In case that trainwreck known as the MTV Video Music Awards suckered you in last night like it did us, here are some condensed bits of action from the first presidential debate ever broadcast in Spanish. (So sue us if Kanye bitching about being Black is more interesting than a bunch of politicians making empty promises.) New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, the only actual Latino involved, kicked things off by serving up some beef he had with the rules Univisión had set for the proceedings—namely, that the candidates had Spanish questions translated into English for them and their English responses translated into Spanish for mass consumption:

“And I do want to say at this point that I was under the impression that, in this debate, Spanish was going to be permitted because I’ve always supported Univisión all my career, but I’m disappointed today that 43 million Latinos in this country, for them not to hear one of their own speak Spanish — [applause] — is unfortunate,” Richardson said. “In other words, Univisión has promoted English only in this debate.”

Proof that baseless applause fodder works on Spanish-speakers, too. (Richardson, like everybody else, was told months ahead of time and reminded thereafter that his end of bidness would be conducted in English.) On to the funny stuff. North Carolina Senator John Edwards, he of losing duo Kerry-Edwards ‘04, drew an amusing comparison between infrared technology and how they’d benefit border security:

When you walk into a Blockbuster to — to rent a movie, you don’t see anybody, but you hear a voice saying, “Welcome to Blockbuster.” We can figure out when somebody’s walking into a Blockbuster. It seems to me we can figure out when somebody’s coming into the United States of America, and especially if we use the technology that’s available to us.

(Does that mean the Mexicans can smuggle pre-viewed copies of “300” out of the U.S. with no one being the wiser?) That’s all, folks! We told you it was mostly boring. Unless, of course, you’re entertained by Barack Obama fumbling with his translator earpiece during an answer. In which case, invent a drinking game about it and pat yourself on the back.

The Democrats, Lost in Translation [Washington Post]
Democratic Spanish-language Univision debate September 9 transcript [Lone Wacko]
Debate broadcast in Spanish [MSNBC]
Image [Joe Raedle / Getty]
Earlier, How Do You Say ‘Rebuttal’ In Spanish?