From The Road
May 26, 2008 7:30 PM

Clinton: No Vote for Puerto Rican Vets “An Injustice and an Insult”

(CBS)
From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO -- During an evening Memorial Day service in old San Juan, Hillary Clinton spoke of the unfairness in U.S. policy toward Puerto Ricans who risk their lives in the U.S. military and have their voting rights stripped when they return home to the island. Clinton called the action “an injustice and an insult.”

Clinton’s message on a day when Americans honor those service men and women who gave their lives in combat was simple: every U.S. citizen should be given a right to vote.

“I believe it is long past time that we give the people of Puerto Rico - United States citizens all - an equal voice in the vote for the commander-in-chief who sends young Puerto Ricans to war.”

Clinton also took on critics who oppose the right of Puerto Ricans to be granted a vote for the presidency saying, “To anyone who would suggest that the people of Puerto Rico do not deserve equal treatments, equal benefits and equal opportunities because of their position as United States citizens, I say ‘Come see this monument. Read the names on this monument.’”

The Memorial Day service brought to an end a weekend of campaigning for Clinton who now heads out West where she will campaign in Montana and South Dakota.
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Clinton
Topics:
Hillary Clinton
Add a Comment See all 21 Comments
by micmacarac May 26, 2008 8:26 PM PDT
If Puerto Rico wanted to become a US State and pay federal income taxes they could vote in Presidential Elections. Since they do not want to become a state and wish to remain a semi independant Commonwealth there are a few things they don''t get. As soon as they campaign is over Hillary couldn''t care less about their voting rights
Reply to this comment
by greenfun May 26, 2008 8:39 PM PDT
Hillary Clinton wants to be President to give everyone a voice, just as she has been doing for 35 years.
Obama wants to be President to.......well, to be President.
Reply to this comment
by egarcianyc May 26, 2008 8:41 PM PDT
Micmacarac: semi-independent commonwealth? there is ZERO independence when it comes to Puerto Rico...Puerto Rico is governed virtually identical to any state and is under federal law...there is no semi-independent status on the island...puerto rico cannot set its own trade policies for example...
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by egarcianyc May 26, 2008 8:44 PM PDT
Micmacarac: semi-independent commonwealth? there is ZERO independence when it comes to Puerto Rico...Puerto Rico is governed virtually identical to any state and is under federal law...there is no semi-independent status on the island...puerto rico cannot set its own trade policies for example...
Reply to this comment
by egarcianyc May 26, 2008 8:51 PM PDT
why is it strictly based on taxes to be able to vote in the general elections? Isn''t one''s blood and life enough? isn''t the fact that thousands upon thousands of puerto rican islanders both men and women proudly defend what the United States stands for?
General William W. Harris was quoted in the Puerto Rico Herald as saying, "No ethnic group has greater pride in itself and its heritage then the Puerto Rican people. Nor have I encountered any that can be more dedicated and zealous in support of the democratic principles for which the United States stands. Many Puerto Ricans have fought to the death to uphold them".
Reply to this comment
by boatdocster May 26, 2008 11:02 PM PDT
Hillary Clinton wants to be President to give everyone a voice, just as she has been doing for 35 years. Obama wants to be President to.......well, to be President.

Posted by greenfun at 08:39 PM : May 26, 2008

Good comment, you just have the names reversed...
Reply to this comment
by greenfun May 26, 2008 11:33 PM PDT
Except Obama hadn''t even gone through puberty 35 years ago.


Hillary Clinton wants to be President to give everyone a voice, just as she has been doing for 35 years. Obama wants to be President to.......well, to be President.

Posted by greenfun at 08:39 PM : May 26, 2008

Good comment, you just have the names reversed...

Posted by boatdocster at 11:02 PM : May 26, 2008
+ report abuse
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 27, 2008 1:27 AM PDT
Hillary wants to be President, For the ''Entitlement'' of being President, but she`ll Never get to that point....

Its Barack Obama`s Time & Place and Nothing the Clinton`s, Clinton Supporters & Clinton Advocates can do about it, But Spin it.

The Hispaic Contingent Dropped her this Weekend and went to Obama...

Charles Rangel, is thinking about Dropping her, after the RFK Reference, for the 4-5th time.

Clinton...

Go Somewhere Anywhere, But Please...Go !!!
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 27, 2008 1:28 AM PDT
Hillary wants to be President, For the ''Entitlement'' of being President, but she`ll Never get to that point....

Its Barack Obama`s Time & Place and Nothing the Clinton`s, Clinton Supporters & Clinton Advocates can do about it, But Spin it.

Clinton`s Hispanic Contingent Dropped her this Weekend and went to Obama...

Charles Rangel, is thinking about Dropping her, after the RFK Reference, for the 4-5th time.

Clinton...

Go Somewhere Anywhere, But Please...Go !!!
Reply to this comment
by lordmi May 27, 2008 5:06 AM PDT
to greenfun: just imagine how better the WORLD MIGHT BE, IF CLINTONS WOULD NOT MESS AROUND FOR 35 YEARS.!

I wish some analyses to be done and in details : WHY more educated people abandon clintons, more and more, any color. Just do not fix the fact, but give explanation.
Here is mine: I think, they just do not trust clintons phony tales.
So, maybe Media should stop take part in thouse tales and tell people in simple words the truth...
The truth of facts, events and clintons.
We can not stand that anymore: the less brains,- for clintons, who have at least any - understands future with Obama.

Reply to this comment
by ksh1022 May 27, 2008 12:02 PM PDT
I resent the comment "people with educations choose Obama". Implying that Hillary supporters are uneducated. Actually that''s not the truth. Take me for example. I have 2 bachelor degrees and and 1/2 way through my masters. I am a Hillary supporter. No pollster has ever asked me or my husband about our education or income level. How do these pollsters come up with socio-ecomonic data? I think the media has been shoving Obama down our throats. Hillary has been villified by the far left. I used to listen to Air America until it became "Obama media". I used to watch Oprah and buy her magazines. Not anymore. She choose to back a candidate for the first time instead of remaining neutral. Interesting that it was the black guy. I feel that the DNC has left me, it''s not me leaving them. They probably don''t care. But they just might when I show up to vote for McCain instead of their messiah Obama.
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by libh8er May 27, 2008 12:45 PM PDT
When PR pays taxes and quits collecting welfare, then we''ll talk. Till then, no vote!
Reply to this comment
by ponco seno May 27, 2008 1:44 PM PDT
When PR pays taxes and quits collecting welfare, then we''''ll talk. Till then, no vote!

Posted by LibH8er at 12:45 PM : May 27, 2008



Puerto Ricans have payed with their blood since WWI.

On Welfare, the island residents only get 50% of what the main land recipients get. There is quite a bit of room for improvement. They need to work in reducing their welfare recipients.

On Taxes, Puerto rican products get taxed when they are shipped elsewere.
Reply to this comment
by missglo May 27, 2008 3:33 PM PDT
Why do she think it was a injustice done in Puerto Rico now. But when her husband was in office. Nothing was done about it. Just another front and lies.
Reply to this comment
by wheresclair May 27, 2008 8:57 PM PDT
The current DNC rules - rules ALL candidates agreed to - say it''s the most delegates that win the primary NOT the popular vote, but because she can''t win by the rules she agreed to, she wants to change the rules and make the popular vote the winning factor. Puerto Ricans, can''t even vote in the general election, but she''s pandering to them to run up the popular vote in the primary. She wasn''t at all concerned about Puerto Rican voting, much less their rights when she could have spoken up for EIGHT years as the First Lady! Isn''t it strange how she gets all worked up about such "injustices" just when she happens to need a state or island''s votes!!!
Reply to this comment
by unclereggie2 May 27, 2008 9:01 PM PDT
Gloat on kool aid drinkers, gloat on.
Reply to this comment
by pansycritter May 27, 2008 9:53 PM PDT
Posted by Omaar-101 at 05:57 PM : May 27, 2008

Omaar---101...try English 101.
Reply to this comment
by pepperwood2 May 28, 2008 12:39 AM PDT
Its interesting to note when Hillary shows up to campaign she immediately goes about creating a talking point to incite, divide & polarize the Puerto''s Rican People to vote for her.

When frankly my dear she does''nt give a Da... so sad....


Reply to this comment
by May 28, 2008 1:06 PM PDT
Sad...
- that Hillary continues this Quixotic quest
- that her supporters resolve to shoot themselves in the foot for loyalty
- that the Democratic party did not find a solution for FL, MI in time rather than leaving it the candidates
- that the DEM party now has buried its collective head in the sand hoping that it all works out
- that the most important election in 30 years is at the mercy of party insiders
- that no matter what happens on March 31st, enthusiasm will be replaced by anger

Very sad for this country that the world used to look at as the best experiment in Constitutional democracy
Reply to this comment
by leighleslie May 28, 2008 4:19 PM PDT
I think it''s so true. How can the U.S. send young Puerto Rican''s to war, but won''t let them decide who''s the commmander in chief. It''s sad. I think Hillary will do something, she will fight. I certainly don''t think Obama has any solutions (on any issues whatsoever). HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT 08
Reply to this comment
by leighleslie May 28, 2008 4:21 PM PDT
FIGHT ON HILLARY, FIGHT ON. SHOW AMERICA YOU CAN GRAB THE BULL BY THE BALLS, OR IN THE CASE THE DONKEY BY THE BALLS. . .
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