Obama Apparently Not Allowed To Employ Foreign Languages

Over at The Next Right, Patrick Ruffini is really, really worked up over Barack Obama's speech in Berlin, and wants to put the Senator in...uhm - Deutch? - for daring to print posters in German, the language that Germans speak in Germany. Better that Berliners wither in confusion over the speech, I suppose!

Anyway, Ruffini calls the posters "extraordinary" and a "lapse in judgment" and "breathtakingly arrogant." But Ruffini is losing his bearings! As it turns out, John McCain has a bilingual website of his own! And bilingual advertising! And he's even done a bilingual version of those adorable townhalls he loves so much! And I find none of those things to be "extraordinary" or "breathtakingly arrogant" or a "lapse in judgment." So perhaps Ruffini would like to explain himself on this matter. My moron-to-English dictionary is standing by.

Comments

[tel8034]

What do expect from supporters of an administration which does not understand the concept of a global village or the art of diplomacy, even though in America EVERY ethnic group is represented and every language spoken.

These people don't understand the USA, so how can you expect them to understand the world?

[DocWylie]

Another example of just how desperate McAdaver and the Repugnicans are getting.
"Clutching at straws" is the term that comes to mind.
Becase they have NOTHING to offer, and they collectively know it, and they will say and do ANYTHING to keep themselves from from being exposed as the frauds they truly are.
I fully expect the B.S. to get even smellier and deeper before November. Bring your snorkle.

Thank Al Gore for "inventing" the internet and making communication possible among the real lovers of democracy, in spite of the Corporate Media's collusion with these facist criminals.
Personally I would like to see the Sherman Anti-trust laws enforced on the media mougals, and a break-up similar to Ma Bell take place ASAP hopefully January. A real Fire sale with sufficient pink slips given to be confused for a ticker tape parade.
(Sure it's a dream, but one should always dream BIG)


tic,tic,tic...

[RJKruger]

Keine Angst. Es war richtig.

[wokrightinn]

Obama might be wise to brush up his Mandarin. That's the language he'll be hearing more of during the next eight years.

[sf101]

In many other countries it's perfectly normal to speak two or more languages. Meanwhile here in the States, it's beneath a lot of people's whatever to stoop so low and not speak English WHICH IS THE ONLY LANGUAGE THAT REAL AMERICANS SPEAK, DAMNIT!

No wonder the rest of world laughs at us.

[meanguy]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............................

[RonNYC]

I was half expecting for Obama to talk in french while in France and everyone make a big deal about it, saying he is too educated. Like when David Gregory talked to the French Prez in french and Bush had a fit on stage.

[Ramirez]

0bama does not speak French.

[Felicty]

Really; the NERVE.

How DARE Obama not be an ignorant Amerikan?

[Mayoyo]

Say what???
What are going to complain about nest?...the hundreds of America flags not being burned for once

[MissingAmerica]

Perhaps they hear Spanish in this country so much they've forgotten that it is a foreign language! As for posters in German, French or any other language, it's a great idea. The President of this tiny nation is considered the most powerful office in the world (although Bush has compromised that position). Because of the ability to disseminate information, the world has become quite small and what affects one affects all. We deem it necessary to know what's going on around the world; it is just as imperative for the world to be aware of what's happening here. Bush and Cheney have trashed diplomacy and respect for this country. It's important that the world know we are working to change that. So far, they agree with the majority of us that Obama is exactly what we need to begin emerging from the dark days of the current administration.

[larry278]

Hablo espanol. Sorry but my Gringo key board doesn't have a tilde. In some parts of the USA Spanish was spoken before there was a USA. Some of us Americans continue to speak Spanish. It's our native language. There are also parts of the USA where French was spoken before there was a USA; the same thing goes for Pennsylvania Dutch. Many Americans who speak French consider French to be their native language; the same thing goes for Pa Dutch. English is a foreign language to Americans who speak Pa Dutch, French & Spanish. I won't go near the surviving native American languages except to say that English is a foreign language to them too. The USA is a polyglot, multi-ethnic & multi-racial nation. As FDR said to the DAR, my fellow immigrants.

[djwfutbol]

I'm sure you are only making a rhetorical point but for those who might not know, the way to send emails in Spanish is to use the alt key and the ASCII number for the character that you need. So, for example:
á is alt + 160
é is alt + 130
í is alt + 161
ó is alt + 162
ú is alt + 163
ñ is alt + 164
Ñ is alt + 165

And, you can choose Spanish for the spelling checker to confirm your use. I also find that there are some good dictionaries on the Internet and you can cut and paste phrases to your hearts content.

[JiminNC]

That's not change we can believe in - he he he he

[Bitsko]

Thanks for pointing this out. I was flabbergasted when Senator Obama was attacked just recently for saying it would be a good thing for Americans to learn a second language. It's not just about education and learning about other cultures, but it can also be a lot of fun. Personally, I've been studying Italian and having a ball. I guess as Americans we're not supposed to be sophisticated thinkers, just consumers of junk.

[prdamericanmom]

No, Mr. Ruffini. "Breathtakingly arrogant" is going to another country and expecting everyone to speak YOUR native language while the only words you know in theirs are curse words. Get a grip, GOPeople.

[Ramirez]

0bama speaks only English. All conversations he had during his European tour were conducted in English.

[RobinSeattle]

All real Americans speak only one language, english, y' hear? Except if you are at a Pentecostal Bible meeting and you talk in tongues when you are inspired by the Lord.

That fancy book learnin' only creates trouble. Git right with your Bible!

[JiminNC]

Que? ;)

[joebiz]

Senator McCain, the candidate of the Hispanics. What a crock. McCain hasn't done anything for Latinos in his state or for that matter in the nation, in any language.

The McCain supporters, prototypical fascist, rightwinger wacko Cuban-American mafia of Southern Florida and the Arizonian Gila-monster "mejicanos" (the same ones that did not want a Martin Luther King Holiday) are not representative of Latinos nationwide. These collective Hispanics are fringe wing-nuts with traces of Stockholm syndrome (you know the affliction where the hostage victims begin identifying with their captors or in this case, their political oppressors, the Republicans). These groups, along with the McCain followers are insignificant in the scheme of elections. As a collective they have told us what they think and how they think.