Hot! Puerto Rico Referendum Approves U

AMY GOODMAN: Democracy Now! co-host Juan Gonz lez is home, recuperating from back surgery. Juan, I wanted to ask you about Puerto Rico . For the first time in Puerto Rico s history, a majority of the island s voters supported a non-binding referendum to become a full U.S. state, the measure requiring approval from the U.S. Congress, but President Obama has said he will respect the vote. He made the same promise last year when he visited the island, become the first sitting U.S. president in half a century to do so.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Because when I ran for president, I promised to include Puerto Rico , not just on my itinerary, but also in my vision of where our country needs to go. And I m proud to say that we ve kept that promise, too. First of all, we ve addressed the question of political status. In March, a report from our Presidential Task Force on Puerto Rican Status provided a meaningful way forward on this question, so that the residents of the island can determine their own future. And when the people of Puerto Rico make a clear decision, my administration will stand by you.

AMY GOODMAN: That was President Obama speaking in Puerto Rico last year. Juan Gonz lez, talk about the significance of the vote that took place and what President Obama has said about respecting the vote.

JUAN GONZ LEZ: Well, I think that the significance is that Puerto Rico is still grappling with its status as a as the last major colony of the United States, but and this referendum is just another step along the road, but it s not quite as clear-cut as the press reports are making it out to be. You know, Puerto Rico has a very convoluted relationship politically with the United States, and so the parties there operate a little differently.

First of all, the amazing thing that once again, record turnouts in Puerto Rico: 85 percent of the people voted, much higher than in the United States. And for those of you who worry about long lines, in Puerto Rico, the day before the election is a holiday, the day of the election is a holiday, and the day after the election is a holiday. So it s a three-day holiday, election time, in Puerto Rico, so it gives people plenty of time to organize and turn out their votes.