Obama dismisses conservative criticism

[kevinmc]

DAYTON, Ohio - Democrat Barack Obama batted away conservative criticism Friday over a comment he made about Americans' lack of foreign language skills.

"The Republicans jumped on this. I said, absolutely immigrants need to learn English, but we also need to learn foreign languages," the likely Democratic nominee said as the 1,000-plus crowd in a school gymnasium cheered. It's a position he long has held.


"This is an example of some of the problems we get into when somebody attacks you for saying the truth, which is: We should want our children with more knowledge. We should want our children to have more skills. There's nothing wrong with that. That's a good thing. I know, because I don't speak a foreign language. It's embarrassing," Obama said chuckling as his audience did the same……….

[grantcart]

1. and 80% of the population knows that it is true

[gateley]

2. Well done, O.

I've often regretted that we weren't required (as it is in so many other countries) to learn a second (or third) language in school.

[babylonsister]

3. He should dismiss their idiocy; what part of dumbing down Americans

don't they get?

[mkultra]

5. thats a winning strategy.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Good response. NT

NT

[Fleshdancer]

6. I'm glad Obama is talking about this

I never understood the knee jerk reaction some people here have when it comes to learning a second language. What parent actually thinks "I want my child to know LESS than other kids around the world"?

On a personal note, I acquired a better appreciation of English when I began learning Spanish because I finally had something to compare it to. I am so thankful I don't have to learn English as a second language...we have some pretty strange rules.

[Political Heretic]

7. He is very good at response to republican attacks. I'm glad he's focused on issues that

...affect majority of Americans in directly tangible ways.

And its why I want him to be president.


Meanwhile, the hard-left continues to wallow in its own theoretical abstract crap.