Jose can you see....
Since at least the Republican discovery of the flag-burning issue in the 80s, they've come to realize the value of raising a stink about issues that don't affect anyone, but get people all riled up anyway. And if I say the issue of singing the national anthem in another language really doesn't matter to me compared to, say, energy policy, poverty, or the small matter of that war we were lied into... well, that makes me the perfect target for accusations of being an America-hating pinko. Or even better, the antiquated but still popular label of "communist."
As Al Franken mentioned today, the US government commissioned a Spanish version of the song in the 1910s. And multiple Spanish-language versions are on the State Department's website.
As Think Progress notes, Bush himself has a history of singing the national anthem in Spanish while on the campaign trail. What does Bush think today? "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English."
The whole thing is just the latest example of Republican demagoguery and hypocrisy at a time when they're very, very worried about losing their stranglehold on government. Get ready for lots more of it between now and November.
As Al Franken mentioned today, the US government commissioned a Spanish version of the song in the 1910s. And multiple Spanish-language versions are on the State Department's website.
As Think Progress notes, Bush himself has a history of singing the national anthem in Spanish while on the campaign trail. What does Bush think today? "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English."
The whole thing is just the latest example of Republican demagoguery and hypocrisy at a time when they're very, very worried about losing their stranglehold on government. Get ready for lots more of it between now and November.
posted by Matt Sandwich | 12:01 PM
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