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Puerto Rico Narrowly Votes to Become 51st State (And What Has Obama Said About It?)
The Blaze ^ | 11/7/2012 | Erica Ritz

Posted on 11/07/2012 10:00:07 AM PST by mojito

A majority of Puerto Ricans voted to change their ties with the United States and become the 51st U.S. state yesterday in a non-binding referendum that would require final approval from Congress.

The two-part referendum asked whether the island wanted to change its 114-year relationship with the United States and nearly 54 percent sought to change it, while 46 percent favored the status quo with ninety-six percent of precincts reporting.

The second question asked voters to choose from three options, with statehood by far the favorite, garnering 61 percent. Sovereign free association, which would have allowed for more autonomy, received 33 percent, while independence got 5 percent.

President Barack Obama earlier expressed clear support for the referendum and pledged to respect the will of the Puerto Rican people in the event of a clear majority.

(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: chicago; dondeestamiwelfare; illinois; luisgutierrez; puertorico; statehood; thirdworld
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Elections have consequences.
1 posted on 11/07/2012 10:00:12 AM PST by mojito
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To: Admin Moderator

I didn’t mean to topic the “political humor” tag.

Sorry about the mistake. I didn’t sleep very well last night.


2 posted on 11/07/2012 10:04:02 AM PST by mojito (Zero, our Nero.)
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To: mojito

Governor, Luis G. Fortuño, caucused with the Republicans when he was in Congress and serves as Puerto Rico’s Republican National Committeeman, while Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi is a Democrat. The top Fortuño administration officials are also split in national politics. His incoming Chief of Staff, Miguel Romero, and his Secretary of State (and first in line of succession), Kenneth McClintock are Democrats, while his Attorney General Guillermo Somoza is a Republican. The current House Speaker Jennifer González and the Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz are Republicans.


3 posted on 11/07/2012 10:04:08 AM PST by Homer1
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To: mojito

Obama said we have 57 states. Claims he visited them.


4 posted on 11/07/2012 10:04:59 AM PST by Wiggins
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To: mojito

There goes the flag....


5 posted on 11/07/2012 10:07:14 AM PST by dragonblustar (Allah Ain't So Akbar!)
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To: mojito

So Puerto Rico chooses dependency over independence.......imagine that.


6 posted on 11/07/2012 10:08:11 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (When religions have to beg the gov't for a waiver, we are already under socialism.)
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To: dragonblustar
There goes the flag....

Hawaii has been on a path toward independence from the US.....we can just replace them with Puerto Rico and never have to change the flags!

7 posted on 11/07/2012 10:09:53 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (When religions have to beg the gov't for a waiver, we are already under socialism.)
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To: mojito

54 percent sought to change it, while 46 percent favored the status quo


No way. Not with it divided like that. Donks would love it though as it would mean even more minorities for them to pander to and count on in elections.


8 posted on 11/07/2012 10:09:53 AM PST by chessplayer
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To: mojito
'PR51'

Ningunas gracias.

It is political humor, btw...

9 posted on 11/07/2012 10:11:10 AM PST by StAnDeliver (/)
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To: mojito

Why do we have a country which speaks it;s own language, has it;s own flag, takes money,lets them come over here nad get welfare.

I;’ts just not worth it IMHO, they;re proud to be Puerto Rican when over here , fly their flag, speak Spanish but then want to live here


10 posted on 11/07/2012 10:12:27 AM PST by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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To: mojito

Why don’t the rest of us get to decide if we want them?

We don’t.


11 posted on 11/07/2012 10:14:03 AM PST by cyclotic ( Obama's golden halo is really just a rusted hubcap)
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To: chessplayer

“...even more minorities for them to pander to and count on in elections.”

Whites are the minority now, aren’t they?


12 posted on 11/07/2012 10:19:28 AM PST by jessduntno ("Socialism only works...in Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they have it." - RR)
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To: cyclotic

Congress decides.
Welcome to “republic” government.


13 posted on 11/07/2012 10:20:49 AM PST by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com)
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To: mojito

They must be dumb. Now they will have to pay federal taxes. Crazy folks in that state.


14 posted on 11/07/2012 10:22:02 AM PST by napscoordinator (GOP Candidate 2020 - "Bloomberg 2020 - We vote for whatever crap the GOP puts in front of us.")
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To: Erik Latranyi

Trade Hawaii to China for a bulk of our debt...couldn’t happen to a better bunch of persons.


15 posted on 11/07/2012 10:22:28 AM PST by mdmathis6 ("Barry" Xmas to all and have a rapaciously taxable New Year!)
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To: mojito

This is not the first time state-hood has won in PR. The issue is congress has not voted to admit it into the Union. The reason is the fix apportionment of 435 congressmen. PR would be entitled to 5 congressmen, thus five states would lose a seats. Given that the congress is fixed at 435, states that have disproportional representation would lose a seat. So a state that should technically get 5.6 seat and is rounded to 6, would be a likely choice to lose a seat.


16 posted on 11/07/2012 10:22:37 AM PST by 11th Commandment (http://www.thirty-thousand.org/)
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To: mojito

Puerto Ricans are US citizens.

The only difference between them and the mainland is they can’t vote in federal elections.

But they can run their own affairs. And they pay no federal income tax because the island is not a state.


17 posted on 11/07/2012 10:23:33 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: 11th Commandment

Congress can increase the size of the House through an Act Of Congress. No other state would lose seats if the size of the House was increased.


18 posted on 11/07/2012 10:26:00 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: mojito; rrstar96; AuH2ORepublican; livius; adorno; wtc911; Willie Green; CGVet58; Clemenza; ...
Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.


19 posted on 11/07/2012 10:33:17 AM PST by cll (I am the warrant and the sanction)
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To: mojito

Obama’s point man on Puerto Rico is Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Chicago), who’s closely aligend with the islands’s left. As such, he’s opposed to Puerto Rico statehood and Obama will do what he wants him to do which is nothing.


20 posted on 11/07/2012 10:41:26 AM PST by cll (I am the warrant and the sanction)
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