by David Lightman
For Americans who came to this country speaking Spanish, the prospect of viewing an American presidential debate in Spanish may have seemed like a dream.
That dream comes true tonight, when the nation's Hispanic voters can not only watch eight White House hopefuls respond to issues of special concern to their communities, but also have their answers translated into Spanish.
"We'll have a unique opportunity to hear a discussion in a format we've really never heard before," said Janet Murguia, the president and chief executive officer of the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic activist group.
The debate at the University of Miami will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. on the Univision television network, Radio Cadena Univision and online at Univision.com. Univision, a Spanish-language network, claims it reaches 99 percent of all U.S. Hispanic television households.
The forum will be conducted in English - since only New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd speak fluent Spanish - and will be simultaneously translated into Spanish.
for more, see the Courant's story:
The two who actually speak Spanish, Dodd, above left, (AP photo), Richardson, above right, (Photo by Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)
A Big Night For Latinos
In Debate Today, Connection Is Key
By DAVID LIGHTMAN
Washington Bureau Chief
As a teenager in Santiago, Chile, Werner Oyanadel loved watching "The A-Team," the 1980s television show best known for Mr. T and what seemed like nonstop violence.
But outside his comfortable, middle-class house, the violence was real. Dictator Augusto Pinochet controlled Chile, and citizen protests were met with tanks. Oyanadel's mother would tell her three children to crouch in the bathtub for protection.
By 1987, the family had left Chile and come to Simsbury, where Oyanadel's father, Gaime, an accountant, got a job.
They've been here ever since. And that's why when Werner Oyanadel, 36, and his wife, a Venezuelan native, sit down today at their West Hartford home to watch the first Democratic candidates' forum aimed largely at Hispanic voters, the 90-minute event will have a special meaning.
"A lot of people are free today because they believe in the American dream," he said.
And that dream means debates like today's, where the nation's Hispanic voters can not only watch eight White House hopefuls respond to issues of special concern to their communities but also have their answers translated into Spanish.
"We'll have a unique opportunity to hear a discussion in a format we've really never heard before," said Janet Murguia, the president and chief executive officer of the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic activist group.
The debate at the University of Miami will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. on the Univision television network, Radio Cadena Univision and online at Univision.com. Univision, a Spanish-language network, claims it reaches 99 percent of all U.S. Hispanic television households.
The forum will be conducted in English - since only New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd speak fluent Spanish - and will be simultaneously translated into Spanish.
But the meaning is clear.
Think of all the Hispanics who fled their native countries for political reasons, said Jorge Mursuli, national executive director of Democracia U.S.A., a nonpartisan group that encourages political involvement.
"We tell people in this country it's easy to become civically engaged," he said, "and these debates are an incredible example of how to bring democracy right into the living rooms of Hispanic Americans."
The Issues
In April 2006, Oyanadel participated in the National Day of Action for immigration reform in Washington.
It was a heady time. Tens of thousands of people jammed the National Mall and gathered peacefully elsewhere around the country to call for changes in the treatment of illegal immigrants, and they thought they had sparked a movement for change.
But instead of seeing any momentum afterward, Oyanadel saw nothing but stalemate. The rally, it turned out, helped mobilize the other side of the debate, the side that wanted a crackdown on illegal immigration and rejected smooth paths to citizenship.
The candidates who will appear Sunday are largely in favor of creating a system to eventually give many undocumented aliens citizenship, but Oyanadel wants them to explain how they will, as he put it, "show some leadership and get this [immigration reform] done."
His view is widely shared in the Hispanic community, said Miami-based pollster Sergio Bendixen. "Anywhere from 85 to 90 percent of Hispanics support some legalizing component, and they're not dogmatic about the specifics."
But while immigration has been discussed at previous debates this year, "it's really taken a back stage," said Tricia Gabany-Guerrero, director of the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies at the University of Connecticut.
She also said little-discussed issues such as the status of Puerto Rico and trade with Latin and Central America have the potential to come to the forefront Sunday.
Though there is certainly no one magic answer to mobilize blocs of voters, Gabany-Guerrero said, viewers will at least want to see "if the candidates understand the diversity of the Latino community - and will see if they can speak to them."
The Personalities
What could matter most Sunday is whether the candidates show a real feel for the Hispanic community, and Richardson and Dodd could be the early favorites.
"There's a real opportunity for Richardson," Murguia said. "A lot of folks in the Latino community don't know he's Hispanic."
Dodd, a former Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic and chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Western Hemisphere affairs, could also do well with viewers.
"Dodd has a chance to really show he's a statesman," Bendixen said. Dodd plans an active weekend, beginning today when he unveils a comprehensive Cuba policy before reporters in Miami.
Making a connection is important to a community in which as many as 25 percent of the people are uncomfortable speaking English.
Analysts point to President Bush, a former Texas governor who won more than 40 percent of the Hispanic vote in his 2004 White House run, and his brother Jeb, who won two terms as governor of Florida with strong Hispanic support.
"Jeb Bush did not agree with Hispanics on a lot of issues," Bendixen said, "but became very popular because he could connect emotionally."
The Meaning
It's that kind of connection that Oyanadel will look for Sunday.
He's hard to categorize politically. An Army National Guard veteran, Oyanadel chooses his words carefully when discussing the war in Iraq.
"I want stability in the Middle East," he said. Any withdrawal of U.S. troops "needs to be done so we don't leave a worst case scenario. ... I'd really like to hear what the generals say is the right timing for any withdrawal."
He said he is nonpartisan and does not have a favorite candidate for president. He is intrigued by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, likes Dodd but is concerned his candidacy is stuck and senses "a connection" with Richardson because of his heritage.
In other words, he's like a lot of Hispanic voters - he wants to watch and listen, and bask in the idea that these candidates are talking directly to him. He'd like to hear from Republicans, too, but an attempt to bring GOP candidates together for a similar debate has so far proven unsuccessful.
So the Hispanic community will enjoy what it has, and its leaders think it has a lot.
"The goal is to bring people into the democratic process, to make them feel assimilated," Mursuli said. "So often you hear that candidates are not talking to the community, and one way we counter that is to help people see they can be part of the process."
David Lightman is Washington bureau chief for the Hartford Courant, a Tribune Co. newspaper.
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Comments
Sorry, but this really pisses me off. This is an English-speaking country. If you want to vote for candidates in the U.S. learn the damn language. If you don't know the language then you can't vote. If you want to vote for candidates who speak Spanish, then go back to the Spanish-speaking country.
And, Loons, this is not racist, it's common sense and the truth.
Posted by: John D | September 9, 2007 10:21 AM
My family's native languages from the old country are Swedish, Norwegian, and German. How about Polish, Swiss, Cajun, French or Arabic or Inuit? When will the debates be done in those languages?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | September 9, 2007 10:30 AM
DISGUSTING !!!
TO think that you come to America AND expect to hear important debates and activities in your navtive tongue!! Heaven forbid you should learn the language of your adopted nation!!
I came here for another country with my parents when I was very young. My parents learned english and prospered. This WAS thier country and they were proud to be part of the GREAREST COUNTRY On EARTH! This were they lived, raised thier childern and died. We were taught about the country that they came from, we learned to read and write in thier ancestorial language. We were proud of our heratiage.
BUT we were raised to be Americans.
We niether wanted or expected America to change it's ways to suit us.
Now that I've said this I'll wait for the barrage comments calling me a racist, etc, etc, etc,
NO HABLA ESPANOL
Posted by: BOB | September 9, 2007 10:48 AM
Have it translated into Arabic too, then Bin Laden can get his talking points down faster for his next video.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | September 9, 2007 10:49 AM
Why don't they invite George Bush as well?
He also speaks Spanish, unlike most of the Demo candidates whose only word they know is "siesta."
Posted by: Harry | September 9, 2007 11:38 AM
If the media bows down any lower to queen hillary they will be kissing her feet,
Hillary is a women with a star next to her name, which means treat me like a women when it's convinent
Posted by: Mike | September 9, 2007 1:42 PM
The sponsoring group, "La Raza" ("the race"), is an anti-White, racist, pro-illegal immigration group that no traditional Liberal should give the time of day to.
Posted by: Bruce | September 9, 2007 1:57 PM
Oddly enough, Lightman forgot to mention that some of those "heady" protests were organized by those linked to the Mexican government, including the big marches in Chicago. He also fails to point out that Mursuli's parent organization is PFAW. He also fails to note that debates in Spanish are the opposite of "assimilated". And, he fails to note that the NCLR consistently opposes immigration enforcement - they wouldn't even denounce Elvira Arellano - and funds extremist groups.
So, the question becomes, why did he "forget" all those things?
Posted by: LonewackoDotCom | September 9, 2007 2:12 PM
Wonder why the GOP didn't agree to a similiar debate? General distaste for diversity and low income constituents?
Immigration?
Yes. Yes and Yes
Posted by: pablo | September 9, 2007 5:29 PM
I'll translate all of the debate for for you now:
¡No tenemos mucho dinero, pero tenemos que comprar muchas cosas!
Posted by: John W. | September 9, 2007 6:00 PM
And don't go anywhere near a St Patrick's Day parade next year either. I'm sick of pols pandering to these special interest groups. This is Amurika for Gawd sake. Luv it or luv it.
Posted by: Joe | September 9, 2007 7:01 PM
The pablo at 5:29, er John E., er dt, or one of the other Lefty weirdos, outside of Lochness, it is interesting that the Loons have been so quiet on this.
But "pablo" it has nothing to do with distaste for diversity or low-income folks or any of that. It is just one simple philosophy: This is an English-speaking country, not Spanish, Polish, Russian, Chinese, Martian. If you want to partake in this country, then learn to speak the language. It's really quite simple. You want to hear what the candidates have to say, or what the packaging has to say on the cereal box, then learn ENGLISH, speak it and read it.i
Posted by: John D | September 9, 2007 7:26 PM
By all means have your lousy debate in Spanish. I NOW know I will not be voting for ANY Democrat because of this. You just handed the Republicans the election. Congrats. Haven't you learned that "pandering" doesn't work??!!
Posted by: CJ | September 9, 2007 7:33 PM
The Spanish language has been in America even before the English language.
It's just a different situation than it is with German, Arabic, etc...
Posted by: pablo | September 9, 2007 7:54 PM
"Why don't they invite George Bush as well?
He also speaks Spanish, unlike most of the Demo candidates whose only word they know is "siesta."
Posted by: Harry | September 9, 2007 11:38 AM"
Harry,
Are you delirious?
1. TWO Democratic candidates speak fluent Spanish.
2. George Tiberius Bush ISN"T RUNNING IN 08! (We think)
3. What two Republic candidates are fluent in Spanish?
Posted by: C.Morris | September 9, 2007 8:32 PM
Anyone who has studied this great country of ours has to realize that throughout its rich history, politicians reached out to its non-English speaking citizens, speaking in their native tongues.
How do you think we ever wound up with NUKULAR in our vocabulary?
Posted by: Smirky McFlightsuit | September 9, 2007 8:44 PM
The Spanish language has been in America even before the English language.
It's just a different situation than it is with German, Arabic, etc...
Posted by: pablo | September 9, 2007 7:54 PM
You are the master of understatement there, Pablo. English is the language in which all laws and regulations are written, the language in which all court opinions are written, the language government uses to communicate with all other parts of the government, as well as to its citizens, and it is the language that is taught by default in every school in this country. It is also, by far, the most used language in business, industry and interpersonal communication. In short, it is, de facto, the official language in this country.
A person who cannot speak English in this country is at a distinct disadvantage. Anyone who lives here who refuses to learn English has put himself or herself at a distinct disadvantage. Any former alien who has lived in this country long enough to be a citizen and vote, who does not speak, or refuses to speak, English effectively cuts himself or herself out of the entire governmental process.
So, yeah, its different all right. It's a must.
Posted by: John W. | September 9, 2007 10:22 PM
You want to hear what the candidates have to say, or what the packaging has to say on the cereal box, then learn ENGLISH, speak it and read it.i
Posted by: John D | September 9, 2007 7:26 PM
John D, did you ever stop to think that maybe someday soon many of the Spanish (only) speaking public will have learned English??? Even George Bush figured that one out. You never cease to amaze me. 2007 John D. The latinization of America is fact not fiction so deal with it!!!
Bruce, once again you confound us with your misinformation campaign.
Whatever the RNC is paying you it's to much!!! You sway no one with your demonization of all things sane. Absolutly vacant.
Zzz
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | September 9, 2007 10:31 PM
The Spanish language has been in America even before the English language.
Yeah, and the Cherokee language was here way before Spanish, so what's your point?
This nation cannot exist half-Spanish and half-English, just as we could not exist half-slave and half-free. Civil war will be the result if we continue going down this insane path.
Posted by: Mary | September 10, 2007 12:17 AM
My goodness what panic at a few politicians speaking spanish. Our culture is over! The latins are invading, hide your daughters!
Read a little history people. If you think your immigrant ancestors weren't addressed by politicians in their original language, you are quite wrong. At the turn of the century, at the height of the european immigrant boom there were dozens of politically oriented foriegn language newspapers in most of the larger cities. Local politicians giving speaches in German, Italian, Polish, and other languages was common place (This was also the era where national candidates did not campaign personally, but were represented by party proxies).
This has been a part of the American political system for a very long time now.
And yes, many of those who watched the debate CAN speak english. Many are still becoming fluent in the language. Political speach is not ordinary conversational english. Discussion of taxes, foriegn policy and laws, even at a basic level involves technical language which is often unfamiliar to those who are pretty adept at conversational use of a foriegn tongue.
Relax. Calm down. Ther isn't anything to be so fearful of.
Posted by: Tony | September 10, 2007 9:52 AM
There are good men and bad men of all nationalities, creeds and colors; and if this world of ours is ever to become what we hope some day it may become, it must be by the general recognition that the man's heart and soul, the man's worth and actions, determine his standing.
Theodore Roosevelt
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | September 10, 2007 10:40 AM
They should have invited Sen. Craig (R-ID) as a special guest, and then he could have said "Me gusto hombres!"
Posted by: BC | September 10, 2007 10:55 AM
What do you racist xenophobes make of this ad campaign?:
Yo Soy El Army
Think hard, what would Hannity, Limbaugh, et al say?
Posted by: jethro | September 10, 2007 12:03 PM
This proves the Democrats are Totally Anti-American and Pro - illegals. We have all removed ourselves from the Democratic party and will Never vote for these Traitors to America Ever Again, Go Tom
Posted by: Jack Webb. Chicago Ill | September 10, 2007 1:20 PM
This is the United States of America ! ! ! English is our language ! ! ! Get off your lazy butts and learn the language ! ! ! It is dangerous to not know the language in case of an emergency. Wise up, for your own good. This is why it is important to come to this country the legal way through the front door. For your safety, and the citizens of this country, go back home and come in through the proper channels. And oh by the way it is at this time still The United States of America ! ! !
Posted by: Cindy Neese | September 10, 2007 1:40 PM
I am appauld that this would ever even happen in Our Great USA!! If you think that this will happen, it might, but I am informing all parties to get this debate boycotted. MM, FlM. etc. Flimen and everyone else I can to get this stopped on Sunday.
Posted by: Dave | September 10, 2007 2:00 PM
Democrat... Republican... its all the same. We are being betrayed throughout the whole government. It is a vast conspiracy based on their religion of Greed. The so-called "Good Ol' Boys (and Girls) Club".
Our national motto used to be "E Pluribus Unum". One, from Many. I always thought this meant that people of many nations came to this country and became one people, with one language, culture and ideology. Everyone in this nation (I was taught the Indians also migrated from Asia) comes from immigrant stock. Now I find myself wrong. Abraham Lincoln stated, "A house divided against itself cannot stand" and this is the path the Democrats have decided to take. It is effectively turning everyone against each other with its preferential treatment of certain nationalities. Legal citizenry has become a synonym for sheep. Congressional ratings are so low they must seek out uninformed, illegal votes - promising them everything, giving them what we received - nothing!
TV is gradually making the American public read English subtitles while they jabber away in Spanish on some shows. It is becoming more prevalent. A debate on TV in a language other than English, which is the majority language of this country, is discriminatory and will be biased.
We need to insist on ONE language as the official language so that we may once again become the UNITED States of AMERICA.
Posted by: Margaret Zakowicz | September 10, 2007 2:00 PM
Wow, the xenophobes are out in force today. Great job stirring up the fear and hate Republicans.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 10, 2007 2:14 PM
Margaret Zakowicz,
Shouldn't you change your name to something that sounds more American and can be pronounced more easily? I might look at you with less supsicion and take you more seriously if you did?
Posted by: Ronnie Rey Starling, Jr | September 10, 2007 2:31 PM
This is a disgrace to the nation, and a clear signal that none of these candidates cares a fig about the Unites States of America. English is the language of this sovereign nation, and these fools want to hand it all over to the illegals, whom this debate is really for. Shame on them!
Posted by: Deborah Fisher | September 10, 2007 2:40 PM
Pablo, this is America, and the land of many peoples. My ancestors came from Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and the Indians. Should we have debates in Gaelic, German, and Creek? Mexico didn't speak Spanish to begin with, you know; that came from the Spaniards (yeah, Europeans). Sheesh, you argue against Europeans but you support a European language.
Zzz, if they were going to learn English, they would have already. It is a requirement to be a citizen (thus to vote) so this debate is clearly pandering to people that cannot vote, i.e. illegal aliens.
Tony and "anonymous", get a clue. This is just like boiling frogs. You know, all you need do is stick the live frogs into a pot of cold water, and gradually increase the heat. They won't jump out, and before they know it, they are cooked. "Relax", my eye! You sit in the pot as it heats. I am not planning on it. This issue will divide the nation, and cause civil war. Mark my words.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 10, 2007 2:53 PM
This issue will divide the nation, and cause civil war. Mark my words.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 10, 2007 2:53 PM
Only because you and your party have been itching to shoot brown people since Brown v. Board of Education and the Civil Rights Act. Gotta focus your hate somewhere, right?
Posted by: Janitor Joe | September 10, 2007 3:10 PM
Since the last time I checked, speaking English was a requirement for citizenship, just whose votes are these Spanish language debates supposed to get?
Posted by: Pat H | September 10, 2007 3:12 PM
"This issue will divide the nation, and cause civil war. Mark my words."
Complete xenophobic paranoia. Pathetic.
It really is sad how easy it is to scare some people into complete incoherence.
Posted by: Tony | September 10, 2007 3:14 PM
Democrats only support illegals, not citizens, or americans, and they Proved that with this Debate. That is why we have dropped the democratic party, and will never vote for them Again
Posted by: Jack Webb. Chicago Ill | September 10, 2007 8:39 PM
I am completely at a loss as to how ANY American can compare 19th and 20th century immigration with our current INVASION. Legal immigrants were determined to assimilate and forced their children to learn English as soon as possible. At no time did any group plan to recreate their country of origin within the U.S. Current illegals are planning just that and urging white American citizens to leave or die. Yes, these are EXACTLY the kinds of people that Dems are pandering to and for that they will lose big in November. American citizens of all colors still outnumber illegals and, by the grace of God, we will kick them out of our country and regain control.
Posted by: Sherri | September 10, 2007 11:18 PM
These Democrats who participated in this circus sponsored by Univision should be ashamed of themselves. They looked like complete fools, jumping through hoops for a racist agenda by Latino groups in the USA. This is the USA and you should be able to speak and read and understand English in order to vote and become a citizen plus you should HAVE to prove you're a citizen to vote. What happened to equality? Now, are they going to have a debate in Japanese? Tagalog? Ebonics? Greek? Farsi? The English language in this country is what promotes unity. Special interest Latino groups are using Spanish to divide this country and establish their OWN "country" with their own rules within our nation.
Just because Spanish is the language of the largest group of illegal aliens who breaks our immigration laws, commits fraud here, ignores our sovereignty and takes advantage of benefits that they are NOT entitled to, doesn't mean we should be catering to them!! The Democrats that participated in Univision's Circus of Political Fools, as far as I'm concerned can all go run for President of Mexico. The USA doesn't need traitors like that in OUR White House.
Posted by: JB | September 11, 2007 12:16 AM
These Democrats who participated in this circus sponsored by Univision should be ashamed of themselves. They looked like complete fools, jumping through hoops for a racist agenda by Latino groups in the USA. This is the USA and you should be able to speak and read and understand English in order to vote and become a citizen plus you should HAVE to prove you're a citizen to vote. What happened to equality? Now, are they going to have a debate in Japanese? Tagalog? Ebonics? Greek? Farsi? The English language in this country is what promotes unity. Special interest Latino groups are using Spanish to divide this country and establish their OWN "country" with their own rules within our nation.
Just because Spanish is the language of the largest group of illegal aliens who breaks our immigration laws, commits fraud here, ignores our sovereignty and takes advantage of benefits that they are NOT entitled to, doesn't mean we should be catering to them!! The Democrats that participated in Univision's Circus of Political Fools, as far as I'm concerned can all go run for President of Mexico. The USA doesn't need traitors like that in OUR White House.
Posted by: JB | September 11, 2007 5:50 AM
I am disgusted by the fact that the Dims chose to have a Spanish debate. No other culture that came to the U.S. has tried to force their many languages upon us, only the Hispanics. Then again, no other culture has tried to illegally invade us like this either. English is our language.
It is also amusing to note that the only responses from the other side are accusations of xenophobia and paranoia. We are one nation and have one language--English.
We are being invaded by illegals who only wish to speak their native language and refuse to adopt any of our values. Just look around you. It's not phobia or paranoia, it is truth.
Immigrants are welcome here. There are channels to follow and the expectation that the immigrant will learn English and love this country as his own.
Posted by: AH | September 12, 2007 10:02 AM