Why Oh Why Are We Ruled by These Liars?

They lie about everything:

Think Progress:

George W. Bush, 4/28/06:

I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English.

But in his book American Dynasty, Kevin Phillips notes that during Bush's first presidential campaign, he would often sing the national anthem in Spanish. From pg. 142:

When visiting cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, or Philadelphia, in pivotal states, he would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing "The Star-Spangled Banne" in Spanish, sometimes partying with a "Viva Bush%" mariachi band flown in from Texas.

Impeach George W. Bush. Now.

Comments

[Derelict]

When the preznit says the national anthem should only be sung in English, what he actually means is that it's okay to sing it in other languages as well--just so long as that singing furthers his political ends.

If it doesn't help him politically, then it should be a crime.

[pgl]

Could it be? Governor Bush was once unAmerican? BTW - Condi Rice defends this Spanish version. Good for her!

[ogmb]

Nice find, but I don't see the lie. This is like quoting the Shrub that televised campaign debates should be outlawed and then showing him participate in one of the debates from 2000/04. The fact that he had to participate in the singing/debating might be exactly what triggered his stand.

[Thane Walkup]

Bah, this is Kevin Phillips we're talking about - known traitor and communist sympathizer. OF COURSE he knew the President would make a stand to keep the National Anthem pure and unsullied, and as such, preplanted a way for liberal idiots to undermine a political move that would keep us safe from commie sympathizers for years to come.

[ogmb]

On the other hand, either the WaPo or Lamar Alexander seems to be lying:

"According to an article in the Washington Post last Friday, at least 389 different versions of our anthem have been produced over the years, in many musical styles, including rock and roll and country. But, the Post also noted, never before has it been rendered in another language."

http://alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_Id=997

[joe o]

Or the Washington Post could be wrong:

http://www.able2know.com/forums/about73667.html

[Gene O'Grady]

Never rendered into another language before? Well, some forty years ago when I was a high school Latin student the little uplift sheets about how wonderful Latin was used to give us a Latin version we could sing in class.

Or maybe Latin isn't a foreign language?

[PaulC]

One interesting link that comes up in the Wikipedia entry for Star Spangled Banner is this 1919 translation into Spanish by the US Bureau of Education:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.100000007/default.html

This is a completely made-up controversy without any history or tradition to it. Anything can be translated.

[Peatey]

The world needs a time-series of the occurence of "Impeach George W. Bush. Impeach him now." on this blog since 2001, posthaste.

Someone get on this now.

[BroD]

The new anthem, "Impeach George W. Bush. Impeach him now," should be sung from hills and valleys all across this great nation in as many languages as possible.

[Mark Thoma]

More from Think Progress:

On Friday, President Bush blasted the idea of singing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish. But Bush’s highly-scripted 2001 inaugural ceremony actually featured a rendition of the national anthem sung in Spanish by Jon Secada. From Cox News Service, 1/18/01:

The opening ceremony reflected that sentiment. A racially diverse string of famous and once famous performers entertained Bush, soon-to-be First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President-elect Richard B. Cheney and his wife, Lynne, who watched on stage from a special viewing area. Pop star Jon Secada sang the national anthem in English and Spanish.

Apparently, Secada singing the anthem in Spanish was a regular feature of the Bush campaign. From the 8/3/00 Miami Herald:

The nominee, his wife Laura, erstwhile rival John McCain and his wife Cindy joined Bush on a platform where children sang the national anthem - in “Spanglish,” Secada explained.

This morning, ThinkProgress revealed that, according to Kevin Phillip’s book American Dynasty, Bush himself sang the national anthem in Spanish. Looks like Bush’s conviction that “the national anthem ought to be sung in English” was something he acquired very recently.

[howard]

well, of course the prof just noted a day or two ago the yiddish version.

but what i really wanted to say is 400 version or whatever, the best remains the Hendrix one.

[Emma Anne]

"The fact that he had to participate in the singing/debating might be exactly what triggered his stand."

*Had* to?

[ogmb]

"*Had* to?"

Debating opponents, pandering to minorities: Not the Preznit's favorite activities.

[ogmb]

"One interesting link that comes up in the Wikipedia entry for Star Spangled Banner is this 1919 translation into Spanish by the US Bureau of Education"

U.S. Department of State, 2006:
http://tinyurl.com/ghlkw

And in the language of the enemy:
http://www.amb-usa.fr/az/h/hymne.htm

[ogmb]

More Unamerican activities from... The President of the Senate of American Samoa?

>>
A new provision states that "The Territory of American Samoa acknowledges the national anthem of the United States, 'The Star-Spangled Banner', and its Samoan translation, 'Vi'i o le Tagavai o le Iunaite Setete'."

When the bill was introduced yesterday, it was accompanied by the lyrics of the U.S. National Anthem, its Samoan translation and the music sheet. The measure is assigned to Sen. Pulefa'asisina Palauni Tuiasosopo, a former American Samoa Community College musical instructor and director, to oversee a Senate Committee hearing, which is not yet set.

By yesterday afternoon, Senate President Lolo M. Moliga had written a letter to the Community College President Dr. Adele Satele-Galeai about the pending bill.

"We are now enjoying 106th year of partnership with the greatest country in the world, yet we have not honored this union by memorializing the anthem of the United States in our native language," Lolo wrote.
<<

http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2006/January/01-26-18.htm

[old ari]

Some one should sing it in Farsi.

[edmond]

Dr. DeLong,
With all due respect, the President has many faults. This is not one of them. Bush has actually sought to move his party to the left on this issue. To say the anthem should be sung in English is not to denounce and condemn Spanish versions. If one says that the Hatikva or Hava Nagila should be sung in Hebrew are they being hateful? Another example: one could translate and sing the Marseise in English. But if he decides to become French then to participate he should sing in French.
One could argue that its not about content but context. That the timing makes it a code for being anti-immigrant etc.
However, this is politics. Lame ducks have to try to hide behind rhetoric--in this case that of congressional Republicans in an election year, who if left to their own devices would enact foolish xenophobic measures.
I understand that you are to an extent kidding around, but its not good to indulge too heavily in this one-sided childish stuff.