A worried GOP learning Spanish

Chicago Tribune ^ | January 21, 2002 | Jeff Zeleny

[expose]

AUSTIN, Texas -- The intensified drive to draw Hispanic voters to the Republican Party isn't a voluntary mission of political correctness, but a matter of sheer necessity at the ballot box.

Worried that legions of campaign workers across the country can't speak the fastest-growing language of political importance, the Republican National Committee is sending key workers to intense Spanish language classes. For up to two weeks, GOP officials from selected states will immerse themselves in vocabulary and conversation at the Berlitz Language School in Washington.

[Dakmar]

1) Racism is a two-way street and there are plenty of Mexicans who are just as racist as any Kluxxer.

2) Language is a unifying factor. Notice that "Hispanics" can come from any nation and be of any race, the common bond is speaking Spanish, which is at the core of their political unity. If this nation becomes separated by language, we are in for one hell of a mess. Look at Canada, the problems between English and French speakers...and they're all white (mostly).

[Joe Hadenuf]

In a couple of years we can say good-bye to Texas as we once knew it.

You bet, they don't call Texas, "Texico" for nothing.

[VRWC For Truth]

Welcome to America, where everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to buy a ticket.

Yep, ... and they sound just like Liberals. The rest of us live in the real world. The so-called arbiters of "purity" better look in the mirror.

[AmericanInTokyo]

There is no excuse that any national who makes a long term commitment to either live in a certain foreign country, or take the ultimate step of becoming a citizen there, cannot learn the language of that country.

There are plenty of free or low cost English language courses around the USA, in fact--thousands of them on local levels. There a churches and community center which teach this for free. There is 24 hour English television, and most televisions have closed captioned to help the new learner.

It is an issue of LACK OF WILL for a number of new immigrants to REFUSE to learn English. Why cross over the fence and speak Spanish for them.

(I say this due to the fact I have mastered the languages of the various countries I have come to live in or travel extensively in, without any expectation they have to be burden to struggle to communicate with me, the guest, in English.

[Catspaw]

Those hordes want to replace the T-Bones in the freezer with skirt steak. They'll also make him scramble his eggs with sausage instead of frying them up in bacon grease. On top of that, singly wrapped pasteurized cheese food squares will be gone in favor of tasty white cheeses. Rice won't be served white, and will instead be seasoned with pepper....

Now you're making me hungry....and make my eggs scrambled with longaniza. I like it better than chorizo.

[swheats]

I have no problem with speaking spanish as a second language for our politicians. The problem I have is that they choose to politicize it by taking a two week crash course to make it an issue.

What have they been doing in the last two years of Bush campaigning for president or for the last year.

Not only does it make Hispanics appear as pawns as though they can be manipulated to think whatever they want them to think. As to say, "ok I speak spanish will you vote for me". Most politicians are just learning another way, I believe, to spin in a different language. If their message is that important get an interpreter to go on the stump with you and take the time necessary to learn the language.

[FITZ]

We have people here who have lived here for more than 20 years who have made no effort to learn English. Their jobs went south and they're all on welfare now. They could relocate to places where there's jobs but they are too lazy to learn the language and prefer welfare.

[AmericanInTokyo]

EFFORT is the key in just about all things in life.

Why some people think we should stoop over backwards and go over the fence to help those who have not demonstrated a simple, fundamental EFFORT, is beyond me.

[Libertarian_4_eva]

The interesting part is that the recent Hispanic immigrants are more likely to be culturally conservative, and could be talked out of their fiscally liberal outlook. All the local employers state they love to hire immigrants because they turn in a full day's labor, don't call in sick, and don't try to organize if they're paid fairly.

They turn in a full days labor because they need the full day to get paid or their employer will hire a new illegal the next day and not pay them. They do not call in sick because someone will take their spot and they cannot organize otherwise their employers will call the INS.

[AmericanInTokyo]

This is in fact the EPITOMY of what is known as "pandering", and it is in fact quite insulting to the intelligence of Hispanics I believe. What is needed is TOUGH LOVE in the English language area. Pandering only insults and holds people back. Reminds me of the Democratic Party treatment of blacks via welfare all these years.....

[Dog Gone]

Despite what other people are saying, it's only the City Council meetings that are conducted in Spanish. All city ordinances and resolutions are still written in English.

The statement that all city business in El Cenizo must be conducted in Spanish is a fabrication.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I thought I would offer this quote from Mr. Buchanans book.

In 1960 only sixteen million Americans did not trace their ancestors to Europe. Today, the number is *eighty million*. No nation has ever undergone so rapid and radical a transformation. At Portland State in 1998, Mr. Clinton rhapsodized to a cheering student audience about a day when Americans of European descent will be a minority

Clinton: "Today, largely because of immigration, there is no majority race in Hawaii or Houston or New York City. Within five years there will be no majority race in our largest state, California. In a little more than fifty years there will be no majority race in the United States. No other nation in history has gone through demographic change of this magnitude in so short a time."

Buchanan continues. Correction: no nation in history has gone through a demographic change of this magnitude in so short a time, and remained the same nation. Mr. Clinton assured us that it will be a better America when we are all minorities and realize true diversity.

Unfortunately, this massive invasion of millions upon millions of criminal illegal aliens and the resulting effects of our immigration "free for all" is coming to a neighborhood near you, and everyone else.

I believe this will eventually result in total chaos for the United States.

Everyone know, the rich and our so-called leaders are not negatively affected by this massive invasion, they are protected by *very tall* financial fences. They are not bothered by this tremendous onslaught as average Americans are.

[sarcasm]

Also, most Americans do not support draconian penalties against individuals and businesses who hire illegal aliens.

Documentation please.

[afz400]

Because it's always at the expense of the American taxpayers who have worked their whole lives and their parents and grand parents lives to save and build decent homes and neighborhoods only to watch these immigrants destroy the schools, the parks, the transportation system right before our eyes. People who dont have enough brains or energy to learn our language are rapidly taking over and will turn us into a third world country. We are hiding our heads in the sand and by doing nothing, our generation is cursing our great grandchildren with a new dark age.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Despite what other people are saying, it's only the City Council meetings that are conducted in Spanish. All city ordinances and resolutions are yak yak...

Boy, this should make everyone in Texico, Ops, I mean Texas, feel better.