Do any of our '08 Presidential hopefuls speak Spanish?

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

Bill Richardson in New Mexico obviously does. But any of the others? AFAIK both Lieberman and Hillary do not speak Spanish, nor does Bayh or Edwards. Reid, maybe. Kerry seems to have learned Spanish quickly. Gore speaks a little IIRC. Clark? No idea.

I've found from canvassing in Latino neighborhoods in the past (I speak Spanish fluently), that Spanish capability isn't necessarily a *decisive* factor for Hispanic voters, however Spanish-speaking ability is extremely helpful in getting Latinos' attention and making a favorable first impression. Even in some 4th and 5th generation Latino households where the people could speak both Spanish and English with equal ability, it was a major plus for a candidate (or salesperson, or used-car dealer, or-- well, whatever) to know some Spanish. Showed some respect for an important cultural feature and opened up communication lines, and in general the prospective voters said that they would be more inclined to favorably view a candidate who could communicate to some extent in the Spanish language. This is especially the case in Southwestern states and Texas, which once were in Mexico before the bloody US-Mexican War, and where Latinos don't feel like outsiders but, frequently, are inhabiting places where their ancestors have been for centuries. There (and in Miami, obviously) Spanish is often indispensable for public office.

Any '08ers who don't know Spanish should probably sign up for a crash course to at least get the basics, b/c Jeb Bush will have that edge. For that matter, for any Dems running in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, New York, or Illinois-- *please* work to learn some Spanish. As I said, Spanish knowledge isn't necessarily decisive (and your platforms and policy planks will be most important), but the truth is that Latinos really do tend to respect and open up to a candidate who can speak some Spanish. I and other volunteers have encountered this across the board, even in neighborhoods for multi-generation Latinos whose families have been here for a while, and that translates into votes. (Basic Spanish at least is very easy to learn.) We need all the votes we can get in '06 and '08, and this is one more way for us to at least grab the attention of a crucial voting bloc that could swing in either direction.

[RAF]

1. Wes Clark does

along with about 3 or 4 other languages.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. So does our "Texan" pres....

[RAF]

3. I didn't know that fascists asshole was

a "08" Presidential hopeful".

Kind of a strange reply to my post I might add. What do you mean by it?

[BlueEyedSon]

4. Maybe that's why * won.... also ironically reflecting on his

near-inability to speak English.

I'm in a strange mood. Waiting for the coffee to kick in I guess......

[CJCRANE]

20. Hurray!

Haven't seen Wes mentioned recently, I was starting to get withdrawal symptoms (seriously!)

[DanCa]

25. I believe

What really made me into a clark follower was when he carried on a full conversation with a voter in spanish. It was on cspan last year in one of the road to the white house events.

[Clark2008]

27. Spanish, Russian and German.

And, of course, English, which is more than blivet** can do.

[napi21]

5. Why should I care?

IF I became a citizen of Italy and couldn't speak Italian, that's MY PROBLEM! I don't hear anybody asking which candidate speaks Chinese or Vietnamese or any other language. Why should I care and for goodness sake, why do YOU think this is important?

[RAF]

6. Geeze

What a rude reply. Are we to now question every one of your past posts? What's with the attitude floating around here? Wasn't this board set up for an exchange of ideas and discussion?

MAJOR turn off!

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

8. Because it's the reality.

It's just plain important for winning elections, and you can stick your head in the sand all you want but the fact isn't going away. I frankly couldn't care less otherwise, except that it makes a difference in whether Democratic candidates win elections or lose them, esp. in Southwestern states, TX and Florida.

You also need to crack open a history textbook sometime. The entire US Southwest was part of Mexico before 1848, and was incorporated into the US after a bloody, offensive war that still sparks disputes even today-- a war for which there was a treaty that gave rights to the Hispanic population of the region, for protection of laws, customs, language, land deeds and so on. Hispanics and the Spanish language have been basic to that part of the country for centuries before the US ever set foot, and thus acceptance of that culture alongside the Anglo one has been a fact since 1848. (The one surefire way to get your a** kicked in a Latino neighborhood in e.g. AZ or TX is to call the people there "un-American"-- they and their culture have been "American" for a very, very long time.)

Your analogy to Italy does not remotely fit-- a better case would be e.g. Russia's invasion of Kazakhstan, where the Kazakhs were (in some cases) forced to speak Russian, but where the Russian government soon wised up and allowed both Russian and Kazakh to be spoken in the region. The upshot is that in that in the Southwest, both Hispanic and Anglo cultures (however roughly defined) tend to dwell side-by-side, as they have since the 1800's. So bilingual communications there are a given. While I have mixed feelings about the whole situation, it's absolutely not "their problem" that the people are basically bilingual there and use Spanish at such an important level. It's a fact on the ground that's backed up by history.

This is obviously important for Dem candidates running for local office there. It wouldn't be important for a Dem running for local office in, say, Vermont or Wisconsin, but for anyone running for national office (where votes from the Southwest, TX and Fla are so essential), yes, it is very helpful and even critical to be familiar with Spanish. It's one of those things that's important in winning elections.

[allemand]

14. Because you also want to win this time.

Don't you?

[ProudToBeLiberal]

23. Learning Korean is useful.

Koreans are becoming a prominent force with all the 1st and 2nd generations of imigrants are starting to go/graduate college.

[LandOLincoln]

26. Why does he think it's important?

Because it is. Try living in the Hispanic southwest and it will become obvious.

[bitchkitty]

7. The thing about Spanish -

is that although the words are easy to learn, and the grammar, if you don't have the accent, if you can't roll your Rs, it sounds odd. I remember my Spanish teacher in the 10th grade - she was fluent, but spoke Spanish with a VERY thick Georgia accent. She cracked us up! And who can forget Joe Lieberman's clownish attempt during campaign 2000? I've heard chimpie speak Spanish, and he sounds like what he is - a clod.

I don't care if the next President speaks Spanish - as long as if he does, he rolls his R's.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

10. Ha ha! Yes, Spanish with a twang is hilarious

If you think Georgia Spanish sounds exotic, try Louisiana Spanish-- there, it's a mix of Spanish pronunciation (the R-rolling), Southern twang with Louisiana's distinctive bayou sound, and "countrified French." I've met some Louisianans who are fluent in Spanish, but I tell you, there is no other sound on earth like a Louisianan asking "Que paso ayer contigo?" It's something truly special.

[many a good man]

9. Fundie tide sweeping Latinos

Two million Hispanic votes switched to the R ticket in '04 compared to '00. They went from 65% Democratic to 55%.

Latinos both here and south of the border are deserting the Catholic church and becoming Pentecostals or evangelicals. Pope Ratz reign is only going to accelerate that trend. This is the country's largest growing demographic group and in twenty years they can be the brokers of power, both left and right.

[AP]

11. I think when the real numbers came out, they showed a much smaller shift

It was smaller than the small Catholic shift.

The biggest shift was white women in the suburbs, IIRC.

[cestpaspossible]

16. Your numbers are wrong. That is false information.

Guess which side of the aisle originally broadcast that disinfo?

[many a good man]

17. The future face of America

I'd love to believe you but a Google search shows the same thing. Please post a link to debunk.

Nevertheless the trend is going against Democrats. We better face up to it. It'll be the difference between majority and minority status starting in a decade or two. Bet on it.

[cestpaspossible]

18. Here you go.

"Latino presidential partisan preferences did not changed significantly from four years ago," said WCVI's president, Antonio Gonzalez, in his presentation before the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. "While there are still differences in the numbers between what the Velasquez Institute found and the news organizations reported on Election Day, NBC is doing the right thing by revising its estimates to reflect a more accurate percentage of support the President received from the Hispanic community."
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/120404V.shtml

[many a good man]

21. Thanks, cest

(I love this place!)

But we still can't take this group for granted. I can see around me more and more centroamericanos turning to Protestant evangelicalism. I read the same thing. Just because the right exaggerates the trend, doesn't mean it isn't occurring.

Its important to remember that demographic changes in the long (i.e., the "browning" of America) run favor Dems-- we can't lose that advantage.

[cestpaspossible]

22. I'd say Kerry went after Hispanics hard, but not hard enough.

Primarily, I think, because of the 'battleground states' strategy. Hopefully, this idea has run it's course.

[mtnsnake]

12. I think it's a great idea. Only thing is the RW hate machine will portray

that Spanish-speaking candidate as some unpatriotic, pinko communist traitor to the "American" language.

[oneold1-4u]

13. Just a bit intelligent-

This country needs a WORLD leader TODAY and that certainly means SMART! If anyone in the present administration had been fluent in one or more ME languages things today would be different. Their ignorance shows thoroughly in their taking out all translators both military and civilian that were found to be gay or lesbian. They can't use US Islamics because they don't trust them.
Full speaking ability of several foreign languages isn't necessary but for one to be humble enough to learn simple phrases like "please and thank you" can gather a lot of respect, and admitting in in their language that understanding isn't complete and ask for help is good for honest friendship. Language is one of the greatest causes of thousands of wars and killings. In the deaf community it is well known that among hearing people they are always misunderstood and often hated for their affliction as a person! That is an inexcusable attitude toward a people or a country!

[formernaderite]

15. Will it matter if dems like Hillary climb on the anti-immigrant bandwagon?

My drive time AM radio guy believes border control will be THE issue to divide the electorate in 2008...based on some recent statements she made, he thinks Hillary is going to move to the center on this issue alone.

I hate the current anti-immigrant wave...and don't believe any human being can be illegal.

[Hippo_Tron]

24. Aren't some of the most pro border security, immigrants themselves?

Don't they feel like people should come to this country, but come legally?

[Corey_Baker08]

19. Kerry Does....

He was speaking spanish to a lady at a rally for Kids come first last week.