Cafe Talk | Talking Points Memo | Puerto Rico votes against statehood and voting rights

Puerto Rico votes against statehood and voting rights

By Facts are Good - June 1, 2008, 5:29PM

Well, the people of Puerto Rico pretty much showed they are in no way ready for statehood or voting rights today. Thumbing there nose to the Democratic nominee in favor a has-been. Yeah, I know, this could have gone without saying. But how stupid are these folks? When Obama's president he's only going to have so much time. And today the voters of Puerto Rico pretty much assured they won't exactly be at the top of his list.

I know, I know, one shouldn't talk like this. Why, because we're not the Clintons. And Obama's not that pathetic nor should he be.

Instead, I'm just noting this because its the approach the Clinton's took in pursuing their quest, and also to note just how thrilled we should be we overcame it to win. We will not have to endure an additional presidential term all about payback.

Talk to any political operative in D.C. and you will hear the same story. At the very beginning of this campaign the Clinton's made it clear that you were either with them, or you would be out in the cold once she assumed power. It was very much a with us, or against us, approach. And they made it clear their memories were long. Thank God they have been put down. While they aren't as bad for Democracy as Bush and Cheney, those are about the only two whose arrogance exceeds that of the Clintons.

Comments (12)

You don't much about Puerto Rico. You disrespect Obama in the idea that he will treat the island badly.

Posted by Mrs No Pic
June 1, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink

Umm,
It looks like my attempt at sarcasm, like my grammer and spelling in the post above, was an utter failure. Please note the second paragraph. Especially the last sentance of the second paragraph.

Posted by Facts are Good
June 1, 2008 9:59 PM | Reply | Permalink

This is an ignorant post. Obama's position on Puerto Rico's status will have nothing to do with their primary results.

Posted by Dan K
June 1, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink

Facts are Good says:

1.) People who don't vote for Obama are stupid

2.) Obama will repay Puerto Rico's insolence by not making it a state

3.) Only Hillary is so vindicative as to do something like number 2)

4.) Political operatives tell the truth

Customer0012 says:

1.) You are an idiot

2.) Your post is a rant against people you've never met in your life

3.) In a primary contest between Facts are Good and Hillary, I'd vote for Hillary

Posted by Customer0012
June 1, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink

But how stupid are these folks?

How stupid are you to ask such a stupid question? Damned pathetically stupid, I'd say.

Posted by Chris Brown
June 1, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink

A very small percentage of registered Puerto Rican voters actually were fooled by today's beauty contest. Since they will not have a vote in the general election, they were intelligent enough
to avoid participating in a sham election today.

That makes them the kind of voters that we should welcome into the full democratic process. I hope that Puerto Rico becomes the fifty first state. The people of Puerto Rico vote in real elections at a far higher rate than the people of the current fifty states.

Senator Obama would welcome them as full citizens of the USA, and so would I.

Posted by liam
June 1, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink

As an Obama supporter, I'm embarrassed by this post. Puerto Ricans aren't "ready for statehood or voting rights" because they voted for Clinton?

Let's review a few things:

1. In a democracy, you get to vote for whoever you want. Even if "Facts are Good" disagrees with your choice.

2. Clinton practically moved to Puerto Rico last week. (And of course, being a NY Senator in a place where 78% of voters have family in NY is an advantage.) Obama barely spent any time there. Maybe he decided he'd rather spend his time in general election states, and maybe that was the right choice. But in Puerto Rico, he just got out-campaigned. Credit where it's due.

3. I agree with both Obama and Clinton that Puerto Ricans should have a right to self-determination, which means that they are "ready for statehood" whenever they say they are, which may be never. Of course, Republicans are going to do their best to stop this -- polls last week showed either Obama or Clinton would beat McCain by 60+ points on the island. In my book, those aren't stupid voters, and I'm happy to have them if and when they want statehood.

4. On a final note, turnout was low today in Puerto Rico (hey, maybe people can't be too bothered about selecting a candidate for an election they don't get to vote in), but Puerto Ricans often turn out in numbers as high as 90%. That's really impressive for any democracy. One more reason it's stupid to label Puerto Rican voters stupid.

Posted by RebeccaC
June 1, 2008 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink

Or, in Hillary's words, "Fuck 'em." OOOPS! That only applied to the white, low-information voters before they became Hillary's "BASE."

Posted by CVille Dem
June 1, 2008 7:37 PM | Reply | Permalink

Nice little racist retort there Facts.....Nice of you to weigh in on how you view Hispanic Americans. One can assume that Obama and the rest of the Obamaistas feel the same way.

Posted by Louisville1975
June 1, 2008 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink