Santorum to Puerto Rico: English Has to be Main Language for Statehood!

Dear Commons Community,

Rick Santorum created a firestorm while campaigning in Puerto Rico on Wednesday by commenting that to become a state the commonwealth had to adopt English as its main language.  USA Today quoted Santorum:

“As in any other state, you have to comply with this and any federal law. And that is that English has to be the main language,” Santorum told El Vocero, a San Juan newspaper. “There are other states with more than one language as is the case in Hawaii, but to be a state in the United States, English has to be the main language.”

Santorum stood by his comments today.

“What I said is English has to be learned as a language and this has to be a country where English is widely spoken and used, yes,” he said, according to ABC News. He added the use of English should be a “condition” if Puerto Rico is to become a state.”

CNN pointed out that the U.S. Constitution spells out how a state can be admitted, but there is no mention of a language requirement. Some states and local governments have adopted what are known as “English only” laws, making English the official language of government.

Santorum’s  remarks drew criticism, and prompted one delegate who had been pledged to him to quit, saying he was offended.    On Thursday Mr. Santorum and his aides scrambled to contain the damage, with the candidate saying several times that the local media had misquoted him as saying he wanted English to be the “only” language, whereas he believed that English should be the “primary language.”

Tony

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