At least one top Washington pundit expects the Spanish language television networks to sponsor presidential debates en Espanol.
Latinos and other Spanish speakers are probably cringing at the thought of the likes of Hillary Cilnton, Barack Obama and John McCain practicing rolling their Rs. If anything these events would provide loads of hilarious YouTube clips.
This prediction made by Newsweek's Howard Fineman on "The Chris Matthews Show" underscores the growing clout of Spanish language media. The presidential campaigns are going to write plenty of checks to Univision Communications Inc. (NYSE:UVN) and General Electric Co.'s (NYSE:GE) Telemundo because of the importance of the Latino vote.
For example, Spanish-language TV spending rose at 13.9 percent last year compared with 2.5 percent gain in network TV and a 3.4 percent gain for cable, according to TNS Media Intelligence. There was a similar disparity in both newspapers and magazines. There's no reason not to expect that trend to continue.
If Fineman's prediction comes true, it will benefit Democrats Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd, who speak Spanish. Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, is the only Latino candidate, and Dodd, a Senator from Connectict, learned the language as a Peace Corps volunteer.
"Dodd I'm told by Spanish speakers, speaks Spanish better than Richardson does," Fineman said on the program today (via Mediabistro.)











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-18-2007 @ 8:59PM
Ricky1793 said...
I think is a shame Im spanish and I love and Praise English at my language,Shame on those that dont want to lern and Stay stock,This is America and english is our language Now How about ifyou do it in Russian,arab ,Israeli,Greek,Chinese I mean Fair is fair If someone knows spanish Good for them,But let be BILingual,Meaning all the way,able to translate and understand when you go visit those friends if Ever that were left behind in your spanish speaking country,Nevertheless your own family,also shame on some that know spanish and tell those here if a question is asked that IM sorry I dont speak spanish,Oh I seen it hasppen so often here in NYC,if you are shame them BE because Im ashame of how some of my own spanish speaking friends had put people to the test
3-18-2007 @ 9:00PM
Gary said...
I lived in extreme south Texas for 30 years,and although I love the Hispanic people, their language, and their culture, more than one national language divides a country. Furthermore, if they don't like the US as it is, they should go back to Mexico. Don't import your 3rd world way of thinking here. Come here and learn our culture and our language, or go back.
Absolutely no citizenship should be conferred upon any foreigner unless the person is fluent, very fluent in English. This country was not made great by the Spanish language, or the Spanish speaking people, or by the ways of any of the Spanish speaking countries. Most of us who were born and raised here strongly resent you thinking about changing this country to your standards. You didn't make this country what it is. Love it or leave it.
I strongly believe that it should be made illegal to print ballots or any other material in anything but English. Catering to the Spanish language simply makes it easier for them not to learn English.
The reason we have such a conflict now over the issue is that it was not met with strict discipline when the very first immigrants arrived from the south. They could get by with Spanish, so they did. Now they want everybody to learn Spanish, or at least to have everything printed and spoken in both languages. It is high time to put a stop to this nonsense. No way, Jose.
3-18-2007 @ 11:13PM
Charles said...
I think it's wonderful that the candidates are reaching out to all voters of US, whatever language they speak. I'd like to emphasize that the biggest value of debates in Spanish may not be the language, but the relevancy of the debate topics for Spanish-speaking Americans. Univision is filled with soap operas and is more popular than some English networks amongst our countries' youth (13 - 24). Perhaps debates in Spanish will reach more of our nation's youth, and allow them to watch with their parents.
I'd like to say one last thing. Puerto Ricans are Americans who speak Spanish. They did not immigrate here from another country. If a Puerto Rican is living in Orlando, for example, they have every right to live their lives and only speak Spanish. Just as we have freedom of religion, we have freedom of culture. While language can definitely benefit someone's future in this country, it should not be imposed as a requirement. I just hope people consider this, although I understand this is a whole other debate in itself.
3-19-2007 @ 6:00AM
Roger said...
By letting all these cultures into this Country and then catering to them , all that is happening to this country is dividing it up into sectors. All this will eventually bring is war. LOOK AT THE MIDDLE EAST !!! It is the majority White that has let this happen and, Shame on us for letting it happen! If a white person says anything its called bigots racist. And yet when any other culture in this country says something us white people have to swallow it as a "opinion". The crap needs to stop!!!
3-19-2007 @ 6:20AM
Paul Giroux said...
Sure. Great. Now I want mine in French. My many neighbors want theirs in Portuguese. I have a German now American friend who would like to hear them in her native Eifel dialect.The Italians and Polish here in Fall Rive want theirs in their language too. What about our several local Cambodians? Our Croatian regional social magazine (in English)editor-publisher would probably love to hear them in her native language.
Paul Giroux
3-19-2007 @ 2:27PM
leonard said...
Now for sure if this happens we will be a third world nation sooner than I thought
3-19-2007 @ 3:32PM
Victor said...
NO, I DO NOT THINK DEBATES IN SPANISH WOULD BE A GOOD THING. THE ELECTION IS BEING HELD IN AMERICA.
LET'S PRESERVESOME THINGS AMERICAN WHY DID ALL THE IMMIGRANTS, IN OTHER WORDS OUR FOREFATHERS, LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH AND SO MANY OF THE FOREIGNERS NOW DO NOT. THAT'S THEIR PROBLEM IF THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SAID
3-24-2007 @ 5:19PM
Kevin said...
How stupid can you be ! I insist that all other nations where americans live must cater to the English language......See how stupid that sounds! Stay in your own backyard leave my yard to me!