Republicans Learn Spanish, Court Latinos

Earthlink News ^ | June 4, 2003 | Associated Press

[Oldie]

WASHINGTON - With an eye toward the nation's fast-growing Hispanic community, Capitol Hill Republicans are turning to textbooks to win their support.

Led by Illinois Rep. Jerry Weller, a group of 19 House Republicans and one Senate Republican have signed up to participate in a Spanish-language program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Graduate School.

It's the largest group of congressional lawmakers to participate in the language program that officials say initially began as a nonpartisan program in 1999 under the leadership of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and has had dozens of participants.

Starting Thursday, about 50 House Republican staff will also begin participating in the 10-week program of once-a-week, two-hour conversational lessons.

A dozen or so House Democrats are also learning Spanish from a Graduate School instructor, according to Celinda Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the organizer, Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas.

For Weller's group's first class, attendance was not the best. Fifteen showed up for the 7 a.m. lesson in a room above the office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, and some had to leave before the end. But the congressman, whose north-central Illinois district is 8 percent Hispanic, said the GOP is committed for the long haul.

"Republicans in Congress are eager to work with the Hispanic community on President Bush's agenda, and the launch of 'Spanish on The Hill' shows we are serious about working with Spanish-speaking America," he said.

Weller said they would only wait until next week before they start learning such phrases as "Vote por los Republicanos" - "Vote for Republicans."

For their first lesson, teacher Maria Luisa Carver used visual aids such as magazine covers featuring Democrats like former President Bill Clinton as she taught the Republicans to say the Spanish equivalent of "He is a Democrat."

Hispanic registered voters totaled 7.5 million in the 2000 census. And they represent a key voting bloc in electorally rich states such as California, Florida, New York and Texas. But Hispanic elected officials are overwhelmingly Democrats.

Weller said Republicans such as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush have shown that when they communicate effectively with Hispanics they can demonstrate they have the same values of family, work, education and opportunity and warrant their majority support.

[Oldie]

The key comment I guess is "Republicans such as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush have shown that when they communicate effectively with Hispanics they can demonstrate they have the same values of family, work, education and opportunity and warrant their majority support."

Hope this works.

[Nagual]

Viva Dubya!

[Sonny M]

The key comment I guess is "Republicans such as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush have shown that when they communicate effectively with Hispanics they can demonstrate they have the same values of family, work, education and opportunity and warrant their majority support."

I would certainly hope so, Jeb Bush's wife is hispanic, his kids are half spanish, and Jeb has been fluent in spanish for many years, and speaks better spanish then some hispanics and is far better then his brother.

[Amerigomag]

Maybe Jeb Bush should run for the presidency of Mexico or offer to act as Fidel's US ambassador.

[Ford Fairlane]

I can see it now - in 20 years Spanish will be our national language

Not me, not ever!

[Sonny M]

Maybe Jeb Bush should run for the presidency of Mexico or offer to act as Fidel's US ambassador.

Jeb is pretty anti-castro and anti-communist. However, he was a lobbyist at one time for some spanish group back in the day.

[Oldie]

There have always been subcultures within the US that did not speak English as their first language. Granted, most of them have been rather small and insignificant (like the Pennsylvania Dutch, for example) when compared to the Spanish speaking population.

In any case, I fail to see what the big deal is. Why all the paranoia about Spanish ... it will never be a majority language here, and as for Spanish speaking immigrants ... if their kids do not end up speaking perfect English, then their grandchildren will.

In the meantime, the paranoid hostility of some conservatives is really the only thing that is keeping many Latinos in the Democratic camp. In fact, many Latinos are very conservative in their attitudes, but end up voting for Democrats regardless of this because they are simply scared of the attitudes that some conservatives display towards the Spanish speaking community.

[Sonny M]

In any case, I fail to see what the big deal is.

It becomes a hamperment, when somone who doesn't speak spanish, is unable to get a job because there are so many spanish people who won't speak english, it also becomes a problem when one is trying to buy products or get service and the person your dealing with is unable to speak english.

I haven't even delved into all the safety issues that automatically pop up in regards to somone not knowing english. Its the equivalent of being illiterate and in addition unable to communicate verbally.

The main thing is, if they can't speak english, they will need or want government assistance, so in essence, you will have to support, with your tax dollars, some one elses ignorance when they could be working, but do not have the desire to learn the language to do so.

[Ford Fairlane]

What happens when you cant communicate with someone in the workplace, or in an emergency situation, because they refuse to learn the language of the land? This has happened to me in dangerous industrial situations.

My main problem with latinos, however, is the fact that over 50% of them are here illegaly.

If they come here legally, and speak english in the workplace, I have no problem with them.

[Jorge]

In any case, I fail to see what the big deal is. Why all the paranoia about Spanish ... it will never be a majority language here, and as for Spanish speaking immigrants ... if their kids do not end up speaking perfect English, then their grandchildren will.

Exactly.

[Severa]

*is an example of your statement about Spanish speaking immigrants* My mom's parents immigrated here from Spain. They learned to speak English, though it wasn't perfect by any means, they learned the language. My mom is fluent in both Spanish and English. I can read Spanish fairly well but can't speak it, and the most I can do with spoken Spanish if I hear it is pick out a word or two.

[DumpsterDiver]

With an eye toward the nation's fast-growing Hispanic community,

This nation's "fast-growing Hispanic community" is comprised of illegal aliens. If the GOP's rallying cry is Viva La Raza then they can kiss my vote adios.

[hchutch]

"In the meantime, the paranoid hostility of some conservatives is really the only thing that is keeping many Latinos in the Democratic camp. In fact, many Latinos are very conservative in their attitudes, but end up voting for Democrats regardless of this because they are simply scared of the attitudes that some conservatives display towards the Spanish speaking community."

I'll bump that to the top.

[hchutch]

Excellent post at #7

[PRND21]

Bump