LA Mayor Villaraigosa's SotU response translated (the one we needed)

[Mugsy]

Last night, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave the Spanish language Democratic response to President Bush's SotU speech. It was the one the rest of us should have gotten instead of Keane's lukewarm "gee wilakers" response:

English translation of Villaraigosa's response to State of the Union address

<snip>

So, let's talk about the real state of the union.

Next month, because of the reckless policies of this administration, America's national debt will rise to nearly $8.2 trillion dollars. I am here tonight to say: we are mortgaging our children's futures, and it is morally wrong.

Today, 46 million Americans and 39 percent of Latinos, many of whom work full-time at the hardest jobs, don't have access to health insurance. We can't be a healthy nation if we don't face this challenge once and for all.

Today, 6 million children are on the verge of failing out of school; and eleven million Americans can't read a bus schedule or fill out a job application. It is time to put the issue of fixing our public schools to the front and center of the national debate.

Under this administration, 4 million people have fallen from the working class into the ranks of the poor. And the new jobs that are being created pay less than the ones we've lost. We need an aggressive national strategy to build the skills of our workforce and to promote America's competitiveness in the global economy.

Our troops are serving bravely in the Middle East, but Americans are increasingly divided and doubtful about the objectives of this mission.

We owe it to our men and women in uniform and to the families awaiting their safe return to present a clear and credible plan to complete the job and bring them home.

<snip>

Democrats want to end the Culture of Corruption and bring honesty and integrity back in government.

Democrats want a health care system that will cover everybody.

Democrats want a strong public education system.

Democrats want to create jobs and make America energy independent.

Democrats want comprehensive immigration reform that respects our neighbors, makes America safer and stronger, and that gives hardworking people who play by the rules a greater opportunity to realize the American Dream.

Democrats want a strong national security based on telling the truth to our citizens, our soldiers, and our allies.

Above all, Democrats want to unite this country again.

We need your voices and your vision. And above all, we need your participation.

We are all in this together. And as Coretta Scott King reminded us, God bless her soul, we are all Americans. Thank you. God bless America. God bless you all.

Not the "blast him for his crimes" speech that needed to be said, but definitely better than what came out of Virginia last night. :(

[goodhue]

1. Yes, great speech

[sandnsea]

2. That's exactly what Kaine said

Read it yourself.

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4438001&nav=0RdE

[ProSense]

5. Yes. They both made excellent points. n/t

[Mugsy]

7. I find noting on corruption or the debt/deficit.

Kain said nothing about the culture of corruption, and mentions the debt/deficit but never puts a number of it (which gives it greater impact).

While I'm not suggesting Villaraigosa's response was "spot on", I certainly prefered it to Kain's... *anything* was better than Kain's.

[sandnsea]

8. Kaine painted a picture

That's how the right wing does it. They came out of radio where you have to paint a visual picture in order for readers to tune in. Democrats come out of case building, where you rely on facts and figures. Two different kinds of minds. Kaine said "No parent makes their child pay the mortgage", that's painting a picture and also tying into that parent frame. Kaine talked about alot of issues that mainsstream Americans care about and painted a visual picture. They were targeted to different audiences, that's all. I wish Kaine would have had a little more fire too, but his speech still wasn't as awful as some are making out.

[Mass]

3. Great speech

[Dhalgren]

4. K & R!

So simple and so powerful...

[JDPriestly]

6. Before he moved into the mayor's mansion,

Villaraigosa and his family lived in a normal, average house on Mount Washington in Los Angeles. He is a great American, a true hero of the ordinary people, a good neighbor and a good mayor. Future president? Quite possibly. Certainly one to watch.

[Larissa238]

12. I went to school with his son...

But I dont remember ever meeting Antonio himself.

Villaraigosa made me proud to be an Angelino with that speech.

[ronnykmarshall]

16. Made me proud too.

Even though I'm West Hollywood'er, I still consider him 'my mayor'.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. K&R

[leftstreet]

10. "Democrats want a health care system that will cover everybody."

Boy, that's sure not what Kaine said!

There's a better way. Health care reforms must focus on making the system serve consumers better. Many states, following the lead of Illinois, have set up simple ways to help our seniors purchase safe, American-made prescription drugs from other countries at a fraction of the price they would pay here. The Administration actually fought against that Democratic effort! In Virginia, we have worked to provide health insurance coverage for nearly 140,000 children who weren't covered four years ago. And Republicans and Democrats alike have banded together to fight the Administration's efforts to slash Medicaid and push more costs on to the states.

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4438001&nav=0RdE

[MadHound]

11. Gee, the same points Kaine made in his speech

But I suppose since Villaraigosa is more photogenic(whatever that is) the shallow people actually heard what was being said, rather than glomming onto Kaine's looks:eyes:

[Nikki Stone 1]

13. I think you are right about the looks

The real problem with Kaine is that he looked like a Southern Conservative (which he is in a lot of ways) who would fit easily into the neocon House. The base (us) recoil from that kind of look, whereas middle America seems to take to it.

Whether the party chose wisely with Kaine remains to be seen, but he came off as friendly, non threatening and caring about family, which is what the Dems need to offset the right wing echo chamber.

[melissinha]

14. At least the Spanish Speaking Audience got a clear message

That is very, very good for our message in the mid-term elections....

I'll have to give it a listen now, thank for the heads up!




:kick:

got a link for Spanish speaking people to listen to?

[ronnykmarshall]

15. I loves me some Antonio!

:loveya:

[Beaverhausen]

17. Me too!

and is he a hottie or what??!!??!!

[ronnykmarshall]

18. Oh yeah!!

My slogan when he ran the first time "Roses are red, violets are blue ... ANTOINO'S CUTER!".