Every now and then, U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, lets slip that he speaks French. He chats with French reporters, has occasionally responded in French to a French-language question at a news conference, and once participated in a phone-in talk show in France. But lately Mr. Kerry has been at pains to keep his language skills under wraps.
Why? Because the senator and his advisers seem to have bought into the idea that his fluent French, far from being an asset in his quest for the presidency, is a liability. It is disappointing, as well as somewhat insulting to the American electorate, that he lets his political opponents get away with this.
People in other countries of course think it is a good thing when an American -- any American, but especially a public figure -- speaks a language besides English. There are not that many who can, after all. President John F. Kennedy didn't speak French, but his wife, Jacqueline, did, and was feted for it in Paris. Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Edwin Reischauer is still revered here for his fluent Japanese. Familiarity with a foreign language suggests an excellent education, intellectual curiosity and cultural broad-mindedness.