Why it won't be Vilsack...

[wjsander]

snip---

Tom Vilsack, governor of Iowa, agreed that Americans should speak English. We should conduct our business in English, and our government should operate in English. After all, he signed a bill making English Iowa's official state language (as if there should have been a need for such a thing).

Because of that, he's not good enough to be the Democratic vice presidential candidate.

Yes, you read correctly.

snip---

Here's the story:
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/6/17/115844.shtml

Can I get an "AMEN"?!

[WI_DEM]

1. that and...

if Edwards is disqualified for not having enough experience in international affairs then where does that put Vilsak?

[BootinUp]

2. I'll probably get flamed

Not saying I support this Iowa legislation, don't know enough about it. But I would support efforts in general to prevent significant growth in the non-English speaking percentage of the US population. I think it would be costly to deal with. On the other hand, I also support efforts to make things accessable to those that speak a foreign language, I just don't want those efforts to become overly cumbersome.

*asbestos suit fitted*

On Vilsak, I don't know enough about him at this point to say yea or nay.

[wjsander]

6. I see where you're coming from...

... but I also think that pissing off the latino community should be left to the Republicans.

[MAlibdem]

11. I agree that it would be costly and inconvient

to have multiple common languages.

However, to specifically endorse one language over another seems to limit speech to me.

You can encourage and teach people to speak english without making it the only language one can use for official documents and the like.

[Syrinx]

3. nah

It's because nobody knows who he is.

[SheilaT]

4. More importantly,

he has a name that I'm not sure how to pronounce (I'm not from Iowa) and no one will spell correctly. It has to look good on the yard signs and billboards.

[markdd]

5. I've got the Gasoline!

1) Jon Stewart has already pointed out the problem with Vilsack. No body with the word "Sack" in their name should ever run for office.

2) With my southern accent, it's hard enough to get my order right with the crappy speakers that fast food places use. Add a language barrier and it just makes starvation seem like a viable option. Does that mean we need laws making English mandatory or we ought to harm the people who hire the lowest cost employee regardless of the customer service they are capable of providing? I vote for beating up the store owners.

Edit for 'spellin'

[Chuletas]

7. Part of the Republican Agenda

English only is a republican racebaiting issue. It's important to learn English as an immigrant/Limited English Proficient person to be economically successful but to not use other languages in hospitals, schools, courts, etc? WTF

[checks-n-balances]

8. Consider the source: Newsmax

Sounds like a slanted report to me:

...Because of that, he's not good enough to be the Democratic vice presidential candidate.

Yes, you read correctly.

We should all read Newsmax, if at all, with a grain of salt. I'm too busy to ready the ones worth reading to read that one.

[wjsander]

9. If you actually read it...

... you'll get the point. There's not much to spin in the story.

Besides, it appears that Vilsack didn't even meet with Kerry the other day, as was reported. It seems Vilsack is done (Thank God).

[IA_Young_Dem]

10. Vilsack is a good governor,

but would be a poor choice as VP. He isn't wildly popular in Iowa and wouldn't do well on a national ticket. I think Kerry must choose either Edwards or Clark, preferably Edwards.