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Gingrich admits -- in Spanish -- 'my word choice was poor'
CNN ^
| 5 April 2007
| "CNN" (no by-line)
Posted on 04/05/2007 9:13:21 AM PDT by The Pack Knight
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is trying to assuage Latinos over recent comments on bilingual education by delivering a video statement -- in Spanish and English -- in which he concedes his word choice was "poor."
In the statement, posted Wednesday on YouTube, Gingrich said his comments were not an "attack" on Spanish, and he revealed he has been taking Spanish lessons "for some time now."
"I know that my Spanish is not perfect, but I am studying so it will be better," he said.
At no point does Gingrich offer an outright apology in either language.
In a speech Saturday to the National Federation of Republican Women, Gingrich said English should be the language exclusively used by government in the United States.
He also said bilingual education should be replaced with immersion in English "so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto."
Gingrich's remarks, particularly his use of the word "ghetto," have drawn fire from Latino groups. While the former speaker did not directly apologize in his statement, he did concede that "my word choice was poor."
"But my point was simply this -- in the United States, it is important to speak the English language well in order to advance and have success," he said. "This is an expression of support for Latinos, not an attack on their language. I have never believed that Spanish is a language of people of low incomes, nor a language without beauty."
Gingrich also said, "It was not my intention to offend the Latino community, and I hope you accept this message in the manner in which it is being conveyed, with a sincere heart."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; english; immigration; newt
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Frankly, speaking as a Gingrich supporter, I'm a little disgusted by this groveling.
What he said about not offending the Latino community is reasonable, but his original "word choice" was dead on. Having a large population that isn't even conversant in English is a serious problem, and it won't be solved by dancing around the issue with politically correct half-apologies.
Grow a backbone and stand by what you say, Newt. You were right the first time.
To: B Knotts
Newt ping, unfortunately.
2
posted on
04/05/2007 9:14:05 AM PDT
by
The Pack Knight
(Democracy is the tyranny of all over all. Gingrich/Bolton '08)
To: The Pack Knight
He shouldn't have said 'ghetto'.
He should have said 'barrio'.
3
posted on
04/05/2007 9:15:05 AM PDT
by
The Iceman Cometh
(Democrats In Control! (Where's my friggin' free stuff?))
To: The Pack Knight
It's not just the grovelling. It's the outright lying:
"learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto."
"I have never believed that Spanish is a language of people of low incomes"
Nice try, Newt.
4
posted on
04/05/2007 9:16:55 AM PDT
by
Huck
(Soylent Green is People.)
To: The Pack Knight
Frankly, speaking as a Gingrich supporter, I'm a little disgusted by this groveling. Ditto.
Is it true?
Is it a problem?
If you're going to state the obvious, at least have enough ***** to take the heat for doing it.
Or keep your mouth shut.
5
posted on
04/05/2007 9:17:37 AM PDT
by
Publius6961
(MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
To: The Pack Knight
6
posted on
04/05/2007 9:18:54 AM PDT
by
RckyRaCoCo
("When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk!")
To: Publius6961
If you're going to state the obvious, at least have enough ***** to take the heat for doing it.
Honestly, if Hispanic immigrants are at all serious about being a part of American society, it seems like they're going to have to be shocked and offended into learning English. It may be that a white guy from Georgia is the wrong guy to do it, but it doesn't mean he should backpedal.
In the end, it'll take a prominent Hispanic to have a "Bill Cosby moment". Newt could certainly have helped that along, though, by keeping the heat up and his comments unapologetically in the news.
7
posted on
04/05/2007 9:21:43 AM PDT
by
The Pack Knight
(Democracy is the tyranny of all over all. Gingrich/Bolton '08)
To: Publius6961
Oh, and I should add the caveat that I’m not convinced that all or even most Hispanic immigrants ARE serious about being part of American society.
8
posted on
04/05/2007 9:22:45 AM PDT
by
The Pack Knight
(Democracy is the tyranny of all over all. Gingrich/Bolton '08)
To: The Iceman Cometh
LOL!!!..........Or cárcel!........
9
posted on
04/05/2007 9:23:25 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(If it's consensus, it's not science. If it's science, there's no need for consensus......)
To: The Pack Knight
...Im not convinced that all or even most Hispanic immigrants ARE serious about being part of American society. There certainly isn't much incentive nowadays, is there? :-/
10
posted on
04/05/2007 9:24:23 AM PDT
by
COBOL2Java
(The most dangerous place in the world is between Hillary and the Oval Office)
To: RckyRaCoCo
11
posted on
04/05/2007 9:28:14 AM PDT
by
TommyDale
("Rudy can win the War on Terror!" Perhaps, but for whose side?)
To: Huck
It's not just the grovelling. It's the outright lying: No so much lying as taking the easy way out: explaining the underlying premises was simply too much work, and would underscore the ignorance, not just of the underclass being addressed, but also of the general native American populace, blinded by the lethal combination of ignorance and political correctness.
I understood his statement perfectly, but in order to do so, there's a heavy burden of cultural literacy involved, both in English and Spanish.
I am embarrassed that he didn't think a proper explanation was necessary, both of the devolved current meaning of the word "ghetto", and the subtle inexactness of the current popular grasp of the word Spanish.
12
posted on
04/05/2007 9:29:21 AM PDT
by
Publius6961
(MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
To: The Iceman Cometh
Amazing how the truth upsets people and the person speaking it has to apologize.
To: The Pack Knight
"...I have never believed that Spanish is a language of people of low incomes, nor a language without beauty."
That statement is just dumb.
Now, Newt is backtracking. Apology tour. Followed by 2 weeks of mandatory rehab.
14
posted on
04/05/2007 9:30:13 AM PDT
by
TomGuy
To: The Pack Knight
15
posted on
04/05/2007 9:30:22 AM PDT
by
Antoninus
(I don't vote for liberals, regardless of party.)
To: The Pack Knight
At no point does Gingrich offer an outright apology in either language. Liberals seem to have an "apology fetish"...
To: The Pack Knight
He’s not groveling.
He’s explaining that that is an english speaking country, while not meaning to attack those who are newly arrived and yet to learn it; while welcoming them.
17
posted on
04/05/2007 9:34:24 AM PDT
by
Vision
("Delight yourself with the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm37:4)
To: Antoninus
No need for the self derision...
18
posted on
04/05/2007 9:39:22 AM PDT
by
Publius6961
(MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
To: The Pack Knight
Newt was right the first time. Sorry to see him backtracking.
To: The Pack Knight
Very creative way to anger both citizens and non-citizens at the same time.
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