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Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Calls for Kerry to Remove Christie Vilsack as a Convo Speaker

Date: July 26, 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Elections


July 26, 2004
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Calls for Kerry to Remove Christie Vilsack as a Convo Speaker

WASHINGTON-Kerry's convention may attempt to gloss over his record, but the speakers he helped pick are bringing their own baggage to Boston, including one of tonight's headliners Christie Vilsack, wife of Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack.

"I am deeply disturbed that John Kerry and the Boston makeover team would award Mrs. Christie Vilsack a primetime convention speaker spot after learning of derogatory comments she made against African Americans, Southerners, and residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania," Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) said.

According to today's Boston Herald, in a 1994 column Christie Vilsack wrote that she was "fascinated at the way some African-Americans speak to each other in an English I struggle to understand, then switch to standard English when the situation requires." She also claimed that Southerners have "slurred speech," and derided the good people of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, saying: "The only way I can speak like residents of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania is to let my jaw drop an inch and talk with my lips in an 'O' like a fish. I'd rather learn to speak Polish."

"Democrats may be proclaiming tolerance and diversity, but Mrs. Vilsack's insults tell a different story," Diaz-Balart continued. "I am deeply disturbed that John Kerry would be hosting and featuring a primetime convention speaker who has articulated such derogatory views of people in so many different parts of our country. Although Kerry cannot be held responsible for the numerous offensive statements from a great number of his surrogates, he can certainly be held accountable for the measures he takes during his nominating convention to make sure no American feels offended.

"I call on John Kerry to demand an apology from Mrs. Vilsack and to reconsider rewarding her behavior with a starring role in the Boston edition of The Swan."

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