Tancredo: GOP Candidates 'Pandering' At Spanish-Language Debate

[brooklynite]

Source: AP

DENVER -- Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo is boycotting a Spanish-language debate with his fellow GOP presidential candidates in Miami on Sunday, saying it has no place in presidential race and accusing his rivals of "pandering."

"It is the law that to become a naturalized citizen of this country you must have knowledge and understanding of English, including a basic ability to read, write, and speak the language," Tancredo said in a release Friday. "So what may I ask are our presidential candidates doing participating in a Spanish speaking debate?"

Tancredo has made hard-line immigration issues the hallmark of his long shot presidential campaign in much the same way it has branded his five terms in the House. The Congressman's two campaign ads focused on border security and threats ranging from terrorist to gangs -- using bloody images to underscore the point in both cases.

Tancredo said he will not join the other candidates at the Univision Republican debate at the University of Miami to drive home the idea that the nation needs a common language.

Read more: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/14805549/detail.html?rss=den&psp=news

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I must say I'm amazed that Tancredo thinks this xenophobic stance will get him any significant return, even in the Republican primaries.

[Mz Pip]

1. Tancredo panders

to people whose first language is English but wouldn't know a noun from a verb if their life depended on it.

He's pandering to people who kinda, maybe speak English and have no excuse for doing it poorly. English as a first language. Barely.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[silverojo]

7. FYI

Not everyone who recognizes the pandering (on BOTH sides of the aisle) is illiterate, as you imply.

The majority of Americans, in fact, want illegal immigration controlled, and want the illegals to earn their citizenship through the proper channels. That does, in fact, entail learning English to pass the citizenship test.

Both parties are pandering to illegals and their supporters--Republicans because they want the cheap labor, Democrats because they want the votes.

There are millions of people in this country who speak other languages, yet there are no debates for them. When I hear debates in Korean, Arabic, and other languages, then I'll accept the Spanish debates as something besides pandering to one group of people.

[boricua79]

9. then again,

Korean, Arabic speaking peoples don't make the largest minority in this nation. All together, Spanish-speaking people in this country make a sizeable chunk of the population. Spanish channels arose out of a desire and need from a large watching audience. Unfair? Maybe. Practical? Absolutely. Spanish-speaking people don't necessarily view Spanish-speaking TV shows just because they don't speak English (I speak both perfectly fluent, and I prefer to watch American programming). We watch Spanish-networks because they often carry programming and opinions that cater to our cultural desires. There's plenty of crap that passes as TV in Spanish-speaking channels (just like in English channels), but Telemundo, Univision and others are the only places were Spanish-speaking peoples can watch and get information about topics that matter to them. If we relied on the American media, we'd have to rely on whatever scrap portions the English-speaking elites throw our way. Even with knowing that they're corporate owned and cater to Hispanic corporate needs, I'd much rather have Latino-owned Spanish-channels whose programming is in touch with the desires and needs of the Hispanic community.

[Mz Pip]

12. I agree that

not everyone who wants illegal immigration controlled is illiterate. However, Tancredo's base support seems to come from those who are bigoted and easily scared of the 'brown people.' Those people are illiterate IMHO.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[nealmhughes]

2. Once again, I repeat, anyone whose name ends with "o" and it isn't Costello has no

business discussing immigration. At all. Period.

¿Porqué no te gusta la lingua española Sr. Tancredo? Se parace mucha su hermana italiana.

My fondest wish would be that both Tancredo and I live long enough for English and Spanish to become dual languages of the US! I would love him having to see "Cien" on hundred dollar bills when he is in his (further) dottage.

Come on Tom, you know you listen to Daddy Yankee CDs at home!

[boricua79]

10. he likes to ask for more gasolina too! :) NT

[davidinalameda]

3. there goes his VP shot

[AlphaCentauri]

4. There was no debate

[Mosaic]

5. The debate was good...

It was good to see republicans debate in Spanish, though I would never vote for any of them except maybe Paul.

[ingac70]

6. The candidates spoke English...

The questions were in Spanish for the viewers.

Everyone of them would have had to call it a day had they spoke Spanish! All their hate mongering over the language issue woulda come back to bite them in the ass!

[AlphaCentauri]

11. It was a Mind-numbing reality show

no respect for the hispanic critical thinking

[Gman]

8. Tancredo never had any plans or aspirations to be president

He's quite content to be an asshole on the national stage. That's all he ever wanted to do.

[AlinPA]

13. He will probably go up in the polls. Republicans like that kind of talk.

Tough, hateful, blunt xenophobia.