Opinion: Ricky Martin Livin’ la Vida Hillary Clinton

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Already the favorite in Puerto Rico’s Democratic presidential primary on Sunday, Hillary Clinton today announced the endorsement of singer Ricky Martin -- one of the island’s most famed native sons.

In a statement released by Clinton’s campaign, Martin said: ‘These elections will have historic repercussions both in the United States and the world. Senator Clinton has always been consistent in her commitment with the needs of the Latino community. Whether fighting for better education, universal health care and social well-being, as First Lady and Senator from New York -- representing millions of Latinos -- she has always fought for what is most important for our families.’

Martin, best known for his huge 1999 hit ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca,’ has been in the political spotlight before. Headlining a pre-inaugural celebration for George W. Bush in Washington in January 2001, Martin was joined on stage by the soon-to-be-president, with each briefly showing off their dance steps (an image caught in a widely disseminated photograph).

Martin broke with Bush over the Iraq war, though, and made his displeasure widely known during a concert in Puerto Rico last year. During a rendition of his song ‘Asignatura Pendiente,’ the five-time Grammy winner thrust ...

...his middle finger into the air when he belted out the tune’s lyric, ‘a photo with Bush.’

According to news reports at the time, the gesture was met with cheers from his audience at a stadium in San Juan.

-- Don Frederick