In English Or Spanish, Iraq Is The Debate

Democratic Hopefuls Focus On Upcoming War Report Univision Debate

(AP)  Democratic White House candidates embraced Hispanic concerns in the first ever Spanish-language presidential debate, unanimously promising to bring troops home from Iraq and to begin working on immigration in their first year in office.

On the eve of a war assessment by U.S. commanding Gen. David Petraeus, the presidential hopefuls said troops should begin coming home no matter what the report says. With the moderator of the debate noting that two-thirds of Hispanics want a withdrawal from Iraq, the candidates had an ideal audience to criticize the war.

"I'll strongly support in the coming days efforts here to terminate that participation based on firm deadlines," said Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd in the debate, which was broadcast on Univision, the nation's largest Spanish-language network.

Anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas posed questions in Spanish and the candidates had earpieces to hear simultaneous translations into English. The candidates' responses were simultaneously translated into Spanish for broadcast.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said he is concerned the Petraeus report "will be basically a sales job by the White House, that it'll be a PR document." He said Congress should use its power to fund the war to insist on a withdrawal timetable.

Hillary Rodham Clinton said nothing in the report will change the basic problem that there is no military solution in Iraq. "We need to quit refereeing their civil war and bring our troops home as soon as possible," she said.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson retorted that Clinton and others who want to leave residual forces in Iraq would leave soldiers at risk.

"I'd bring them all home within six to eight months," Richardson said. "There is a basic difference between all of us here ... This is a fundamental issue."

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich was loudly applauded for saying he would pull troops out of Iraq immediately. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama aligned himself with Kucinich.

"I was a strong opponent of the war, as Dennis was," Obama said, adding that President Bush is trying to make it appear that the 35,000 troop surge earlier this year has had an impact.

Not surprisingly for anchors who vocally support a path to legalization for the nation's estimated 12 million immigrants, both Ramos and Salinas framed their questions with the basic assumption that immigrants, including those in the country illegally, face discrimination and have been unfairly demonized - a view not universally shared in the English-language media.

All seven candidates said they would work on changing immigration laws during their first year in the White House.

Clinton criticized the immigration bill proposed in the last Congress, dominated by Republicans. That legislation would have penalized those who help illegal immigrants. "I said it would have criminalized the good Samaritan. It would have criminalized Jesus Christ," she said.

Richardson, one of two candidates who speak fluent Spanish, objected to the debate rules that required all candidates to answer in English. The rule was designed to make sure that no candidate had an advantage in appealing to the Spanish-speaking audience.

"I'm disappointed today that 43 million Latinos in this country, for them not to hear one of their own speak Spanish, is unfortunate," Richardson said.

Dodd, who served in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, also speaks Spanish fluently. He called for more U.S. engagement with Latin America, including a lifting of the trade embargo against Cuba.

"We're allowing a Hugo Chavez to win a public relations effort in Latin America because we don't invest enough in Latin America," he said.

Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel boasted that he's also bilingual - in French. "I honor everyone who comes to this country as an immigrant because we are all immigrants."

Kucinich was again an audience favorite when he said he would make Spanish a second national language. No other candidate was willing to go that far.

"I believe that the common language of our country is English," Dodd said.

The candidates were asked why they supported a wall along the Mexican border - and not a similar fence along the U.S.-Canadian border - a question that seemed to catch them somewhat off-guard. Most avoided answering directly, saying simply that they believed security was a key part of comprehensive immigration reform.

"I do favor more security on the border and in some cases a physical border because that has to be part of securing our borders," Clinton said.

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, recently returned from a trip to Iraq, skipped the debate to prepare for a Foreign Relations Committee hearing that he is scheduled to chair Tuesday on the Petraeus report.

[mirmar-2009]

What reform, are they going for Amnesty. They need to speak English. We need to ban together and let congress and senators know that they need to pass a bill that states America''s language is english.

[nottellin1]

When it could ONLY help these citizens understand the position of the canidates much better and make a much more informed choice at election time, you have to ask WHY? Desperation to find a Gay Marriage Amendment or Swift Boat Ad for the next election, that''''s what! Are these REALLY people you want to be listening too? I sure hope not after George Bush! Sieg Heil Bush!!
Posted by MCVet at 09:46 AM : Sep 10, 2007

Right! I''m sorry but I do not want someone who cannot speak the language of the land, English, to vote. Besides, most that cannot speak English are not citizens anyway, so they jhad better not vote.

[nottellin1]

Spanish? Are they running for President of the United States or Mexico.
Posted by trillion1 at 06:22 AM : Sep 10, 2007

Good one! Look out for debates in your town in Italian, Greek & Farsi! Honestly, how far are we to go down the path of pandering to the people?

[jaina_heart]

(I am neither a democrat nor a republican.)

As Gravel said this is a nation of immigrants. My family immigrated here as did most of the US. Most of us came for a chance at a better life. The same goes for the illegal immigrants today, they believe that by coming here they have a chance at a better life. Here is the clincher, they are coming here illegally. If you want to be a citizen of the USA, follow the laws of immigration. If you are here illegally you are not following the laws...hence the word illegal.

As for a second common language of the US, as a country of immigrants we have all had to assimilate to this culture and that includes the English language. Keep your native language for home and speak the common language (English).

[xlib]

No group panders better than the dems. This is so typical, pander to the next population of victims.

So how''s the investigation of norman hsu going? You know, the big time dem felon contributor to hill, bill, kerry, diane (war profiteering), babs and other big time dems.
I don''t see an article on it, funny. If this were about Repbulicans, well, non stop coverage.
No bias righ libs, no bias.

[name_verify]

How many things are wrong with this picture? Barak is a negro. Hillary is a broad. The languague is Spanish.

[hillaryin08]

Hey Liberals guess what?

We are not leaving Iraq or Afghanistan until after Hillary''''s Crowning as queen bee in 09.

Deal with it!

[klingon69]

You have to shoot by the Nazi & Swastika references to get to the intelligent part of the argument; just like with Lars008 where you have to shoot by the Islamofascist references to get to the heart of his argument.
Posted by realpatriot1 at 11:07 AM : Sep 10, 2007
Trouble is, like Lars, Once you see the sieg Heil or Swastika...etc, one tends to ignore the content of the statement.

[pepperp1]

This White House report is an attempt by Bush to remain relevant. He is not, the Republican Senators are the ones maintaing the IRAQ war make no mistake, everything else interesting but irrelevant like Bush.


The Dems DO NOT have the votes in the Senate and can make no change in the Iraq War Course, the Dems have only 50 of 67 votes needed to stop the sacrifice of our solders and treasury, to change course 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS, 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS would be required to change their vote and bring our troops home..





Do not be distracted the facts are simple the math just as simple, the guilty sacrificing our soldiers and their lives unnecessary are the Republicans in the Senate Bush and Petraeus can not keep our troops in Iraq if 17 Republican Senators switch their vote for America and our Troops so they may come home and live long lives with their families.



Call your Senator tell him to execute the will of the people not a perverted Political Party agenda. Make your voice heard let them know your vote will hold them accountable for our dead and debt.

[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House


When President Hillary will bring our troops home safely because George Bush knows he can not competently, so in his mind he will not.

[pepperp1]

This White House report is an attempt by Bush to remain relevant. He is not, the Republican Senators are the ones maintaing the IRAQ war make no mistake, everything else interesting but irrelevant like Bush.


The Dems DO NOT have the votes in the Senate and can make no change in the Iraq War Course, the Dems have only 50 of 67 votes needed to stop the sacrifice of our solders and treasury, to change course 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS, 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS would be required to change their vote and bring our troops home..





Do not be distracted the facts are simple the math just as simple, the guilty sacrificing our soldiers and their lives unnecessary are the Republicans in the Senate Bush and Petraeus can not keep our troops in Iraq if 17 Republican Senators switch their vote for America and our Troops so they may come home and live long lives with their families.



Call your Senator tell him to execute the will of the people not a perverted Political Party agenda. Make your voice heard let them know your vote will hold them accountable for our dead and debt.

[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House


When President Hillary will bring our troops home safely because George Bush knows he can not competently, so in his mind he will not.

[pepperp1]

This White House report is an attempt by Bush to remain relevant. He is not, the Republican Senators are the ones maintaing the IRAQ war make no mistake, everything else interesting but irrelevant like Bush.


The Dems DO NOT have the votes in the Senate and can make no change in the Iraq War Course, the Dems have only 50 of 67 votes needed to stop the sacrifice of our solders and treasury, to change course 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS, 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS would be required to change their vote and bring our troops home..





Do not be distracted the facts are simple the math just as simple, the guilty sacrificing our soldiers and their lives unnecessary are the Republicans in the Senate Bush and Petraeus can not keep our troops in Iraq if 17 Republican Senators switch their vote for America and our Troops so they may come home and live long lives with their families.



Call your Senator tell him to execute the will of the people not a

[pepperp1]

This White House report is an attempt by Bush to remain relevant. He is not, the Republican Senators are the ones maintaing the IRAQ war make no mistake, everything else interesting but irrelevant like Bush.


The Dems DO NOT have the votes in the Senate and can make no change in the Iraq War Course, the Dems have only 50 of 67 votes needed to stop the sacrifice of our solders and treasury, to change course 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS, 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS would be required to change their vote and bring our troops home..





Do not be distracted the facts are simple the math just as simple, the guilty sacrificing our soldiers and their lives unnecessary are the Republicans in the Senate Bush and Petraeus can not keep our troops in Iraq if 17 Republican Senators switch their vote for America and our Troops so they may come home and live long lives with their families.



Call your Senator tell him to execute the will of the people not a perverted Political Party agenda. Make your voice heard let them know your vote will hold them accountable for our dead and debt.

[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House


When President Hillary will bring our troops home safely because George Bush knows he can not competently, so in his mind he will not.

[klingon69]

Soros was 13 at the time, and unaware of what was happening.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w
iki/George_soros#Native_Hungary.2C_and_m
ove_to_England
Posted by Iceman_1960 at 10:09 AM : Sep 10, 2007
You actually believe asnything on Wikipedia? Isn''t that the site where anyone/everyone can edit entries?

[realpatriot1]

mbcsmith,

If you want an example of a well thought out idea presented by MCVet, look at 9:46 A.M. on this comment section. Whether you agree with the conclusions or not, it is well thought out and presented(except for a single Nazi reference).

What have you or your cohorts presented today that comes even close?

You have to shoot by the Nazi & Swastika references to get to the intelligent part of the argument; just like with Lars008 where you have to shoot by the Islamofascist references to get to the heart of his argument.

[glossypan]

Today is Bill O''Reillys birthday. Aren''t a lot of you guys going to gather in public toilets, touch feet, and sing "Larry Craig is not gay" to celebrate? Times awasin. You should be practicing your wide stance right now instead of wasting your time at the kayboard.

[hwy71so]

Iceman, that was a conditional statement.

I didn''t say MCVet did these drugs, I just said it was a possibility (due to that era).

[iceman_1960]

The truthful Iceman_1960 is leaving the building as well.

It''s gotten too boring around here today.

[mbcsmith]

i think we hit a vein of truth. The LIAR mcvet has left the building.

[klingon69]

MCVET and skyk represent the face of the Democrat party.
Mickey Ds Vet and SkyKing are one and the same. Like Dr jekyll and Mr Hyde, only there''s no Jeckyll.

Posted by perception5 at 07:55 AM : Sep 10, 2007

[iceman_1960]

"Like I said we have numerous languages in the US Please use all or ENGLISH ONLY"
- Posted by bp5511 at 10:43 AM : Sep 10, 2007

Hey, those Bush quotes WERE in English.

They just sounded like jibberish, that''s all.