Is being able to speak Chinese a plus or minus in the GOP primary?

[Skinner]

Huntsman!

[cthulu2016]

1. I think Perry might be speaking it.

Either way, I'm not understanding it.

[Pacafishmate]

2. To think that having another language could ever be seen as a disadvantage is sad.

[joshcryer]

3. Probably a minus. But *everyone* is gonna wanna know what he said.

If it's a good zinger, it'll be interesting!

[elleng]

13. I think Huntsman translated it: 'He doesn't know what he's talking about.'

!!!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. It's un-American!

The Chinese ought to be speaking English. Like Jesus.

[Mira]

5. It's a plus with thinking people who know

languages enrich.
Mitt R. speaks French and hides it.
And while I'm on the subject, Bill Clinton speaks fluent German.

[still_one]

6. To the republicans it is a minus. What he was trying to say was that he understands China, they

don't

In reality romney is lying out of is teeth, he would take the corporate position, which is give China our jobs with cheap labor

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. with the GOP it is a minus

the dumbasses.

[Tx4obama]

8. In that offensive 'ad' the Ron Paul fans release the other day showed Huntsman speaking Chinese ...

More info and the AD Video here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002127512

[RandySF]

9. Michelle Malkin's head exploded on Twitter.

She's all about English-only, even if her parents speak Tagalog.

[elleng]

10. A PLUS when you call out mittens for not knowing wtf he's talking about!!!

[Gregorian]

11. It makes him the Commie of the Republican debate.

Kind of like the embarrassing uncle in the restaurant.

That was freaky.

[Solly Mack]

12. Let's just say I hope he has his birth certificate handy.

Because they'll (GOP voters) be asking for one now.

[Cali_Democrat]

15. LOL

[robertll]

14. He said

"He (Romney) doesn't quite understand the situation."

他不太了解这个事情

his pronunciation wasn't bad

[Gregorian]

18. Hey, thanks.

Anyone in charge of the Chinese embassy has to know more than a little about the culture of the country it's in.

Cheers, new one!

[robertll]

19. Thanks!

yeah chinese wouldn't respect him otherwise.

only huntsman took shots at mitt. weird.

[Old and In the Way]

21. Welcome aboard robertll !

Thanks for the comment. Very telling that Presidential level candidates will discredit someone's ability to converse in a foreign language. And Chinese is difficult to master - it's unlike any of the Western Romance languages. Hard to take thi Party seriously. Very stupid people who reflect the very stupid base of the Party.

[robertll]

22. Thank you! Good to be here

It doesn't seem like he's mastered it yet. But yes, Americans can be anti-second language. It's bizarre. And stupid. So Romney poking fun of that, especially when he is bilingual, just shows he lies to make points. Not admirable behavior.

[Fire Walk With Me]

28. Welcome to DU! (Nihao?)

[muntrv]

16. A minus. You must speak Amurkin only!

[jberryhill]

20. Maybe he was baiting Romney to speak French?

[Skip Intro]

23. His goal tonight should have been to relate to potential NH repub primary voters. In that context, I

doubt speaking Chinese helped.

[MADem]

24. In NH, a plus. Down south, maybe not so much. NT

[Ikonoklast]

25. That there is a furrin language, and we don't trust no furriners round hyar.

You best be stepping offa mah proppity now, y'hear?


Anti-intelluctualism and nativism seem to go hand-in-hand, so my guess is that if they didn't dislike Huntsman before, they despise him now.

[Kablooie]

26. Any ability of any sort is a detriment to a Republican.

[aaaaaa5a]

27. Its a huge minus...

The GOP base doesn't value education, multiculturalism or intellectual thought. This is the reason why Mitt doesn't want anyone to know he is fluent in french.

[dameocrat67]

29. It is a minus with both republicans and dems for different reasons

Last edited Sun Jan 8, 2012, 07:08 AM - Edit history (1)

The the republican base being educated or smart is always suspect.

For rank in file dems like myself, it made me think of how much time he must of spent oursourcing American jobs to China in order to learn to speak it that well.

I actually like Romneys stance against unfair trade practices, and I believe it is the only way we will ever have good jobs again.