Think Progress

Lamar Alexander: Talking Bilingualism Out of Both Sides of His Mouth

Last night, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) appeared on the O’Reilly Factor to discuss his nonbinding resolution to “remind the country why we sing our National Anthem in English.” Here’s what he said:

We have the common principles that we debate here in the Senate. We have our common language, English. And we ought to encourage it, not undercut it.

But back in 1995, Alexander was singing a different tune. He even attacked former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) for supporting an “English only” policy:

GOP Presidential hopeful Lamar Alexander lambasted Sen. Robert Dole Wednesday night saying that the senator “showed no respect” for Hispanics when Dole hinted that the U.S. should move towards an “English only” policy. Alexander, campaigning in Puerto Rico for the first time, said he was a “staunch” supporter of bilingual education and urged Hispanic parents to allow their children to learn two languages. “My dream is that every child in America grows up learning two languages,” the former governor of Tennessee said. [Associated Press, 9/13/95]

¿Como se dice “shameless pander” en español?




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42 Responses to “Lamar Alexander: Talking Bilingualism Out of Both Sides of His Mouth”

  1. Flamethrower Says:

    ¿Pinche puto cabron?

    No, that might not be exact.


  2. G.W.SuperChrist Says:

    ¿Como se dice “shameless pander” en español?

    El Shamelesso Panderisto... not really but it sounds good doesn't it?


  3. Mary Poppin Says:

    What is all the Republicans coming out of the wood work to run for President? What a joke. Republicans are LIARS, LIARS, LIARS.


  4. Quadrajet Says:

    LOL SuperChrist......would that make the republicans 'panderistas'?


  5. Mary Poppin Says:

    English is the American Language not Spanish. If you come to this country you need to learn our English language. No ifs ands or buts about it.


  6. G.W.SuperChrist Says:

    Pinche Puto Panderisto de Shamelesso... getting closer.


  7. Drew Mackenzie Says:

    Good lord man, head for the hills! The rhetoric machine has spun out of control!

    Grab some blankets and torches and fresh water and make a run for it - I'll try to distract it from its rampant campaign of dehumanization while you start the truck. If I don't make it tell the taxpayers I love them - quick, run! And don't look back until the midterms ar over!


  8. Kevin Says:

    Flamethrower's translation is grammatically incorrect, but I like its direct pragmatism


  9. RyanSeacrust Says:

    ¿Como se dice “shameless pander” en español?

    Basura ala derecha..


  10. Kevin Says:

    alcahuete sin verguenza?

    maybe for shameless pandering whore throw the puto back in?

    panderista is perfect spanglish!


  11. G.W.SuperChrist Says:

    would that make the republicans ‘panderistas’?

    Comment by Quadrajet — May 3, 2006 @ 2:02 pm

    Pinche Panderistas... or Panderistos for the 5-10 republicans that don't wear woman’s underwear.


  12. Quadrajet Says:

    Yeah Kevin, I'd throw it back in. Any description of Alexander would have to include puto to be accurate.



  13. Quadrajet Says:

    #11 - who you talkin' about SC? Kay Bailey? Ann Coulter?


  14. G.W.SuperChrist Says:

    #14 Exactly! - They are a part of the Muy Masculino Pinche Panderisto Supremo crowd.


  15. The Witch Says:

    Another lethal dose of reality for the GOPigs. Honestly. These folks can't remember 5 minutes ago.


  16. JW Says:

    What, O'Reilly's brilliant fact-checkers didn't have that little tidbit available for him to catch Lamar with?


  17. clb72 Says:

    obsequiosidad desvergonzada


  18. Zookeeper Says:

    #7 - Hilarious! I'll provide the cover fire...


  19. bobcat_grad Says:

    Dang it, all. You're going to make me crack out my old high school Spanish book while reading this thread.


  20. G.W.SuperChrist Says:

    Another lethal dose of reality for the GOPigs. Honestly. These folks can’t remember 5 minutes ago.

    Comment by The Witch — May 3, 2006 @ 2:31 pm

    Its not that they don't remember - they just don't give a shit.

    The people that vote for these Douche Bags don't subscribe to news outlets that looks critically at their records - so they don't really have to worry about losing votes.

    Everything they say plays in the right-wing media just the way they want it to.


  21. Zookeeper Says:

    #17 - They were too busy listening to BO talk dirty on the phone, and shopping for falafels.


  22. Krazny Says:

    I don't think pinche cabron can be found in any high school spanish textbook. I learned that working with a bunch of latino guys at a restaurant years ago.


  23. lib4 Says:

    alcahuete descarado


  24. jspot » Blog Archive » Flipfloppers and Panderbears - a non-endangered species Says:

    [...] On the continuing theme of remergent english-only hypocrisy from poiticians who once sought to re-align the Latino vote, from Think Progress. Last night, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) appeared on the O’Reilly Factor to discuss his nonbinding resolution to “remind the country why we sing our National Anthem in English.” Here’s what he said: [...]


  25. bobcat_grad Says:

    What, O’Reilly’s brilliant fact-checkers didn’t have that little tidbit available for him to catch Lamar with?

    Comment by JW — May 3, 2006 @ 2:33 pm

    No. O'Reilly has fact-CREATORS. Not fact-CHECKERS.

    You see, fact-checkers make sure that the words coming out of O'Reilly's mouth are correct, based in reality, and have sources to back them up.

    O'Reilly's fact-creators make sure that the words coming out of O'Reilly's mouth are fabricated, ignore reality, and have nothing to do with the truth.

    Hope that clears it up for you.


  26. pablo Says:

    #5 - your comments sound better in their original german...


  27. mparker Says:

    These pathetic Republicans are struggling to use every bullshit issue they can find as a distraction from the long list of their disgraceful failures.


  28. G.W.SuperChrist Says:

    #28 - What... What long list of disgraceful failures?

    All I know is that spanish offends the shit out of me... just can't remember why though.


  29. Quadrajet Says:

    SuperChrist, spanish offends you because if it didn't you'd be an unpatriotic, treasonistic liberal f**ktard who supports terror. The only thing I have against spanish is that, as proven on this thread, I think it makes the r's hipocracy and crimes sound - I don't know - more exotic?


  30. G.W.SuperChrist Says:

    SuperChrist, spanish offends you because if it didn’t you’d be an unpatriotic, treasonistic liberal f**ktard who supports terror.

    Oh Yeah - Thanks Quadrajet!


  31. Jill Says:

    The guy on at the same time (I can't remember his name) did an EXCELLENT job making this guy look like a fool.


  32. progressive and proud Says:

    Being from TN, I feel I must apologize for this idiot. I surely didn't vote for him, but alas, I am surrounded by dolts. Sometimes it's fun to just listen to the guntoters' mystical discussions but after a period of time, you realize they are reproducing even more ignorant beings. Ah homeschooling should have thier limiits.

    How many times have I heard, "there ain't no global warmin', can't ye feel how hot it is? It don't feel no colder to me.


  33. The Liberal Avenger » Blog Archive » Lamar Alexander hearts PRs Says:

    [...] Think Progress - Lamar Alexander: Talking Bilingualism Out of Both Sides of His Mouth [...]


  34. Jay Randal Says:

    Alexander has always been a Republican hypocrite > case closed!


  35. Bill O' Really Says:

    oh Really?
    I was not shopping by Phone, I was talking to Pat about getting blown up, I mean about getting cucumbers for the Salad, because we are gonna toss each others Salads..I mean ummm A Salad, his I think...
    No I deny that! I was Not Shopping For Falafels!!


  36. Hans Gruber Says:

    Given that it was in 1995, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume he's sincerely changed his mind.


  37. swede Says:

    Unbelievable just incredible, these guys are just becoming laughable. The Foxx spin continues to just disgust me


  38. JLM Says:

    Several of you nailed it - remembering the Spanish slang I learned as a teen in S. Fla, "puta" was the word I came up with


  39. Chì Mi Bhuam: na h-amadain breacach nan reult Says:

    [...] Dìreach mar a smaointich mi nach b'urrainn mo dhuthaich a' fàs nas amaideach . . .Tha ùpraid anns na Stàitean an drasda air imrich-a-steach, gu h-àraidh bho dhuthchanan Latino, agus tha an luchd fo amharas àbhaisteach (Republicanaich agus cinneadaich eile) a' feuchainn ri chuir eagal oirnn ro'n Sluagh Donn a Tha Briseadh Isteach bhon Deas.Nisd tha na daoine leth-ghlic aig ceann an riaghaltais a' gearan air eadar-theangachadh Spàinntis de'n laoidh nàiseanta a rinn luchd-ciùil Latino. Thuirt W gum bu choir an òran air a gabhail anns a' Bheurla a-mhàin - ged a sheinn e-fhèin 'sa Spàinntis e nuair a bha e a' lorg an Taighe Ghil.Agus an drasda tha Lamar Alexander, Seanair à Tennesse, a' toirt bile dhan Seanaid "ri chuir 'nar cuimhne carson a tha sinn a' seinn an Laoidh Nàiseanta anns a' Bheurla." Tha sin a' cur 'nam chuimhne-fhìn air fealla-dhà math a rinn Robert Klein bho chionn bliadhnaichean:Carson a tha iad a' cluich an Laoidh Nàiseanta ro geama-spòrs? Nuair a bhios mi aig Madison Square Garden a' coimhead na Knicks a' cluich, chan eil fios a dhìth orm gu dè'n duthaich anns a bheil mi:"Ca bheil sinn, Uilleam, Latvia?"[Oh say, can you see...]"O, seadh, seadh, tha sinn anns na Stàitean Aonaichte - dhiochuimnich mi!"Co-dhiubh, chuir an amaideas seo 'nam chuimhne gu bheil eadar-theangachadh Gàidhlig ann, a rinn Catrìona Nic Aonghais à Framboise, Ceap Breatainn nuair a bha i 'fuireach ann am Boston:A' Bhratach Bhreacadh nan ReultO am faic sibh gu moch an am bristeadh an tràth'A ni dh'fhàg sinn fo uaill 'n am dol fodha na gréine,Le chuid rionnagan soills' 'us na sgrìoban breac bànThar an daighnich bho 'n àird troimh gach gàbhadh 'us éiginn?'S gach ional-càtha 's gach fuaim bh' anns an iarmailt mu'n cuairtThug dhuinn dearbhadh troimh 'n oidhch' gu robh bhratach sin suas;O! am bheil fathast a' bhratach air bheil breacadh nan reultOs cionn dachaidh sluagh saor 'us àit' còmhnuidh nan treun?Tha ceanglaichean air an duilleag seo le eadar-theangaichean eile - Spàinntis, Gearmailteas, Iodais, Ladainn, Frangais (Cajun), agus Samoan. Agus seo e ann am Polais. Bhiodh iongantas orm mur an robh tuilleadh ann. [...]


  40. Seonachan Says:

    For anyone confused by the big Gaelic post from my blog above (and I'm confused as to how it got here), I made more or less the same point in English in a kos diary here: There's lots of translations of the Star Spangled Banner, including a Gaelic one.


  41. Fred Dawes Says:

    within 10 years! this will become mexico and bush wants it that way and both the left and right are enemies of the people, so whats new?



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