Puerto Rico Daily Sun
Today is what counts
Whoosh, he was gone. The much awaited visit by President Obama was over before it began, and understandably, he left some people wanting more, if not outright disappointed. However, it will be a while before the historic visit from the president is forgotten, and the spinoff could be helpful for Puerto Rico, especially if Obama becomes a two-term president.
Obama knows he needs the Hispanic vote to win that goal, and he hopes that Puerto Ricans in the states — particularly in Florida — will be impressed by his lightning-like trip to their home island.
Hispanics were pivotal during the last election in New Mexico, where there are relatively few Puerto Ricans. In Florida, Hispanics — mostly Puerto Ricans — accounted for more than two-thirds of Obama's winning plurality. Nevada was also decisive with almost two-thirds. With Hispanics accounting for one in every six United States citizens, the visit to Puerto Rico could have positive fallout for Obama, in addition to the $1 million he took home in his pocket. Of the some 850,000 Puerto Ricans living in Florida the vote falls heavily in the Democrats' column. Puerto Ricans between Orlando and Tampa are unlike conservative Republican Cuban-American voters and could be very helpful to Obama.
Yesterday is now a memory, of a charismatic head of state who said a few nice things about ITALBoricuasITAL and Puerto Rican war heroes, compared ITAL arroz y gandulesITAL to apple pie, fantasized over shooting baskets with J.J. Barea, and licked his fingers over a ITALmedianoche,ITAL or was it a ITALcubano?ITAL He spoke out for health care, jobs and broadband Internet access, tourism development and clean air. He pronounced Puerto Rico with a flair, but stumbled on Ballajá, but of course, all that was style, not substance.
Meanwhile, meeting today at the Hotel La Concha, the President's Task on Puerto Rico will tackle security, tourism, education and health care, "putting people back to work, here and all across America," as Obama said. Those will be the tangible subjects to be looked at, up-close and personal, and should help Puerto Rico more than just a turnaround visit. But Obama's visit can do no harm. His words, while not those of an orator, were at least reassuring.
His words — "we're not there yet, but anyone willing to work hard can earn a decent wage to provide for a family" — were predictable, uplifting and a bit hollow. But what is more important is the future. He has already shown that he knows Puerto Rico is here and needs his help, regardless of his motives. He has already sent more funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — ARRA — funds to Puerto Rico than to many states, and he has appointed the first Puerto Rican, Sonia Sotomayor, to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court. If he wins a second term, he should be even more grateful to Puerto Rico and even more knowledgeable on the subject. Whether or not the island ever has the vote, the U.S. has recognized its commitment to the island. Status, for many is the ITAL sine qua non ITAL for development. We can only hope President Obama will be able to bring about some progress in that long stagnated process.
On a few other subjects, he seems to be open to unfamiliar demands, such as the release of prisoner Oscar López Rivera, as he said in a later interview, and the repeal of the Jones Act.
http://www.prdailysun.com/index.php?page=perspectives.article&id=1308098532
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