Insulted Puerto Ricans Slam CNN, Republican Candidates – Fox News Latino

Puerto Ricans, the second largest voter group among Hispanics in the US, are “outraged” and “insulted” at CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and the Republican candidates for their “disrespectful” handling of a question centered around the longstanding issue of Puerto Rico’s statehood and independence.

During the live broadcast of the Jacksonville debate, audience members attending the Hispanic Leadership Network Conference, a center right advocacy organization in Miami, were given a chance to ask questions to the candidates. That’s when Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder, the Republican president and CEO of the Puerto Rican Chamber of [Commerce] of Florida, asked the GOP candidates where they stood on the issue of the island’s statehood.

The answer, or lack thereof, she received on national television sent her and a group of about five Puerto Ricans packing early as they stormed out of the CNN sponsored Watch Party mid-debate.

Twitpic via RT @jaxdotcom CNN is at UNF; no Wolf Blitzer yet though

The next day (Jan. 27th), GOP candidates former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney addressed the conference. Gingrich noted the question of Puerto Rico’s statehood was “one that unfortunately was not covered very well last night and I regret that Wolf Blitzer did not turn and ask the rest of us.”

Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich Pressed on Puerto Rico Statehood in South Florida — ABC News

“I have had a firm position on the right of the Puerto Rican people to have a referendum,” Gingrich said to applause. “I am not dictating the outcome of the referendum because there are several options and the Puerto Rican people have to make that decision.”

Romney, speaking an hour later, backed the idea of statehood:

“I think it’s in November you’re having a referendum and I expect the people of Puerto Rico will decide that they want to become a state and I can tell you that I will work with [Puerto Rico Gov. Luis] Fortuno to make sure that if that vote comes out in favor of statehood, that we will go through the process in Washington to provide statehood to Puerto Rico.”

It should be noted that Romney’s remarks went beyond what he said to Univision’s Jorge Ramos on Wednesday, “my choice is to let them make their choice.”

Fortuno endorsed Romney in Cape Canaveral on Friday evening.

Lesson learned

Cuevas-Neunder made a good point on Thursday when she said the candidates knew more about going to the moon then they did about Puerto Rican statehood.  And personally, I think Wolf Blizter should have better prepared for questions from the Hispanic Leadership Network. Surely he knew there would be no questions about the moon from Miami.

Blitzer, however, earned cheers and social media shout-outs when he described UNF as “beautiful” and “fabulous” just before the candidates faced off. CNN anchor Erin Burnett also praised the “beautiful campus” and UNF’s growing global logistics training program. She said Jacksonville International Airport “is what I think might be America’s best airport.”

CNN anchor raves about JIA, UNF and city after debate  – Florida Times-Union

Watch this clip from Erin Burnett’s OutFront on Friday night. She segues from her love of the airport to 44,000 – the number of Northeast Floridians employed in the distribution industry.

THE NUMBER: OutFront in Jacksonville

“Did you know 90 percent of Coach Handbags are shipped through Jacksonville?”

No, Erin. But thanks for telling me. 

A "Vieux" from the Vieux Carre .

The 2nd annual Vieux-To-Do festival (actually, three festivals in one) is held in the French Quarter, on the banks of the Mississippi river.  Plenty of Cajun-Creole cooking  and Louisiana Seafood!

FREE music on  two stages - 

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation

is coordinating the entertainment.

Although Express Jet no longer flies directly out  of Jacksonville International Airport to New Orleans, it is possible to charter a flight direct!

Of course, it might easier  to connect through  (annoying)  Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.

Who thinks JIA needs more DIRECT destination flights?

-k.a. gardner

Airports Council International – North America is holding its May 31 -  June 3 Marketing and Communications conference in the heart of downtown Montreal.

Casino de Montreal

Barbara Halverstadt, Jacksonville Airport Authority’s  airtrade and marketing manager, is attending the conference for developments impacting the aviation industry.

Beyond meetings, Halverstadt’s priority  is “pitching” Jacksonville International Airport for non-stop routes  to  five high-volume desinations airports  through JIA – Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Phoenix (JAA statistics).

Air Tran, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, JetBlue Airways,  Southwest,  United Airlines and US Airways are among airlines holding one-on-one  presentation meetings with national airport marketing representatives.  Route system compatibility and passenger volume are primary considerations for non-stop service.

Good luck, Barbara!

Next stop, Puerto Rico …

- k.a. gardner