As a follow up to Brian's post yesterday about Sen. Lamar! Alexander's "English only" National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance proposal, Faiz at Think Progress e-mails this 1995 AP report from Alexander's failed run for president:

September 13, 1995; Wednesday 21:04 Eastern Time

Alexander Says Dole Shows "No Respect" For Hispanics, By Javier Maymi

(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) GOP Presidential hopeful Lamar Alexander lambasted Sen. Robert Dole Wednesday night saying that the senator "showed no respect" for Hispanics when Dole hinted that the U.S. should move towards an "English only" policy.

..."My dream is that every child in America grows up learning two languages," the former governor of Tennessee said. "I can't remember talking to any Hispanic parent who didn't want his or her child to learn English or Spanish."

...Alexander said that the Kansas senator showed little knowledge of the reality of Hispanics in the U.S.

"It was indeed a show of lack of respect for Hispanics and minorities in general," Alexander said. "You have no idea how proud I felt when I saw students in east Los Angeles taking advanced placement tests in Spanish."

We would never accuse a Republican of "flip-flopping" on an issue such as this. Clearly he's had time to think about it, assess new facts, and update his current thinking on it. Yeah, that must be it.

RedDog's picture

I don't know about the

I don't know about the flip-flop, but I don't care to haved a senator wasting his time and Congress's on such trivial crap.

I letter to the Senator will be sent. 

R. Neal's picture

On that I think we can

On that I think we can agree.

Brian A.'s picture

Ouch

I saw Lamar! on Fox News last night talking about his resolution.  A libertarian (?) guy smacked him down pretty well for wasting time on this silliness. 

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

RedDog's picture

My Letter to Lamar A

Dear Senator Alexander -

 I have written to you several times espousing my concerns over the failure of the Senate to take strong action to protect our boarders and take action against illegal immigration. I have yet to see you take any position on these concerns, and now you come with a proposal wasting Congress's and America's time on such trivial nonsense as wanting to require the National Anthem only be sung in English.  I must remind you - you have not been elected class president of the kindergarten - your constituents demand serious policy action by those we elect to office on those matters are key to the country. There is no way the language the National Anthem is sung in can rise to that seriousness. I just can’t believe I must write to a Senator to state such. Please quit pandering to the media and those who don't understand the seriousness that government leadership requires. Your support base is those who primarily vote Republican, as I do. However, I will, and I have, crossed the party line when the Republican candidate fails to promote conservative ideas – e.g., the EX-governor of TN. You and the other Republican leadership (sic) are rapidly losing support due to your failure to lead as a majority with determination and in support of your constituent’s beliefs.

 
With Consternation,

RedDog

 

[please ignore the typos] 

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