GOP Faceoff At Spanish Language Debate

Six Presidential Hopefuls Gather In Florida For Debate On Univision

(AP)  The Republican presidential candidates sought to embrace Hispanics in a Spanish language debate Sunday, striving to mark common ground with a growing voter bloc while softening the anti-illegal immigration rhetoric that has marked past encounters.

The candidates avoided the harsh exchanges and name-calling of their most recent debate, while most emphasized the need for border security and an end to illegal immigration. The polite debate came less than four weeks before the first votes are cast in Iowa and amid a topsy-turvy race in which former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has bolted to the lead in the state.

Only Sen. John McCain warned that harsh immigration rhetoric voiced by some Republicans have driven Hispanics away from the party. The Arizona senator has stood apart from most of his Republican rivals because he supported changing immigration laws and creating a path for citizenship for illegal immigrants.

"I think some of the rhetoric that many Hispanics hear about illegal immigration makes some of them believe that we are not in favor of or seek the support of Hispanic citizens in this country," he said after the moderator noted that the percentage of the Hispanic vote for the GOP has dropped from President Bush's win in 2004 to last year's congressional elections.

Republicans have had trouble courting Hispanics, who have become an increasingly significant source of votes. A poll this week by the nonpartisan Pew Hispanic Center found Hispanic registered voters favor Democrats over Republicans by a margin of 57 percent to 23 percent, a wider gap than in July 2006.

Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani were especially critical of each other over illegal immigration in a Nov. 28 GOP debate, with Romney accusing Giuliani of providing a sanctuary for illegal immigrants while he was mayor of New York. Giuliani shot back, reminding Romney that his landscaping firm had been found to hire illegal workers and dubbing Romney's house a "sanctuary mansion."

But it was Huckabee who got better reviews for expressing a more compassionate view toward illegals. The lesson appeared to have been learned.

"Hispanic-Americans have already reached great heights in America. I saw that in my city. They pushed us to be better," Giuliani said. "They're coming here to be Americans and they're making us better by being here in America."

Still, Giuliani, Huckabee and Romney made it clear they would not favor a special path toward citizenship for the estimated 12 million immigrants in the Unites States illegally.

"There can't be an amnesty policy, because that's an insult to all the people who waited, sometimes, ridiculously, for years, just to be able to make the transition here," Huckabee said.

Giuliani stressed the need for a tamper-proof ID card and the need to control the borders.

That prompted a retort from Ron Paul, who said that would lead to a national identification card for all Americans "which I absolutely oppose."

Said Romney: "Those who have come illegally, in my view, should be given the opportunity to get in line with everybody else, but there should be no special pathway for those that have come here illegally to jump ahead of the line or to be come permanent residents or citizens."

In this, the heart of Cuban-American country where Fidel Castro is still ostracized, Paul was loudly booed when he called for improved relations with Cuba.

"We're at a time when we need to talk to Cuba and travel and trade with Cuba," he said.

As he spoke, other Republican presidential campaigns e-mailed reporters news releases pointing out that Huckabee has supported an end to the Cuban embargo. It's a position shared by a number of Republicans and Democrats, particularly in the Midwest, where farmers say a new opening with the island nation would provide an expanded market for their goods.

The candidates, with the exception of Paul, denounced Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez as a a tyrant.

Asked how to deal with Chavez, both Giuliani and McCain made reference to Spain's King Juan Carlos recent retort to Chavez during a November summit in Chile of Latin American nations and Spain and Portugal: "Porque no te callas?" (Why don't you shut up?)

Univision, the Spanish language television network, and the University of Miami hosted the debate. The questions were posed in Spanish by Univision anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas and simultaneously translated into English for the candidates. Their responses were then simultaneously translated into Spanish for broadcast.

Initially scheduled for September, the debate had to be rescheduled because only Sen. John McCain had agreed to appear. This time, the only candidate who refused to attend was Tom Tancredo, a long-shot candidate who has made a tough immigration stance the centerpiece of his campaign.

[klingon69]

?

[paul-head]

Six Presidential Hopefuls Gather In Florida For Debate On Univision" It was Seven!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND R0N P4UL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND R0N P4UL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND R0N P4UL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND R0N P4UL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND R0N P4UL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND R0N P4UL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND R0N P4UL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND RON PAUL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND RON PAUL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND RON PAUL!

[paul-head]

Check you facts cBS. There were seven (7) candidates at the debate: Rudy, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Huckabee, Hunter AND RON PAUL!

[klingon69]

First of all half the US was taken away from the hands of Hispanics.
Why are all the southern states have spanish names?
Hispanics have the natural right tho be here and all of you should realize it.
Les recomiendo comienzen a aprender espaqol.
Posted by ame12345 at 09:44 PM : Dec 09, 2007
1st: The treaty and payoff from the US to Mexico established this as US soil. Quit spinning that lie around, it was bought and paid for not TAKEN.
2nd: The reason that some southern states have Spanish names, is because of Spain''s greed for gold. They came to the New World looking for gold and other items of value. The Conquitadors, priests and their followers subjegated and enslaved the native peoples of the Americas. Conquerors always are the ones to write the history.
3rd: Nobody is saying that hispanics don''t have a right to be here. A large percentage of the LEGAL population are hispanic. I myself, being Cajun, have a mixture from many different races, including Spanish and Native American. The issue here is language, what language should be used in everyday business. Since a majority of American businesses use English, it should be that business is conducted in that language. If I went to one of the markets in Mexico, or any other non-English speaking country, should I not speak their language, or at least have with me a way to translate?

[giantrobot2]

Mike Huckabee facts:

1. He will Eliminate the IRS:
This means you will receive 100% of your paycheck.

2. He will drastically reduce Gas prices:
Switch to alternative fuels, changing supply/demand.

3. He will reduce global warming.
Switch to alternative fuels, no carbon dioxides.

4. He will reduce threat of terrorism.
New fuels cause middle east gov. crack down on them.

5. He will reduce rising Health care costs.
New programs that prevent diseases, not just fix them.

6. He will lead up not just hard right or hard left.
Excellent communicator, will bring parties together.

7. He will lead with principles rather than money.
He cares everybody not just those on Wall Street.

8. He will give Hope to America and enthusiasm.
He plays bass guitar in a band, dynamic personality.

9. He will carry out his goals, not talk about them.
Lost 110 pounds, kept it off, ran 4 Marathons-26.2m

10. He knows the American people is the real boss.
As Governor, his picture frame only shows citizens.

Vote for Mike Huckabee, otherwise you will not be able to enjoy these benefits

Since the other candidates don''''t have anything to say on what they can do for America, they take the easy road and resort to taking cheap shots at Mike. Don%u2019t fall into their trap any longer with negative attacks, let''''s show the critics and the naysayers that Americans have pride and we are ready to elect an honest, humble, trustworthy man for US President.

[grammawhamma]

Life would be total chaos if there was not an official language in a country with so many different nationalities living in it. Doctors, nurses, police, teachers, 911 dispatchers, etc would all have to be proficient in ALL languages in order to carry out their jobs. All newspapers would have to be printed in all languages. I''m sure even Rudy (Sweetie) would have trouble communicating.

[rudy654-2009]

Rudy huh..I''''ll bet a hundred bucks you''''ve got a Spanish surname. Posted by lexluthor5 at 05:26 AM

I wonder how I can take you up on that bet? But of course, why would that matter anyway? What if I did have a Spanish surname? Would that explain everything to you?

[rudy654-2009]

Don''''t go condemning the concept of a Single language or condemn Americans for expecting that one language to be English. And of course you forget or ignore the enormous cost of forcing a bilingual approach on this country. Name one major power country in the world that is fully bi-lingual and sorry, as nice as it may be Canada doesn''''t qualify as a major power - they are still holding onto the apron strings of England.Posted by gscotth at 10:05 AM

No, no! You are so right! Why, we made African slaves speak English and we forced Native Americans to forget their languages. We are God-Chosen and our language too. No, you''re right! I have seen la luz. oops, I mean the light!

[hwy71so]

"First of all half the US was taken away from the hands of Hispanics.
Why are all the southern states have spanish names?

Hispanics have the natural right tho be here and all of you should realize it.

Les recomiendo comienzen a aprender espaqol.

Posted by ame12345 at 09:44 PM : Dec 09, 2007"

Dude, man, go to school.

[usmcgeorge]

Like they say when in Rome.... etc. Why must we speak in several languages, when in America do as we have done for several hundred years. Not badly I might mention.
If the people in Miami, or their cousins, don''t understand the language how are they going to make an informed vote. I thought that to become a citizen,and vote, you must show a ability and proficiency in English. If they don''t want to become part of us and assimilate, hey I''m sure the same boat that brought them goes the other way....back.

100% American