A poll found that 42% of adults think that presidential candidates speaking in Spanish during the debates is “pandering.”
The YouGov poll was conducted prior to Wednesday’s first Democratic debate, which featured both former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker suddenly breaking into the language along with Univision moderator José Díaz-Balart.
The survey found that 31% of adults considered the gesture “respectful,” while 27% were not sure.
A majority of Republicans and independents polled, 59% and 51% respectively, said they find the practice to be pandering, while 32% of Democrats agreed.
O’Rourke, 46, responded to his first question of the debate, about whether he would support a marginal individual 70% tax rate on highest earners, in Spanish. The response translated to, “We need to include everyone in the success of this economy. But, if we want to do this, we have to include everyone in our democracy. Every voter needs representation, and every voice must be listened to.”
Booker, 50, who looked surprised at his opponent’s response, broke into Spanish later in the debate when answering a question about immigration.
“The situation right now is unacceptable. This president has attacked, has demonized immigrants. It’s unacceptable. I’m going to change that,” Booker said in heavily accented Spanish.
Díaz-Balart seized on the opportunity near the end of the first half and asked O’Rourke a question in Spanish, to which O’Rourke responded in kind.
“Congressman O’Rourke, what would you do on your first day, if you were president, about this reality that is happening?” Díaz-Balart asked.
“We will treat everyone with the respect and dignity they deserve as humans,” the former congressman responded in Spanish.
