Gingrich admits -- in Spanish -- 'my word choice was poor'

CNN ^ | 5 April 2007 | "CNN" (no by-line)

[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."

[Oliver Optic]

the devolved current meaning of the word "ghetto"

Exactly ... I assumed he used the word "ghetto" in the academic sense of a self-contained and isolated community. People often speak of the "Christian ghetto," for instance, without meaning to imply that Christians are poor or ignorant.

Probably shows (along with his earlier "wither on the vine" Medicare analogy) why Gingrich is less than an ideal candidate for these times.

Far be it from us that anyone should talk to the American people in language above the third-grade level.

[M203M4]

He never said that Spanish was the language of the ghetto. He said that English is the language of prosperity in America, and that, by not learning English, immigrants are defaulting to the ghetto (they will never prosper without a grasp of English). Why is Newt saying that his word choice was poor? It was DEAD ON. It isn't his fault if people who don't understand English (or people who pretend not to) are incapable of comprehending his remarks.

He should have simply said that the tempest in the teacup proves his point...

[Russ]

I want to publically apologize for everything I have ever said just in case something might have offended someone, somewhere, who might or might not have heard it.

There, now I feel soooo much better.

[dirtboy]

Gingrich admits -- in Spanish -- 'my word choice was poor'

He later found out that the translation was faulty and he actually said "My feet smell like menudo."

[353FMG]

Et tu, Newtus?

[muawiyah]

Gingrich knew what he was saying, and his word choice was quite apt. "Ghetto" has a very specific meaning.

In the United States if you want to try to get along in Spanish only you are going to find yourself in a "linguistic ghetto".

If Spanish speakers want to be part of this country, they've got to learn English. If they don't, they can go back home.

[The Pack Knight]

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.

That's what I was looking for, and you're probably right. However, admitting that he made a "poor choice of words", when he in fact made a very effective and accurate choice of words, is not what was called for here. What he should have said is that Spanish is indeed the language of the ghetto precisely because so many Spanish-speaking immigrants refuse to learn our language or obey our laws.

The good news here is that he has NOT backtracked on his policy positions. He's not retracted his demand for English-only ballots and English immersion rather than bilingual education in schools.

[Vision]

However, admitting that he made a "poor choice of words", when he in fact made a very effective and accurate choice of words, is not what was called for here.

In America now adays, we are so blessed that only the most pure statements are considered acceptable.(You reap what you sow).

The issue is Newt correctly said that speaking Spanish will keep you in the ghetto...and the issue from the other end is that lots of these folks are hard working and looking for the American dream, and are isolated by being so newly arrived.

It's a fine line.

[Bob J]

Equating ones language with living in a ghetto was stupidity of the first degree no matter how it was meant.

Newt stepped on this one.

[Bob J]

You said “He never said that Spanish was the language of the ghetto.”

Newt said “so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto.”

I’m amazed at the contortions people here are using to make this gaffe by Newt sound like a reasonable statement.

I support Newt and would vote for him if he runs, but if he screws up let’s just admit it and move on and not sound like a bunch of liberals defending despicable comments of dims.

Sometimes the right wing acts and sounds just like the left wing. It’s scary.

[ontap]

Newt is guilty of speaking the truth.

ghetto=barrio=the hood

[RJS1950]

I’m also personally offended at the groveling. The response should be “I don’t care what you think about my word choice — piss off”.

[sumthinelse]

I used to be a defender of Bilingual Education. I still think that teaching classes in English and Spanish is OK for the purpose of kids learning either Spanish or English with the restriction that kids who don't speak English at all be immersed in English only for the rest of the day. If what is called "Bilingual Education" goes beyond that, students run a risk of not learning English effectively.

I agree with Newt that "All American children should learn English and that other languages should be secondary in schools." If a student can master both languages, that's even better, but English has to come first.

When some Americans go to Mexico to learn Spanish, they live in a place with a lot of other English speakers, and so the language they are trying to learn does not "get in their blood." These people almost certainly will not learn Spanish as well as those who live in a place where nobody speaks English. That's OK, they can bring back pictures and return to their life in America. The consequences for non-English speakers in America are much more serious: Poverty, alienation, a risk of becoming a criminal.

When I learned Spanish, I went to a ranch where only a few people spoke English, and lived in a house where nobody spoke English at all. After six months of immersion in Spanish, I returned to America, and even though I understood what people were saying, English sounded a little strange to me.

Those who deny the great advantage of immersion in English may have good intentions, but the I am convinced that this may do great harm to the students and our country.

[Bob J]

I’m sorry, I don’t get it. Are you saying “ghetto-barrio-the hood->>>>the spanish language?

[ndt]

"It isn't his fault if people who don't understand English (or people who pretend not to) are incapable of comprehending his remarks."

Or in this case Italian.

[alexander_busek]

From the article:

>>...he revealed he has been taking Spanish lessons “for some time now.”<<

Doesn’t anyone care to comment on how strange it is that Mr. Gingrich has found it expedient to learn Spanish?

Unless he’s doing it just for the shear love of learning languages (in which case he could just as easily have chosen to study Ancient Greek or Serbo-Croatian or Korean), then he’s doing it because he has an agenda (perhaps a political one). Otherwise: What does it say about our country when even a former Speaker of the House NEEDS to learn Spanish in order to “get along?”

[The Pack Knight]

What does it say about our country when even a former Speaker of the House NEEDS to learn Spanish in order to “get along?”

I'd say no one NEEDS to. In my line of work I deal with a lot of Spanish-speaking aliens, and even though I'm somewhat conversant in Spanish, I refuse to speak it to them. This is an English-speaking country, so I speak English to them. Most of them aren't stupid, so I get my point across.

[Shuttle Shucker]

Newt’s video ranks #1 at YouTube in the “news & politics” category now:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/04/gingrichs_spani.html

I bet Newt’s being insightful more than he’s cow-towing. Singapore has various “national languages” doesn’t it? Is it not an over-achieving nation because of its accessibility to folks from abroad who care more about making money than mastering additional languages? Like I’d waste my time in France, where I’d get scorned for not speaking perfect French. Heck no...

Having said that, if a foreigner can’t read a road sign, what right does he or she have to drive? And if they can’t make money honestly, why should they or their offspring be entitled to be in a country where it’s so easy to leech off of others’ tax dollars? Heck no...

Lord I hope Newt wins in ‘08.