Trying to debunk a freeper-ish comment....

[hiaasenrocks]

This person is saying that Obama speaks no foreign languages so he's a hypocrite. I know he speaks an Indonesian language and I swear I heard that he speaks another one. Any info would be appreciated.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. He also speaks passable Spanish.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. How Would That Make Him A Hypocrite?

What piece am I missing?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

8. It doesn't. Freepers are desperately grasping for any crumbs they can get. nt

[caledesi]

19. I agree! NT

[hiaasenrocks]

9. This Bob Barr-loving freeper is saying that since Obama urged

people to learn foreign languages, he's a hypocrite for not speaking one himself. I responded by saying that I was sure he spoke two languages (other than English) but now I need the backup. Found one already. Thanks for any help. There's not a whole lot written about this that I can find.

[grantcart]

3. actually he said that its embarassing that he doesn't speak a second language

he should and he knows it

so it is not hypocritical at all.

[XOKCowboy]

20. I am also...

In France, Italy, Spain, Korea, Japan and China we've always encountered locals who wanted to "practice their English" on us. We'd always make a joke about being typical Americans who expected the rest of the world to speak English and they'd always laugh. Yeah it is pretty embarrassing when you realize that the majority of the people in Europe (including England) are at least bilingual and a surprising number are multilingual.

[hiaasenrocks]

4. OK, found the first one.

The Indonesian language is Bahasa.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. What difference does it make?

Are the freepers looking for hypocrisy in Obama when hypocrisy is all their candidate is made of?

Let them have their little fantasy, reality is far too damaging to them.

[EFerrari]

6. Did he claim to speak other languages?

:shrug:

Identifying something that's good for the country doesn't mean you have to do it personally. Reagan didn't tear down any walls, lol, just as JFK didn't personally go to the moon.

[hiaasenrocks]

10. That point was made by someone. You are correct.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

7. Tell that person that they don't know the meaning of the word hypocrisy

It would be hypocritical for Obama to say "You should learn another language but I don't have to". What Obama said was that people ought to learn other languages and that he was embarassed that he doesn't speak another one. Big difference.

[babylonsister]

11. I never heard that he spoke an Indonesian language. He probably

did as a child when living i Jakarta; maybe he still remembers. Here's his conversation about language:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6477230

[Ian David]

12. Here is Yahoo! Answers citing Time Magazine

Which Foreign languages does Barak Obama speak?
Arabic? Farsi?Spanish?



Robert Lane G
Answer:

Time reports that he speaks "passable" Bahasa Indonesia, the official name of the biggest language in Indonesia. He probably does not speak it very well, as he lived there for four years as a child, 37 years ago, and would have spoken more with his American mother than anyone else. He doesn't claim fluency in any other language.

As an aside, there is absolutely no reason he would speak Arabic or Farsi! His father was a lapsed Muslim who may have known a bit of religious Arabic, but as is well chronicled he never knew his father and is himself a Christian. Where on earth would he have learned Farsi, the langauge of Iran?

* 1 hour ago

Source(s):
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1695803,00.html

More:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080710081837AAXbXvq

[ColbertWatcher]

17. Ah, I see.

So, we should be expecting rumors that he learned Farsi when he lived in Iran now?

[Taverner]

13. Ask him flat out if anyone he knew ever was hurt by knowing a foreign language?

[az chela]

14. He just said on tv that he does NOT speak any foreign

languages

[Ezlivin]

15. He doesn't speak in tongues

So he doesn't appeal to that demographic.

[Posteritatis]

16. If he *did* speak one they'd say he's Not A True American(tm), anyway. (nt)

[Bobbie Jo]

18. Here's the problem when debating freeps...

They generally start with a premise analogy that MAKE NO SENSE whatsoever. :eyes:

If you want a quick ending...ask for sources to backup their claim. You'll probably get something like..."well I just heard, blah..blah," ect.)

1. how do you know he doesn't speak of foreign language?
2. and if true, how this makes him a hypocrite?

Roll eyes...as if saying, Is that the all you've got? Add a chuckle for affect, etc. Sounds like he's getting tips straight from the McSame campaign.


I might add, He speaks perfect English...

Facts trip them up every time.

Don't bite, make em either back it up, or STFU.

Game Over

[librechik]

21. Tell the freeper to prove what HE says

or STFU!

[World Citizen]

22. I'm no hypocritter

I think you should learn everything and I already know everything so there!


really... its sounds like the guy has heard the word before, and thinks it makes him sound smart to use it... be careful not to knock your head against the wall.

[wryter2000]

23. Ask him if that's all he's got

Maybe he doesn't like Obama's hair, either.