An official language?

I took a brief, electronic trip home just now, as I made preparations to vote by absentee ballot this November. On Shiawassee County’s page for that sort of thing, below the basic information on eligibility and everything, was this little urban legend:

“HOW IMPORTANT IS ONE VOTE?In 1776, one vote made English the official language in America instead of German.

In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the union.

In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.

In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the Presidency of the United States.

In 1933, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.

In 1941, one vote saved Selective Service – just weeks before Pearl Harbor was attacked.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE!”

I’ll grant that Snopes, linked above, has done way more research on this issue than I have, and (as usual) their page makes for a fascinating read. I’ll just add that I’m not totally comfortable with a government source indicating that the government has an official language. Y’know?

We’re not a presumptuous group in Shiawassee County; I’m certain whoever put it up was simply misled. But when the first page of Google results is full of hits debunking the claim, is there really any excuse for reprinting this silly canard?