Bush makes Mexicans proud
By PAUL DE LA GARZA
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2001
WASHINGTON -- As reporters on the South Lawn of the White House hovered around him Friday afternoon, Rafael Acosta's supervisor told him to get moving.
A waiter, Acosta had sweaty and thirsty guests waiting for sweetened iced tea. There was no time to be lollygagging with the press.
With mariachis on stage and with shouts of "Viva Mexico!" in the background, reporters wanted to get Acosta's insight into the afternoon because he, more than White House aides accustomed to spewing briefing-paper rhetoric, could help put this historic day into perspective.
Before dashing off, Acosta, 47, a native of the state of Veracruz in southeastern Mexico, didn't disappoint. "I feel extraordinarily happy to be Mexican," he said.
So did a lot of other folks in the crowd, including Alberto Gonzales, counsel to the president, and George P. Bush, the president's nephew. His mother, Columba, who is married to Gov. Jeb Bush, was born in Mexico.
For the first time in American history, according to the White House, a U.S. president celebrated Cinco de Mayo at the residence. Cinco de Mayo, or the Fifth of May, is a Mexican celebration marking the defeat of the French by the Mexican army in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
Often confused with Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo is a big celebration among people of Mexican descent in the United States.
With the celebration, and plans for the president to deliver his weekly address today in Spanish, critics have charged the White House with pandering to the Mexican community for political reasons. Not to be outdone, the Democrats are responding in Spanish to the radio address as well.
While the Mexican vote no doubt crossed the minds of fiesta organizers, the truth is that President Bush, as governor of Texas, has a long relationship with Mexico. He traveled there as governor. He made Mexico his first foreign trip as president. And in a few months, Bush will hold his first state dinner at the White House.
His guest: Mexican President Vicente Fox.
In introducing his uncle, George P. Bush talked in Spanish about "celebrating the values of my mother's country." Switching to English, he also said he was "humbled and honored in celebrating a momentous occasion."
When he introduced his uncle, George P. -- who earlier had danced with the Mexican singer Thalia -- called him Tio Jorge.
As he peppered his speech with Spanish, the president said something -- seemingly off the cuff -- that probably did more to win the hearts of Mexicans than all the tired talk of U.S.-Mexico relations.
He said, "I know you join me in thanking the fantastic dancers and the mariachis. It's such beautiful music, and the White House is blessed by your presence."
As a Latino, sometimes it feels cheap when politicians pander to the community. Especially when non-Latinos slaughter Spanish.
Last year, for example, at a Hispanic Congressional Caucus dinner, Vice President Al Gore delivered most of his speech in poorly accented Spanish. Half the room probably didn't even speak the language. It was hard watching him speak. It made you feel uncomfortable.
But Bush doesn't offend. Maybe it's because he feels so comfortable with Mexico, Texas' back yard. Or maybe it's because his Spanish isn't too bad.
On Friday, he was in a joking mood.
Cinco de Mayo is such an important holiday, the president said, that the White House decided to start celebrating on "cuatro de Mayo," the fourth of May.
"Mi Casa Blanca es su Casa Blanca," he said. "My White House is your White House."
He said the holiday "is a reminder of the pride, of the proud heritage of many Americans and the warm and glowing friendship between two great nations. It's a day worth celebrating."
And celebrate the White House did, transforming the South Lawn into Mexico, with dancers, mariachis and Mexican stars.
An 11-member mariachi group from Houston, "Mariachi 2000," performed the classics, from Mexico Lindo to Guadalajara.
"This is a new experience," said bandleader Carlos Castro. "To be able to share our music is as brilliant as the sun is today."
In a twist to the day, however, and in a testament to the rainbow that makes up the Latino community, not everyone in the program was Mexican. Castro, the mariachi leader, is Nicaraguan. And Don Francisco, a Mexican variety show host, hails from Chile.
But Friday, that didn't matter.
Everyone felt at home, listening to the mariachis and their gritos, or the yell that accompanies every song. "I never expected this," said Acosta, the waiter. "I should have brought my camera."
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