Domenici Takes Heat for Dole in N.M.

Democrats speak badly of "English-only" stand

Sen. Bob Dole’s proposal to make English the nation’s official language and his criticism of bilingual education sent up red flags in New Mexico this week, where bilingualism has broad political support.

Dole’s remarks to an American Legion convention in Indianapolis on Monday drew denunciations from New Mexico Democrats, who went on to criticize Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., for supporting Dole’s presidential candidacy.

Domenici responded that he and Dole disagree on the language issues. And New Mexico Republican Chairman John Dendahl noted that President Clinton once signed legislation to make English the official language of Arkansas.

“Bilingualism is a staple in this state,” Democratic Party Chairman Earl Potter said Wednesday, referring to New Mexico’s sizeable Hispanic and Indian populations.

“There isn’t anybody more in Dole’s camp than Domenici,” he said. “Why doesn’t he (Domenici) say, “I disassociate myself with those views?’ ”

Nationally, Dole’s comments drew criticism from Hispanic-rights groups, including the National Council of La Raza.

“So-called ‘English-only’ initiatives are not what New Mexicans want, and I’ve joined them in this view,” Domenici said Wednesday in a statement issued by his Washington office.

“I think my record shows that I have consistently supported bilingual education ,” Domenici said.

His disagreement with Dole on the official language issue apparently is not enough to make him disassociate himself from the Senate majority leader’s presidential bid.

Domenici heads Dole’s New Mexico steering committee and is a regional co- chair for Dole’s campaign in Western states. Domenici also backed Dole’s 1988 presidential bid.

“I’m not in the position to have Senator Dole accept all my views on this, or vice versa,” Domenici said. “I have talked to Sen. Dole about this and he knows that I do not agree with him on this issue.”

Clinton told an Albuquerque audience during his 1992 presidential campaign that he “probably should not have signed” a bill, as Arkansas governor in 1987, to make English the state’s official language.

Clinton said the Arkansas bill had been passed by the state legislature with a veto-proof majority and that there were assurances that bilingual education would not be affected. He vowed he would not sign “a bill of that kind” as president.

The New Mexico Legislature rejected a proposal to make English the state’s official language the same year that Clinton signed the Arkansas bill.

Republican Gov. Garrey Carruthers was among the New Mexico measure’s critics, calling it “offensive to Native Americans and Hispanic peoples.”

State and federal proposals to make English the official language typically have meant that many types of public information, including ballots in some cases, would be conveyed only in English.

Dole, in his Indianapolis speech, said, “If we want to ensure that all our children have the same opportunities in life, alternative language education should stop and English should be acknowledged once and for all as the official language of the United States.”



Comments are closed.