From Newsday:
President George W. Bush arrived on schedule. He gave his speech. He moderated a panel of five people on a makeshift stage in front of a sign that said “Strengthening America’s Economy.” He wove their stories seamlessly into the fabric of his re-election campaign. He engaged in self-deprecating humor that even a detractor might find charming.
But when workers were finally interviewed — these people who made up the bulk of the president’s cheering audience in New York — Bush’s performance turned out to be, if anything, even more impressive.
“No speak English,” said the first worker, smiling apologetically.
“No speak English,” said the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth workers way-laid in the crowd.
But you think the tax cuts should be made permanent, as he says?
“Sorry, no English,” said another.
It is possible that President Bush could have drawn a crowd of several hundred at lunchtime on the streets of Bay Shore to cheer his economic policies, which can be summed up in two words: tax cuts.
But if that crowd is ready-made — the work force of a small auto parts factory whose owner has received tax breaks from the Republican-run state and town governments, and who employs large numbers of non-English speaking immigrants happy to work for $6 to $9 an hour with few benefits — why bother?
“I understand him a little bit English,” said Nubia Guzman, a packer who said she earns $7.50 an hour after four years on a job that Bush had described in his speech as evidence of the success of his tax cutting economic policies. She has no health coverage.
What did you like about him? she was asked.
“He nice,” she said.
… What would you like to do with your life?, a shipping clerk at U.S.A. Industries named Wil Romero was asked. He is 26 years old. He thought for a moment.
“I would like to be an American citizen,” he said.
I don’t even think that I need to comment on this, do I?
