A strange Puerto Rican political weekend culminated with a video of pro-statehood and Republican Governor Luis Fortuño showing his bromance GOP love to Mitt Romney in Florida. In case you haven’t seen the video, here it is:
This blog has written a lot about the weird GOP VP adoration with Fortuño, especially since this self-proclaimed lover of Ronaldo Reagan right now couldn’t even vote in a presidential election. And now that this Romney endorsement is making the rounds of the mainstream US media (one that is clueless about the island’s politics and issues), we will be very clear about it:
Luis Fortuño should be endorsing President Obama and not Romney, because without the policies of the Obama administration, Fortuño would have no political life in a tough re-election year for Puerto Rican governor.
Let’s look at the facts:
Fortuño on the Affordable Care Act (also known as OBAMACARE)
- In Puerto Rico, Fortuño’s rhetoric on the Affordable Care Act is not about repeal and states’ rights, like Romney’s, but rather about parity and about ensuring that Puerto Ricans get a piece of Obama’s health-care pie.
- Fortuño, in letter to Puerto Ricans, vowed to fight for inclusion on the Affordable Care Act: “Equality among U.S. citizens includes federal support in achieving health quality, access, and benefits, regardless of whether we are a state or a territory. My promise to you: I will fight and obtain health (care) for all Puerto Ricans. In order to reach that goal, we have created the Salud Para Todos Initiative (Health for All), which seeks parity in federal funds for health programs in Puerto Rico […]”
- Fortuño reassures Puerto Ricans that the Obama health care pie will also be for them: Despite some cosmetic changes on the Affordable Care Act, Puerto Rico will receive the same benefits
Fortuño on The Recovery Act (TARP, the Stimulus Bill)
- For someone who is into free enterprise and against government funding of projects, Fortuño had no problem accepting federal stimulus dollars (source: Recovery.gov). According to official US government records, Puerto Rico under the Fortuño administration received close to $2.7 billion (yes, BILLION) between February 2009 and September 2011. ¡Gracias, Presidente Obama!
- The Associated Press reported that Fortuño thanked Vice President Joe Biden for “ensuring that all Puerto Ricans benefit from the federal stimulus, and thanked him for the help from the federal government to put Puerto Rico on the path to economic recovery” Like with the health-care law, Fortuño’s rhetoric on the Recovery Act directly counters Romney’s current rhetoric (which is different from Romney’s own original support of it.)
- Yet, when discussing the Puerto Rican “miracle” he has spearheaded, Fortuño makes no mention of what the Obama administration has done for Puerto Rico. In front of conservatives, he is the Small Government Guy, but when he needs money, he takes billions of dollars in stimulus money? What is the real story, Governor? It is clear that your public relations push is Fox-laced.
According to the US Supreme Court, in which we have a seating judge of Puerto Rican ethnicity, we are second class citizens. (De Lima v. Bidwell, 182 U.S. 1 (1901) and Downes v. Bidwell, 182 U.S. 244 (1901)). Thus, Puerto Rico was foreign and domestic at the same time. “By classifying Puerto Rico as an unincorporated territory, it appears as if the Supreme Court was trying to reap the benefits of the United States‘new possession without having to accept the “ignorant and lawless brigands that infest Puerto Rico.” (See Downes, 182 U.S. at 341.Whilst in an international sense Puerto Rico was not a foreign country, since it was subject to the sovereignty of and was owned by the United States, it was foreign to the United States in a domestic sense because the island had not been incorporated into the United States, but was merely appurtenant thereto as a possession) as fellow Americans.” (Cardozo Journal of Law & Gender, 296, Vol. 16:291) It’s interesting to read how these cases asking basically the same question get different answers, thus creating the complex situation of today. We should demand US Congress to do the right thing; allow Puerto Rico to be a nation. As a nation we can force ourselves to perform. There will not be more welfare. I am of the opinion that we need to look at this using the left side of the brain. With time, effort and desire we can and we will accomplish the task of creating a NATION!
As far as Fortuño, he is no different to other governors of the recent past. They all claim to work hard and actually fight for Puerto Rico and our people. I am of the opinion that they do work hard, for therir pockets! It’s “pancismo” plain and simple. No wonder we are treated as second class citizens and all that the majority of mainlanders believe is that we want US DOLLARS! Muñoz-Marin said; “!Verguenza contra dinero!” (literally “Pride versus money!”) I believe it is time for us to act with pride! Thomas Jefferson said; “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” It is time to provide that manure!
We don’t need Congress or our leaders. Why can’s we have a San Juan Spring? Demand respect and self-determination since it is is obvious that our dear Governor is not in it for the island, only himself.
You may call Fortuño dear, but in clear conscience I can not call him other than liar and muppet puppet, with all due respect that he does not deserve!
As far as the San Juan Spring, we need to get it going! We are Puerto Rico! Enough of this parody!
Amen!
So embarrass by the Gov. endorsement of Mitt ..Romney’s Bain Capital Brought and sold DuPont of Puerto Rico, leaving hundreds out of work. The few that were relocated to Florida had to come back when Bain sold that branch too, but not before they had to repay the company for their moving expenses, shameful :
http://mutantpoodle.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/you-dont-buy-a-ferrari-for-the-gas-mileage/
Looks like Romney just let our Gov. know how interested he is in helping our heavy subsidized Island become a state…
Willard on CNN: ..
And, by the way, I’m in this race because I care about Americans.
I’m not concerned about the very poor; we have a safety net there.
If it needs repair, I’ll fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich;
they’re doing just fine. I’m concerned about the very heart of America,
the 90-95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling.
“As far as the San Juan Spring, we need to get it going! We are Puerto Rico! Enough of this parody!” Pla
Have you forgotten already?! We had a “Occupy San Juan” gathering not long ago. Yeah, really! It lasted all of one weekend. I guess most people here in Puerto Rico are just too busy with their jobs to continue the protest beyond one whole weekend. Or they are just not that concerned with what is going on here and around the world. Party on Dudes!
They would rather shop at Costco.