Elected to the United States Senate in the November 2010 election, Florida Senator Marco Rubio has witnessed his brand name burnish within the Republican Party as well as the Tea Party movement. The son of Cuban émigrés, Rubio began to make a name for himself beginning at the local level in South Florida where he served as an aide to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, county commissioner, and then to the state house where in 2006 he became speaker
The 40-year-old Rubio, who received a law degree from the University of Miami at Coral Gables, has been talked about as a possible vice-presidential running mate to whoever wins the 2012 Republican presidential primary. Clearly, the GOP sees the advantages of nominating the energetic, young and soft-spoken conservative senator primarily because of his Hispanic credentials. And, at a time when the GOP is viewed by 73 percent of the Hispanic voting population as either not caring or even hostile toward them given the debate over illegal immigration and the DREAM Act of 2012, the GOP believes it can change that perception with an Hispanic politician on the ticket.
With Rubio on the ticket, can he galvanize the Hispanic community to pull the GOP lever?
Clearly, Senator Rubio can make a strong case to Hispanics to switch sides if he can make a compelling argument based on economic security, job opportunities, low taxes, energy independence and freedom. The nation is not in the mood, however important an issue it may be for the Hispanic community, to deliver amnesty to the 10 to 15 million illegal aliens.
This immigration reform wedge issue is viewed as a positive in Democrat circles as it tends to bind the Hispanic voting bloc into their ever-tightening grip without having to provide anything of substance for the Hispanic community. Why should the Democrats do anything for Hispanics if they know Hispanics will gravitate to their column based on emotions regardless?
Senator Rubio has the potential to cause the Democratic Party angina, which is why the Washington press corps attempted to castrate his political national viability last year over charges of him embellishing his family’s history in the United States.
However, putting aside Rubio’s superstar credentials, is he heavyweight material like former Vice Presidents George H.W. Bush and Dick Cheney? Rubio has never held executive power, and it’s only been a year since he’s been registering on the political Richter scale, so why him all of a sudden? And, if the GOP wants an Hispanic on the ticket then why not elevate someone like conservative Governors Susana Martinez (R-NM), Brian Sandoval (R-NV) or Luis Fortuño (R-PR), who do have executive experience?
Lastly, it will be up to the father of four to decide whether he will accept the call to become the running mate to Governor Mitt Romney, Senator Rick Santorum or Speaker Newt Gingrich. All indications are that Senator Marco Rubio will prefer to stay put but work hard to elect a Republican to the Oval Office in November.
Lee Anthony Nieves is a former political aide to both New York City Mayors Rudolph W. Giuliani and Michael R. Bloomberg. A conservative-libertarian and a screenwriter, Mr. Nieves currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife and two young daughters.
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I want to see Marco Rubio’s birth certificate
About Being Latino Contributors
No one is against immigrants, those who obey our laws, come in lLEGALLY, get the required medical checks so they don’t spread contagious diseases we eliminated sixty years ago What people object to are ilegal aliens who BREAK IN to our home and take what we have set aside for our families and neighbors. Those of us who pay taxes (and you don’t pay if you get a “refund” bigger than what you paid in) are being used and abused and denied what we worked for by people who broke in and did not contribute. They cost us more than they produce which means—bankruptcy.
Marco Rubio is brilliant and would make a good Vice President, but Lee asks an excellent question. In these crucial times, is he seasoned and experienced enough in these areas to be a VP now. Don’t quite get your title, Lee.. Marco epitomizes the American dream, the immigrant who comes here LEGALLY and becomes part of the American fabric. He is an American, whatever his background. It’s our common love for our Founding princples of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution that binds us. His passport, like mine, says American, not Latino—a government made up term like hispanic which is used for manipulative purposes. If you went by the basis of the Latin language, then the French, Portugese, Roumanians and Italians are all latino. BTW, there are no extreme conservatives around. The left is just so far gone that they think anyone who isn’t totally lockstep with their totalitarianism is extreme, but they are reprobates.
Many of you need to wake up and realize that you have been lied to and manipuated by the left who uses you to get and keep power. Being “latino” won’t save you if you are over 60 and seriously ill when they refuse to give you treatment. It won’t protect you from losing your job when extremely high gas and oil prices destroy the businesses you use and work for. The left loves abortion as a sacrament and are so extreme now that they believe infanicide is acceptable up to a year old. (They will extend it further) I’ve known and known of people who were in comas for months and even as long as ten years—-thanks to the left and the tax, ration and kill bill called obamacare, they would all be dead—so the bommunist and his leftist horde can spend OUR money, ours, the taxpayers, not their personal funds, on “art,” which is often sheer perversion. Wake up, think of yourself as Americans first and make your first loyaty to America and what we, who stand on those fFounding priniciples all have in common. The left uses ethnicity gender and age to divide and conquer.
Check your history, Castro and his marxists did not magically come to power overnight. It took a long time to plan and achieve. IF you were smart, you saw what was coming and got out.
If you want to enjoy the privileges of the American Declaration and Constitution, then BE Amercan. Sharing those values unites us. It’s racist to be “latino” uber alles English is the language of business, technology, science, medicine and power—learn to love it and master it. Its a tool for success, dont fall into the marxist trap that blacks fell into in the 60′s and 70′s and willingly enslaved themselves on the welfare plantation. Everyone benefits if you get a good eduation, obey the law, marry and raise your children in marriage and train them to be honest, hard-working, value education and defend our founding principles. Asians are tops in education because they have long valued education and hard work—those are values that build a higher standard of living for everyone. You are wrong about Republicans, they want you to have the best of everything, so long as you work for it and don’t oppress your neighbors by having government take what they worked for and hand it over to you or someone of some preferred ethnicity. IF you are going to enjoy the blessings of American librerty, think of yourselves as AMERICAN first. No other country was founded on the idea that all men were created equal in the eyes of God–as individuals. My ethnic groupthink will destroy all of us, as it has many other nations. Divide and conquer always works. Don’t be duped.
Isn’t he all like against immigrants?
I think so. He has the abillity to repackage the GOP’s message in a way that makes sense to not only Latinos, but Americans of all ethnicities. His framing of the messaging specifically on immigration could turn the tide for the negative perception the GOP has on this issue.
Oh yes, I’m jumping up to support a Latino who is against immigrants. Thanks but no Thanks.
Heck no!
YES! I live in Florida! Please don’t think he is an ally just because his family came from Cuba. He is NOT.
Nope… he is a phony!
MARCO IS A LIAR. “During his rise to political prominence, Sen. Marco Rubio frequently repeated a compelling version of his family’s history that had special resonance in South Florida. He was the “son of exiles,” he told audiences, Cuban Americans forced off their beloved island after “a thug,” Fidel Castro, took power. BUT a review of documents — including naturalization papers and other official records — reveals that the Florida Republican’s account EMBELLISHES the facts. The documents show that Rubio’s parents came to the United States and were admitted for permanent residence MORE THAN 2.5 YEARS BEFORE Castro’s forces overthrew the Cuban government and took power on New Year’s Day 1959.” — Washington Post
Ah… NO! he is not original! he is pulling the same stunts like Obama did! Obama said, I find my self listening to Jzay.. tand this guy did the same thing last year he said I listen to nickie.. I dont like copy cats because that right there tells me how much of a lier he is and will say and do anything for votes! he’s a wonder boy, and boy do i wonder why people are falling for the lies?
He’s a fraud.
As Cyrena pointed out, he willfully lies or does not know about history. Which basically qualifies him for the VP slot on a GOP ticket. I wonder if he fails at spelling potato(e) too?
Wonder Bread puppet
wow… i dont anyone who would vote for him..
Ivonne, omg I LOVE your comment! LMFAO
Never trust a sell-out!
An opportunist … Typical Republican … Thinking voters are stupid … Same reason they put incompetent Palin on the ticket … Now, they think Rubio will safe the day?!? Nope! No Somos Rubio. We are not Rubio.
I heard he’s a true hijueputa.
Oh he’s wonder bread. He’s also a darling of the Republican Party. Now they can show him off and say “hey we like you people” Que jodienda.
Why do non Cuban Latino’s hate Cubans? Aren’t they Latino’s as well. You guys just want free stuff and everything thrown your way, as Cubans would rather work for what they have.
Are we being Punk’d right now?
@Ruben: no. I won’t say anymore but I will respond to just saying no. I would respond to you but your blanket ignorant statement just warrants one word.
Ruben GTFO! As for Rubio, FTP es un vendido.
It’s like using Palin to court the female vote. They think we are too stupid and uninformed to make an educated opinion. Ugh.
@Oscar y Rolando, take your occupy mentality to the border, and quit bucking for an unemployment extension of the extension, takes a while before they can evict you from your apartment.
Wonder Bread? What’s up with this guy?
Republicans are anti-immigrants so no vote for Rubio.