Bush opposes English as national language: Gonzales (AG says Bush supports 'English-Plus' concept)

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 5/19/06 | Dan Whitcomb

[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."

[ImpBill]

Was ist lose mein Hehr?

[Rummyfan]

Come on out to the alleys you. Or, Come on tie my shoe?

[Redcloak]

At least he didn't say he supports "English y más".

...or maybe he did.

[ProudNorseman]

Gonzales said. "It [English] is of course a common language."

That's my impression too, but I'm in Europe, so what do I know?

[A Strict Constructionist]

I have believed for a long time that we must put in a new form of affirmative action into government hiring, especially in Washington, called diversity of ideas and geography. There must be academic diversity in hiring for congressional aides, at State and any other cabinet level department. If you hire someone from the Ivy League you must hire someone from the SEC, ACC, etc. Until you have a diverse group. Washington is becoming too elitist, just look at Bill Kristol on Fox. The Ivy League holds no patent on academic excellence and they don't have a clue about middle america.

[Rummyfan]

Das macht's nichts!

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks.
We are dealing with the MSM here , after all.

[lawgirl]

I have discovered my deepest ideological departure with W, and it is involving immigration. Too bad it is such an important policy that I have to disagree with him on.

[hinckley buzzard]

Any time now, we can expect to see a WaPo puff piece on how George Bush is unexpectedly "earning new respect" inside the beltway as he "grows in office."

[ImpBill]

tree bean

[hispanarepublicana]

Its about the Latino vote, stupid. A lot of politicians are bilingual these days, doncha know. Si puede!

Then they have sadly miscalculated. Maybe they should spend some time at the site behind this thread (which doesn't include an "En Espanol" link, but rather an "English training" link): Hispanic American Group Joins House Leaders to React to Pres. Bush's Address & Oppose Senate Amnesty
 

[Frank_Discussion]

Folks, the AG is speaking out of turn. The actual quotes from the prez in the article does not say what Gonzales is saying. Maybe the AG is worried about his own appearance? That's the real WTF here.

[Rummyfan]

Seventy and climbing! I say two-hundred.

[Constitution Day]

No doubt...even though I am sighing as I type that.

[ImpBill]

Oder, Ich weisse nichts, was heir lose geht.

Was is mit der schiesse Kehl?

[Crawdad]

Dude, the headline by itself will generate 500+. Throw in another 250 for troll fights and you're well on you way to my prediction of 1000+ by bedtime.

[Rakkasan1]

[FlingWingFlyer]

If Clinton was the first black president, W is the first Mexican President.

LOL! I'm afraid you're right.

[hodaka]

What was Bush's response to the Spanish version of the National Anthem that came out during all of those Mexican Protest. I would not surprised if he knows it by heart.

[Frank_Discussion]

I don't normally ping *ALL* to my comments, but only a few have seen through what the AG said, what the prez said, and what the MSM reported. The AG is up to something wierd.