Posted on 02/03/2005 9:25:35 AM PST by kjfpolitical
WASHINGTON - Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, the first Cuban-American elected to the U.S. Senate, on Wednesday apparently marked another first: delivering the first Spanish speech on the Senate floor.
Martinez, a Republican from Orlando, was speaking in favor of President Bush's nomination of White House counsel Alberto Gonzales as the new U.S. attorney general. Gonzales, a Mexican-American, would be the first Hispanic to hold that post.
After praising Gonzales in English as a qualified public servant and a role model for Hispanic-Americans, Martinez switched to Spanish and addressed all "those who came to America to create a better life."
"Judge Gonzales is one of us," he said in Spanish. "He represents all of our hopes and dreams for our children. Let us acknowledge the importance of this moment, for especially our youth.
"We cannot allow petty politicking to deny us this moment that fills us all with such pride."
It was the new senator's first floor speech since he was sworn in last month, and it came during Republican debate on Gonzales' nomination, to a mostly empty chamber. Martinez sought permission to use Spanish beforehand, then gave the English translation for the Congressional Record.
Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, one of a handful of Republican leaders there to hear it, congratulated Martinez when he finished. "I'm sure that this is not only the first time we've had a bilingual first speech in the Senate ... (but) you could not have picked a more important topic," McConnell said.
The Senate is expected to confirm Gonzales' appointment today, despite opposition from many Senate Democrats who say he once advised the Bush administration that torture may not always be unlawful.
Kerry Feehery, Martinez's press secretary, said the senator used Spanish to underscore the importance of Gonzales' nomination to Hispanic-Americans. "It's a historic moment for the Hispanic community and we shouldn't lose sight of the barriers it's breaking," she said.
While Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose wife is from Mexico, and President Bush frequently speak Spanish to connect with Hispanic audiences and potential voters, Martinez's speech appears unprecedented in the Senate.
Associate Senate historian Don Ritchie said the Senate has had several other Hispanic members, "but we don't have anything in our files that indicates that either of them ever used Spanish in their speeches on the floor."
Last year, former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., used a Native American language when introducing a bill, and guest chaplains have said prayers in both Chippewa and Sioux, he said. In the 19th century, senators frequently used Latin phrases but never delivered speeches in Latin.
Ritchie said it is difficult to know exactly what has been said over the past 200 years: Remarks delivered in a foreign language generally don't show up in the official proceedings, simply because those who record the floor debates can't transcribe them.
In place of Martinez's Spanish remarks Wednesday, the unofficial transcript says simply, "Speaking in Spanish."
Univision, the Spanish-language TV network, and CNN en Espanol carried the morning speech live, as did C-SPAN. Feehery said she doubts Martinez will give many bilingual speeches on the Senate floor, "but if it's an important issue to the Hispanic-American community, both in Florida and nationwide, he will."
The swing to Bush was very large over most of small town and rural Hispanic Texas. Try another theory.
I went back and read the article. While Bush won the Latino Protestant vote by 63%, Kerry won the Latino Catholic vote by 69%. I wonder which group is the largest, the Latino protestant group or the Latino Catholic group?
Thanks, Joe!
What matters is that he's made progress. For example, if he won in 2000 with X% of the hispanic vote, and this year he got x+25% - that is progress. Even if X=1.
Piss off
I'm not even going to waste my time with you. Been there done that.
This IS NOT about the 1A.
True, however This is America not Mexico,Germany or any other country. English is the language of this country.
If I travel to a different country I will learn the language and do my best while there to use it.
I will not try to convert that country to English while there.
The Democrats keep losing appeal with the Hispanic community, especially because Hispanics saw this anti-Gonzales rancorous debate as a cheap attack on Gonzales.
Karl Rove's goal to split the Democratic base is working, and the Democrats are unwitting accomplices.
True, however This is America not Mexico,Germany or any other country. English is the language of this country..........ChefKeith
English is the Lingua Franca of the United States but it has never been declared an "Official" language and the U.S. is the home of many non-English languages that are as American as Motherhood and Apple Pie.
For example:
Navajo Code Talkers' Dictionary
As to Castellano (Spanish), it is the European language with the longest history of being continuously spoken in what is now the United States of America.
I can't think of anyone more inclined to conservative voting habits than an Evangelical/Mormon (putting the two together I know will drive some folks nuts), who values and identifies with upward mobility, and sacrifices to achieve it.
Speaking Spanish in the halls of Congress. Will the enemies of America stop at nothing? What's next tacos in the lunchroom and Ricky Martin muzak in the restroom? The latiniztion of America is happening abajo de nuestros narices. ¡Buen Dios! ¡Tiene ya me infectado!!!
"You are a liar!"
I would use the term mis-informed. Heard a radio show hear that claimed he was linked to La Raza - I had emailed the producer of the show and they have not responded. I apologize if I provided wrong information.
your probably right - Ill hold any more comments that I have on him until he has shown himself.
I am not a liar - Gonzales is a former member of the racist group La Raza here is the proof
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41628
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales, President Bush's nominee for attorney general, got the backing of a group that promotes driver's licenses for illegal aliens, no immigration law enforcement by local and state police and amnesty programs broader than the administration's proposal.
The National Council of La Raza, which bills itself as the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., welcomed the nomination of Gonzales to succeed John Ashcroft.
"We are very encouraged by the Gonzales nomination," said the glowing endorsement by La Raza. "We previously criticized the Bush administration for not having an Hispanic in the cabinet since the departure of former HUD Secretary, now Senator-elect, Mel Martinez. We are pleased that one of the first acts since the president’s re-election both rectifies that situation and marks an historic milestone for the Latino community. Never before has a Hispanic served as head of one of the four major Cabinet posts – secretary of State, Treasury, Defense and attorney general," said Janet Murguia, NCLR executive director and chief operating officer.
But it wasn't just the historical breakthrough that thrilled La Raza. It was also the fact that he is one of their own.
"Alberto Gonzales served with distinction on the board of directors of one of NCLR’s oldest and most respected affiliates, the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans in Houston, Texas," she said. "Moreover, during his tenure as White House counsel, he has been one of the most accessible members of the White House staff to NCLR and other Hispanic organizations."
Murguia concluded, "We acknowledge that this is the first step of a long confirmation process that requires that his record be fully examined. That being said, Gonzales is a thoughtful, reasonable public servant, a man of his word, and we have every expectation that his nomination will be very well received in the Latino community."
La Raza supports legislation such as the Civil Liberties Restoration Act, which would roll back policies adopted after Sept. 11 designed to protect national security. It supports 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.
The group opposes the "Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003" and the "Homeland Security Enhancement Act" would give state and local police officers the authority to enforce federal immigration laws.
"While the safety and security of our communities and our country are of the utmost importance, new policies that would allow local police departments to enforce federal civil immigration law will hinder terrorist and other criminal investigations, and have a serious negative impact on Latino communities," La Raza explains.
The group also supports legislation to ensure illegal immigrants' ability to obtain driver's licenses.
AG Gonzales is a member of the racist group La Raza proof provided by
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41628
February 12, 2005
Senator Mel Martinez
716 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator,
In a recent news article, you were quoted as “delivering the first Spanish speech on the Senate floor”; in favor of President Bush's nomination of Alberto Gonzales as the new U.S. attorney general. My understanding is that a translator was provided for the other members of the Senate, since I believe it’s unlikely any of them speak Spanish as a native language, and that American taxpayers paid for that translator as well.
I, along with many other American citizens, strongly disapprove of your actions.
Certainly, I do not object with communicating with Spanish speakers in their native tongue. If one wants to speak to Spanish-speaking people on an issue, one would speak to them in person. The place for communicating a message to Spanish speakers is to native Spanish is at a press conference, or in response to questions from a native Spanish speaker at a town-hall meeting format.
If everyone on the floor of the Senate were certifiably fluent in Spanish, then the U.S. Senate would conduct business that way. However, I would be surprised if 10 Senators are certifiably fluent in Spanish. Putting on a show disguised as official Senate business is just that – a show. Speaking Spanish in a legislative body for the benefit of an audience that is not in the room is nothing more than stagecraft.
The U.S. Senate has its traditions, and one of them is that conduct all business in English – the language of the U.S. government. Native English speakers founded the U.S. Senate, the constitution of the U.S., and all federal government bodies. Any language other than English should be noted in the official record by the phrase, "speaking gibberish".
As an elected official, you represent American citizens in the well of the Senate of the United States of America, not the U.N. We conduct our government in English. If you wish to speak Spanish, go to Spain, or Mexico, or Cuba, or any other Latin American country and speak in their legislative bodies. I can assure you they do not conduct their language in English and anyone who attempts to do so will face objections from their fellow legislators and not be allowed to continue in a language other than their native Spanish.
I strongly believe you were out of line giving a speech in your official capacity on the Senate floor in Spanish. As a United States Senator, I would ask you to conduct official business as one in future. People who insist on being hyphenated Americans don't help themselves or the rest of us. Your move toward the multilingual (and cultural) chaos is exactly what many in the other party are longing for. As a conservative, you should believe first and foremost in conserving Americans linguistic and cultural traditions.
Sincerely Yours,
[BillyBoy]
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