California Republicans are proving gutless on the issue of ending bilingual education in the state, fearing that they will be accused of Hispanic-bashing. This astonishing posture by a party that backed previous ballot measures ending racial preferences and benefits for illegal immigrants infuriated maverick Republican Ron Unz, who is spearheading the "English for the Children" ballot measure and who is pro-immigration and opposed 1994's anti-immigration Prop 187. Unz called the party leadership "cowardly" in a Washington Times story last week. They're also foolish, and look silly, as well. The same story quoted Republican Assembly leader Bill Leonard saying, "I recommend that the party do nothing."
Latino Democrats like Fernando Vega, meantime, are signing on to the anti-bilingual crusade. Vega, who put up several "English for the Children" campaign signs in the front yard of his Redwood City home, reports a stream of Spanish-speaking mothers from the neighborhood knocking on the door to sign up their children for what they assume are English classes taught by him. They complain that their children aren't learning enough English at school. In any case, Latino parents seem more willing to take on the liberal education establishment than much of the California GOP.