Posted on 05/19/2006 1:24:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
HOUSTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush has long opposed making English the country's national language, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said on Friday, the day after the Senate voted to do so.
The vote came in an amendment to proposed legislation overhauling U.S. immigration law and directed the government to "preserve and enhance" the role of English. Opponents said it could affect the status of some multilingual services offered by government organizations.
Adding to the confusion, the Senate also adopted a softer amendment calling English the "unifying language" of the United States. Senators take both versions into negotiations over a final bill with the U.S. House of Representatives.
Gonzales did not directly address Bush's position on the controversial amendment because the Senate has not yet voted on the whole bill. But he said that Bush has in the past rejected such efforts.
"The president has never supported making English the national language," Gonzales said after meeting with state and local officials in Texas to discuss cooperation on enforcement of immigration laws.
He said Bush has instead long supported a concept called "English-Plus," believing that it was good to be proficient in more than one language.
"English represents freedom in our country and anybody who wants to be successful in our country has a much better chance of doing so if they speak English," Gonzales said. "It is of course a common language."
But, Gonzales said, "I don't see the need to have laws or legislation that says English is the national language."
While visiting Arizona on Thursday to press his plan to send up to 6,000 National Guard troops to the Mexican border spoke of the need to unite Americans.
"We've got to honor the great American tradition of the melting pot," Bush said. "Americans are bound together by shared ideals and appreciation of our history, of respect for our flag and ability to speak the English language."
Intervening in a recent furor over a Spanish-language version of the national anthem released by Latin pop stars, Bush said that the "Star-Spangled Banner" should be sung in English.
The United States currently has no official language and the amendment was showing signs of further inflaming an already incendiary issue, with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada calling it "racist."
I support and defend this President, but he sure picks some goofy things to make a stand on. English+ ? Give me a break. How about "Compassionate English"?
I was listening to late night talk radio, I can't remember his name but he was an actor and ran as a Republican for congress in Calif and lost. Anyway he said that President Bush is NOT governing as a LEADER but as a MANAGER.
I think he is right in that. President Bush is trying to make it work for all sides, and you just can't do that when it comes to the best interest of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
And making an official language will stop the swarming? I say we should concentrate on the illegal invasion and not an official language.
"These ILLEGAL immigrants are NOT the same. They didn't follow our laws to get here."
Right on, they are not the same. Iran understands how to deal with those who are outside Islamic law. They are going to require Jews and Christians to wear badges to make everyone aware that they do not follow Islamic law.
...which is bad news for liberals and conservatives.
LOL!! Stop...you are killing me! ...:)
Wrong. There is no "stand" by Pres. Bush in the article. It's a quote by Gonzales that surely is being used by Reuters to divide further the conservatives who fall for it all the time.
I wouldn't believe anything till you hear it straight from Pres. Bush.
I vote for Yiddish to be the official language.
Are you suggesting that Bush doesn't have control over his AG?
Oy Vey!!
Ya hit the Nail on the head.
He basically said that the United State Congress is like a bad comedy act and the Pres. Bush has not been acting like a conservative leader. It was pretty harsh.
Should there be a sarcasm tag there?
Moi? Sarcasm? Sacre Bleu! Es imposible! Ich spreche without sarcasm!
[note valiant attempt at EnglishPlus in order to avoid Bush Bashing]
I called this one right (to my family anyway) when he was elected. He's got a nephew or something that is Mexican. I've not always agreed with Mr. Bush but have been generally supportive of him; however, when it come to our southern border, he absolutely refuses to enforce it.
So bush was misquoted, I take it? That's reassuring. Couldn't imagine him taking such an "off the wall" position.
Complete nonsense. There is no way they would allow the Attorney General to come out and make statements on behalf of Bush that hadn't been vetted. This is not a Reuters conspiracy...it is a trial balloon from the White House.
This thread is going to go on and on and on and on. Will be fun but I have to go out and get my beannie weannies for diner yet. I bought Part D and moved from Dog food to Campbell's Beannie Weannies. Life is good.
Well, this should be a fun thread. Think I'll just relax and read.
You sound surprised. Haven't you ever seen Reuters misquoting Pres. Bush?
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