PRESS
RELEASE from Romney for President
March 15, 2012
“PUERTO RICO GOP LEADER JENNIFFER
GONZÁLEZ REJECTS SANTORUM’S POSTURE ON STATEHOOD”
“For former Senator Santorum, a fair
and democratic majority vote in favor of statehood is not enough. He
demands more, but doesn’t say what would satisfy him. Democracy does
not work that way. Statehood is not automatic, nobody seriously
says
it is, but it is our right as American citizens to claim for it and a
majority vote for statehood is a vote to initiate the process.” –
Jenniffer González-Colón
“Puerto
Rico GOP Leader Jenniffer González rejects Santorum’s posture on
Statehood”
Announces her full support for Mitt Romney
Press Release
March 15, 2012
San Juan- The vice chairwoman of the Republican Party in Puerto Rico
and Speaker of the Island’s House of Representatives, Jenniffer
González-Colón, strongly rejected GOP Presidential
contender Rick
Santorum’s dismissal of the importance of a majority vote for statehood
in a referendum to be held during next November’s general election.
“For former Senator Santorum, a fair and democratic majority vote in
favor of statehood is not enough. He demands more, but doesn’t say what
would satisfy him. Democracy does not work that way. Statehood is
not
automatic, nobody seriously says it is, but it is our right as American
citizens to claim for it and a majority vote for statehood is a vote to
initiate the process,” stated González-Colón, who
personally confronted
Santorum today about his expressions on the conditions for statehood,
including those related to the use of English as sole language of
public affairs.
González, who is also Vice Chairwoman of the local pro-statehood
party
(NPP), added: “Yes, it took Hawaii 19 years and Oklahoma 18 years from
first referendum to statehood, but the point is the people were heard
and the process was started. Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans
have fought and died in America’s Armed Forces, without objection to
what their first language was, but now we hear their votes will count
for choosing a candidate but not for choosing our future? Our
votes
matter, period, and I will be using mine this Sunday to ensure that
Mitt Romney is our next president.”
###
PRESS RELEASE from ProEnglish
March 15, 2012
ProEnglish Applauds Rick Santorum for
Defending English in Puerto Rico – Urges Romney to Do the Same
Arlington, VA—ProEnglish, the nation’s leading advocate of official
English, applauds GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum for
declaring that English must become the primary official language of
Puerto Rico if it decides to become a state.
While visiting Puerto Rico on March 14th, Santorum was interviewed by
El Vocero and asked about the island remaining Spanish-speaking if it
decides to petition for U.S. Statehood. Santorum replied, "English must
be the main language. Other states have more than one language, like
Hawaii, but to be a state of the Union, English has to be the main
language."
“ProEnglish thanks Sen. Santorum for his courageous stand and his
intent to preserve English as the common, unifying language of the
United States,” said ProEnglish board member Phil Kent. Santorum’s
public declaration has improved his grade on ProEnglish’s interactive
candidate scorecard from a 'B' to an 'A-minus.' He now ties Newt
Gingrich in the rankings.
“The Romney campaign has today insinuated that Gov. Romney opposes an
English language requirement of any kind, but why does the Governor
oppose making English the language of government and schools in Puerto
Rico?” asked Kent.
No territory with a primary official language other than English has
ever been admitted to the Union and no existing U.S. state government
operates in any other language on a day-to-day basis. Puerto Rico would
be a striking exception.
“It’s not easy to be vocal about the inevitable language implications
that statehood will have for Spanish-speaking Puerto Rico when you are
a candidate running for President and visiting the island,” said
Kent. “But Senator Santorum rose above party politics this
week. Americans nationwide should thank him for highlighting this
important issue which will confront all Americans this November.”
###