'We Speak English' Ad: WATCH Controversial Alabama Governor's Race Advertisement (VIDEO)

The Alabama gubernatorial race is heating up after Republican candidate Tim James released a controversial "We speak English" ad.

James vows that if he's elected, the Alabama state driver's license exam will be in English only, a cost-saving measure. He proclaims in the ad, "This is Alabama; we speak English. If you want to live here, learn it."

The political ad comes in response to a hot national debate over Arizona's new immigration law.

James says he believes "common sense" will win out over "political correctness."

WATCH the controversial ad here:

Tim James' campaign video -- Language @ Yahoo! Video

Comments

[jxsilicon9]

04:37 PM on 05/18/2010

I thought he was going to follow that with. If you don't America,you can get out!

[US-4-EVER]

08:22 PM on 05/17/2010

Many other nations have ONLY ONE official language.
One language makes one people, not many separate people.

When my father came to this country, he said, "We're in America; now we speak English."
People come to this country because of the liberties, and because they can make money.
And to enjoy these benefist ,speaking English--not another language--as well as derermination not to fail, you will reach your goals.

[Delvalle6]

03:02 PM on 05/17/2010

Don't get me wrong, people should speak the language of the country where they live--but is it fair to ask that they learn all the nuances of one of the most convoluted and difficult languages in the world? Speak the language, but keep our legal documents understandable to everybody.

[Delvalle6]

02:50 PM on 05/17/2010

I don't speak English--I'm not from England. I speak American-- a language derived from countries all over the world. Does this guy travel? If so, I hope he speaks all the languages fluently.

[Tellem]

01:10 AM on 05/17/2010

Maybe Alabamans should face a language test when they travel to other parts of the world and want to drive? How is your Italian? Your German? Or would Alabamans prefer to be isolated from the rest of the world? And what of visitors to Alabama from other countries? Maybe Alabama should take out ads in world wide media telling prospective tourists to stay home if they want to do self-drive tours of Alabama. How's that economy going - can you afford to chase away those foreign currencies? Maybe Tim James speaks English - but he should try talking sense.

[OldSimpleman]

01:20 PM on 05/17/2010

As a matter of fact, they speak Italian in Italy and German inGermany. The international airports are bilingual, many speak English as the common language.

There is a difference between being an immigrant and an illegal. Let's start with Obama's aunt. Les start deportation of all illegals and welcome those who will respect the laws of the country. After all, this is America not "stolen occupied meh-he-ko" to quote High School teacher Ron Gochez.

(A language barrier is still a barrier). Money spent providing multi-lingual services cannot be spent on the sick and infirmed. JMHO

[11907281]

02:03 PM on 05/17/2010

Are we talking about the Queen's English? Middle English ... maybe a 40 of Old English?

[sisyphus93]

12:17 PM on 05/06/2010

What? It's racist to say "We speak English"? The absurdity of political correctness is truly unrestrained.

[Doctorate Degree]

09:09 PM on 05/04/2010

REPUBLICAN (WHAT ELSE?) CANDIDATE TIM JAMES IS IN DEFICIT ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
READ MY LIPS, TIM JAMES = ENGLISH IS STILL NOT THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION.

[malcolm9000]

05:52 PM on 05/03/2010

To get a around you should learn the language of the country you are in and THAT'S THE ONLY REASON. The comment you made was intolerable.

[native american indian]

05:38 PM on 05/02/2010

Thank you Tim James,I only wish I lived in Alabama.I am a native American Indian so my family has been here for a long time.We had to learn English and all the immigrants had to before they could become an American citizen,why should anyone be treated differantly? You would have my vote and again thank you for trying to bring America back to the Americans!!!

[DonCosenza]

02:22 PM on 05/02/2010

On CNN, Cindy Crowly suggested that such a measure (which is already implemented in several other states) might violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and mean those states could lose federal highway funds. Hogwash. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. It doesn't say anything about language.

A state is well within its rights to only give out a drivers' test in English. Heck, they could only give it out in Spanish if they wanted. Whether it's good policy is another question. That's up to the state electorate to decide. There are tradeoffs either way. On the one hand, the state saves money in not having to administer tests in multiple languages. On the other hand, there are other ramification they should consider, such as: will it increase the number of unlicensed drivers? What is the effect it will have on business?

While I suspect Time James is just using this as a wedge issue (I'm guessing the extra cost to Alabama to administer their driver's exam in 11 additional languages is relatively minimal). But if Alabamians want to only give the test out in English, then that's up to them.

[MollieinATL]

05:50 PM on 05/01/2010

Really??? I live in the South. Does this mean there might be a move afoot to clean up grammar and pronunciation down here? Must be...because that isn't English one usually hears in typical Southern conversation. College education or not. Thank God for mass media, unlike in other parts of the country - Southern youth's grammar is actually collectively improving.

Sorry good people of Alabama, but if this guys going to open your state up to this conversation you'd better get used to the irony of it all.

[marcehole]

06:13 PM on 04/30/2010

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... he just looks and sounds downright mean! He's actually serious too... :-)

[Allen Sibley]

09:45 AM on 05/01/2010

it is about time a Politicians said what we Americans want and believe ....law biding citizen they are not just today a police officer was shot protecting our US Border ..yea they are so law biding ...let them live next to you then with there 50 friends...I have spent 5 years ..yes CINCO (for those who think we should change our ways to suit you) tours in Iraq and Afghanistan / Bosnia / protecting their borders when i should of been protecting my own country ...it's time Americans quit talking and start doing ..and stand up for the Laws of this Country and by God put this County first again....REPORT AND DEPORT Illegals!!!!!!!

[MythornYourSide]

12:16 PM on 05/01/2010

It's law "abiding". I think you should learn the language if you are going to live here.

[MollieinATL]

05:50 PM on 05/01/2010

And it's "should HAVE been".

[Fred Gates]

04:46 PM on 04/30/2010

OK, but what is "Ingnish"?

[amaboss52]

03:16 PM on 04/30/2010

I do agree that people living in this country should have to learn English, however, whenever I have travelled to a foreign country, I notice that they have all sorts of things listed in different languages. I dont see how you could say live in Italy and not know how to speak Italian. However, the bigotry we are seeing from these people is not new, its alway been there, this is just another way they can insert their views without having to come out and admit they are racists. But to make an issue of this only points to this guys inherent intolerance.

[SoapboxBlogger]

05:26 PM on 04/30/2010

Other countries have different languages in touristy areas for the sake of keeping it convenient for the tourists. Having multiple languages is good for their economy.
You said "people living in this country should have to learn english" but when Tim James says his state speaks english, he is bigot? or is it that he said it with a southern accent? And who are "these people"? Are you saying southerners are racists?
You are just labelling a whole society from a stereotype. What if I labelled all blacks, mexicans, or jews with their stupid stereotypes? I would be called a racist and I would deserve to be called a racist.
You are the intolerent one. Intolerent toward white southerners. ALL people of ALL skin colors are equal, including white people.

[auenberg]

11:53 AM on 04/30/2010

Check out the following link for a funny parody!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBthR9JIZr8