Obama, yesterday:
You know, I don’t understand when people are going around worrying about, “We need to have English- only.” They want to pass a law, “We want English-only.”
Now, I agree that immigrants should learn English. I agree with that. But understand this. Instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English — they’ll learn English — you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish.
But Obama discussing worrying about whether immigrants can learn English in The Audacity of Hope, on page 266:
And, if I’m honest with myself, I must admit that I’m not entirely immune to such nativist sentiments. When I see Mexican flags waved at proimmigration* demonstrations, I sometimes feel a flush of patriotic resentment. When I’m forced to use a translator to communicate with the guy fixing my car, I feel a certain frustration.
It is “nativist” to want your car mechanic to speak English?
* You and I know that the rallies were to support the legalization of illegal immigrants, commonly referred to as “amnesty”, not generic “hooray for immigration” rallies.