Posted on 02/03/2005 9:25:35 AM PST by kjfpolitical
WASHINGTON - Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, the first Cuban-American elected to the U.S. Senate, on Wednesday apparently marked another first: delivering the first Spanish speech on the Senate floor.
Martinez, a Republican from Orlando, was speaking in favor of President Bush's nomination of White House counsel Alberto Gonzales as the new U.S. attorney general. Gonzales, a Mexican-American, would be the first Hispanic to hold that post.
After praising Gonzales in English as a qualified public servant and a role model for Hispanic-Americans, Martinez switched to Spanish and addressed all "those who came to America to create a better life."
"Judge Gonzales is one of us," he said in Spanish. "He represents all of our hopes and dreams for our children. Let us acknowledge the importance of this moment, for especially our youth.
"We cannot allow petty politicking to deny us this moment that fills us all with such pride."
It was the new senator's first floor speech since he was sworn in last month, and it came during Republican debate on Gonzales' nomination, to a mostly empty chamber. Martinez sought permission to use Spanish beforehand, then gave the English translation for the Congressional Record.
Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, one of a handful of Republican leaders there to hear it, congratulated Martinez when he finished. "I'm sure that this is not only the first time we've had a bilingual first speech in the Senate ... (but) you could not have picked a more important topic," McConnell said.
The Senate is expected to confirm Gonzales' appointment today, despite opposition from many Senate Democrats who say he once advised the Bush administration that torture may not always be unlawful.
Kerry Feehery, Martinez's press secretary, said the senator used Spanish to underscore the importance of Gonzales' nomination to Hispanic-Americans. "It's a historic moment for the Hispanic community and we shouldn't lose sight of the barriers it's breaking," she said.
While Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose wife is from Mexico, and President Bush frequently speak Spanish to connect with Hispanic audiences and potential voters, Martinez's speech appears unprecedented in the Senate.
Associate Senate historian Don Ritchie said the Senate has had several other Hispanic members, "but we don't have anything in our files that indicates that either of them ever used Spanish in their speeches on the floor."
Last year, former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., used a Native American language when introducing a bill, and guest chaplains have said prayers in both Chippewa and Sioux, he said. In the 19th century, senators frequently used Latin phrases but never delivered speeches in Latin.
Ritchie said it is difficult to know exactly what has been said over the past 200 years: Remarks delivered in a foreign language generally don't show up in the official proceedings, simply because those who record the floor debates can't transcribe them.
In place of Martinez's Spanish remarks Wednesday, the unofficial transcript says simply, "Speaking in Spanish."
Univision, the Spanish-language TV network, and CNN en Espanol carried the morning speech live, as did C-SPAN. Feehery said she doubts Martinez will give many bilingual speeches on the Senate floor, "but if it's an important issue to the Hispanic-American community, both in Florida and nationwide, he will."
LOL! Yes, and we'll probably see the results of the fax in about ten minutes here on FR!
Tancredo's really moving his anti-immigration agenda forward. Imagine that - soon we'll have a hispanic named "Gonzalez" enforcing the immigration laws. At this rate, Tancredo will NEVER keep his term limits pledge.
When will Tim Johnson speak lakota? It's not pandering! It's good politics.
Go ahead and believe what you've stated, simplistic though it may be. You probably think that 'personal accounts' will allow you to 'keep your money' too - and won't make an effort to actually figure out what you are being sold.
The cult of personality around the Admin that causes so many so-called conservatives to rush to abandon conservative priciples is mind-boggling.
Says who?
Speaking of communication: I meant to write, "Hispanics who can't vote have children who will, and they'll tell their kids how great Bush is, and how great the Republicans are." Sorry.
I'm waiting for Tom Harkin to speak pig-latin. He does represent a large constituency of hogs.
What is not conservative about reaching out to particular groups and let them know that we believe in the same things they do? And doing it in their own language.
My ultimate priority is to battle in the arena of ideas. The language use to communicate those ideas is trivial. Western liberal culture will survive despite the fact that someone speaking Spanish supports it. (That was a wierd sentence to have to right).
Furthermore, I wholly reject that Senator Martinez is part of the problem for supporting Mr. Gonzalez. Methinks the real problem you have is not the ideas of Sen. Martinez and Mr. Gonzalez, but their last names.
No one should be allowed to post without reading the article...which in this case says that the Senator asked and received permission to speak in Spanish for the record, along with an English translation.
READING...that great lost art...
I don't speak Spanish. Did Martinez say anything about Gonzales' dalliance with La Raza and Gonzales' open-border, come-one, come-all immigration mindset?
Spanish is the second language....and especially useful
when you live in our state and you have the "Weapon of
mouth destruction" as a Senator (Boxer). The first
African-American female as Sec'y of State and a
Mexican-Ameican as a first Attorney General....you
have the opportunity to have another MA..give a speech
on the Senate floor and insert a few phrases...I say
"Bueno"...they are part of the futue for a better life
for all their race and the country will be better for it..
I say boo to the Kennedy's Boxer's Schumers,etc. Jake
What was the point of speaking spanish when he is in an english speaking country? He should NOT have been given permission to speak spanish. The senate isn't his house.
"....Kerry Feehery, Martinez's press secretary, said the senator used Spanish to underscore the importance of Gonzales' nomination to Hispanic-Americans. "It's a historic moment for the Hispanic community and we shouldn't lose sight of the barriers it's breaking," she said. "
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Well done Senator! I knew I cast my vote for the right person!
Is MA short for Mexican American? I think Sen. Martinez was born in Cuba. But your concept remains intact. America is a wonderful coutry full of opportunity for all.
True. On the flipside, Martinez won Florida b/c he spoke Spanish - he brought out the conservative Hispanics, including the core Cuban base. IMO, it was the tipping point in a close race with Castro. Gov. Jeb regularly gives speeches and announcements in English and Spanish.
There are literally millions (tens of millions?) of Spanish speakers in this country. Did you consider he might be communicating to them?
He didn't treat the Senate like his house...he *asked* for permission (and got it).
...and his *point* for speaking in Spanish was mentioned in the article.
Reading: the lost art.
What makes spanish speakers so special? Is the senate going to be like the UN now? Everyone with a damned earphone speaking a different language?
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