Ted Cruz admits to speaking “lousy Spanish”; Ted Cruz speaks little to conversational Spanish.

[sjoes006]

I speak lousy Spanish

In 2012, then-Senate candidate Ted Cruz refused to debate his opponent in Spanish. Aside from being a “lousy” Spanish speaker, Cruz argued it was a bad idea: “Most Texans speak English … [My opponent] wants to do a debate in a language where the vast majority of primary voters don’t understand it, because he doesn’t want them to hear about his record.”

That’s Texas’ Latino Senator. More than 1/3 households in Texas speak Spanish as primary.

[rjroy3]

Sounds kind of racist that he's expected to speak Spanish purely because of his heritage. Imagine if that was said about black people speaking any African language. We're in America. English is the language of the land. If you don't understand English, then tough. Learn English.

[sjoes006]

The Us does not have an official language of the land for these exact reasons. To avoid discrimination. He doesn’t need to speak Spanish but he need not try and pretend that he does. He sells himself as a Latino out for Latino values. A Latino he is not. He was honest in 2012 about not speaking Spanish because it suited him at the time. Now he uses the few words he knows to try and sound like he is a Spanish speaker.

It’s bullshit. Pick your platform, Latinos aren’t voting for him so I just wish he would be honest.

He does not and will never represent Tejano interest. That’s why he wouldn’t show up to the CNN Town Hall in South Texas. He said he would than didn’t. He has no idea why the fuck is going on down there day to day. He does know that McAllen was a major holding camp for kids taken from their parents at the border so probably wasn’t going to go well for him. He said nothing.

[rjroy3]

I mean, we can pretend as if English isn't the language of choice in America purely because it's not a federally official language of the land. Realistically everyone everyone everyone knows that English is what we speak here, even if it's the unofficial language. That aside that's less important.

If you want to claim he doesn't represent a certain group, then make your case. But him not speaking Spanish, when he is American first is inherently racist since it's being based on ethnic heritage.

[rjroy3]

racist to suggest he should that is.

[rjroy3]

Don't believe I've ever received MHO on a post I had a disagreement with the one who posted. You have my respect Miss.

[madhatters4]

he should be very concerned over his future after a essentially unheard of democrat nearly won an election in a deeply red state

[sjoes006]

He is privately concerned. He huddled in private in Houston as the initial polls showed Beto ahead for a while.

That said, Texas isn’t a deeply red state anymore, just wait.

All of the major cities are blue and Texas is being invaded by incoming tech workers from all over the country.

The state is just so large... lots of rural areas and East Texas is racist as all get out, they still have the Klan.

Cruz won by less than 3 points, that’s huge progress!

Ted is going to go away. Beto won’t. The whole country was involved in the race. Beto has a message that jives with everyone. And if it can pass the muster in Texas then I like what that means for 2020.

I’m not getting my hopes up, but this is a man must agree, should represent the people. BETO!! Fuck. Lol

[madhatters4]

i agree 100%. it is a true sign of the times that a republican incumbent who was 2nd or 3rd ni popularity on the republican primary ticket for president in 2015 would have a senate race end so close

[DeeDeeDeVour]

I would prefer that he and everyone else in the USA speak fluent English first.

[sjoes006]

The US has no official language. Many countries do but the US does not, it’s a founding principle.

In Louisiana their is still a very small pocket of only French speakers but it was much larger until the 1960’s. We learn from diversity. Imperialism is so 19th century.

Moving in to a country and forcing them to speak English and lose their tongue. Society as a whole suffers by losing the diversity of thought by the language one speaks.

If you live in a big city you will find pockets where peoples first language is Vietnamese or Korean, Arabic. Mostly women who don’t leave the house.

Bottom line is Cruz can’t have it both ways. He pretends to be Latino and speak Spanish in this current run for re-election. But Beto is from the border, does speak Spanish and is actually from Texas.

[James_R]

Texas is an interesting dichotomy where a Latino running for the Senate can't speak Spanish and a guero speaks it better than most Latinos. I am a native Texan and proud to be from that state, even though I live in Maryland and these people have no idea what good BBQ, salsa, or a jalapeno kolache are.

What I'd say is Cruz is trying to deflect on his lack of Spanish. He will win because it's Texas and he's a Republican. The state is a bastion of conservatism apart from the Dallas suburbs and Austin.

I do question your statistic about Spanish language usage. Many Latinos say they speak Spanish at home but they don't and many know it only partially. I don't think the numbers are as high as you are quoting, at least from a proficiency standpoint. The Latino kids I went to school with in the state spoke Spanish, but not well and their parents preferred English at home. I am happy to admit I'm wrong, but I don't see Spanish usage as being 1/3 of all households.

The reason for Spanish being an issue by the way is Beto NEEDS what he hopes are liberal Spanish speakers to go to the polls. They won't turn out in the numbers he needs to overturn Cruz sizeable poll lead. So, this is a hail Mary trying to turn Spanish language into an issue. As if being Latino means you must speak Spanish; it doesn't and inability to speak it doesn't make you less of a person.

[Chaz269]

At a time when so many citizens feel like our elected officials are increasingly out of touch with their constituents, especially lifelong Senators and Representatives, there's nothing wrong with challenging a career politician's connection to his base. You're not entirely wrong, though. What Cruz understands that Beto either doesn't or won't, is that his base is conservatives, not Latinos. Even if Latinos who oppose Cruz were a majority by a small margin, gerrymandering has put an end to upset elections in every state in the US.

[James_R]

There's absolutely nothing wrong in challenging the connection to a politicians base and never suggested or stated that in my post. The issue was Spanish and Cruz base as you point out isn't Spanish speakers. That is the distinction here; the segment of the Latino population speaking exclusively Spanish are more likely Beto voters. There are plenty of conservative Latinos and they may or may not speak Spanish exclusively at home, but they also speak English and those are more likely Cruz voters.

[TadCurious]

Ted Cruz is an American who just happens to be of Hispanic heritage. He doesn't identify with his ethnic background as something of more importance than his being an American. I admire him greatly for that. And as an American, he knows full well that political debates in the United States should be conducted using the English language.

[sjoes006]

He’s dual Canadian and American citizenship. He gave up Canadian during his run for president but he’s still a dual citizen if he wants to be. It was obviously very important to him if he waited so long to give up citizenship. It’s not that hard of a process.

I’ve looked into it myself as a dual citizen. I know The exact steps to renounce my citizenship in one country, what effects would be. This is mainly only because the US forces you to pay income tax even if you live abroad permanently. The US is one of the only countries that require this. A Briton who is a permanent resident in the US doesn’t pay taxes in Britain. But a US citizen who is a permanent resident or citizen of Britain living in the UK has to pay taxes in both countries.

People often think US citizens can’t hold dual citizenship. We can it is just really difficult to keep it if you live abroad.

[ShortCircuit]

"More than 1/3 households in Texas speak Spanish"

... Yeah, so the other 2/3 speak English (and perhaps other languages, but they doubtfully subtract enough from the remaining 2/3 that English turns out to account for less than 1/3). So what Cruz said was factually correct. Although I am not a fan of Cruz as an individual, I agree that debating in Spanish was an unreasonable request.

[Miristheiss]

Ok.
Thanks for the FYI.

As a rule though, use English in the USA. Just because a bunch of Spanish speaking people migrated here that's no reason for organizations and government to change the language for them.

A government, political debate in a foreign language? Stupid.

[monkeynutts]

America is still an English speaking country? I think it's a stupid Idea for him to make political arguments in a language that's not his native tongue.
And if one out of three voters don't speak English, they should pack their bags and migrate over the boarder where people don't speak English.

[NearlyNapping]

You're making a big deal out of nothing. This is an English speaking country, so political debates should be in English. How can that even controversial? That's just taking a non-issue and trying to make an issue out of it.

[Anonymous]

I think it's great when people can speak multiple languages.

However I have German & French speaking ancestors who didn't allow their children to speak German or French in the home because they said that they are Americans now, & when you come back from school, they are to help teach them English. So I think all debates in America should be in English, & anyone who wants to hold any office here must speak English.

[ATuairiscean]

I was going to say the same - There will probably be a stage in the future where Spanish is the first language in a majority of households, very ignorant by Ted Cruz.

[Xyline]

So he should do the debate in Spanish because 33% can speak Spanish? America speaks English. You just wrote this in English. You are reading English. What am I not seeing?

[ThisAndThat]

First of all, if you can't speak English which is a absolute requirement to become a US citizen, then why are you voting in our elections?

[Chaz269]

Geezus, Merry and Broseph, did you ever just entirely miss the point.
First of all, Beto IS a US citizen and he speaks English fluently. Second, he's challenging Cruz's connection to his Latino constituents. At a time when more voters feel like their elected officials are increasingly out of touch with the majority of citizens, that's actually a smart move. Finally, this question is about whether or not Latino Americans speaking Spanish. It's not about speaking English at all.

[ThisAndThat]

@Chaz269 Still don't answer my question. If they can't speak English, why are the voted here?

[Kayla45]

Better than me, I can't speak Spanish.

[sjoes006]

But your honest about it. Cruz lied for a longtime post 2012 in the presidential.

[Rick912]

I believe Ted Cruz lives in Texas and Texas I sin the USA. In the USA we speak English. So what is the issue?

[hans1416]

When we take our land back, there will be no need for Spanish. Or Cruze.

[sjoes006]

Cruz

[hans1416]

whatever

[Sixgun77]

Who cares. This is America and there's no reason we shouldn't be doing everything here in English. Good for Ted.

[Anonymous]

I am part Spanish and cannot speak it fluently, only know the basics.

[4465loveyou5577]

He can't even stand on his own platform

[sjoes006]

Yeah because Texas will vote him in. 👎

[sjoes006]

But not because

[BellumEtPacem]

What's the question being asked? I can't tell. No offense intended by the way.

[Anonymous]

I'm not really sure what your point was here?

[sjoes006]

Hard to miss,... but please get out to vote even if it’s for Cruz.

[Opinion Owner]

You seem to be suggesting a senate candidate in TX should know how to speak Spanish.

[sjoes006]

Nope. Just don’t pretend to speak Spanish and act like you’re from Texas.

Beto speaks Spanish. Cruz literally pretended to speak Spanish with clips and phrases. That’s disgusting. I don’t speak much Spanish but probably more than Cruz. He’s from Canada. And on that note I’m fluent in French, he doesn’t speak a word. I know, Canada isn’t mixed like that.

He wouldn’t go to the debate in the Valley because the mostly only speak Spanish.

In Louisiana, I know how to speak French. It’s not the same French that they speak but I’ve learned their French over time.

It’s only a very small part of Louisiana that speaks French but you might want to speak it a little if they are you’re constituents.

See, when you when a race for governor or president your “enemies” they become your “constituents” if you are an ethical leader. You do what is best for all and not for some.

[Opinion Owner]

I guess I'm still missing the part where he pretended to speak Spanish. I didn't see it in any of your original post. But I get what you're saying. I think he's a schmuck, by the way.

[Anonymous]

>That’s Texas’ Latino Senator. More than 1/3 households in Texas speak Spanish as primary.

Thank you for pointing out that we are being invaded.

[sjoes006]

Louisiana was owned by France, that’s why for so long in the South part they continued to speak French.

Texas has always been a Spanish speaking region. Parts of it were owned by France, Spain, Mexico then it was its own country for a minute.

But Spanish has always been spoken in the lower half of the state. There’s no invasion. Parts of Texas are simply treated like they are not the US. They are walled of with check points and it’s easier to cross to Mexico than the rest of Texas. People don’t like to speak English down there.

[Opinion Owner]

It sounds like Sam Houston didn't push hard enough.

[AngerSquares]

Is this a question? I can't tell.