Voting Rights: President Bill Clinton Says Virgin Islanders Should Have Right To Vote For President

ST. CROIX — At a campaign stop on this island, President Bill Clinton, his first time here, was greeted by a crowd of local Democrats at the Island Center for the Performing Arts, some of whom had paid $1,000 to have a personal meet and greet with the former leader of the free world in a tent erected behind the facility. Mr. Clinton, who flew in from Puerto Rico and spoke just over half an hour on a myriad of subjects, ignited applause when he addressed the upcoming 100th Centennial and his wife’s support for the territory’s right to vote for a U.S. president.

At the $1,000 affair, the who’s who of St. Croix gathered, tastefully dressed, including doctors, lawyers, politicians and others, mingling and having conversations before Mr. Clinton arrived. Once he materialized, his handlers swiftly moved to position him in a spot where those who had paid for the special meetup would take professional photographs with the former president.

At the front, a massive crowd had already gathered, waiting patiently for Mr. Clinton to address them. His talk was preceded by local Democratic leaders, including former Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen, State Chair Cecile Benjamin, National Committee Woman Carole Burke, and current Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, among others, who introduced Mr. Clinton to a receptive crowd that stood in approval upon his arrival on stage.

Mr. Clinton, who is on a nonstop campaign schedule as he works to get his wife elected to the highest office in America, spoke about Mrs. Clinton’s experience in leadership during his eight-year tenure as president, as a New York Senator and most recently as secretary of state. He painted a contrast between the values and ideals of Mrs. Clinton compared to Mr. Trump’s, stating that while the presumptive Republican nominee seeks to build walls that would work to distance America and turn the nation into a reclusive power, Mrs. Clinton wants to build a bridge that leads all Americans to success.

But the words that resonated strongest with residents were his remarks on the right of Virgin Islanders to vote for president, and the equal distribution of healthcare.

In speaking on the upcoming Centennial commemoration, Mr. Clinton said the transfer of the territory from Denmark to the U.S. on March 31, 1917, “Has been an unmixed blessing for us as Americans but not always for you.”

He added: “I want to get two things out of the way first: Hillary strongly believes that we should do whatever is necessary to let people who are willing to serve this country and support it, vote for president of the United States.” Those remarks received loud cheers and a standing ovation from the audience.

But Mr. Clinton was not done: “Secondly, she strongly believes that you are suffering from part of what has bankrupted Puerto Rico, which is the unequal distribution of healthcare funds and she wants to correct that.”

By addressing the two most important issues to residents, Mr. Clinton has placed Mrs. Clinton in a strong position against Bernie Sanders on June 4 during the Virgin Islands Democratic Caucus, where 12 delegates delegates are at stake.