Posted on 01/30/2013 2:12:35 PM PST by cll
With the Washington news cycle being dominated this week by a bipartisan comprehensive immigration framework that includes an earned path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, a group of conservative heavy hitters are trying to push another issue that affects over 3.5 million second-class U.S. citizens.
Yesterday morning at the National Press Club, the topic was Puerto Rican statehood, as the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles announced a new education campaign to convince fellow conservatives that making Puerto Rico the 51st state of the Union is the most American thing one can do. The LPCP rolled out an A list of guests, which included Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Luis Fortuño, the former Republican governor of Puerto Rico and one of the island’s most ardent pro-statehood supporters.
I spoke to Alfonso Aguilar, the LPCP’s Executive Director, after the conference. Now, I am not a pro-statehooder (read “Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State”), but I do believe strongly that the U.S. should respect the island’s latest non-binding plebiscite. Even with my initial skepticism, as I talked more and more with Aguilar, I concluded that he was incredibly qualified to lead the conservative charge about Puerto Rico’s political status. Here are just some of his major points:
Puerto Ricans on the island are second-class U.S. citizens: “I’m passionately supportive of immigration reform, and I believe in giving a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants. As we think of giving a path to citizenship to 11 million undocumented immigrants, I think it is fitting to remember that there are 3.7 million U.S. citizens on the island that don’t have full political rights. Puerto Ricans are not asking for citizenship. What they are asking for is a path for
(Excerpt) Read more at nbclatino.com ...
To heck with adding them as a state, let them become their own country!!!
I could live with that!
It would save some time later when the USA breaks up anyways.
The next thing you know, they will want to grant statehood to Hawaii.....(s)
We’ve got enough problems right now.
The fact that Grover Norquist is pushing it is more than enough reason to question it.
I don’t remember anyone opposing it, except for the Puerto Ricans themselves. They voted it down many times.
I am anti Peurto Rico statehood, but I am pro Preuto Rico Nationhood.
Haven’t the people of PR voted on this issue several times and always say no.
Why would they want to?
They get all the benefits of being a state and don’t pay taxes.
Puerto Ricans vote against statehood every time it's proposed, and they do it for a reason not mentioned in this article, and that is: As a Common Wealth, Puerto Ricans don't pay U.S. Federal Income Tax and they can't vote in U.S. Presidential Elections.
The only reason Democrats in this country want statehood for Puerto Rico is they think they'll be able to capture another block of "low information" voters, but most Puerto Ricans are a little more savvy than the Democrat Party gives them credit for; they'd rather keep their money in their pockets than be able to vote for the likes of Obama, and I can't blame them.
If you read the article you will note that this past November Puerto Rico voted for statehood.
De Colonize P.R. (use the left terminology against them)
Otherwise its nothing but a giant welfare sucking state, 2 more Dem Senators and X number of Electoral votes.
I am with you 100% Grace.
De Colonize P.R. (use the left terminology against them)
Otherwise its nothing but a giant welfare sucking state, 2 more Dem Senators and X number of Electoral votes.
We need to start using their own terms AGAINST them!
Here is an example:
Democrats are ANTI-Immigrant because they cater to illegal immigrants and play legal immigrants as Chumps!!!
I like the idea of “De-Colonizing” Peurto Rico by letting it become it’s own country!
As O does his damage in Washington, is there an advantage in moving toward some kind of autonomy?
Something like the rest of us would have if the 10th ammendment was still operative...?
I don’t know that full independence would be an advantage necessarily (there is something to be said for even a weaked US constitution)... the current territory status probably leaves you having to obey every crazy federal rule that comes down the pike. Maybe something in-between, not quite but almost independent.
My Parents are Immigrants to this country and in 1972 it wasn't THAT bad is it is today, but when my Uncle tried to get citizenship in 1995 IT WAS A FREAKING NIGHTMARE!!!
So all this will do is punish the legal immigrants trying to get into this country.
To which I am sure Ubama would say "good We don't want Hard Working Blonde Haired Blue Eyed Jewish White People!"
Oh, But my mother did go through Hell in 1979 when she was threatened with Deportation because some I was dotted incorrectly or some minor thing.
She should have said she was an Illegal and it all would have been fine!
I think that PR should be made a state... part of the existing state of Florida.
But no way in heck should it be made a stand alone state with 2 Senators.
We don't need no more stinkin states.
Unfortunately PR statehood will mean 2 more Dem senators and 6-7 more Dem House members
Is the GOP that stupid with their fetish for Hispanics....and their disdain for Conservatives?
I’ve been thinking in those terms lately, but no. It is safer for everyone to restrain Washington and stop the leftists’march.
From the article:
“On the criticism that Puerto Rico will just become another blue state: “There is no real evidence. We just had a Republican governor, a Republican House and Senate. Puerto Ricans are socially very conservative. Frankly it can go either way. If the Republicans were to play their cards right, it could become a reliably red state. Remember the history. Everyone thought that Alaska would be the Democratic state and Hawaii would be the Republican state. Look what happened there.”
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