Democratic Texas governor candidates debate in Spanish
March 2, 2002 Posted: 12:42 AM EST (0542 GMT)
 
Dan Morales, left, and Tony Sanchez
 
DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- The leading two Democratic contenders for governor of Texas spent more time in a televised debate Friday night exchanging verbal attacks than discussing education, which both have said is the cornerstone of their campaigns.

Tony Sanchez, a millionaire businessman from Laredo, criticized former state Attorney General Dan Morales' support of banning race-based college admissions, while Morales accused his opponent of not adequately managing a failed savings and loan.

They also sparred during the hour-long English debate over whether Sanchez is a true Democrat and whether Morales properly handled attorneys fees in the state's $17 billion tobacco lawsuit settlement.

Later Friday night, the candidates, both Mexican-Americans, were to take part in a history-making one-hour debate in Spanish.

According to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, it was to be the first time candidates for governor of any state have debated in Spanish.

In his opening remarks, Morales accused Sanchez of trying to divide voters by race, ethnicity and language by insisting there be the same number of Spanish and English debates. Morales had wanted more debates in English.

"This is Texas, and in Texas we speak English as our primary language," Morales said.

Sanchez said Morales, as attorney general, may have prevented many minorities from even applying to higher education institutions by expanding a federal court order banning race-based college admissions criteria.

Morales took aim at Sanchez for his management of Tesoro Savings and Loan in Laredo, which failed in the late 1980s. He noted that $25 million in Mexican drug cartel money was laundered at the thrift in 1983 and 1984.

Sanchez denied any wrongdoing. He said he did not know about the money laundering, and that his thrift cooperated with investigators.

"Three federal agencies said that we cooperated 100 percent," Sanchez said. "I am very proud of the way our savings and loan handled that matter."

Asked about his handling of private attorney contracts in the tobacco case, Morales called the settlement a "tremendous victory" for the state and said every lawyer representing the state performed "valuable work."

One of the attorneys was a friend of Morales who tried to claim up to $500 million despite complaints from the other attorneys that he did little or no work.

"There's a criminal grand jury investigating him right now," Sanchez said. "He cannot assure us that he's not going to be indicted."

No charges have come from the investigation, which Morales says is politically motivated.

The Democratic winner faces Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who is unopposed in his party.

[url]http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/03/01/texas.debate.ap/index.html[/url]

Debating in Spanish what is up with that? Well all I have to say they where Democratic

Oh, that's an easy one.  Those are Democraps.

¿Acerca de qué habla usted?

Mojo, I cut and pasted from a spanish website.

ps. check your IM

Simple answer: Race-based political pandering, the stock in trade of the Democrats.

Divide and conquer.

Es facíl. Oprima el cerradura de los numeros, entonces Tu oprimas Alt + 168 en la teclas de numeros. Estos son los claves.
Alt+164 =ñ
Alt+163 =ú
Alt+162 =ó
Alt+161 =í
Alt+160 =á
Alt+130 =é
Alt+168 =¿
Hay mas pero no les puedo encontrar. Deseo que te ayude.
GG