And What Will Malkin & Co. Say if This Happens?

Cross-posted from PoliBlog:

Via the Miami Herald: UM may host presidential debate in Spanish

Univisión, the most popular Spanish-language television network in the United States, has invited the Democrats and Republicans running for president to South Florida for the nation’s first-ever presidential debates conducted in Spanish.

Kick-starting the campaign after the traditional Labor Day holiday, the Democrats would face off Sept. 9, while the Republicans would meet one week later on Sept. 16 at the Bank United Center at the University of Miami.

Simultaneous translation would be provided to the candidates and viewers, creating a United Nations-like atmosphere on national television.

If “Los Rangers” was an outrage, can you imagine the response to this?

I wonder which candidates will accept the invites?

FILED UNDER: 2008 Election, , , , ,
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a retired Professor of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. Anderson says:

    I wonder which candidates will accept the invites?

    Besides all the Democrats, you mean?

  2. Ugh says:

    Wasn’t GWB going around giving campaign speeches in spanish in 2000? Didn’t Jeb do the same thing?

  3. Steve Verdon says:

    Why this is an outrage! Reconquista, La Plan de Aztlan, and MEChA!

  4. Anderson says:

    Wasn’t GWB going around giving campaign speeches in spanish in 2000? Didn’t Jeb do the same thing?

    Ugh, that’s *yesterday’s* history. You probably also think that Saddam allowed UN weapons inspections in 2002.

    (Or maybe it’s “reality-based history” that you’re guilty of.)

  5. spencer says:

    Well he did, didn’t he Anderson?

    Why don’t you check that left wing rag, the Wall Street Journal to see what actually happened.

  6. jeff b says:

    Why would anybody object to this, other than incurable racists and the hopelessly ignorant (i.e. Tancredo supporters)? There are 40 million speakers of Spanish in the USA, and about 30 million of those speak primarily Spanish at home. The target audience is not exactly negligible.

  7. Matt T says:

    Lou Dobbs’ head might explode.

  8. Coffeespy says:

    Why is this wrong?

    Check out usenglish.org and they’ll tell you all about it. Something about national identity, unity, and trying not to be a drain on the nation by placing yourself at a higher risk for poverty and crime by being unable to speak English.

    Racist you say? The founder of U.S. English was Japanese AND an immigrant. The current Chairman is a Chilean immigrant. Sorry to shatter your stereotyping of English-speaking Americans.

  9. Michael says:

    Something about national identity, unity, and trying not to be a drain on the nation by placing yourself at a higher risk for poverty and crime by being unable to speak English.

    Which is, of course, only true because the vast majority of native English speakers don’t care to learn any other language. So the premise is basically majority rule, which I’m ok with, but lets not pretend it’s anything deeper than that.