Nice.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The national anthem should be sung in English -- not Spanish -- President Bush declared Friday.

"One of the things that's very important is, when we debate this issue, that we not lose our national soul,'' the president exclaimed. "One of the great things about America is that we've been able to take people from all walks of life bound as one nation under God. And that's the challenge ahead of us."

A Spanish language version of the national anthem was released Friday by a British music producer, Adam Kidron, who said he wanted to honor America's immigrants.

When the president was asked at a Rose Garden question-and-answer session whether the anthem should be sung in Spanish, he replied: "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."[link].

This is why Bush's handlers don't usually let him speak unscripted. He doesn't have good political instincts and can't think on his feet. He didn't have to address this question at all (and if asked, he could have said "I haven't heard it," and moved on quickly). Instead he confirms xenophobe-Americans' fears that the "soul of America" is at risk, in the process looks like a xenophobic douchebag himself, and accomplishes nothing.

For the record, the United States does not have an official national language.

Tags: politics, Bush, immigration