Rubio en Español
We've heard a lot of big-name Republicans say "no" to being on the 2012 ticket, and have heard many of the same names come up in discussions to be on the VP spot. While Sen. Marco Rubio has been at the top of many wish-lists, he may disappoint his fans once more; in a recent interview with NRO's Jim Geraghty, Rubio said a Romney/Rubio ticket was "not going to happen." Fair enough- I can't read his mind, but even if we take his word for it, the fact that he's such a beloved figure makes it important to deal with some potential flaws of his before he steps into an even bigger spotlight.
This takes me to Radio Derb, John Derbyshire's weekly half-hour podcast hosted on National Review Online. In Mr. Derbyshire's latest offering, which can be read as a transcript here, he spends a few minutes talking about Rubio, a "simply terrible choice" for the VP spot.
The highlight of the item was a clip of Rubio starting a speech this week on the topic of Obamacare. As you can see in this YouTube video, he starts off with a short and sweet summary of why Obamacare is a bad policy. But at about 1:40 into the video, he starts speaking in Spanish. You take it from here, Derb:
The language of our country is English, and our leaders should address us in no other.
John Quincy Adams had lived in Germany and spoke the language fluently, facts that were well-known to the Americans of his time. When he was running for re-election as president in 1828, Adams was asked to address a gathering of German-speaking Americans in German. He refused on principle. Yes, I do know he lost that election; but he was still a better man, certainly a better American, than Marco Rubio.
This country can only work — can only be a country worth the name — under an ethic of relentless assimilation. You settle here, you Americanize yourself, for which the very first step is to master English, so you can join in the national political conversation. John Quincy Adams understood that. My immigrant wife understood it. Marco Rubio does not understand it.
Marco Rubio would be near to my last choice for the vice-presidential spot. My first choice? Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. ¡Plugiera a Dios que fuera así! [Would to God it were so!]
- Comment (5)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (0)
Comments:
Re: Rubio en Español
This is a great post, so thanks for sharing.
Speaking more broadly about how the Rubio pick would just be seen as "pandering," Ann Coulter brought up similar points about all this on "The Factor" the other night; she seemed to believe that the GOP would essentially be selling out just to get a voting bloc. But is merely speaking a language other than English still "pandering?"
I recognize that Derbyshire is making a slightly different point than that though; it's more than just pandering, but damaging to the unification process of the country as a whole.
With my mom's entire side of the family born, raised, and living in Guatemala, my first reaction whenever I hear Rubio speak Spanish is that "Cool, I can understand it," and it's appealing in a way that very few politicians - or public figures for that matter - could achieve. After reading Derbyshire's reaction though, I'm rethinking if that's what Rubio should be doing. He no doubt uniquely connects with Spanish-speaking voters by doing so, especially those that don't know English, but does it also limit assimilation?
No conclusions here; your post just really got me thinking :)
Re: Rubio en Español
Thanks!
As to Ann Coulter's point, Some people might only like Rubio because he's Cubano. However, he certainly is a strong speaker and for the most part seems like a very solid conservative. I imagine there are a lot of people who honestly believe he'd be a great VP choice even if he were named Mark Blonde and were whiter than a ghost.
While a Spanish speaking voter might agree that it's "cool" to talk in Spanish, it's dishonorable for a politician to speak in any language besides English. Immigrants to America should conform to America, not the other way around. I hope that was politically correct enough to keep me out of jail.
PS: I took Spanish for five years and if I stare long enough at written Spanish I can pretty much figure out what it's saying. It's fun to speak another language, but things work best when foreigners associate los Estados with inglés.
Re: Rubio en Español
Another element to this is the Spanish language itself. Currently, it's the language of a politically significant minority (which is quickly becoming anything but a "minority") and therefore more understandable to hear so publicly. I wonder how everyone would react though were a politician to speak to constituents in a language not as common as Spanish.
For example, my district in Minnesota is represented by Keith Ellison, and includes significant portions of Somalian immigrants. Let's say he knew Somali, and gave a speech exclusively in that language - there would probably be a much different reaction than Rubio doing so in Spanish, including from our side admittedly.
Yet, it would still be consistent with Derbyshire's point: having a common tongue allows for immigrants to feel more like a part of a unified country, rather than just interest groups only select politicians can reach out to. Again, great thought-provoking post.
Apr '12
Re: Rubio en Español
If Rubio is speaking officially, he should stick to the country's national language. He is just starting to build a mosaic society like Canada, rather the melting pot. It is fine when each tile is small, but when a tile starts getting larger, they ask for special rights which breaks up the economy. Here in Canada, we have a large tile known as Quebec, which has managed to grab the lion's share of social payments transferred from the rest of the country. Now, The new tile growing significantly in size is Chinese and parents are asking for Mandarin rather than French. Imagine if your politician spoke Mandarin rather than English in his official speech. Would that make you happy or cause you to wonder if this group will get a special line, with special benefits paid for by your tax dollars.
Aug '10
Re: Rubio en Español
The word relentlessly is wrong, that is, Derb is wrong to use it.
Assimilation is fine, natural and nearly inevitable. To demand relentlessness of another is presumptuous. If that is Derb's personal or familial standard fine, but again, to demand of another that degree of effort and to dismiss them for falling short of it is wrong, short-sighted, and bordering on being bigoted.
His assertion that Rubio does not understand that English is the language of American political discourse is also wrong. A man can understand a proposition and still disagree with it.
A man who can passionately and intelligently argue for conservative values in the language of the largest emerging minority (and the eventual demographic majority) is an extremely valuable asset. The man can make a more effective and motivational case for conservatism in Spanish and in the very act of doing so he is not denying the value of assimilation.
Marco Rubio is not some Viva La Raza Atzlan-ian nut job, he is skillful bilingual conservative politician. Conservatives will not establish and maintain enduring governing coalitions in the future without many more men like him.
The GOP needs to wake up and smell the cafecito.