Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English!

Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (Full Version)

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Fightdirecto -> Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 9:22:22 AM)
Rick Santorum to Puerto Rico: If you want to become a state, you need to speak English quote: Rick Santorum isn't about to allow some Spanish-speaking territory to become America's 51st state. The Republican presidential candidate — fresh off two primary wins in Mississippi and Alabama — insists that Puerto Rico should only gain statehood if it makes English its main language. "As in any other state, you have to comply with this and any federal law. And that is that English has to be the main language," Santorum told San Juan newspaper El Vocero on Wednesday. "There are other states with more than one language as is the case in Hawaii, but to be a state in the United States, English has to be the main language," he added. Currently, there is no federal law designating English as the country's official language. *[Poster's Comment: Always nice to know when a candidate for President who is a former Congressman and a former Senator, doesn't know American law]* But there are some states, including Florida, that have declared English the official language. The territory considers both English and Spanish its official languages, but most of its citizens primarily conduct business in Spanish. Santorum's comments come just ahead of Puerto Rico's Republican presidential primary on Sunday. The former Pennsylvania senator and strict social conservative has been stumping in the U.S. commonwealth, where 23 delegates are up for grabs... Critics say Santorum’s latest remarks could alienate Hispanics, including Puerto Ricans who live on the U.S. mainland. Santorum's opponents have spoken in favor of Puerto Ricans deciding themselves if they want to remain a commonwealth or become a state. Its residents will hold a referendum Nov. 6 whether they want to become a state, although Congress would have to give the final thumbs up. Puerto Rico has held several votes on becoming a state, but none have ever succeeded. Santorum meanwhile has expressed reservations, telling reporters that a simple majority in the fall referendum wouldn't necessarily convince him that its residents want to become the 51st state. There are 4 million people living in Puerto Rico. While those living there can vote in partisan primaries, they can't vote in the general election. "Santorum's comments come just ahead of Puerto Rico's Republican presidential primary on Sunday." As a musician, I wouldn't want Santorum as the band's drummer - no sense of timing...

Hillwilliam -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 9:24:47 AM)
Puerto Ricans pretty much detest Cubans anyway. Some people have the misconception that hispanics are some kind of monolithic group. Nothing coould be farther from the truth. Im not sure how the hell I got Rubio and Santorum mixed up. I'll blame it on the pain meds from when my dog tripped me off the porch onto the concrete last night. The left knee is doing a grapefruit imitation.

Iamsemisweet -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 9:50:23 AM)
Some people have the misconception that Rick Santorum has a snowball's chance in hell of being president. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Owner59 -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 9:51:35 AM)
Little ricky doesn`t know that most Puerto Ricans DON`T want statehood.......

Fightdirecto -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 9:56:45 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Owner59 Little ricky doesn`t know that most Puerto Ricans DON`T want statehood....... He also doesn't seem to know that there is NO requirement under the Constitution for a territory to enact "English only" laws in order to qualify for statehood.

Aylee -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 1:49:50 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Owner59 Little ricky doesn`t know that most Puerto Ricans DON`T want statehood....... Holy shit I agree with you. I read the article thinking, "Since when did Puerto Rico WANT to become a state?"

Owner59 -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 2:38:29 PM)
Little Ricky wasn`t speaking to Puerto Ricans......he was speaking to the extremists in his party....... for who`s vote he is pandering for......on the mainland. Got a nice vacation for the family tho.....[:D]

SternSkipper -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 5:52:04 PM)
Little Ricky Ricky Won't Go Home And You Can't Push Ricky Round Ricky Won't Go

DaddySatyr -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:03:13 PM)
By-and-large, Puerto Rico's citizens do not want statehood but this brings up at least one very ugly problem (for me). While they pay no federal taxes (certainly a plus), they have no representative in congress that's allowed to vote. They have an "at-large" representative that really is nothing more than a make-work position to make people think there's a democratic process in place. This, effectively, gives them no say in some of the laws they're required to live under. No, for me, the real issue is that Puerto Rican males are required to register for selective service and yet, don't have a vote as to who sends them off to war ... to possible death. Somehow, that doesn't seem fair. I don't know why the people would tolerate that but, I would say that weighs pretty heavily on the "pro statehood" side of the argument. Peace and comfort, Michael

LafayetteLady -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:06:06 PM)
There is also the fact that while they don't want statehood or to pay federal taxes, they want and expect all the benefits that would come along with it.

DaddySatyr -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:15:51 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady There is also the fact that while they don't want statehood or to pay federal taxes, they want and expect all the benefits that would come along with it. And that's been a bone of contention down there for quite a while. The true fact is; without the US, they'd be in a heap of shit. Their manufacturing is almost non-existent and they rely heavily on tourism from the mainland. I'm not sure if they receive federal assistance (Medicaid, etc.). I'll have to look that up but, to tip the scales the other way ... Has anyone ever looked at what goes on in Viequez? (I think I spelled that right) Peace and comfort, Michael

tweakabelle -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:21:48 PM)
Frothy Mix is such a consistent advocate of small govt and letting people make their own decisions for themselves that is going to encourage this by: * deciding for the people which language they prefer to speak; * deciding for people what they can and can't read; and * deciding for people how many offspring they can have (provided they're of the correct genders of course!) With advocacy for small govt like this, I suspect he's chasing the bureaucratic vote. How many armies of bureaucrats will be needed to enforce such policies?

Hillwilliam -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:22:06 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr No, for me, the real issue is that Puerto Rican males are required to register for selective service and yet, don't have a vote as to who sends them off to war ... to possible death. Somehow, that doesn't seem fair. I don't know why the people would tolerate that but, I would say that weighs pretty heavily on the "pro statehood" side of the argument. Peace and comfort, Michael You think that's bad. DC has no congressman or vote but they have to register for selective service AND they pay federal taxes. Have you seen a DC license plate lately? They say "Taxation Without Representation".

DaddySatyr -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:31:35 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr No, for me, the real issue is that Puerto Rican males are required to register for selective service and yet, don't have a vote as to who sends them off to war ... to possible death. Somehow, that doesn't seem fair. I don't know why the people would tolerate that but, I would say that weighs pretty heavily on the "pro statehood" side of the argument. Peace and comfort, Michael You think that's bad. DC has no congressman or vote but they have to register for selective service AND they pay federal taxes. Have you seen a DC license plate lately? They say "Taxation Without Representation". They don't have a congressman by way of being part of Maryland? Are you sure? I just looked it up and I sit, corrected (Come on. NO ONE stands to type). I never knew that. I knew the congress had final say on all the city laws but, I wasn't aware that they had no congressman. That's kind of fucked up, too. I wonder if the thinking was (back when it was done): The president lives there. He'll make sure that the district is represented. Peace and comfort, Michael

Hillwilliam -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:34:14 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr quote: ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr No, for me, the real issue is that Puerto Rican males are required to register for selective service and yet, don't have a vote as to who sends them off to war ... to possible death. Somehow, that doesn't seem fair. I don't know why the people would tolerate that but, I would say that weighs pretty heavily on the "pro statehood" side of the argument. Peace and comfort, Michael You think that's bad. DC has no congressman or vote but they have to register for selective service AND they pay federal taxes. Have you seen a DC license plate lately? They say "Taxation Without Representation". They don't have a congressman by way of being part of Maryland? Are you sure? Peace and comfort, Michael Positive. DC was cut out of Maryland and Virginia and is part of neither. It's its own little entity. sux don't it?

DaddySatyr -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:38:00 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr You think that's bad. DC has no congressman or vote but they have to register for selective service AND they pay federal taxes. Have you seen a DC license plate lately? They say "Taxation Without Representation". They don't have a congressman by way of being part of Maryland? Are you sure? Peace and comfort, Michael Positive. DC was cut out of Maryland and Virginia and is part of neither. It's its own little entity. sux don't it? The part that was Virginia was returned by congress in 1846

Hillwilliam -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:39:52 PM)
That's interesting. They're still a bunch of people who have no representation in congress but pay taxes.

DaddySatyr -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:46:03 PM)
I agree. I had no idea that was an issue. That brings their (Bi-annual?) statehood vote into a new light, also. Perhaps it's time to incorporate anything that isn't actual federal property back into Maryland? I understand the president not being "under the thumb" of a mayor, governor, etc. But these people are living in conditions that brought about the revolution that made us a country. It almost makes my head hurt. Peace and comfort, Michael

Hillwilliam -> RE: Santorum To Puerto Rico: Speak English! (3/15/2012 8:50:07 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr I agree. I had no idea that was an issue. That brings their (Bi-annual?) statehood vote into a new light, also. Perhaps it's time to incorporate anything that isn't actual federal property back into Maryland? I understand the president not being "under the thumb" of a mayor, governor, etc. But these people are living in conditions that brought about the revolution that made us a country. It almost makes my head hurt. Peace and comfort, Michael I hope this works. Good, it worked. That's a DC tag. [image]local://upfiles/664494/197B1EF72C6041F89542C0BB2A5F6A2F.jpg[/image]

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