Obama letter to Puerto Rico
February 12, Barak Obama sent a letter to the Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila, of Puerto Rico.
http://www.elnuevodia.com/XStatic/endi/docs/editor/pr%20letter%201.pdf
The Governor has as a result, announced his endorsement of Obama
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-13-2008/0004755860&EDATE=
What seems most important in the letter is Obama's willingness to allow the people of Puerto Rico to determine their own destiny.
Few mainland politicians have addressed the options for statehood, status quo, or independence as something that Puerto Ricans themselves should decide.
http://www.elnuevodia.com/XStatic/endi/docs/editor/pr%20letter%201.pdf
The Governor has as a result, announced his endorsement of Obama
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-13-2008/0004755860&EDATE=
What seems most important in the letter is Obama's willingness to allow the people of Puerto Rico to determine their own destiny.
Few mainland politicians have addressed the options for statehood, status quo, or independence as something that Puerto Ricans themselves should decide.
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The policy of the United States for years has been that Puerto Rico should decide its own destiny. I don't know any politician that has argued against the three plebiscites Puerto Rico has held recently to determine the fate of Puerto Rico. In all three plebiscites the voters elected to stay a commonwealth of the United States.
It is only with the recent administration that the policy has been one of mutual consent between the U.S. and Puerto Rico in determining the fate of the commonwealth and that is only with the determination made by the majority of Puerto Ricans as the last two status reports have made clear. The last plebiscite was so close between remaining a commonwealth and statehood, with independence at 3-5% that the margin of error could not be determined.
Why should mainland politicians address the options that Puerto Rico has, especially considering the fact that Puerto Rico obviously has those options and has for some time now. It is not an issue for the mainland. The fact that Puerto Rico dwells in commonwealth status is the responsibility of the Puerto Ricans who have chosen it. Why Obama felt the need to reassure the Puerto Ricans of a policy that has been in place for years is beyond me.
February 23, 2008 8:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great catch Denise!
I had been wondering about that endorsement but had seen next to nothing about it. Are there any blogs that relate to politics in Puerto Rico? I would really enjoy learning a little more!
In answer to BevD, it seems it would make sense that Puerto Rico would want the nominee to say outright that he/she would support the decision of Puerto Rico and not add pressure to to the situation. I honestly have not followed Puerto Rico's politics, obviously, but it seems in a way similar to Taiwan and China. I don't believe China should leveraging like it is. We have enough conflicts in the world I don't see the benefits of causing instability. If the US started to leverage toward an outcome I could see immediate push back from Puerto Rico. It makes no sense to take that course. Though apparently it does for the current administration.
February 23, 2008 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi Diet, yes there are blogs regarding Puerto Ricon issues on the island and here on the mainland, including the rocky relationship to the US. I'll post some links later today - am snowed in and have to go shovel.
February 24, 2008 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bev,
Actually the policy of the United States towards Puerto Rico has been that of colonizer toward colonial subjects. Though Puerto Ricans have been made US citizens by fiat - they do not have voting representation and are disenfranchised.
Bev, I disagree. Mainland politicians should pay attention to Puerto Rico, especially because of the fluidity of movement back and forth between the island and the mainland. About 2.7 million Boriquas live here, but have strong ties to the island.
The situation of health care, especially relating to HIV AIDs on the island is deplorable. I spent close to 10 years doing comparative AIDS work in Bayamon, PR and El Barrio (East Harlem NYC) and the US government has been singularly non-reponsive to what is needed.
Yes, there have been plebicites and the option has been to keep the status quo, but the trends have moved closer and closer to statehood - which has its own perils for Puerto Rican culture and status. Ironically, Puerto Ricans can participate in party primaries but not vote in the General election.
Boriquas currently have no say governing the 25 military installations on the island, and the environmental and social impact of those facilities.
I think it is important to question all the candidates for National office, not just Senator Obama, about their position regarding the status and the economy of the Island.
February 24, 2008 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink