Conservatives debate English Only

Blogger goes head to head with Council member, other backers of charter amendment

Email | Print By Nate Rau

What was supposed to be a fact-finding debate between Nashville Republicans on the merits of the proposed English Only charter amendment turned into high political drama Tuesday inside the conference room at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis.

The debate pitted Nashville attorney and conservative blogger Nathan Moore against leaders of Nashville English First, the group pushing the English Only charter amendment proposal. Moore has been a vocal critic of English Only. Councilman Eric Crafton and former Davidson County Republican Party Chairman Jon Crisp, along with Nashville attorney Jim Roberts, combined to represent the support for English Only.

The debate came during the First Tuesday luncheon, which is organized by local Republicans as a forum to discuss issues. Previous speakers include Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, former Senator Bill Frist, Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas and Mayor Karl Dean.

During a 45-minute question-and-answer period, direct questions were asked by notable figures like Waller partner Maclin Davis, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce President Ralph Schulz and Nashville Republican Party Chairman Tom Lawless.

Moore argued the point that opposing English Only in the special election set for Jan. 22 was actually in line with conservative ideals. Moore said the charter amendment proposal would not save enough money in the long run to justify the special election. He also said English Only was unnecessary because Tennessee law already made English the official language.

“The facts and the numbers, which are not often talked about by those supporting this amendment, speak to opposition,” Moore said, pointing out that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires local governments to offer services in other languages if it is receiving federal funds. “We already know we can’t cut 97 percent of the services due to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

Crafton argued that the state law didn’t explicitly state local governments must do their business in English. He also said the charter amendment proposal should be boiled down to whether a voter believes all government business should be done in English.

“Obviously, I consider what Nashville English First has done, through lawsuits and multiple petitions, that we’ve won a victory making sure people can go out and vote so the community can have this dialogue.”

Davis asked the first question during the open forum, and wondered if Metro wouldn’t be on a slippery slope where future government communications could be done in other languages were the proposal not to pass.

Schulz argued that businesses were locating to Nashville because it is viewed as a diverse and welcoming community. He said English Only would hurt that perception were it to pass.

Schulz engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Roberts, who is leading the cause for the other amendment proposal on the special election ballot. Roberts’ proposal would make petition-driven charter amendment proposals simpler to conduct.

Lawless closed out the meeting with a tense exchange with Crafton. Lawless asked an accusatory question that implied Crafton had violated the state law when he introduced a resolution in Japanese at a Council meeting in 2006.