Posted on 11/09/2015 7:58:11 AM PST by conservativejoy
Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson on Sunday advocated for Puerto Rico to become the 51st state.
'When you stop and think about it Puerto Ricans have been Americans for a century or more already,' Carson said at a rally on the island for Ricky Rosselló, a gubernatorial candidate in Puerto Rico's New Progressive pro-statehood party.
'You've already paid your dues,' Carson told a cheering crowd. 'There have probably been more patriotic Puerto Ricans than any other state. Look at all the contributions that have been made to America.'
Puerto Rico faces a debilitating $72 billion dollar debt, but Carson said during the rally Sunday that the U.S. commonwealth's debt stems from an 'un-level playing field.'
'If we start treating them like we do everybody else the debts will get much better,' Carson said. 'Hawaii and Alaska also had debt until things took off and that will happen here as well.'
Carson said statehood for Puerto Rico was also a logical defense move because of its location. 'We need unity. We need to be working together and not against each other,' Carson said.
Puerto Rican citizens cannot vote in the general election, but they can participate in primary elections.
Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush have also endorsed statehood for Puerto Rico. About 5 million Puerto Ricans live in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center.
He’s after the Puerto Rican vote?
The consequences of a couple of Democrat Senators statehood will allow isn’t an inconsequential matter. Neither are the Representatives to the House.
Buh Bye, Lowtalker.
A terrible idea, one among many from this candidate. . Hopefully the Carson boom is over.
Carson is making a mockery of himself, self destructing a great reputation. By the time he’s finished with himself he won’t be able to run for dog catcher.
How much of that population is fraudently on disability? Welfare?
Only 43% of PR is employed. Some get disability based on NOT BEING ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH. Over 30% get disability based on a ‘mood disorder ‘.
http://www.cato.org/blog/social-security-disability-fraud-puerto-rico
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/04/expansion-of-disability-fraud-under.html
Cut’em loose.
Carson doesn’t care that it means two more Democrat Senators. He’s a Progressive Liberal himself.
And neither is the fact that a PR state will reliably add its new electoral college votes to the Dems for president, thus making it that much harder for a conservative to ever win the White House.
Anyone who supports statehood for Puerto Rico is NOT a conservative.
Carson must have the good old , Foot in mouth disease
What has protected us in the past has been the reluctance of those Puerto Ricans who do not want the Federal Income Taxes that comes with statehood.
A terrible idea, one among many from this candidate. . Hopefully the Carson boom is over.
I got that impression the very first time I saw him on TV. There was just something about him that said, “no way.” I have not learned anything that changed my mind.
We should split several other big states where the inner-city population works against the interests of the rest of the state.
Western New York and Northern California would be two qucik examples- CA could probably be 3
Brings to mind an old movie.
Ben Carson would be another divider like obama.
Oblama said we had 57 states, so wouldn’t Puerto Rico be the 58th ???
They rename the capitol “BenjaminVille” after Carson
Independence for Puerto Rico!!!
Scratch Carson from the list of candidates I’d vote for.
He’s this year’s Admiral Stockdale.
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