Meghan McCain says the Democratic debate should have had subtitles: 'I don't speak Spanish'
The co-hosts of The View had a lot to say about the first Democratic debate ahead of the 2020 election, including on one of the most buzzed-about aspects of the night: the use of Spanish by some of the candidates.
Presidential hopefuls including Cory Booker and Beto O'Rourke addressed viewers partly in Spanish to share their views on the economy and immigration, which Meghan McCain felt should have been translated for non-Spanish speakers at home.
“I don’t speak Spanish, and genuinely wanted to hear what they were saying, so I would like subtitles for the future,” said McCain. “I mean this genuinely. I don’t mean this facetiously. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, and apparently it was really important about taxes.”
The co-hosts agreed that the move was made in an effort to appeal to Spanish-speaking voters. “If you think about it, Hillary in 2016, her turnout for Latinos was very, very poor and I think it may have cost her Florida,” said Sunny Hostin. “I think they understand how important the Latino vote is for them in the primaries.”
The comment drew some light support from others on the panel, but viewers at home expressed mixed opinions via Twitter.
Some agreed with McCain that an onscreen translation would have been helpful:
I speak Spanish and I agree with Meghan that subtitles would have been a great idea!!
— Patti Zamarron (@PattiZamarron) June 27, 2019
@MeghanMcCain @TheView I have found an area of agreement with you (other than huge respect for your father): Networks should have subtitles in English during debates as I also want to know what they are saying. Said exactly that last night.
— Charlotte Diener (@DienerCharlotte) June 27, 2019
I agree that subtitles are needed when speaking Spanish or at least say after what you were saying
— Sandria Soffa (@Sandria_1) June 27, 2019
Others disagreed with the request for a translation, and some even felt McCain wasn’t paying attention:
Meghan McCain on @TheView complaining about not understanding the 5 seconds of elementary Spanish spoken on #DemDebate & wanting subtitles is just...🤦🏼?♀?🙄That’s enough day time TV for me
— Karen Morales (@kmojournalist) June 27, 2019
@MeghanMcCain just for the record. Every time someone spoke Spanish they literally followed up translating in English what they had just said. For the future you don’t need subtitles. Just LISTEN.
— Diane Lees🍑🍑🍑 (@dtheavenger) June 27, 2019
@MeghanMcCain - You White Privilege and Nepotism is in full force this morning! So what happens to the Spanish speakers when the candidate speak English? It’s always about you....
— Chris Dale (@cdale9ers) June 27, 2019
Olivia Munn criticizes white men who complain about having to watch what they say:
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