is at the heart of this latest swerve in Obama's insubstantial campaign, but picking on English is a very silly and very dangerous tactic towards a vital national and international issue.

Obama himself is the best argument for a black in America learning to master English. The candidate speaks English perfectly and that has made him the first viable black presidential candidate. If he spoke English like most inner city blacks, then -- unfairly perhaps -- millions of whites would have privately dismissed him as not up to the job of president. It is profoundly selfish of him to profit from his excellent English, and then to suggest that young Hispanics and other immigrants who have difficulty with English remain in their linguistic ghetto.

What should Obama be saying instead? How about something like this: "I was blessed to be raised in a home in which good English in a vernacular easily understood was normal. My ability to communicate in English well was not something that I had to work had to achieve, but it was something that opened many doors to me that would otherwise be closed to a young black man. If you want to succeed in America, just as Italians, Japanese, Jews, Greeks and so many other minorities have done, master English."

Obama is also dead wrong in pretending that English is "just another language" and that insisting Americans speak, read and write English is some sort of ethnic bias. English, instead, is the great unifier of mankind. . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; english; language; obama

1 posted on 07/10/2008 2:45:21 PM PDT by Uncle Ralph
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To: Uncle Ralph

Actually Obama speaks English like OJ Simpson did when he broadcast. Any minute you expect him to break into ebonics.


2 posted on 07/10/2008 2:56:30 PM PDT by Abbeville Conservative (Just a bitter South Carolinian clinging to my religion and guns.)
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To: Uncle Ralph
English is an international language.
It is the world wide aviation language as well.

Why force kids to learn a second language that most will likely hardly use, instead of ramping up math and science to stay technologically competitive with other nations?

Obama is dangerous on so many levels.

He is up there talking out his ass most of the time it seems. He has the language of "pander" mastered anyways.

3 posted on 07/10/2008 2:56:36 PM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
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To: Uncle Ralph

If we do what Hussein wants regarding the English language, it will seriously damage the USA in several ways. Another reason he is unqualified to be president.


4 posted on 07/10/2008 2:57:14 PM PDT by Post Toasties (It's not a smear if it's true.)
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To: Uncle Ralph

If we do what Hussein wants regarding the English language, it will seriously damage the USA in several ways. Another reason he is unqualified to be president.


5 posted on 07/10/2008 2:57:14 PM PDT by Post Toasties (It's not a smear if it's true.)
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To: Uncle Ralph

As much as he may not like to admit it. Part of his excellent english I’m sure are because of the excellent schooling he had alongside his white counterparts. I believe he is still part white, as much as the brothers may not like to admit it. Sorry boys, he’s half white to. Not that it matters, he still a Rat!!


6 posted on 07/10/2008 2:57:51 PM PDT by cla62
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To: Names Ash Housewares

Yeah parents, don’t worry about making sure your kids grow up to be doctors and scientists, maybe even finding a cure for cancer. You just make sure they learn Spanish, because we would hate to be embarrassed.


7 posted on 07/10/2008 2:59:00 PM PDT by autumnraine
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To: Abbeville Conservative
"Actually Obama speaks English like OJ Simpson did when he broadcast."

Simpson and Obama....kindred spirits: the juice and the sap. At least there was a period in OJ's life when he was productive and actually earned paycheck.

8 posted on 07/10/2008 3:01:50 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Uncle Ralph

B. Husein O. may speak English perfectly but its the way he puts the words and phrases together that scares the heck out of me. Pure Marxist speak.


9 posted on 07/10/2008 3:02:32 PM PDT by Don Corleone (Leave the gun..take the cannoli)
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To: Uncle Ralph; Abbeville Conservative
Wait a minute...did't his spiritual mentor, Rev. Wright, go off about language, English and American English, making fun of JFK's accent? It seems perhaps Obama was privy to these discussions about language and shares the antipathy toward American English, viewed as the real problem rather than Spanish and bilingualism.

Someone should look into it.

10 posted on 07/10/2008 3:08:40 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: Abbeville Conservative
Without a script Obama stumbles and bumbles all over the place as if English was a second language.
11 posted on 07/10/2008 3:18:21 PM PDT by isrul (Help make every day, "Disrespect a muzzie day.")
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To: Uncle Ralph

One thing Obama hasn’t realized yet......if I want to learn Spanish, French, whatever....I will. If I don’t want to learn it, I won’t. Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t do. He works for us, we don’t work for him. Another thing......I am dam proud of the United States. We have made our mistakes and we will surely make more....but dam it....this is my country and if don’t like....get out.


12 posted on 07/10/2008 3:19:14 PM PDT by RC2
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To: Names Ash Housewares

Yes he does talk out his a and but i do think a lot of kids will do well to learn a second language.BUT WHATS THAT GOT TO DO WITH ENGLISH FIRST IN THIS COUNTRY? AND NO THEY ARE NOT COMMING HERE AND LEARING ENGLISH! THEY COME HERE, HANG OUT WITH THERE OWN AND KEEP SPEAKING SPANISH SO GRINGOS WONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
They run our borders, rob us, kill out kids and overload the welfare and medical systems while we get the bill.


13 posted on 07/10/2008 3:21:34 PM PDT by dalebert
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To: Uncle Ralph
It's odd that Barack, who looks outside America for so many cues, doesn't understand the following point.

People all over the world are learning English, in order to increase their chances of success in the 21st Century.

14 posted on 07/10/2008 3:23:12 PM PDT by syriacus (Democrats got THEIR "change" in Election 2006. Are WE better off now?)
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To: RC2
Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t do. He works for us, we don’t work for him.

Bears repeating.
Excellent.

15 posted on 07/10/2008 3:24:01 PM PDT by Bon mots
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To: Abbeville Conservative

I agree with you totally.

I am amazed at how sick I am of hearing him talk. And pander. And lie. And flip-flop. And ..........(fill in the blank.)

We’ve got to make him disappear from the political mainstream.


16 posted on 07/10/2008 3:24:09 PM PDT by EggsAckley (If you shoot at mimes, should you use a silencer?)
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To: RC2

Obama should worry about his black constituents first learning to speak, read and write in English. Then he can worry about Spanish.

Besides, the hypocrite doesn’t speak a foreign language... about the only foreign language he mastered is how to shriek “ALLAHU AKHBAR” in that Madrassah he went to.


17 posted on 07/10/2008 3:26:07 PM PDT by Bon mots
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To: Uncle Ralph
Just as this article says: everyone in this country must learn solid, technical English. It is simply impossible for this country to have multiple primary languages - it confines whole groups of people into a permanent linguistic ghetto with no chance at all of economic success and acceptance.

Knowing other languages is important but high proficiency in English is absolutely vital.

I am for boycotting all American businesses and institutions that support, condone and push other languages in their materials and ads and communications.

We should never accept "push #1 (or any other number) for English".

18 posted on 07/10/2008 3:29:53 PM PDT by Chinstrap61a
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To: Joe 6-pack

I always mute Obama when he speaks. I can’t listen to him. His voice turns me off


19 posted on 07/10/2008 3:31:48 PM PDT by Kaslin (Vote Democrat if you like high gas prices at the pump)
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To: RC2

They will figure out a way to fit in the mandatory Spanish lessons, in between compulsory government community service, recycling workshops, gender sensitivity training seminars, and Arabic language instruction, of course.


20 posted on 07/10/2008 3:32:51 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: syriacus
Obama tells us that we shouldn't drill for oil now because it takes too many years to derive any real benefit.

According to Obama's reasoning, there is no point in beginning to learn a foreign language, since it takes too many years to derive any benefit.

21 posted on 07/10/2008 3:36:04 PM PDT by syriacus (Democrats got THEIR "change" in Election 2006. Are WE better off now?)
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To: Uncle Ralph

I heard some radio hosts last evenig complaining about Obama and the ‘his-pandering’ that went on at that speech. I thought ‘what a great word to describe it’.


22 posted on 07/10/2008 3:37:14 PM PDT by Bush_Democrat (Ex-Dem since 2001 *Folding@Home for the Gipper - Join the FReeper Folders*)
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To: Uncle Ralph


23 posted on 07/10/2008 3:46:51 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©® - CTHULHU/SHOGGOTH '08 = Nothing LESS!!!)
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To: Don Corleone
He could also use some elocution lessons. He drops his voice at the end of a sentence.

Imagine a State of the Union speech from him!

24 posted on 07/10/2008 4:17:15 PM PDT by Churchillspirit
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To: Uncle Ralph

Bill Cosby on the importance of learning to speak proper English:

“The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal.

These people are not parenting.

They are buying things for kids — $500 for sneakers, for what?

And won’t spend $200 for ‘Hooked on Phonics’.”

... Bill Cosby on black responsibility.


25 posted on 07/10/2008 4:23:17 PM PDT by STE=Q ("These are the times that try men's souls." -- Thomas Paine)
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To: Uncle Ralph

I am a strong supporter of people speaking different languages, even though I can’t. Hey freedom is freedom. If people want to wallow in third world conditions and never get ahead in this Country, then don’t learn English. If you want to get ahead, learn it and love it, don’t expect us English speakers to understand you.


26 posted on 07/10/2008 4:42:12 PM PDT by vpintheak (Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked. Prov. 25:26)
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To: syriacus

People all over the world are learning English, in order to increase their chances of success in the 21st Century.
+++++++++++++++++
Exactly. It’s sad that Obama actually believes that the U.S. is just another country in the world and that we should somehow be ashamed that we strive to be number one and exert influence throughout the globe. I really think he is ashamed that we’re powerful and that our population enjoys plenty in comparison to the world. A president should truly believe he presides over the best nation in the world. Obama obviously doesn’t believe it and that’s why he shouldn’t be President of the United States of America. How can we hire a leader whose mindset is that his country is the source of most of the world’s problems.

Too many around him believe it as well. Obama would indeed be Carter’s second term and the only change we’ll see is Carter, scene two.


27 posted on 07/10/2008 4:46:44 PM PDT by Joan Kerrey
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To: EggsAckley

Exactly!!! He’s worse than Clinton fatigue. LOL


28 posted on 07/10/2008 5:32:05 PM PDT by Abbeville Conservative (Just a bitter South Carolinian clinging to my religion and guns.)
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To: Uncle Ralph
What gaul. Does he, his wife or children speak Spanish? I'd like him to explain why they should learn Spanish vs. Italian, Latin, French, Chinese, German, etc?

English has become the language of international business, technology, science and commerce and if you travel abroad you'll find English is the "universal" language. The English language is what binds our country so his concern should be directed to the Spanish speaking immigrants who do not wish to assimilate by learning our language and we'll worry about what language our children should learn.

29 posted on 07/10/2008 5:56:39 PM PDT by StarFan
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To: All

.

GAG ALERT:

Obama’s speech to La Raza:

(La Raza (The Race), Largest Hispanic organization in the U.S.
Lobbies for racial preferences, bilingual education, stricter hate crimes laws, mass immigration, and amnesty for illegal aliens )

Obama pimps illegal aliens. Shameful, considering the additional violent crime, third word diseases they bring into this country and the billions of dollars it cost us to take care of them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEITOQfKVmo
“I walked the walk. I talked the talk. I marched with you for “civil rights” of “immigrants”. (!!)

Obama said the recent Senate immigration debate “was both ugly and racist in a way we haven’t see since the struggle for civil rights.”

Obama told La Raza that the mass protests lately of for immigration rights of Mexicans is equal in greatness to the civil rights protest of the past!

Omama supports La Raza’s, the “DREAM Act,” which would mandate states to offer in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens — thus providing them with benefits not available to U.S. citizens from other states.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070723/NATION/107230063/1001

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870205/posts

http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08/story/201957.html

“I will stand with the Muslims and protect them..” Obama. Barack Obama
http://www.freedomsenemies.com/_more/obama.htm

Get the facts on the life and career of Barack Obama
that the media covers up:
http://www.theobamafile.com/

CHECK THIS OUT, PEOPLE:
http://immigrationcounters.com/

http://www.texasborderregulators.org/


30 posted on 07/10/2008 6:33:10 PM PDT by patriot08
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To: Joan Kerrey
How can we hire a leader whose mindset is that his country is the source of most of the world’s problems.

I agree. Obama seems to want to pin a "Kick me" sign on the back of each American. True humility is an admirable human quality, but masochism is not.

31 posted on 07/10/2008 7:54:19 PM PDT by syriacus (Democrats got THEIR "change" in Election 2006. Are WE better off now?)
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To: Uncle Ralph

English is a beautiful language with humble beginnings.
English was born in London and comes from the people, the language of the crown was French, and the monks spoke Latin, the common folk spoke English.
English is dynamic and borrows from many many languages.
Sadly, Americans don’t generally speak English as well as they should. They don’t know their grammar. My advice is to dump SAT English.


32 posted on 07/11/2008 1:46:09 AM PDT by paristwelve
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To: StarFan
What gaul.

Yes... what gall, too!

Regards,

33 posted on 07/11/2008 11:52:08 AM PDT by alexander_busek
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