Santorum supports Puerto Rico statehood with English language condition
Throughout the day, the former Pennsylvania senator was asked repeatedly about his position on the territory becoming the 51st state.
"I would support the people of Puerto Rico if they make the decisive decision to move forward with that, I would support it," he told a group of about 50 people at a town hall meeting. "But that's a decision the people of Puerto Rico have to make and so far they've chosen not to make it. And so talk to your friends, and see if you can work that out."
Later, discussing the issue with reporters, Santorum declined to say specifically how high the percentage rate of approval would have to be in his view, but indicated that the bar would be high. "It can't be 50 percent plus one," he said. "It has to be a strong voice."
The issue has long divided the people of Puerto Rico, which has been a U.S. territory since 1898. In the most recent plebiscite, held in 1998, 47 percent of people supported statehood, but a slight majority, 50.3 percent, rejected all options, including statehood, independence or continuation of commonwealth status.
While Santorum said it was not the role of the president to advocate for Puerto Rico's statehood, he said, "To me, it doesn't make any sense to be in America and not want to be a state and have full rights as a United States citizen."
Speaking with the local newspaper El Vocero, Santorum said English would have to be the official language of the state, but seemed to suggest, incorrectly, that English was a federal requirement of statehood. "Like any other state, there has to be compliance with this and any other federal law," Santorum told the newspaper, according to the Reuters news agency. "There are other states with more than one language, such as Hawaii, but to be a state of the United States, English has to be the principal language," he said.
Puerto Ricans, who recognize both English and Spanish as their official languages, are scheduled to vote in November on a referendum to decide whether they want to pursue statehood or remain a self-governing U.S. commonwealth, Reuters reports. However, the U.S. Constitution does not designate an official language, nor is there a requirement that a territory adopt English as its primary language in order to become a state, the news agency said.
Emphasizing his interest in Puerto Rican issues, Santorum joked that he was called "Senador Puertorriqueno" when he served in Congress because he looked after some of the territory's issues, including efforts to equalize Medicare reimbursement rates and secure relief funds after Hurricane George.
"They used to make fun of me, 'Why are you representing Puerto Rico?'" he told reporters of his former Senate colleagues. "Well, someone has to because they don't have a voice. ... I felt a responsibility to the island."
He developed a working relationship with Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuno, who was then serving as the resident commissioner for the Island in Washington, D.C. However, Fortuno has endorsed front-runner Mitt Romney.
Asked about how that endorsement would affect his chances, Santorum lumped Fortuno in with the Republican establishment figures who are backing Romney.
"The establishment across America has lined up behind Governor Romney very early on and I certainly respect that," Santorum said, adding, "He looked like the odds on favorite at the beginning of the campaign. We tend to do that as Republicans, sort of take the person next in line. But what I think we've found is that Governor Romney is uniquely disqualified in making some of the most important arguments that we need to make in this country with respect to the rule of government in our lives."
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I really can't see the problem with making english the official language whether federally or at the state or territory level. People will always be free to speak whatever language they want to in their own homes and when they're with their friends and family. I see no problem with requiring that people learn english to gain citizenship so that english only speaking citizens can communicate with them.
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Reply to this comment ..by the_jesuit March 15, 2012 5:33 AM EDT
Well, JV1970, thank GOD your opinions aren't widely held. You only show your ignorance by your entire statement. Let the PR people decide for themselves. NOWHERE in the US is learning English required to become a citizen and in fact in some states i.e. California various test given by the state are in dozens of languages. Ole RICKY boy has NO CHANCE of winning the GOP nomination, let alone the Presidency. He ruined any and all chance he had by his stance on contraceptives alone!!!
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...by deoppressoliber1964 March 15, 2012 6:36 AM EDT
What happened JV, did you run out of donuts? It's seems as though the only time JV crawls out from under her rock is when some idiotic candidate utters something ridiculous.
Back to your rock and donuts, JV.
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...by deoppressoliber1964 March 15, 2012 6:42 AM EDT
What happened JV, didn't you learn your lesson when you told us we would be weeping and gnashing our teeth when Palin won the Republican nomination?
What lesson you ask? The one that states you have NO idea what you're talking about
Also we will see in November if Santorum has a chance to win the presidency, if he becomes the GOP nominee. You just might be in for a terrible shock!
Second, you are crowing way too soon! As well as Palin, I've also said that when ANY ONE of the GOP candidates wins the presidency, you liberals will be on your floors kicking and screaming and throwing tantrums like two year olds.
I've never said anything about anyone gnashing their teeth.
"To me, it doesn't make any sense to be in America and not want to be a state and have full rights as a United States citizen."
To be in America is not necessarily to be in the United States.
On April 12, 1900, the Congress of the United States enacted the Foraker Act of 1900, which replaced the governing military regime in Puerto Rico with a civil form of government. Section VII of this act created a Puerto Rican citizenship for the residents "born in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican citizenship replaced the Spanish citizenship that Puerto Ricans enjoyed at the time of the American invasion in 1898. Such Puerto Rican citizenship was granted by Spain in 1897. This citizenship was reaffirmed by the United States Supreme Court in 1904 by a ruling which denied that Puerto Ricans were United States citizens and labeled them as "noncitizen nationals."
Puerto Ricans are nominally US citizens since March 2, 1917, by an act of congress, the Jones-Shafroth Act, not because of popular demand, so they could be drafted as canon fodder in WWI which the US entered a month later, on April 6th.
These nominal "citizens" were drafted into the US Armed Forces through the Viet Nam War, cannot vote in Federal elections as long as they reside in Puerto Rico, have no representation in the Senate and have a non-voting representative in the House.
What "full rights as a United States citizen" is Mr. Sanscrotum talking about?
A: Trilingual.
Q: What do you call a person that speaks two languages?
A: Bilingual.
Q: What do you call a person that speaks one language?
A: American.
Sad!
To now tell people that they must also sacrifice their native language that ties them to thier historic roots is another milestone in GOP ignorance.