The Gazette

Ehrlich won't criticize Schaefer, calls for one culture

by C. Benjamin Ford
Staff Writer

May 7, 2004

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. declined to criticize recent remarks made by Comptroller William Donald Schaefer against immigrants who do not speak English.

"There's no such thing as multiculturalism," Ehrlich (R) told reporters before a lunch meeting with business executives in Rockville on Thursday. "It's one culture -- American."

Ehrlich said it is important to celebrate the ethnic diversity of the country. "This is a nation of immigrants," he said. "I'm German-American."

However, Ehrlich said, the different ethnic groups need to make up a "singular culture" and speak English.

Schaefer (D) made his comments at Wednesday's Board of Public Works meeting about slow service he suffered at a McDonald's restaurant, The (Baltimore) Sun reported.

"I don't want to adjust to another language. This is the United States. I think they ought to adjust to us," The Sun quoted Schaefer as saying. "The people who come here should become part of American (sic), become Americanized and speak the language."

Schaefer spokesman Michael A. Walsh said Thursday that the comptroller would not be "not commenting one way or another at this time."

Ehrlich did not attend Wednesday's meeting.

"Schaefer grew up in a Maryland that was not as multicultural as today," said University of Maryland, College Park political science professor Ronald Walters.

Schaefer's remarks tap into a growing anti-Hispanic movement in parts of the country, Walters said.

"Resentment is deep," he said.

Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Dist. 47) of Mount Rainier said the remarks come at a bad time because the Democrats are trying to build up a base among new immigrants.

"To have someone who is a leader in our party and has done a lot of good tEhrlich wonhings for our party -- it's really disappointing," said Ramirez, who was born in El Salvador. "Disappointing as a Democrat and disappointing as someone who speaks another language as well.

"I don't think anyone would dispute that you should learn to speak English. I also don't believe you need to assimilate and lose your culture."

Montgomery County Councilman Thomas E. Perez (D-Dist. 5) of Takoma Park, the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republican, called Schaefer's remarks unfortunate.

"People want to learn English, but government isn't making it enough of a priority and we have waiting lists," Perez said Thursday.