Hillary Clinton disses Puerto Rico
By
Teresa Gutierrez
For anyone who thought Hillary Rodham Clinton might be more
progressive than other Democratic Party politicians, that
misconception should have been shattered Sept. 4.
Because on that day, New York senatorial hopeful Hillary
Rodham Clinton called on President Bill Clinton to immediately
withdraw his offer of clemency to 16 Puerto Rican political
prisoners.
Rodham Clinton said the offer to commute the prison
sentences should be withdrawn because the prisoners had failed
to meet the demand that they renounce violence. The offer was
made three weeks ago by the White House.
Rodham Clinton said in her statement that "it's been three
weeks and their silence speaks volumes."
Several New York Latino elected officials and others
responded Sept. 5 to Rodham Clinton's stunning announcement
with dismay. U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano was the most outspoken. He
went so far as to say that he would not support her candidacy
for senator.
Serrano said: "I am the longest-serving Puerto Rican
official in the history of the state of New York. That merits a
call to say, `This is what I was planning to do.'"
Serrano's anger is certainly justified.
Hillary Rodham Clinton has not yet formally announced her
candidacy. The prospect of her running--and probably running
against New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani--has dominated the
political scene for months in New York state.
But already, Rodham Clinton has clearly dissed her Puerto
Rican colleagues, including a senior and well-respected Puerto
Rican elected official.
That she would choose to insult the Puerto Rican people even
before she has announced her candidacy should be a wake-up
call. She is sending a message. And that message is that the
best the over 3 million Puerto Ricans in New York can expect
from her is lip service--and they may not even get that.
Hillary Rodham Clinton has been built up as the greatest
thing since sliced bread. True, she is not like Rudolph
Giuliani, an openly racist right winger. Her style is perhaps
more pleasant and winning.
That she bounced back from the shenanigans at the White
House has won her the support of many sectors of the working
class, especially among women and people of color. This is
unfortunate.
She has come out and taken a stand against a people who are
colonized by the United States. Right in her front yard, Puerto
Ricans experience police brutality and other forms of
racism.
The issue of the Puerto Rican political prisoners strikes to
the core of the sentiments of the Puerto Rican people. And
those sentiments--whether they are expressed loudly, quietly or
not at all--are for freedom and independence.
Whether it is hidden or revealed, independence is the beat
of the heart of the Puerto Rican people.
Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans marched in Puerto
Rico just a couple of weeks ago to demand unconditional freedom
for the political prisoners. Were Rodham Clinton truly a
people's leader, she would have taken note of this march.
She would have sided with the many Latino leaders in
Washington who have called for unconditional amnesty for the
prisoners. She would have thrown her lot on the side of the
oppressed. How refreshing it would have been to have a white
person of her stature side with these elected officials.
But instead, Hillary Rodham Clinton called for the
withdrawal of clemency for the 16 Puerto Rican political
prisoners. Why? Because she is an opportunist politician who is
always willing to make concessions to the right in the hope
this will get her the financial and organizational support
needed to win capitalist elections.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
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