AP: McClellan Says Bush's Spanish Not Good

[Bleacher Creature]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060504/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_spanish

WASHINGTON - President Bush likes to drop a few words of Spanish in his speeches and act like he's proficient in the language. But he's really not that good, his spokesman said Thursday.

"The president can speak Spanish but not that well," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "He's not that good with his Spanish."

McClellan's comment was noticeable because presidential press secretaries usually boast about a president's ability rather than talk about any shortcomings. McClellan is in the last days of his job, leaving the White House next week.

<SNIP>

So let me get this straight. When he's running for President and needs Hispanic votes, then he's "fluent." But when his party decides to make them the day's new scapegoats, his Spanish needs work. Am I missing something?

[grytpype]

1. See! They can tell the truth when it helps their position!

Now, let's hear them admit Bush is retarded and got tricked into going to war by Cheney and Rummy. So it's not his fault.

[SoFlaJet]

2. and how would they rate

his mastery of English?

[Cooley Hurd]

3. It's a VERY lame attempt by a short-timer (Scotty) to defuse the...

...spanish National Anthem debate.:rofl:

[Dr.Phool]

7. He don't mind Spanish so much,

But when they start speakin' that Mexican and Puerto Rican, that's where he draws the line!

[Avalux]

4. Hilarious. I remember back in the day......

when Bush was running for Governor here in Texas, he bragged and boasted about how proficient he was at Spanish and even delivered speeches in Spanish. I want to find some of those.

Either he was never very good and covered it well, or his brain is fried and he just doesn't remember anymore. :crazy:

[seabeyond]

5. english not that good either. doesnt stop the claims he is fluent

in english

[MisterP]

6. that's their DEFENSE!

Coming this summer: "It's really a good thing that a President doesn't know more than 30 states--that way, there's always more to discover for him."
"Absurd" indeed, Snotty.

[mcscajun]

8. Another flip-flop. He's given radio addresses (at least one, anyway)

in Spanish.

http://english.people.com.cn/english/200105/06/eng20010506_69342.html

Hispanics will tell you, though, that his Spanish isn't very good.

And another post in the last day or so here at DU mentioned that at least on one occasion, he sang the national anthem in Spanish.

[soothsayer]

9. he's not that great with English

Did snotty mention that??