993. Flip-flopper/Opportunist/Grammarian-in-chief

From The Progress Report:

"I think the National Anthem ought to be sung in English."
-- President Bush, 5/2/06

versus.....

"When visiting cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, or Philadelphia, in pivotal states, [Bush] would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' in Spanish, sometimes partying with a 'Viva Bush' mariachi band flown in from Texas."
-- Kevin Phillips, "American Dynasty," describing then-Gov. George W. Bush during his 1999 presidential campaign


And don't overlook this gem:

"I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English. And they ought to learn to sing the anthem in English."
-- President Bush, 5/2/06


Update: Think Progress has discovered many other instances....

On Friday, President Bush blasted the idea of singing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish. But Bush’s highly-scripted 2001 inaugural ceremony actually featured a rendition of the national anthem sung in Spanish by Jon Secada. From Cox News Service, 1/18/01:

The opening ceremony reflected that sentiment. A racially diverse string of famous and once famous performers entertained Bush, soon-to-be First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President-elect Richard B. Cheney and his wife, Lynne, who watched on stage from a special viewing area.

Pop star Jon Secada sang the national anthem in English and Spanish.

Apparently, Secada singing the anthem in Spanish was a regular feature of the Bush campaign. From the 8/3/00 Miami Herald:

The nominee, his wife Laura, erstwhile rival John McCain and his wife Cindy joined Bush on a platform where children sang the national anthem - in “Spanglish,” Secada explained.

...and McClellan plays dumb (badly), as usual:

From a ThinkProgress commenter to the White House Press Briefing in just three hours. CNN’s Ed Henry is on the case:

HENRY: Scott, on Friday the president firmly said he believes the national anthem should be sung in English. Kevin Phillips, the Republican analyst, wrote a book called American Dynasty. And in there, he claims that, during the president’s 2000 campaign, he did sing The Star Spangled Banner in Spanish at some Hispanic festivals, various campaign events.

Are you aware that you recall that from the 2000 campaign?

MCCLELLAN: No, I don’t.

HENRY: Do you think that that would be counter to what the president laid out on Friday?

MCCLELLAN: I don’t recall that, and I’m not going to try and speculate on something I haven’t looked into.