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Marco Rubio

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17 Jan, 2016

Cites ISIS fears

Gives Talk0 Comments

Rubio cites fears of ISIS as reasons to protect gun rights for Americans and promises to maintain a broad interpretation of the 2nd Amendment if elected president. While speaking to a crowd of approximately 600 in Iowa, he warned that the Obama administration is coming to confiscate Americans guns and leave them defenseless:

My attorney general is not going to be someone that comes to my office to conspire about how to take away your guns. My attorney general is going to be someone that defends your second amendment right to protect your family, your homes, your business and your property. Because, if God forbid ISIS pays a visit to you, to our community, the last thing standing between them and our families may be the ability to protect ourselves with our guns. And there’s no way we’re going to take that away from the American people, not when I’m president.

15 Dec, 2015

Debate: Cruz vs. Rubio

Debate0 Comments

At the GOP debate, Cruz and Rubio spar over immigration, with Rubio saying his view on immigration was the same as Cruz’s. Cruz responds:

I led the fight against his legalization and amnesty like suggesting the fireman and the arsonist have the same record because they were both at the scene of the fire…I have never supported legalization, and I do not intend to support legalization.

On national security, Cruz:

One of the problems with Marco’s foreign policy is he has far too often supported Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama undermining governments in the Middle East that have helped radical Islamic terrorists,” Mr. Cruz said. “We need to focus on killing the bad guys, not getting stuck in Middle Eastern civil wars that don’t keep America safe.

Rubio responds that while President Obama and Hillary Clinton wanted to “lead from behind,” Cruz was suggesting “not to lead at all.”

30 Oct, 2015

Endorses Rubio

Political Endorsement0 Comments

GOP mega-donor, Singer, endorses Rubio in a letter sent to dozens of other donors. He praises Rubio’s message of optimism about America’s future, his work on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and his ability to make a persuasive case to voters as key reasons to support him. Singer describes Rubio as the only candidate who can ‘navigate this complex primary process, and still be in a position to defeat’ Hillary Rodham Clinton in a general election.

This combination of appealing substantive views well suited to both the primary and general electorate, deep command of foreign and domestic policy details, hopeful confidence in America, grasp of 21st century realities and opportunities, political courage, and rhetorical style and talent, make him an exceptional candidate, perfect for this moment, and a potentially transformative governing figure.

Bush and several other candidates, including  Christie, were reportedly competing for Singer’s support.

28 Oct, 2015

Third Republican presidential debate

Debate0 Comments

At the third Republican presidential debate in Boulder, CO, hosted by CNBC, Rubio

to a question about criticism from the SunSentinel newspaper for missing many Senate votes while on the campaign trail.

I read that article today with amusement… This is another example of the double standard that exists in this country between the mainstream media and conservatives.

Jeb Bush jumps in, comparing Rubio’s lack of voting in the Senate to a French workweek, adding ‘You should be showing up for work… or just resign’. Rubio counters:

You said that you’re modelling your campaign after John McCain… I don’t ever remember you complaining about John McCain’s vote record… The only reason why you’re doing it now is because we’re running for the same position and someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you.

Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio spar over Rubio's congressional attendance record

4 Aug, 2015

Chosen for GOP debate

Casting0 Comments

The candidates for the GOP Presidential debate are announced: Trump, Bush, Walker, Huckabee, Carson, Cruz, Rubio, Paul, Christie and Kasich will appear on stage on Aug 6 in Cleveland, OH. RNC chairman Priebus:

Our field is the biggest and most diverse of any party in history and I am glad to see that every one of those extremely qualified candidates will have the opportunity to participate on Thursday evening. Republicans across the country will be able to choose which candidate has earned their support after hearing them talk through the issues.

26 May, 2015

‘Legalized gay marriage is danger to Christianity’

Interview0 Comments

Rubio says that the push to legalize same sex marriage pose a danger to survival of Christianity.

If you think about it, we are at the water’s edge of the argument that mainstream Christian teaching is hate speech. Because today we’ve reached the point in our society where if you do not support same-sex marriage you are labeled a homophobe and a hater…So what’s the next step after that. After they are done going after individuals, the next step is to argue that the teachings of mainstream Christianity, the catechism of the Catholic Church is hate speech.

25 May, 2015

Memorial Day video

Makes Statement0 Comments

Rubio posts a video on Facebook in honor of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day has always been a time of unity for our nation. It’s a time when we put aside partisanship and politics and come together…As President, I will devote the necessary resources to our national defense. I will ensure that they never are sent into a fair fight but rather are always equipped with the upper hand.

Marco's Memorial Day Message: A Time To Put Aside Partisanship

14 May, 2015

Council on Foreign Relations foreign policy speech

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Rubio lays out his foreign policy vision in his talk at the Council on Foreign Relations. He criticizes Obama and calls for bigger military budget. He also wants America to take a more aggressive stance across the globe.

American strength is a means of preventing war, not promoting it…Sadly, I believe President Obama often disagrees with that simple truth. He entered office believing America was too hard on our adversaries, too engaged in too many places, and that if we just took a step back and did some more ‘nation building at home– ceding leadership to other countries — America would be better liked and the world better off.

10 May, 2015

Defends NSA’s snooping program

Writes Article0 Comments

Rubio writes an article in USA Today defending NSA’s phone-snooping program. He claims that there has not been a not a single documented case of abuse of NSA’s program.

The government is not listening to your phone calls or recording them unless you are a terrorist or talking to a terrorist outside the United States…There is not a single documented case of abuse of this program. Internet search providers, Internet-based email accounts, credit card companies and membership discount cards used at the grocery store all collect far more personal information on Americans than the bulk metadata program.

1 May, 2015

Defends amendments to Iran legislation

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Rubio defends the two amendments that he wants to be added to proposed legislation on Iran nuclear deal.

I by no means endorse the plan outlined in the fact sheet, but the fact that they are saying it is a poison pill to require the president to sign a deal that reflects what he says the deal is, is in and of itself incredibly worrisome.

He also makes it clear that he doesn’t wants the bill to be defeated.

I doesn’t want the bill to go down…It’s not perfect, it’s better than nothing, and it creates a process by which the Senate can review what the president does.

28 Apr, 2015

Signs anti-tax pledge

Political Endorsement0 Comments

Rubio signs Americans for Tax Reform’s (ATR) anti-tax pledge to oppose any tax increase if elected president. ATR’s president:

By signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to the American people, Senator Rubio continues to protect American taxpayers against higher taxes.

13 Apr, 2015

Runs for President

Runs for Office0 Comments

Rubio announces that he’s running for President in a speech at the grand hall of Miami’s Freedom Tower, the place where Cuban exiles were first welcomed into the United States.

Grounded by the lessons of our history, but inspired by the promise of our future, I announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America.

Referring to Hillary Clinton’s announcement the day before:

Yesterday is over, and we are never going back. You see, we Americans are proud of our history, but our country has always been about the future. And before us now is the opportunity to author the greatest chapter yet in the amazing story of America. But we can’t do that by going back to the leaders and ideas of the past. We must change the decisions we are making by changing the people who are making them.

He mentions his father:

He used to tell me all the time: ‘En este país, ustedes van a poder lograr todas las cosas que nosotros no pudimos’” In this country, you will achieve all the things we never could.

After he finishes the speech, his wife, Jeanette, and their four young children — Amanda, Daniella, Anthony and Dominick — embrace him.

5 Sep, 2014

Rubio: Congress doesn’t need to OK airstrikes

Makes Statement0 Comments

Sen. Rubio (R-Fla.) says Obama does not need authorization from Congress to launch airstrikes in Syria, and should act immediately against ISIS. In a letter to Obama:

Just as the U.S. has conducted operations against terrorists elsewhere, there is no legal reason preventing you from targeting ISIL in Syria