Apr 27, 2010

Candidate: Want to live in Alabama? Learn English

05:41 PM

Tim James, a GOP candidate for Alabama governor, is getting a lot of attention for a new ad that questions why the state offers driver's license exams in a dozen languages.

"This is Alabama. We speak English," James says, looking into the camera. "If you want to live here, learn it. We're only giving that test in English if I'm governor."

Mark Ambinder of The Atlantic notes that Alabama could jeopardize federal transportation funding by trying to impose an English-only rule. But Ambinder also observes that hinting at a fight with the federal government in this political climate might not hurt a candidate, either.

James, a businessman and son of former two-term Alabama governor Fob James, has said requiring an English-only exam would protect public safety by ensuring that drivers could read traffic signs.

Legislation under consideration in Georgia also would require English-only driver's tests.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... -english/1