Posted on 12/08/2007 2:19:34 PM PST by Earthdweller
December 9, 2007 - Miami, Florida
Univision, the nations largest Spanish-speaking television network, will be sponsoring a Republican debate hosted by the University of Miami on December 9, 2007. The candidates in attendance will be Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul, John McCain, Duncan Hunter, and Mike Huckabee.
But for millions of people who might want to view the debate, there could be a slight problem, to check the Univison website for air times you need to speak Spanish.
The explaination for a Spanish only site at first glance might be that there is a problem with inserting translation code into the website, but the webmaster clearly has the ability to add the translation software. While an English translation button is absent from Univisons TV programming site, their English version Corporate site has a predominate Spanish translation button at the very top of the home page.
In addition, on the same Spanish only Univison TV programming site, there is a link to a bilingual site similar to My Space that appears to be a major concession to those Spanish speakers who want to hook up with American dates.
Now, I'm an English only speaker and with a serious thing like a Presidential debate airing tomorrow, Im in too much of a hurry to hook up or even to wait for someone to put me on their Spanish My Space buddies list. I also need plenty of time to figure out how to activate the closed caption on my TV so I can read what people are saying. I figure it's the least I can do so I won't miss out on one of the most important debates of the 2008 election.
So with all this extra work I'm doing, Im beginning to get a bit frustrated and Im checking in my Websters English to Spanish dictionary to see if there is a Spanish equivalent to the word ironic.
It's true, I do try hard to be flexible in our ever increasingly PC world. I only moan for a second or two every time I have to push one for English, but I will have to admit that doing so is such an ever increasingly huge daily nuisance and Ive have never even so much as gotten a thank you note from that machine voice on the other end of my phone.
Considering how much of my time I spend accommodating Univison's usual viewer-ship, it seems to me that Univison could at least offer me an English translation button so I can view their website.
But then again, accommodation is a two way street..in a perfect world.
I gotta go do some other stuff just right now, but will come back. I am recording the audio at least. I want to see Hunter get back on. He is standing his ground and not compromising. Good.
I am happy to try to provide the latter. But maybe I am on the wrong thread. Should we start a new one just synopsizing what these guys are saying??
I don’t understand enough Spanish to be able to help with the actual translations. I catch a word or two along so that I know the general thrust/topic of the question, etc but not the word by word answer.
I expect we’ll have some transcripts at some point to peruse. Thanks for your efforts.
I can pick up every other word of Thompson, Hunter, and Ron Paul if I look at their mouths. Ron just talked about the welfare state and got a huge applause.
So far all the questions have to do with immigration. I guess the Hispanic community is not interested in other subjects. The very fact we are having this debate in Spanish is a disgrace. However, I will note that the questions about immigration issues have been more informed and specific that you see in the MSM. And the candidates are responding to questions about chain migration, birthright citizenship, legalization of status, etc. We need a separate immigration issue debate in English to educate the American public.
A true panderer who will shift in the wind, like Huck, will say something stupid, while others who are firmly grounded like Duncan or Thompson, wont. It shows whether people are made of steel, or just are all things to all people. This is a good selection process for our next President. Those who sell out and pander and panic in front of such a crowd and want to please them, rather than stay true to the GOP base, then can be met with these juicy quotes later at the next campaign stop, thrown back in their face.
Topic is HUGO CHAVEZ. Fun! Huck got a round of loud applause.
Giuliani is getting booed, it seems. On Chavez? Right after he got cheered. Weird.
Yes. That is the greatest value in this. The illegal immigration issue has been said to be either number or number two on the list of importance to Americans in this election. I think those who pander here will see backlash from it.
Now they are onto CUBAN issues. Question to Thompson.
I don't argue his point!
sw
McCain got laughs and applause when he made fun of Chavez being told by the Spanish King to “shut up”.
Is Fred there?
This is disgusting. These clowns are running for the nomination to be President of the United States. The United States is an English speaking country.
First they agree to that moronic Youtube debate... now this.
Pitiful bunch of losers, the lot of ‘em.
Duncan Hunter just got a loud chorus of applause and some whooping, when he came in strong on the side of our troops in Iraq. Good job.
How’s Fred doing? Seems OK so far but I am not watching, just following here.
My impression from the applause and cheers, when and where it does come, is that this is a relatively Conservative Republican hispanic audience in that auditorium. Very interesting.
If you are interested in some live blogging from the Thompson camp, check this page at Fred’s site.
http://fredfile.fred08.com/blog/2007/liveblogging-the-univision-debate/
Can Hunter pull something off with the Hispanic vote?
I doubt it but who knows. Fred’s my guy, but if it were Hunter instead of Huck seeing the recent surge I’d have no complaints.
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