Kevin McCarthy's announces his resignation; gains a "pants on fire" grade re: Philippines and Pacific island nations

SCREEN CAPTURE / X

California Congressman Kevin McCarthy in debate form.

Just before he announced his resignation from Congress this morning, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., showed his ignorance about the Philippines and the island nations in the Pacific Ocean when he said that the United States never sought land after winning wars.

McCarthy announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Wednesday two months after being kicked out as Speaker of the House by a handful of ultra-conservative Republicans and the Democrats' 213 members. He would give up his seat by the end of this year.

McCarthy’s decision will narrow the House GOP’s shaky slim majority, which just last week got smaller after the expulsion of ex-Rep. George Santos of New York. 

The GOP's eight seat majority could possibly narrow to only two if Democrats win in a series of special elections slated for early next year, including a special election for McCarthy's 20th District in California's Central Valley.

McCarthy made his remarks regarding the United States' supposed largesse on October 28 at the Oxford Union, the 200-year-old debating society at the University of Oxford in England. About a month later he reached a much wider audiene when he uploaded his posts on X and YouTube on Nov. 26.

McCarthy's resignation was expected after he lost the speakership and was essentially powerless within his own party. His decision to leave the House had nothing to do with his erroneous claim.

In the debate, McCarthy said, "In every single war that America has fought, we have never asked for land afterwards, except for enough to bury the Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for that freedom we went in for."

There are so many examples to prove him wrong beginning with the land stolen from Native Americans, but we'll point out two glaring examples.

Historians gave Politifact, a project of the Poynter Institute, several examples where McCarthy was just plain wrong in his claim. Among them, they point out:

Spanish-American War, 1898: Under the Treaty of Paris, Spain relinquished claims on Cuba and ceded Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. Guam and Puerto Rico remain US territories.

Although Filipinos seeking independence already had Spainish colonial government surrounded in Manila, the US joined with the Filipinos to defeat Spain.

The fighting did not end after Spain surrendered to the US and ignoring the Filipinos' declaration of independence. After that war, members of the Filipino independence movement shifted from fighting Spain to fighting the United States in the Philippine American War.

"It was a brutal affair that the United States won," said Joseph McCallus, an English professor at Columbus State University who has authored several books on the Philippines, including "Forgotten Under a Tropical Sun: War Stories by American Veterans in the Philippines, 1898-1913."

Officially, this second war lasted from 1899 to 1902, he said, but Filipino guerrillas fought on for several years afterward. "With the Filipino independence forces defeated, the United States took control of the entire Philippine archipelago," McCallus said. "In no uncertain terms, it was an unadulterated land grab. Its purpose was to position the United States in the Pacific."

Second Samoan Civil War, 1899: Under the Tripartite Convention of 1899, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States divided up the Samoan island chain in the Pacific Ocean. The portion the US took is now a US territory, American Samoa.

Trust Territory of the Pacific. Hundreds of islands controlled by Japan passed to the U.S. following World War II as a US trusteeship. After increasing sentiment in the islands for greater independence, the United Nations dissolved the arrangement in 1990. Today, the former trust territory consists of one US territory (the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) and three entities that are self-governing: (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

PolitiFact tried to get a comment from McCarthy's office but there has been no response.

In one sense, McCarthy can't be blamed for his ignorance of history. His scanty knowledge is the result of an educational system that is biased towards White exceptionalism and fails to give a more accurate record of reality.  This distorted view of history reinforces  the world view of white supremacists.

A more balanced teaching of history might teach some humility and understanding of people and cultures that make up America and its place in the world.

McCarthy, one of the few Republican representatives from California, was facing challenges from the Democrats and from his own party if he had decided to run in 2024. The 20th District was seen as a "safe" seat for the GOP if McCarthy remained. With McCarthy's departure, that no longer holds true.

"It is time to pursue my passion in a new arena,” McCarthy said in a video he released Wednesday. “While I will be departing the House at the end of this year, I will never, ever give up fighting for this country that I love so much

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the  blog Views From the Edge.

Court rules that American Samoans are entitled to birthright citizenship

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

John Fitisemanu outside a Utah courthouse.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Updated Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to reflect the court's staying of the Dec. 12 ruling.

"All he wants is to have his voice be heard, just like any other American would," said Neil Weare, attorney for John Fitisemanu, who was born in American Samoa.

On Thursday (Dec. 12), American Samoans, long denied birthright citizenship, finally won a court victory in the quest towards equality and representation. But that victory was short-lived because on the following day, the judge who presided over Fitusemanu's and two other Samoan American's lawsuit, stayed his original ruling until an appeal is heard.

Nevertheless, the first thing Fitsemanu did on Friday was to register to vote. Fitisemanu, 56, said he was not surprised or disappointed by the stay and is “just happy things are moving forward.”

“It felt exciting to register,” said Fitisemanu. The plaintiffs, Fitisemanu, Rosavita Tuli and Pale Tuli for years have lived and worked in Utah, which has a large Samoan community.

The lawsuit that brought the ruling didn't originate in the island territory but in the state of Utah where three Samoan American residents filed their claim.

“American Samoans owe permanent allegiance to the United States,” ruled Judge Clark Waddoups in the US District Court for the District of Utah. “They are therefore ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ of the United States.” Since American Samoa is “within the dominion of the United States,” the territory must be considered part of the country, he wrote.

"This court is not imposing 'citizenship by judicial fiat.' The action is required by the mandate of the Fourteenth Amendment as construed and applied by Supreme Court precedent," wrote Waddoups.

The government, Waddoups said, “shall issue new passports to plaintiffs that do not disclaim their U.S. citizenship.”

The Department of Justice, which argued against the lawsuit, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday (Dec. 13).

RELATED: Why the court denied citizeneship to American Samoa

In court papers, the department’s lawyers argued that the Constitution does not require birthright citizenship for anyone born in an unincorporated territory and that “any remedy here must come from Congress, not the federal judiciary.”

"This court is not imposing 'citizenship by judicial fiat.' The action is required by the mandate of the 14th Amendment as construed and applied by Supreme Court precedent," wrote Judge Clark Waddoups in the US District Court for the District of Utah.

"Further, Plaintiffs are American Samoans. They brought this action seeking to realize their rights to citizenship under the 14th Amendment," he added. It's unclear whether Waddoups' order applies to American Samoans beyond Utah.

"It's an overwhelming victory but it's the first step in what will likely be several more steps," said Neil Weare, attorney for the plaintiffs and the president and founder of the non-profit Equally American.

American Samoa, a U.S. territory since 1900, is a cluster of islands 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii perpetually stuck in a legal loophole. People born in the territory are labeled U.S. nationals. Under that status, they cannot vote, run for office, sponsor family members for immigration to the U.S., apply for certain government jobs, or serve on a jury – despite paying taxes to Uncle Sam. They’re even issued special U.S. passports that say: “This bearer is a United States national and not a United States citizen.”

Residents of other US territories, including Guam and Puerto Rico, are granted birthright citizenship with all the rights granted US citizens -- birthright or naturalized -- except the right to vote for President.

A 2016 case seeking citizenship was rejected based on the racist nature of set of court decisions called the Insular Cases, which gave preference to the territories where majority of its residents were white and referred to the Samoans as "savages."

The precedent set by the Insular Cases coupled with the reluctance of the leadership of America Samoa gave the courts reason enough to deny that claim. 

It is not clear how far-ranging the Utah ruling will apply beyond the state, including for those living in American Samoa.

Resistance will likely come from American Samoan government. Leaders fear residents would lose autonomy over local laws, which includes a law that allows the land to be communally owned by Samoan families. About 90 percent of American Samoa falls under this status. The land cannot be sold or rented to anyone "whose blood is less than one-half Samoan."

This lawsuit raises an interesting -- if applicable -- major question over whether the millions who lived in the Philippines while the country was a US territory for five decades until 1946 would also be able to seek US citizenship, said Sam Erman, an expert in constitutional law and a University of Southern California professor. If the law is applied to this situation, Philippine residents would be 74 years old by now but the ruling could possibly be extended to their children.

_____________________________________________________________________

American Samoans fight for U.S. citizenship

COURTESEY EQUALLY AMERICAN

John Fitisemanu wants birthright citizenship for American Samoans.

AMERICAN SAMOANS are trying once again to gain U.S. citizenship -- just like everybody else born on U.S. soil.

A lawsuit filed Tuesday (March 28) against the U.S.  State Department seeks birthright citizenship for residents of American Samoa under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

Utah resident John Fitisemanu is the lead plaintiff on the lawsuit filed on behalf of American Samoans in Utah. Born in American Samoa, he has the status of a U.S. national.

He's been rejected for jobs that list U.S. citizenship as a requirement. Prospective employers "need me to show them proof that I am a U.S. citizen, which I am not." Around elections, "I sit quietly at my cubicle, and don't say a word, because I know I can't vote," he said. "It's kind of embarrassing."

In addition to the 50 states, the United States has five territories: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. While none of the five territories have all the rights granted to states, residents of the other four are given U.S. citizenship at birth. American Samoa is the only territory where residents are not automatically granted citizenship.

Like residents of the other four territories, American Samoans pay taxes and are recognized as U.S. nationals. American Samoa also sends a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. However, without full citizenship, they are not permitted to vote, run for political office, apply for certain government jobs, or to sponsor relatives immigrating to the United States. 

Despite their status as U.S. nationals without full privileges of citizenship, the U.S. has no problem accepting them into the military. For their small numbers, the American Samoans have the one of the highest rates of enlistment into the armed forces.

This is Fitisemanu's second attempt to overturn what appears to be an unjust rule.A previous case he led stalled in 2016 when the Supreme Court declined to reconsider a ruling from a lower court in D.C., which found the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship didn't apply to American Samoa, and based its ruling on controversial racist legal precedents from the early 20th century after the Spanish-American War the U.S. acquired some former Spanish colonies including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Philippines.

Known as the "Insular Cases," the Supreme Court distinguished between "incorporated" and "unincorporated" territories. Incorporated territories such as Arizona and New Mexico and mostly settled by white people, were thought destined to be a permanent part of the U.S. Unincorporated territories such as American Samoa, weren't considered candidates for statehood, whose inhabitants were described as "alien races" and "uncivilized," and thus weren't granted full constitutional rights.

RELATED: Why the court ruled against citizenship for American Samoans

President Theodore Roosevelt was even more explicit in praising “the expansion of the peoples of white, or European, blood” into the lands of “mere savages.” It’s worth noting that President Trump has pointed to this period as the era “when we were great, when we were really starting to go robust."

"A lot of people are justifiably embarrassed by the Insular Cases because they really do capture an earlier imperial moment that is saturated in white supremacy," says Sanford Levinson, a constitutional law professor at the University of Texas-Austin School of Law.

In subsequent cases, the courts have seen fit to grant citizenship to the other U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, Guam and the Northern Marianas but denied that same privilege to the 55,000 American Samoans.

"This is the holding pattern we've been in now for over a century," said Sam Erman, an expert in constitutional law and a professor at the University of Southern California. Still, Erman and many legal scholars agree that "American Samoans are clearly citizens under the 14th Amendment."

It didn't help Fitisemanu's earlier case that the local American Samoan government took a nuanced view over the issue, given concern about how aspects of Samoan life and culture "would be jeopardized if subjected to scrutiny under the 14th Amendment," according to court documents filed in 2014 by lawyers representing the government. 

"If someone has a birth certificate showing they were born on U.S. soil, they shouldn't have to jump through any more hoops to be recognized as a U.S. citizen," said Neil Weare, president and founder of nonprofit Equally American, the attorney leading the lawsuit.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Samoan hotshots are a source of inspiration fighting California wildfires

The hotshots from America Samoa emerge from the forest.

ONE OF THE MANY AMAZING STORIES coming out of the devastating wildfires in northern California is the inspirational presence of the hotshots from American Samoa.

As the worst fire in California history continues to burn, firefighters have come from across the country and as far away as Australia to assist in controlling the fires that have claimed more than 40 lives and thousands of homes.

The crew of five veterans and 11 rookie firefighters from the National Park of American Samoa joined the Northern California wildfire force.

The Samoans were equipped with gear when they arrived in Redding, Calif., and they, in turn, said thanks with celebratory songs and a haka.

Later, a bone-chilling video captures the American Samoan hotshots coming down from the mountains after a hard days work. The video was filmed at the Helena-Fork Fire on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northwest California.

It shows a trail coming out of the forest. In the distance you hear a song. Then, one by one in single file the fire crew emerges out of the dark forest sounding like a choir. With their strong, powerful, harmonizing voices it's a scenes that sends chills up the spine. 

They are singing a Christian hymn, acapella, in Samoan with some of the firefighters singing harmony. Even though you don't know the words, you can feel the power emanating from the men and women.

The video was posted Sept. 27, 2017 by Lori Light and has gone viral. The videographer said in his post on You Tube, “Take a break from the depressing national news and watch the best thing you will see today.”

______________________________________________________________________________

American Samoa's long-time congressman passes away

ONE OF the elder statesman for Asian/American and Pacific Islanders was praised for his commitment to his constituents in American Samoa after he passed away Wednesday.

Rep. Eni Faleomavaega

Eni F.H. Faleomavaega passed away in Utah. He is survived by his wife and five children.

Faleomavaega served as the U.S. Rep. from American Samoa from 1989 to 2015. He was previously the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa from 1985 to 1989.

He served as an Infantry captain in the War in Southeast Asia. He studied at Brigham Young University and earned law degrees at the University of Houston and the University of California at Berkeley.

"It is with pleasure that I say that life with Eni was far from dull," his wife, Hinanui Hunkin, told The Associated Press via email from Provo on Wednesday night. "I am so grateful for the trust that the people of American Samoa, for so many years, placed in him as their servant. I love and miss you, American Samoa."

Born in Vailoatai Village on the U.S. territory, Faleomavaega graduated from Kahuku High School in Hawaii in 1962. He then earned a bachelor of arts in political science and history from Brigham Young University in Utah in 1966.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Congressman Eni Faleomavaega – a true patriot, leader, and friend," said Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

"Throughout his distinguished military and public service career, Eni dedicated his life to putting country above self. As one of the founding members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, as well as the longest serving delegate to represent American Samoa in the U.S. House of Representatives, he was a strong champion for his constituents and the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

“During his time in Congress, he worked to secure critical funding to improve America Samoa’s infrastructure, health care system, and schools. As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, he also worked tireless to cultivate stronger U.S. relations throughout the Asia-Pacific region and to highlight the strategic role of our U.S. territories in the Pacific.

“I always enjoyed working with Eni, and will never forget his unwavering dedication to advancing the rights of his constituents and all Americans. His leadership will truly be missed.”

###