Will Puerto Rico Become The New Cuba In Florida In The 2016 Election?

[Judi Lynn]

Will Puerto Rico Become The New Cuba In Florida In The 2016 Election?

Puerto Ricans will pass Cubans as the largest Latino group in Florida in the coming years. But will the issue of the island becoming the 51st state mobilize Puerto Ricans in the key swing state in 2016?

Adrian Carrasquillo
posted on April 3, 2015, at 12:45 p.m.

When President Obama became the first sitting president to visit Puerto Rico since John F. Kennedy in the midst of the 2012 cycle, it wasn’t because the island is a pivotal swing state. Residents of Puerto Rico can’t vote for president, even though they’re U.S. citizens.

That is not the case in Florida, however, where the Puerto Rican population is booming. Between 2010 and 2013, nearly 150,000 more people left Puerto Rico than settled there, according to Pew. Puerto Ricans, in fact, are poised to pass Cubans as the largest Latino group in the state in the coming years. Obama would go on to win Florida by less than 1%, with internal campaign numbers showing they won 86% of the Puerto Rican vote.

The question of what appeals to Puerto Rican voters — what will bring them out to the polls — will increasingly play in the Democratic calculus for the critical state. The answer is less than clear. But some donors and activists are already pushing hard for Puerto Rican statehood as a campaign promise from Hillary Clinton or for granting Puerto Rico residents the right to vote.

“The island is collapsing under the weight of an ancient territorial infrastructure,” said Puerto Rican lawyer Andrés W. López, co-chair of the Futuro Fund, which raised $32 million for Obama’s re-election. “Absolutely, she needs to clarify. That’s how the Cuba issue became salient. You had to take a position on what the policy ought to be on the island.”

More:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/will-puerto-rico-become-the-new-cuba-in-florida-in-the-2016?utm_term=4ldqpia#.lfAP2AroX

[forest444]

1. If Iceland were a U.S. territory,

Republicans would be tearing down all doors to make them a 51st state - until they realize that most Icelanders are staunch Social Democrats, that is.

[Bacchus4.0]

9. Puerto Rico would be overwhelmingly Democratic as a state. Two Democratic Senators

and a handful of Congressman likely all Democrats. Even the statehood party members identify mostly with Democrats. That should tell you what you need to know about the likelihood of statehood for PR.

[forest444]

10. Bingo. That's the long and short of it.

Race being an aggravating circumstance, of course.

[Bacchus4.0]

11. Its not all of it though. The local population is quite divided on the issue.

Almost half want the status quo. However, this group ALWAYS define the relationship between PR and the US as free association stating that federal laws don't apply to PR unless they want them to (they do), the US court system does not apply (it does), PR can enter into international agreements with other nations (they can't), and that federal entitlement programs will always continue (they don't make the call.)

About 45% want statehood and typically less than 5% want (or actually vote for) independence.

There is no way the US Congress would even consider the idea of statehood unless there was 75% vote of support.

One thing the Congress could indeed do is grant them independence.

[forest444]

12. Thank you for the recap of Puerto Rican attitudes toward this issue.

Very informative to those of us only slightly familiar with their statehood debate.

I was referring to the GOP's point of view earlier; but there is indeed plenty of bad faith to go around on this one.

The deciding factor will probably always be corporate America, which has a lot riding on the tax benefits and labor/environmental law exemptions setting up shop in Puerto Rico provides. Statehood would put an end to most of that, obviously; and independence, as we all know, just won't be in the cards for them in the foreseeable future. Nor is it probably in their best interests - or ours.

Salud!

[Bacchus4.0]

13. I'd say the political realities of both a Democratic Puerto Rico and the eternal debate

of their status internally would prevent statehood. PR would be the most Democratic state in the Union on the other hand there is a strong sense that they will lose out culturally under statehood. I am pretty certain they are NOT exempt from federal labor and environmental laws. The big tax benefit is not paying federal income tax but they do pay SS and medicare. (Not sure how Obamacare applies there)

About 12 years back they did lose corporate tax breaks for industries on the island. Lots of pharmaceuticals are there. I think they still get breaks on stateside rum sales.

Not sure that independence would be in their best interest either, but for the US government it may potentially be.

[msongs]

2. time for an independent puerto rico that will make its own way in the free world nt

[DonViejo]

4. Puerto Ricans voted for statehood three years ago....

Independence and the Independence party have never garnered more than 7% of the total vote cast in each election where statehood, status quo or independence were the options.

[DonViejo]

3. I was living on Puerto Rico during the 2012 election;

the President came down and so did Rick Santorum. The then President of the Senate was supporting Santorum and campaigning for him. During a press conference, Santorum was asked about statehood and if he supported Puerto Rico becoming one. Santorum responded, "learn to speak English and then we'll discuss it." The then Senate President withdrew his support for Santorum a few minutes after Slick Rick's plane left the airport.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Hideous. What a sick and ugly person.

Maybe Santorum should have attempted to tell the President how well he speaks any other language, himself, other than fascist.

[DonCoquixote]

6. It already has

but in an indrect way, namely because a lot of us Boricuas moved to Florida,and the Rubio faction is pissed, because they are no longer the dominant latino voice in the state. Orlando is especially strong with PR immigrants, and my own Tampa is too.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Had no idea the "exiles" were no longer the dominant group of people from Latin America.

That's such good, good news. They have commanded far more power in US politics than is appropriate.

I read years ago the day would come when they finally became outnumbered in Florida, and it's fantastic hearing that day is here!

Beautiful!

In time, Florida is going to be a much nicer place: not so right-wing reactionary.

[DonCoquixote]

8. Puerto Ricans and mexicans and South Americans

and all of us get real sick of the Rubio faction, and they hate us.