Senator McCain's Office Responds To Internet Hoax: Senator John McCain Comments Of Puerto Rican J.J. Barea

Senator McCain's office has issued a response to the internet hoax story, that had Senator John McCain, questioning Puerto Rican NBA champion, J.J. Barea United States citizenship.  As Puerto Rico Is The Place reported earlier, the internet blog story was a hoax.  Senator McCain's office put out the following statement on senator McCain's official website:

Washington, D.C. ­– Mark Buse, Chief of Staff to Senator John McCain, today issued the following statement on the fictitious story published on the blog IMAGINE 2050:

"The report carried by the blog IMAGINE 2050 is false, malicious, and slanderous. Senator McCain obviously never said these words, and it is unfortunate that such an outrageous and clearly fictitious story would garner so much attention.

"Senator McCain has great appreciation and respect for the people of Puerto Rico, including the nearly four million Puerto Ricans living in the mainland, and for the many that proudly serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

"Finally, as a big sports fan, Senator McCain greatly admires J.J. Barea, and enjoyed watching his performance all of this season and through the NBA Finals. He knows what pride the people of Puerto Rico must feel in their World Champion.
"We appreciate the opportunity to correct the record and make clear that this blog story is a complete fabrication. It is unfortunate if any news organization has run this obviously false story, and we hope they correct the record immediately."
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Many Puerto Ricans were angered and offended, as many believed the story, in the Imagine 2050 website, was true.  Angry and heated responses were exchanged in Facebook, Twitter and other internet websites. The internet hoax story spread over many media outlets: internet, television, and social network.  The hoax, which ran among legitimate news stories, started a couple of petitions, demanding Senator McCain to retract his comments.  As of Friday, change.org, had over 6,000 petitions signed.


Reacting to all the negative attention, the writer of the story, Dan Weiss, added a disclaimer after the blog post in the Imagine 2050 website, making it clear that the story was a joke.  Weiss wrote:


  “ Note: Aside from the quote attributed to Sen. McCain in the first paragraph, this article is blatantly satirical. I don’t know if Senator McCain cares about basketball or is acquainted with J.J Barea. The point of this “funny” blog is to mock the asinine remarks made by McCain about immigrants starting wildfires in Arizona. And if you think about it, which comment made by Senator McCain is more ridiculous? The one I made up about the Senator wanting proof that J.J. Barea is a U.S. citizen? Or the one about undocumented immigrants starting wildfires in Arizona? ”
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I hope that all is clear now, and that we can put this matter to rest.


                                                                                 

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Internet Hoax Alert: Senator McCain Comments Of Puerto Rican NBA Champion J.J. Barea

The comments made by Senator John McCain questioning the United States citizenship of NBA champion J.J. Barea is a hoax.  Shortly after Senator McCain made public comments, that some of the latest wildfires in Arizona where caused by illegal immigrants, an internet blog post had McCain demanding that Puerto Rican-born, Dallas Mavericks point guard, Jose Juan Barea prove that he was indeed a U.S. citizen.  


The story is fake and it has spread like wildfire: internet, television and social networks.  This is what the blog post said on the Imagine 2050 website:



by Dan Weiss
After fanning a virtual wildfire on Saturday with his comments on actual wildfires – “there is substantial evidence that some of these fires are caused by people who have crossed our border illegally,” Arizona Senator John McCain again made headlines today with some “heated” statements regarding the NBA’s Miami basketball franchise. Providing no evidence or reason whatsoever to back up his claims, McCain stated that illegal immigrants are “distracting us all” from doing our jobs as Americans.
“The elimination of Lebron James and the Miami heat from the NBA playoffs last week is yet another chilling example of illegals crossing our borders, snatching our health care, and eliminating our beloved sports teams from title contention. When will the madness end? And at what cost?”
McCain continued, “If you want me to believe that J.J. Barea is a citizen of this fine country, have him send some proof to my office. You don’t learn to speak Spanish that effectively in our school systems. That I guarantee.”
José Juan “J.J.” Barea, the feisty, Puerto Rican-born backup point guard for the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, played an integral role in penetrating the outmatched Heat’s interior defense. When asked to comment about McCain’s rant, Barea quipped, “You know, I would have thought he was a Mavericks fan.”
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But the story doesn't end there.  Believing these comments are true, many Puerto Ricans are now offended and in disbelief, that Senator McCain could make these comments.  A number of petitions have started to circulate asking Senator McCain to retract his comments. 


This is going to be interesting....stay tuned...

Read Senator McCain response to the hoax.

                                                      
                                                          

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Puerto Rican NBA Champion, J.J. Barea Is Celebrated in Puerto Rico

J.J. Barea was given a hero's welcome, when he arrived to his native Puerto Rico on Wednesday.  The governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño and hundreds of Puerto Ricans, first greeted Barea at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, in Isla Verde.  Barea, a point guard with the Dallas Mavericks, helped the team win their first NBA title.  J.J. Barea said, he was humbled by the warm reception.  Governor Fortuño awarded Barea with a Puerto Rican flag.   


The celebration continued in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as Barea participated on a two-hour-long parade, along Baldorioty de Castro Avenue, where thousands waited to get a glimpse of the island’s newest sports hero.  Traffic was brought to a halt, and music and sirens were blaring, as Barea waved to thousands of Puerto Ricans cheering along the route.  The parade continued to Ponce de León Avenue, and on to the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee headquarters in Old San Juan, for a party.


On Thursday, Barea will visit his hometown Mayagüez, a western coastal city of Puerto Rico, which has another parade planned for him.


Here is a video of the celebrations:




                                                                        

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Charter Flights Start From Spain To Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

The Air Transport International company has started charter flights from Spain to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.  The charter flights route goes from Madrid and Barcelona to Rafael Hernández Airport in the northwest coast town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.


The U.S. charter airline will bring thousands of more tourists to the island's west coast. The flights will move more than 200 passengers weekly between Aguadilla and Madrid and Aguadilla and Barcelona.  The government of Puerto Rico said, the weekly charter flights are expected to pump $30 million into the island economy and create some 100 jobs. 


The flights are scheduled to run four times a week to and from Madrid and Barcelona. This is great news for the towns on the west coast of Puerto Rico.   


    



 

President Obama Visits Puerto Rico

As we reported earlier on our Puerto Rico Is The Place facebook page, President Obama was in Puerto Rico today, the first President to make an official visit to the Caribbean island since President John F. Kennedy in 1961.  The people of Puerto Rico welcomed Obama in this historic day. Thousands cheered, as Obama's motorcade passed by, and posters bearing photos of Obama and Kennedy were displayed along the route.  Singer Marc Anthony, who was part of the welcoming party, was also greeted by Obama.  Fifty years, is a long time for a President not to visit the island, a territory of the United States, and Puerto Ricans were very exited to see President Obama, and some of them took the day off from work for the occasion. 


In remarks at an arrival event at the airport in Isla Verde, Obama talked about the years old debate about the island's status, which has some pushing for statehood, commonwealth or independence.  The President reaffirmed his support for a referendum in which island voters would make the decision.  People cheered when Obama said: " When the people of Puerto Rico make a clear decision, my administration will stand by you."  The President spoke in front of American and Puerto Rican flags.  Obama, also talked about his commitment to include Puerto Rico in his administration's initiatives, like the health care bill.  The president praised Puerto Rican's cultural achievements and contributions to American society and the military.  Obama mentioned, Dallas Mavericks player J.J. Barea, a Puerto Rican athlete and celebrity. 


From the airport, Obama went to visit La Fortaleza, the historic Governor's mansion, in Old San Juan, to meet with Governor Luis Fortuno.   Governor Luis Fortuno, welcomed and thanked President Obama for the visit.  Obama joked, that he just wished he could jump in the inviting ocean.  Obama then made an unscheduled stop at Kasalta, a local bakery, a few blocks from the beach, where he ordered a Medianoche sandwich (ham, pork, and swiss with pickles and mustard on a sweet bread). 


The last stop in Puerto Rico for President Obama, was at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, for a fundraiser with his Puerto Rican supporters.  President Obama spent less than five hours on the island, but many are  applauding Obama for making the trip.  


Take a look at this video of the President's visit to Puerto Rico:



Video of the arrival of Air Force One in Puerto Rico:

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Puerto Rican J.J. Barea Helps Dallas Mavs Win 2011 NBA Championship

J.J. Barea was a key factor in the Mavs winning the NBA title and he did Puerto Rico proud.  The Mavericks took their first NBA championship Sunday night, after beating the Miami Heat 105-95, in a game in which Barea contributed 15 points and five assists.  With a combination of agile drives and three-point shots,  Barea was a vital part of the Mavericks success.


The point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, José Juan "J.J." Barea, is originally from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.  There have been seven NBA players who were born in Puerto Rico, and Barea is the most accomplished.  One of the biggest moves of the 2011 NBA Finals was inserting point guard J.J. Barea into the starting lineup, which helped the Mavs win the games.  He averaged 11.4 points and crushed the Heat defense with his outstanding speed. 


Despite his height and weight, he had no problems going to the basket, and getting hit hard by the big guys of the NBA.  Barea gave hope to short guys around the world demonstrating, that with hard work, will, and passion, they can be champions too.


Although, he is 26-year old with little NBA experience, Barea is very grounded.  After winning the championship he told reporters, it was all about staying aggressive and confident.  During the championship trophy ceremony, he proudly displayed the Puerto Rican flag.  J.J. Barea, the smallest player on the court, earned the championship title by playing with the heart of a champion.


Congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks and J.J. Barea!

More on J.J. Barea on this video:



  
                                                              
                                                           

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Nik And Delilah Wallenda Reenact Wire Act That Killed Karl Wallenda In Puerto Rico

Nik Wallenda and his mother Delilah Wallenda, two members of the famed acrobatic family,  commemorated Karl Wallenda on Saturday by completing the act that killed him, walking between two towers of a seaside hotel, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on a wire 100 feet above the ground and without a safety net.



Nik Wallenda said he had planned to walk by himself across a 300-foot-long wire, but his mother convinced him to let her join him on the reenactment of the fatal 1978 act.  
The Wallenda team walked slowly toward each other, balancing on the wire.  It was reported, that Nik Wallenda was wearing moccasin-style shoes that his mother had made. Nik carried a 45-pound- balancing pole, while Delilah Wallenda, who is in her late 50s, carried a 25-pound pole.  They met at the middle.  Delilah Wallenda sat on the wire while her son stepped over her.  She then got up and both continued toward the towers of the Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.


Many of onlookers on the street below and on the balconies, gasped as Nik Wallenda knelt and steadied himself right before he completed the walk.



The Wallendas planned the wire walk about two months ago, so they could commemorate Karl Wallenda, the founder of the "The Flying Wallendas" high-wire act, who was 73 when he fell to his death after a lifetime of famous acrobatic acts.



This was an emotional experience for Nik Wallenda, but also it was to show the world, that the Wallendas are still here and still going strong.


Take a look at the video of the high-wire act:




                                                                 

  

'Q'Viva! The Chosen' Reality Show With Power Couple From Puerto Rico Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony

A first look at the new reality show, 'Q'Viva! The Chosen' has gone out with a promo, that features the power couple from Puerto Rico, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony.  The promotional video shows Lopez, and Anthony, along with director, Jamie King talking about the concept of the show.  As Puerto Rico Is The Place reported earlier, Lopez and Anthony will travel to various regions of the Americas, to assemble a cast of incredible performers of different nationalities for 'Q'Viva!'  The journey will take three months, and take them from remote villages to major cities in North, Central and South America searching for new Latin talent.  Q'Viva! The Chosen will be the ultimate live show celebrating Latin music, artistry and dance.


If you want to participate in 'Q'Viva!' you can submit your audition on YouTube.com/qviva or nominate a talent on Facebook.com/qvivathechosen.  Once the talent has been selected the reality television show will air live in early 2012 from Los Angeles, California.  Q'Viva! The Chosen will be filmed in three languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and broadcast simultaneously across 21 countries in North America, Central America and South America.  Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony will help uncover, through 'Q'Viva!', all the drama and emotions from the participants personal stories.


Take a look at the promo:




                                                     

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