HOUSTON — Even as they made history in the nation's first Spanish-language gubernatorial debate Friday night, a pair of tough-talking Mexican American Democrats couldn't keep from wrangling over ethnic pandering and the politics of language.
"I believe that we need to recognize that a great majority of the voters in the state of Texas--and including those who are Hispanic--speak English," said former state Atty. Gen. Dan Morales, who in a final hour revision followed each Spanish answer with an English translation.
"I think that he's embarrassed to be Hispanic," borderland oil baron Tony Sanchez said. "He has never shown the pride that we have to be Hispanics, and that gets to me."
The Friday debate in Dallas marked the first time candidates for governor of any state have debated in Spanish. Earlier in the evening, the two men pontificated in English on taxes, spending and political icons. In the Spanish debate, the topics shifted to bilingual education, immigrant rights and school prayer.
It almost didn't happen. The candidates bickered for weeks over when, where and how often to debate. They were still quarreling on the eve of the debate when Morales announced a compromise to what he considered an ethnically divisive meeting: He'd answer the questions in Spanish, then repeat his answers in English.
"We have an opportunity to make history," Sanchez said. "For Mr. Morales to go back on his promise is an affront to Texans of every background."
Linguistically, Sanchez has the upper hand: His Spanish is much smoother than Morales' faltering utterances. And when he saw his opponent hesitate, Sanchez was quick to criticize.
About one-third of the voters in the Democratic primary are expected to be Latino. In the Bush years, Texas was a Republican stronghold, but analysts say that hold is tenuous. Latinos, who have tended to vote Democratic, already make up 40% of the registered voters and are the state's fastest growing ethnicity.
There was a time, not so long ago, when Spanish was doffed at the door to the middle-class, a necessary trade-off for the upwardly mobile. Decades ago, Mexican American students were banned from playing football in many Texas school districts--and pupils were spanked for speaking Spanish.
"Spanish was the language of the people who lost the land," said Nestor Rodriguez, co-director of the University of Houston. "This is a revival not just of the language but of the people. The people who were here originally are getting back the linguistic right. It's OK to be Mexican American again, you know?"
