Tom Tancredo on Immigration : Dec 9, 2007
Boycotted Univision debate because broadcast was in Spanish

Mike Huckabee on Health Care : Dec 9, 2007
Called for isolating AIDS carriers in 1992, not quarantine

A: I didn't say that we should quarantine. I said it was the first time in public health protocols that when we had an infectious disease & we didn't really know just how extensive it could be, that we didn't isolate the carrier. Now, the headlines started saying that I called for quarantines, which I did not. I had simply made the point that in the late '80s, when we didn't know as much as we do now about AIDS, we were acting more out of political correctness than we were about the normal public health protocols that we would have acted--as we have recently, for example, with avian flu--I spent months as a governor dealing with a pandemic plan that we were looking at which called for isolating carriers if they contracted that disease. I'm not going to recant. Would I say it a little differently today? Sure, in light of 15 years of additional knowledge, I would.

Ron Paul on Immigration : Dec 9, 2007
Those who attack bilingualism are jealous & feel inferior

A: Well, it's practical because we can all understand each other. I sometimes think that those who attack bilingualism sometimes are jealous, & we feel inferior, because we're not capable. But we should have one language. But we, as federal officials, as a congressman or a president, we only have authority over the federal government. So I think all federal things should be in English. But when it comes to bilingualism in schools or the states, under our Constitution, it really is permissible. And the states can decide that. But under the conditions that we have today, I think it is good and proper to have one language, which would be English, for all legal matters at the national level. But this doesn't preclude bilingualism in private use or in education or in local government.

Ron Paul on Foreign Policy : Dec 9, 2007
Stop interfering with Latin America; talk & trade instead

A: Well, he's not the easiest person to deal with, but we should deal with everybody around the world the same way: with friendship and opportunity to talk and try to trade with people. We talked to Stalin, we talked to Khrushchev, we've talked to Mao, and we've talked to the world, & we get along with people. Actually, I believe we're at a time where we even ought to talk to Cuba and trade and travel to Cuba. We have a problem in South America and Central America: because we've been involved in their internal affairs for so long. We have been meddling in their business. We create the Chavezes of the world, we create the Castros of the world by interfering and creating chaos in their countries, and they respond by throwing out their leader.

Joe Biden on Immigration : Dec 4, 2007
FactCheck: 67% of illegal aliens speak Spanish; not 40%

In fact, Mexico was the country of birth of 57% of the estimated 11.55 million unauthorized immigrants in 2006. Add in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras--all Spanish-speaking countries--and it jumps to 67%. You'd have to go back many decades to get to a time when the majority of undocumented immigrants were Britons, Germans, Irish and Poles.

Dennis Kucinich on War & Peace : Oct 30, 2007
Impeach Bush for violating international law on preemption

Ron Paul on Homeland Security : Sep 17, 2007
Violating habeas corpus will be used against us

John Edwards on Foreign Policy : Sep 9, 2007
Our Latin America policy is either disengaged or bullying

A: I think actually what America should be doing is having a policy throughout Latin America that instead of being ad hoc, which is what we've seen under this president, either disengaged or bullying, one of the two. That's what Latin American countries have seen from the US. That is the reason that Chavez can be so effective in bringing others in Latin America to surround him when he demonizes the US. If instead America was a force for good in Latin America, for example, making education available to millions of children who have no education, helping stop the spread of disease, the simple things like sanitation and clean drinking water, helping with economic development, microfinance, microlending, to make hope and opportunity available to millions of people in Latin America, it would pull the rug out from under a man like Hugo Chavez.

Chris Dodd on Foreign Policy : Sep 9, 2007
We've neglected Latin America; need to re-engage

A: We have neglected Latin America for these last six years here. I'm old enough to remember when Richard Nixon's car was stoned in Caracas, Venezuela, in the late 1950s. And then, two years later, we elected an American president whose photograph still hangs in many huts and hovels from the Rio Grande to Tierra del Fuego. We need to re-engage once again here. We're spending $1.6 billion for all of Latin America in terms of aid and assistance, a fraction of what we're spending in Iraq, the $500 billion we've spent there. We need to engage with the hopes and aspirations of people in this part of the world.

Bill Richardson on Education : Sep 9, 2007
Pay off college loans in exchange for national service

A: Of course it would. I'm a strong supporter of bilingual education. This is what I would do as president.

1. Preschool for every child. You have to get the kids before they're 4.
2. Full-day kindergarten.
3. Science and math. We are behind. We're 29th in the world in science & math in K through 12.

Bill Richardson on Foreign Policy : Sep 9, 2007
Alliance with Latin America on microlending & human needs

A: For one, I would pay attention to Latin America if I'm president. This president does not. Number two, we've got to fix the immigration issue. That is central not just to Mexico but Central America. Number three, we've got to deal with the Cuba issue. What we need there is possibly start lifting the embargo but only after Fidel Castro releases political prisoners and their democratic freedoms. Then I would have a new alliance for progress with Latin America like John F. Kennedy that would improve contacts in renewable energy, and microlending, and human needs. I would try to associate myself, too, with democratic populist movements like that are taking place in Brazil, in Argentina, in Chile, but most importantly recognize that what happens in Latin America is key to America's future. A kid here in Miami has more contact and more opportunities in Latin America than anywhere else.

Chris Dodd on Foreign Policy : Sep 9, 2007
We spend $500B in Iraq; add some to $1.6B in Latin America

Dennis Kucinich on Immigration : Sep 9, 2007
Promote Spanish as a second national language

A: Yes. When I was mayor of Cleveland, I made it a point to reach out to our Hispanic community in the city of Cleveland. And before that, 40 years ago, when I was a candidate for city council, it was the involvement in the Hispanic community that proved to create the circumstances for my election. So I have a deep understanding of the economic issues that people deal with.

Chris Dodd on Immigration : Sep 9, 2007
Teach more Spanish, but not as a second national language

A: Certainly [we should be] promoting greater understanding in language in this country. It's a source of some collective embarrassment that we Americans don't speak enough languages, that we always think the rest of the world has to understand English. I'm proud of the fact that [I speak Spanish]. I understand that we need to encourage more language training in the country. [However], I believe that the common language of our country is English, but that we ought to encourage and support those who are not English speakers to be able to enjoy the benefits and opportunities of these country.

Bill Richardson on Civil Rights : Aug 9, 2007
Apologizes for "maricon" comment; but look at the record

A: Sure, you know, and I'm Hispanic. I felt the sting as a kid of being stereotyped. And I apologized but I meant no harm when I said that. It was, you know, one of those exchanges that I was caught off guard. No, I am not backing off. I apologize, but I think you should look at my actions and not words. Let me tell you what I've done as governor. You can talk about what mistakes people have made. I've made plenty. And I've probably said things that I regret across the board. But we should look at what we've done. I accept [responsibility] obviously -- but you should look at my record. Action speaks louder than words.

Mitt Romney on Immigration : Jun 3, 2007
Make English national language; communicate in Spanish too

A: Let me make it real clear--I'm not anti-immigrant. I love immigrants. I love legal immigrants coming to our country. I'm happy to communicate to them, and I hope they vote for me. And I'm happy to have people all over the country, and I'm going to reach out to them in any language I can to have them vote for me and understand why I'm going to support making this a great land.

I very firmly believe that we have to make sure that we enforce our borders, that we have an employment verification system, and that those people who have come here illegally do not get an advantage to become permanent residents, they do not get a special pathway. That's the problem I have with the bill the Kennedy-McCain bill.

Tom Tancredo on Immigration : Jun 3, 2007
No campaign ads in Spanish; preserve English

TANCREDO: No, I would not advertise in Spanish. Believe me when I tell you this--the preservation of the English language is important for us for a lot of reasons. It is the glue that keeps a country together, any country. Bilingual countries don't work, and we should not encourage it. McCain's immigration bill codifies Pres. Clinton's executive order that said all papers produced by the government have to be in various languages. No, it is absolutely wrong. English is the language of this country, and you know what, we should not be ashamed of that. It's a good thing and it holds us all together regardless of where we come from regardless of our backgrounds, our histories, it doesn't matter. We need that thing to hold us together.

McCAIN: Well, first of all, muchas gracias.

John McCain on Immigration : Jun 3, 2007
Hispanics serve our country, like every wave of immigrants

TANCREDO: No, I would not advertise in Spanish. English is the glue that keeps a country together, any country. McCain's immigration bill codifies Pres. Clinton's executive order that said all papers produced by the government have to be in various languages.

McCAIN: Well, first of all, muchas gracias. We have to stop the illegal immigration, but we've had waves throughout our history. Hispanics is what we're talking about, a different culture, a different language, which has enriched my state where Spanish was spoken before English was. In Washington DC, go to the Vietnam War Memorial and look at the names engraved in black granite. You'll find a whole lot of Hispanic names. They must come into country legally, but they have enriched our culture and our nation as every generation of immigrants before them.

Mike Gravel on Immigration : Jun 3, 2007
Make English the official language of the US

Newt Gingrich on War & Peace : May 20, 2007
Deadline for Iraqi withdrawal is legislating defeat

DODD: I believe we should. My view is there's a greater likelihood that the Iraqis, if they understand that this is not an open-ended process here, and that we're willing to help train troops and help on counter-terrorism, but that come the first of April next year, our military participation is over with.

GINGRICH: I disagree deeply. There are young men and women risking their lives in uniform who are dramatically going to be demoralized by the idea of who's the last person to die trying to win in Iraq. If we have to set a deadline, then let's set it for next Tuesday. Let's get out of there. Because I think the idea that we're going to set a magic moment a year from now or 11 months from now or 10 months from now basically says we are prepared to accept defeat if the deadline's real and we can't find a way to get to victory, then we will have legislated defeat.

Ron Paul on Budget & Economy : Jan 17, 2007
Government out of regulating economy & out of our bedrooms

Bill Richardson on Foreign Policy : Nov 3, 2005
Negotiated with Castro to halve fee to emigrate from Cuba

At that time, Cuba charged $600 for exit documents. This was prohibitive to thousands who wanted to leave. The "Richardson Agreement" cut that figure in half for up to 1,000 Cubans per year who could demonstrate financial hardship. Castro suggested, without making a promise, that we could build on this agreement, perhaps leading to the relaxation of restrictions in other areas. I also succeeded in returning home with several imprisoned dissidents.

I am no fan of Castro's politics and the repression he has visited upon Cubans for the past 46 years. But all in all, he was probably the best-informed foreign leader I met during that period in the mid-1990s.

John Edwards on Immigration : Sep 4, 2003
Hard working immigrants earn right to citizenship

EDWARDS: Let me say a word about my personal experience with this issue. I grew up in a family where my father worked in a mill all of his life. And when I was young, we moved to a small town in rural North Carolina, which is where I grew up. That town is now half Hispanic.

My family moved to that town because my father, who has a high school education and is still living, believed that by working hard and doing the right thing that his kids would have the opportunity for a better life. These Hispanic families? They came to Robbins, North Carolina, for exactly the same reason. And those who came and live there, who work hard and are responsible, they have earned the right to be American citizens.

John Edwards on Free Trade : Sep 4, 2003
National venture capital fund for those hurt by trade

But it's not enough to just protect the jobs that we have. We have to create jobs, and particularly in those communities where the job loss has been greatest. First, I would stop these tax loopholes that give American businesses a reason to go overseas. Instead, we ought to give tax breaks to companies that'll keep jobs right here in America. Then I would identify those places in America that have been hit the hardest, particularly by trade, and create a national venture capital fund for businesses that will locate there, give tax incentives to existing business and industry that will come there.

Al Gore on Free Trade : Oct 31, 2000
More Latin American trade, with labor & enviro protections

A: I am committed to enhancing our alliance and expanding trade with the countries of Latin America. Trade has been an important part of our economic expansion and creates high-paying jobs. As president, I will build on the work that the administration began when the U.S. hosted the first Summit of the Americas to promote hemispheric cooperation on a full spectrum of political, economic, security, and social issues. As we expand our trade agreements, we can achieve more based on what we have learned in the past seven years. I will insist that labor and environmental protections are included as part of future trade agreements.

Al Gore on Civil Rights : Jul 1, 2000
Latino values are America’s best values

Al Gore on Civil Rights : Jan 17, 2000
Latinos considered for Supreme Court, but no pledge

John McCain on Civil Rights : Mar 15, 1999
We don’t need laws against Spanish language & culture