I was not aware of Acosta’s efforts for the Ethics and Public Policy Center until Ramesh Ponnuru brought it to my attention today. Score one for Acosta.

Unfortunately, Ramesh, like many other Acosta supporters to whom I have spoken, has not queried Acosta directly on language matters. MALDEF and La Raza, by contrast, pronounce themselves thrilled with Acosta’s language views. The contrast is justifiable cause for concern, given Acosta’s main job this year will be approving E.O. 13166 language access plans, including those of the Department of Health and Human Services.

I was also told that conservatives are being told by the White House to keep quiet about the Acosta nomination, for fear of damaging his confirmation chances. I could not help but be reminded of David Souter and Sandra Day O’Connor. If Acosta is confirmed, I can only hope that Ramesh is right and I am wrong.

Jonathan Adler concedes that Acosta’s record on language in the Bush Justice Department is a real problem: “As a deputy in the Justice Department’s civil rights division, Alex may have been required to implement administration policies with which Boulet disagrees” (emphasis in original). Will Acosta rip off the mask of loyal subordinate on language matters once promoted? We’ll see.

Reliable sources have told me today that Acosta could care less about criticism of his record on language matters because his critics are the kind of people who always get upset when someone reaches across the aisle.

Yet the record shows that I am firmly in favor of real outreach to Hispanic Americans:

Outreach to Hispanic voters should not be determined by reading press releases from the National Council of La Raza or meeting with officials for LULAC. Hispanics are not an undifferentiated mass awaiting instructions from their self-appointed leaders in Washington. There are a good many Hispanics who proudly salute the Stars and Stripes rather than the flag of Mexico. These people will repay Republican outreach efforts with their votes–if the GOP simply treats them just like other Americans.
While the continued existence of “Hispanic rights” groups like La Raza and LULAC depends on convincing Hispanics that they will never be real Americans, the Bush administration should not follow their lead.

Acosta will have a chance to speak for himself at his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing tomorrow. I’m looking forward to hearing him.