Canadian Rosemary Barton spoke with Ricardo Rosselló on the subject of statehood — for Puerto Rico or for Canada. Canada is “being threatened with annexation,” Barton said, explaining her current level of interest in Puerto Rico. She wondered how Rossello, formerly Governor of Puerto Rico, took the idea of being in competition with a sovereign nation to the north for the position of 51st state of the Union.
Quality of life
“It is the next logical step forward,” Rossello said of statehood for Puerto Rico, pointing to the improved quality of life the change of status would bring for the territory. “If President Trump wants to be an expansionist president, what better way to expand than to give the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico that next step?”
Then why, Barton asked, is Congress not taking action to admit Puerto Rico? Rossello recalled President Trump during his first term offering to support statehood for Puerto Rico if the Island could offer Republican senators.
“We see Puerto Rico as a battleground state,” Rossello pointed out. “It is a center-right society and we can add a ton of value to the United States.”
But there are Republicans, headed by Mitch McClintock, who has expressed his intention to end his public service career, who believe that Puerto Rico would be a blue state and don’t want to take a chance on increasing Democratic power in Congress.
Broader benefits
Rossello sees broader benefits for the United States of having Puerto Rico as the 51st state.
“Puerto Rico is the natural connector of the Americas,” he explained, referencing not only the strategic geographic location but also the bilingual and multicultural nature of the Island’s people. “We can be the meaningful bridge between North and South America.”
He mentioned a plan to visit Washington with an eye to introducing a bill for a binding status vote for the Island, as the Puerto Rico Status Act did.
Should Canada worry?
Barton ended the discussion by wondering whether Canada should be worried that the United States might take aggressive action.
“There are stark differences,” said Rossello. “For one thing, Puerto Ricans want to become a state. Canada does not.”
Rossello acknowledged that off the cuff remarks and even jokes are part of the way the president communicates. However, he was firm on one point:
“We live in democracies and the will of the people will override any whims.”
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