Why Jeb Bush might want to campaign in Spanish

Washington Post ^ | 9/3/15 | Janell Ross

[jimbo123]

Donald Trump famously called Jeb Bush "a very low-energy kind of guy." The New York Times headlined a story this week with the words,"Jeb Bush is still waiting for polling to catch up with fundraising." And in the final days of 2014, the American Spectator published, "The Overrated Candidate: The Case Against Jeb Bush."

Unfortunately for Bush, the list does go on, and on, and on. It's coming from what many would consider friendly corners and those who own said corners. It's most definitely coming from foes. Bush has struggled, stumbled and staggered his way through this summer campaign season.

That's pretty hard to dispute, in English.

But when answering questions in Spanish, Bush, a native English speaker, sometimes comes quite close to being a different man -- or at least a somewhat different candidate. Note Trump's, um, dismissive comments this week about Bush's language skills. Trump told Breitbart News that Bush is "a nice man. But he should really set the example by speaking English while in the United States."

There might be a reason Bush, the Spanish speaker, has The Donald's attention. In Spanish, Bush seems deliberate about his word choice but clear about his own ideas. He's less awkward, more inclined to display some wit and personality, to relate the personal to the political and to speak to the issues that effect many people's day to day lives. He has expressed his opinions in clear and unqualified language and differentiated himself from other GOP contenders, on his own terms. More than a few times, he's been rather sharp-tongued, a trait that voters seem to value this election cycle.

There have even been some looks at the way in which Bush speaks Spanish, with few of the most common Mexican or Cuban slang words

[agincourt1415]

Great Idea, or Jeb run for Presidante of Mexico!

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

In Spanish, Bush seems deliberate about his word choice but clear about his own ideas. He's less awkward, more inclined to display some wit and personality, to relate the personal to the political and to speak to the issues that effect many people's day to day lives. He has expressed his opinions in clear and unqualified language and differentiated himself from other GOP contenders, on his own terms. More than a few times, he's been rather sharp-tongued, a trait that voters seem to value this election cycle.

Well, that's kind of a predicament. So the Bush of alleged substance and personality is only there when he speaks a language most of his countrymen don't understand? Maybe he should speak Spanish all the time and have an interpreter.

[Chewbarkah]

It’s because he’s done so well in English...

[marron]

I think it would be a blessing if a candidate were able to express and defend constitutional conservatism in Spanish comfortably, and could defend the notions of citizenship and sovereignty to a Spanish speaking audience. It actually shouldn’t be that difficult for someone who believes in them.

Jeb isn’t that guy.

[shotgun]

Yeb was completely wrong to respond about Trump in Spanish. That was complete rude of him and disrespectful to Trump and to the English speaking public.

I think most Americans would agree that we feel a certain level of anxiety if people are speaking foreign languages around us wondering if they are talking about us...

If he or any of the other candidates feels the need to speak Spanish then they should provide sub-titles or have an interpreter available to speak English so that we can understand what they are talking about.

[Maceman]

I wouldn’t be against President Trump making Jeb the ambassador to Mexico.

So he could conspire with them to help them to continue to export their citizens across our border?