Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum may have drawn the ire of the Puerto Rican community thanks to controversial remarks he made while visiting the island on Wednesday, March 14.
In an interview with El Vocero newspaper, Santorum said that the island of Puerto Rico must first make English its official language if it wants to be granted statehood.
“Like any other state, there has to be compliance with this and any other federal law,” Santorum stated. “And that is that English has to be the principal language. 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.”
The main issue with Santorum’s statements is that U.S. federal law makes no such demands on territories seeking statehood. And nothing in the Constitution establishes English as the official language of the United States.
Puerto Rico recognizes two official languages, English and Spanish, and most islanders, including Republicans and estadistas, feel issues concerning language and culture should be left to individual states to decide, not the federal government.
Santorum was on the island campaigning ahead of the Republican primary scheduled for Sunday, in which 20 delegates will be up for grabs.
Read more at Reuters.
About Hector Luis Alamo, Jr.
My guess is that he, like all other “Real Americans”, knows nothing about Puerto Rico and prob. just learned that it’s part of the US. English has always been an official/recognized language which is required learning in public schools. I know because I had to take it when I lived there.
But this is not a new issue. Whenever a plebiscite comes up the language issue arises. If it does become a state I think it will use Quebec as an example of how to balance two languages. If you haven’t been they pull it off just fine especially in Montreal, such an awesome city, whic reminded me of San Juan how people were able to transition from one language to another without pause.
Why if they are not a state?
Really what that hell is his problem?
Where in the Constitution does it say that for ANY state or territory?
yeah no,im on the island right now,that isnt gonna fly,lol,nope.
Santorum is one of most ignorant presidential candidate ever! Next to Romney, of course!
This guy is a complete joke.
They speak English for the most part and I personally experienced it!!
This is not NEW! Why is everyone so scandalized??? Oh, because a Republican said it, that’s why. It happened to Hawaii when they became a state, they had to give up their language. This is one of the reasons why Puerto Ricans don’t want to become a state. This is not NEW NEWS!!
What a pendejo to say tha least. Translate that!!
GTFOH has this man lost his damn mind………….
Little does Mr. Santorum knows that a good percentage of native Puerto Ricans are Bi-Lingual. Educate yourself before making dumbfounded statements Mr. Santorum. WTF……
dear rick santorum, the u.s. has clearly stated that pr will never be a state of the union. you use our men for the military, and sterilize our women, and use our island for your benefit, no we dont need to speak english as our official language. we are not a state, we are the oldest colony in the world. get it together santorum, and the GOP!!!
Pr should just be its own country…
WTF???
That guys kills me… He’s a joke.
they should.
Romney says the same thing, this is understandable on the mainland (Although, I am not convinced!) but to come here to the Spaniish speaking island is an afront and insult!! I say lets ALLLL learn English and Spanish and French and Chinese, why not, we are better for it!!!
LOL
that’s no problem in the Bronx.
Mg Mc, here’s our man! how do you feel about this little jewel? do you speak spanish, Mg? feeling groovy about this little treasure from the mouth of our candidate?
comemierda
title is misleading .
Que hombre mas estupido y ignorante, he looks like Prince Charles lol
If proficiency in English were a requirement for citizenship, there’s a good chance that most of the knuckle-dragging political neanderthals that voted for this piece of human excrement would have to be deported.
Santorum and romney are A-holes they dont know how to respect latinos they should get kicked off the ballot for being racists
The jokes on anyone who believes in Rick Santorum
Santorum is a bigot. He has no right to put the English language to the throats of Puerto Ricans.