Richardson criticizes 'English only' Univision debate; was interrupted when he spoke Spanish

[DeepModem Mom]

The Hill: Richardson criticizes 'English only' Univision debate
By Klaus Marre
September 10, 2007

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the only Hispanic in the field of Democratic presidential hopefuls, Sunday criticized a historic Spanish language debate as “English only” because all candidates were required to respond to questions in English.

“I do want to say that I was under the impression that in this debate Spanish was going to be permitted,” Richardson said in the debate, which was broadcast by Univision. The governor identified himself as a strong support of the Spanish-speaking network but criticized the format of the debate.

“I’m disappointed today that 43 million Latinos in this country -- for them not to hear one of their own speak Spanish is unfortunate,” Richardson said.

The debate was broadcast in Spanish and the answers of all candidates, who were asked to respond in English, were translated. Only Richardson and Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.) speak Spanish fluently. Richardson was interrupted when he tried to address in Spanish.

The debate gave the candidates a chance to woo the approximately 44 million Hispanics in the country. The group, which includes about 17 million potential voters, could play a key role in the primary and the general election....

http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/richardson-blasts-english-only-univision-debate-2007-09-10.html

[Kelly Rupert]

1. Okay, I love Bill.

But he hasn't been helping himself out too much recently. It's unfortunate that, of all his endless list of qualifications to be President, his Hispanic background is the only one that can get any airplay. It makes him look like a one-issue candidate running only on his race.

I'm hoping he gets the VP slot, but if he wants it, he'll have to start displaying better message control.

[polichick]

2. Pandering imo...

This is a United States election ~ English is the traditional language. If Richardson wants to speak Spanish in a debate, maybe he should run for office in Mexico.

[MaineDem]

3. Ummm, the questions were all in Spanish! n/t

[polichick]

5. Still seems like pandering to me since he knew the rules...

It isn't only Spanish speaking people running or voting ~ the organizers were wise in their decision.

(Just one opinion, but I really like Richardson.)

[LiberalFighter]

8. Were the questions translated into English for the candidates?

[Kelly Rupert]

9. Yes n/t

[Kelly Rupert]

4. It was a Spanish-language debate on Univision.

I don't think he's out of line here. But, on the other hand, this is the reaction that statements like his will be likely to get.

[polichick]

6. He wasn't "out of line" to pander...

That's what politicians do.

[Mass]

7. Unfortunately, the debate format was inept...

Either Univision should have had a debate in English only, or they should have allowed the Spanish speaking candidates to speak without going thru the interpreters.

I tried to follow the debate and found that very annoying. You could hear some of the English behind the Spanish, which made the debate difficult to follow. All the non-verbal message was also missing because the translator's voice was hiding any original intonation (just as when you see a movie that you like dubbed in a different language. Even if you understand the language, it is very disturbing, and it is what I was thinking there too).

[LiberalFighter]

10. It would had been an advantage that other candidates didn't have available to themselves.

If a candidate speaks in Spanish those not knowing Spanish would not be able to rebut or challenge what they were saying if they disagreed or that candidate was speaking negatively against them.

In addition, candidates not knowing Spanish would be at a disadvantage of having their words misinterpreted AND not expressed as fluently and smoothly as one that knows the language.

[Mass]

11. They could have had the answers translated in English, just as the questions were translated to them

In addition, each candidate has his own set of advantages. Should Barack Obama wear a white mask in front of a AA audience in order not to have an unfair advantage. Should Hillary be represented by a man in front in of a women audience?

As it stands, every single candidate had the risk of having their word misinterpreted. So we probably would have needed a English only debate? I guess this is your point.

[LiberalFighter]

12. When a candidate can avoid a translator because they are fluent in the language

They have the ultimate advantage.

When other candidates don't know what a candidate is saying they are at a disadvantage.

To have the answers translated into English in a debate is too cumbersome and time consuming.

This was the best solution that would had been workable.

To suggest your white/black man/woman examples are ludicrous. At least the candidates decide how they will off-set any disadvantages if any.

And what about the translators? Are they bias in their translation? Are they expert translators? Who supplied the translators?

[Mass]

13. The answers were translated in Spanish. They would have been translated in English instead...

The translators WERE there. They translated from English to Spanish AND Spanish to English.

Of course, those candidates who speak English would have had some advantage in the debate. So what! Every candidate has some advantage at some point. Do you think Richardson campaigns in English in Spanish speaking communities???

Did you try to listen to the debate? The result was a total mess, difficult to hear, and missing most non verbal cues (Hillary's voice in Spanish was so far from her natural voice, for example, that it was comical).

[LiberalFighter]

14. The result was a total mess, difficult to hear...

and yet you think it would be okay for Dodd and Richardson to bypass the translators? Leaving the other candidates at a severe disadvantage in having their words severely misinterpreted and lacking the inflection in a person's speech.

[Greyhound]

15. Just an age old strategy to slice off a block of votes that he hopes to use

to gain an appointment, my guess is he wants to be SOS.

[rinsd]

16. I feel for Richardson on this one.

Even knowing it would be to his advantage he should have been permitted to give his answers in Spanish if he wanted to.

[ripple]

17. I don't blame Richardson for his position on this.

Every candidate has their strengths with a certain demographic of voters. For Richardson, this was his opportunity to shine- it was silly to have his responses translated from English to Spanish when it wasn't necessary. I understand that it might be considered unfair to other candidates, but no more so than Hillary having a slight advantage at a women's forum, or Obama at an African-American forum.

[rinsd]

19. I would agree.

[ripple]

20. Hey, that might be a first!

:toast:

[seasat]

18. IMHO, the big three made a mistake forcing the rule change against Dodd and Richardson.

The original format would have allowed Dodd and Richardson to answer in Spanish but the top three refused to debate under those rules. Richardson used a protest against the rule change to his advantage to score some points and get the most quoted lines out of the debate.

If the big three had allowed them to speak in Spanish, we wouldn't see the clip of Clinton ducking the issue of her vote on the border wall while Richardson was able to use one of his stump lines about "if we build a 12 foot wall, they'll bring a 13 foot ladder". We also wouldn't have Dodd's lines in English calling for ending the Cuba embargo. Both of them would have had an English translator which would have been less effective in the news clips on CNN.

I thought it was kind of silly for them to object to Richardson and Dodd speaking Spanish. In national polls Richardson polls either 4th or 5th, almost 40 points behind Clinton. Dodd is usually at 1% or less. It might have helped Richardson and Dodd a little with the Spanish speaking listening audience if they answered in Spanish but I think the rule changed forced by the top three helped both of them even more in the long run.