Marco Rubio is not Cuban. He is not even an immigrant. Prove it. I want to see his Cuban birth certificate. I have a Cuban birth certificate so I can authenticate his. Mine reads Certificación De Nacimiento. His reads Certificate of Birth. There is a big difference. Rubio was born in Miami making him American by birth. For foreign-born Latinos like me being American is a gift.
Marco Rubio did not go through the immigrant rite of passage. He has not been an outsider. He has not had to struggle with a new language and unfamiliar customs. I doubt that he has ever gotten those unfriendly and distrustful stares. His parents are Cuban immigrants. He is not, and it shows.
Immigration reform is at the top of the “to do” list for the bulk of Latinos in the U.S. What is most appalling to many Latinos is Rubio’s lack of support for the DREAM Act and timely immigration reform. Rubio said, “Immigration is an important issue, and it should be tackled and dealt with, but right now it’s not more important than the price of gas or the lack of jobs or the crushing debt.”
Many Latinos would disagree with Rubio’s policy priorities. We cannot do much about the price of gas and rebuilding the economy will take time. However, immigration reform can quickly and concretely improve the lives of thousands of children. How is it possible that the son of Cuban immigrants does not fully appreciate the daily reality of children whose lives in the U.S. are in limbo because their parents brought them here illegally? Under what moral code do we hold children accountable for the transgressions of their parents?
Rubio is Latino-lite, and maybe not Latino at all. He is primarily a conservative politician who wants to get re-elected. It is merely a coincidence that he has a Latino heritage. Rubio would certainly obtain the votes of Cubans, but it is difficult to see him appealing to the other 96.5 percent of Latinos. Maybe it would be good for Rubio to run as a vice presidential candidate. It would highlight the political, and cultural, differences among the myriad of Latino groups. It would also help to show that Latinos will assimilate into American society when given the opportunity.
Ultimately, that the Republican Party considers Rubio their Latino secret weapon shows just how detached the Republicans are from the bulk of Latinos, and the vast majority of immigrants.
By guest contributor, Orlando Rodriguez.
About Being Latino Contributors
Aren’t you the same person who said hugging cubans would be the only answer to solving this country’s immigration crisis if that blog posting wasn’t ridiculous enough, and now you’re shooting down Rubio. Rubio is a disgrace to the latino community I don’t agree with his politics or policies and I feel sorry for the people of Miami if he does become elected. It doesn’t matter if he’s born in Cuban, US, etc. it’s all about having a genuine need to help the people of your community and like it or not immigration is a major problem and he and other idiots like Susana Gonzalez, etc. should be looking to make becoming a legal citizen easier for people. The republican party uses people like Rubio, Gonzalez, and many others as wolves in sheeps clothing to get the latino vote and make them believe that they care about their community and causes and when it is the exact opposite. I totally disagree Rubio isn’t suitable for any gov’t office.
Since when is support of the Dream Act a barometer on one’s right to call oneself a “latino?” What’s more, if the fact that Rubio was born in the USA means that he’s definitely not a “latino” then most of the folks on “Being Latino” are not “latino.”
In any case, while most Cuban American legislators support immigrant rights and reforms, that Rubio does should not should not be used as a reason to slur him. If you want to criticize him yes, but not this ridiculous ad hominem attack. Rubio’s stance just shows that there is diversity in the “latino” community and that the “latino” label is a bit misleading.
Different “latino” communities have issues that are near and dear to them. For instance, even though most Cuban-Americans are against normalization of relations with the Castro tyranny, most if not all non-Cuban “latino” legislators want normalization of relations with the Castro tyranny. It would be arrogant of a me to call a “latino” legislator who is for relations with the Cuban dictatorship an anti-”latino” based on the fact that he doesn’t support something that is important to the Cuban community.
Yes yes yes!!!! When did Mark become Marco? He is a fraud, a typical politician just like anyone else. We can do much better. I mean, he met with Luis Fortuño last week! Two Fox News Media Darlings selling out like Tío Toms.
I agree completely. However, I hate to have to tear down a successful latino, with such small amount of support and unity in the latino arena this is what drags us down. BUT I do think he needs to remember his roots, remember where he came from and that should his fellow republicans have their way they would sooner string him up on a tree then consider him ‘one of them’ simply because he is a Latino. That’s where cubans go wrong. They think its about skin color, its not. I know white people who would consider him 2nd class simply because he speaks spanish. The problem is Cubans are so terrified and brainwashed against government due to Castro that if they even here the words ‘stronger government’ they freak out.
If we love our Madrecitas and Papas as much as I hope we do. We should stop using words like illegal and transgression. We should refuse to participate in the criminalization of their heroic acts and choices and journeys to do the most legitimate thing a parent should do – provide a better life for their children. I agree 100% with your critique of Rubio but please don’t participate in the demonizing and delegitimizing of our immigrant parents who risked everything and suffered greatly to provide for us. That is a noble, moral and heroic act not an illegal illegitimate act. Words matter, we don’t have to use the language of ICE and Homeland Security. No human being is illegal and saving your family is not a transgression it is a human right.
Pablo
Luis Fortuno is a sell-out? He is the Governor of Puerto Rico and having lived on PR I can attest that many are extremely conservative. So are all the people in PR who voted for Fortuno also sell-outs?
Exactly. It used to be that in order to be “Latino” you had to be an extreme liberal and/or bash America whenever you had a chance. Now you have to extreme liberal, bash America, or want immigration reform/legalization. God forbid you state that illegal immigrants should follow the law, you will be deemed a sell-out.
I guess I missed the memo that stated “Latinos” are barred from being individuals free to choose their own political affiliations or causes to believe in.