Don’t bet the farm on Marco Rubio as Mitt Romney’s running mate
Several years ago, there was a publishing house that failed to recognize the potential of a certain, young cross-cultural politician in Illinois.
The rights to “Dreams from My Father” were sold to another imprint for pocket change. Once Barack Obama decided to run for president, someone made a lot of money.
But it wasn’t the company that paid Obama to write his autobiography.
Now, another cross-cultural politician has written another memoir. This time, the publisher knows a long-term investment when it sees one. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., arrived in Gwinnett County for his book-signing last week with a team of roadies and his own bus, with his face plastered on the side.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio signs books at Discovery Mills in Gwinnett County on Thursday. Marcelo Wheelock, Mundo Hispanico/ Marcelo.Wheelock@mundohispanico.com
And this is a man who’s only getting mentions for vice president?
But seriously, it was significant that, on Thursday, while Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty were in Ohio, doing battle with President Barack Obama and his re-election bus tour, 41-year-old Rubio was at Books-A-Million, engaging in a little free enterprise by selling copies of his memoir, “An American Son.” (Penguin Group, $26.95)
Rubio’s defeat of former Gov. Charlie Crist in 2010, by chasing him out of the Florida Republican primary then burying him in the general election, was the first major eruption of tea party clout in GOP ranks. That the Miami-born son of Cuban émigrés brings something different to the table was evident from the hundreds of people who lined the walls of the bookstore, patiently waiting.
Young men in shirts stenciled with “An American Son — 2012 National Book Tour” hustled fans through at the rate of six a minute – a pace that was efficient, but not rude. Many of those in line were Republican regulars. State Sen. Don Balfour of Snellville waited with five books opened and ready for Rubio’s pen.
“He’s an American dream,” the chairman of the Senate Rules Committee said.
But “Where are you from — originally?” was a crucial part of Rubio’s patter. The Florida senator drew a significant number of Spanish-speakers who normally wouldn’t be seen at a Republican event in Georgia. It is this connection to Latinos – and perhaps his confession that he considers hip-hop “a guilty pleasure” — that makes Rubio so valuable to Republicans looking down the road.
Last month, as his book tour began, a TV news network declared that Rubio was not being asked to provide the documents that would indicate he was among those being vetted as a potential running mate for Republican Mitt Romney.
The Romney campaign decreed this to be untrue. Rubio himself has declared the topic off limits. But there are clues – in Rubio’s book, in a quick interview that preceded his visit to Gwinnett County, and in the general climate – that would lead one to bet that he won’t be paired with Romney on that stage in Tampa.
First, the climate: For the better part of a year, Rubio had worked in the U.S. Senate on his version of the Dream Act, an effort to legitimize the presence of young people brought here by their illegal immigrant parents. Obama’s decision last month to enact the Dream Act by executive order – which Rubio declares to be “too broad” — undercut any effort the Florida senator might make this year.
Yet when it comes to illegal immigration, Rubio has placed himself squarely at the crossroads of Republican thinking. “On the one hand, these are human beings we’re talking about. These are people – many of whom are desperate to provide their families a better life,” Rubio said last week. “On the other hand, a million people immigrate legally, permanently every year to the U.S. Our message to them can’t be, come here illegally because it’s cheaper and quicker.”
Romney took a hard line on illegal immigration during the primaries. Rubio is aimed at a judicious compromise and negotiation. Were Romney to choose Rubio as a running mate, any daylight between the two men on the issue could pose a serious problem.
Then there’s “An American Son.” As campaign biographies go, it’s not a bad read. Like Obama’s autobiography, Rubio devotes much of his book to his immigrant family’s history, and the ability he develops to negotiate among white, Hispanic and African-American worlds.
Rubio also writes about his religious journey – from Catholic in Miami to Mormon in Las Vegas then back to Catholicism, with a touch of Southern Baptist thrown in for good measure.
Rubio is generous toward the Church of Latter Day Saints and its emphasis on family values, but he allows one uncomfortable criticism to be uttered through his beloved grandfather, who attended a single service: “He told me he would never go back because he hadn’t seen a single African American in attendance.”
Six or so years ago, as Obama – like Rubio, then a two-year veteran of the U.S. Senate – was pondering whether to make a White House run, Senate Democrats urged him on. The longer a potential candidate stays in Congress, the less viable he is, they told him.
I asked Rubio if he felt the same. He said no. “The Senate is a platform to speak out against things you think are wrong, and defend things that you think are right,” Rubio said. “My focus has been to be the best U.S. senator I can be. If I can do that, then I will have opportunity to do things in the future – and maybe outside of politics.”
Which sounds like a man ready to make a long-term investment in himself.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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206 comments Add your comment
td
July 7th, 2012
1:19 pm
hiram
July 7th, 2012
1:06 pm
“If you want to see a zero government utopia,”
Please use your google skills and show us Republicans that have said they want ZERO government. Smaller government footprint, yes. Smarter government, yes. Better define the roles and responsibilities of government, heck yes. Less power for the Federal government and more for the states, heck yes.
GaBlue
July 7th, 2012
1:28 pm
Of course Republicans don’t want ZERO government! How could they impose laws and regulations on women, and physicians who treat women, without government?
Just like they still need government’s help to punish descendents of Cubans who liked Castro (back when Grandad still had some hair on his head), they still need government to help them crawl inside a woman’s body, take control, and keep her in line, when they cannot manage to do it themselves.
Bless their hearts.
Centrist
July 7th, 2012
1:57 pm
Back to Romney VP choices (in addition to Rubio):
Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan are my guesses in order.
One of the large electoral states of Florida, Ohio, and Virginia would logically be flipped with such a choice. New Hampshire would flip, but too small tactically. Minnesota and Wisconsin doubtful to flip even with those choices. I don’t think Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal made the short list.
Attack Dog
July 7th, 2012
2:19 pm
Portman’s GOP was against the auto bailout, McDonnell is a negative with women, yep- NH is too small, Pawlenty couldn’t carry MN, Ryan has too much baggage, and Jindal has no value add. FL Scott is a healthcare weasel and the WS GOP has lost control. If Dixiecrats were honest with themselves, they would go with Santorum.
Buckhead Boy
July 7th, 2012
2:30 pm
Yes, td, Republicans are quite vocal about more power residing in the states — unless or until some city or state enacts sensible firearms regulation, authorizes Gay marriage, or otherwise acts contrary to the GOP agenda. You know, I can even recall the Republicans convening the US Senate in special session to try to counter a state permitting a single brain-dead person to expire.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 7th, 2012
2:34 pm
Please use your google skills and show us Republicans that have said they want ZERO government.
Norquist wants to drown the govt. in the bathtub.
Can’t get any smaller than that.
Kris
July 7th, 2012
3:32 pm
Bernie
“OH! Please! MITT…PLEASE! choose Rubio, Nothing like having (2) two MORMONS in the WHITEHOUSE!”
Did you mean MORONS?.
It does not matter …
OBAMA 2012.
td
July 7th, 2012
3:45 pm
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 7th, 2012
2:34 pm
Please use your google skills and show us Republicans that have said they want ZERO government.
Norquist wants to drown the govt. in the bathtub.
Do you mean because he thinks taxes should be no more then a certain % of the GDP that the government is not going to able to provide essential services? BTW: Do you know what % (or how much of the countries total output) should go to government?
red herring
July 7th, 2012
3:49 pm
cynthia tucker mckinney –thanks for the LOL moment. m.d. your posts are over the heads of many on this board but have much substance to them. while not a big bush fan he did run the country fairly well until pelosi/reid and crews took over the house and senate for his last couple of years. then bush caved to overspending. followed shortly by obama doubling down on overspending. a large part of the mess the usa is in today was brought on by barney frank/chris dodd and the dems wanting people with $36,000 salaries to buy $450,000 homes on adjustable mortgages. then when it all went bad obama blamed bush. go figure.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 7th, 2012
4:13 pm
Do you mean because he thinks taxes should be no more then a certain % of the GDP that the government is not going to able to provide essential services?
I said what I meant, sport.
Norquist wants to drown the govt. in the bathtub.
I don’t know how I can make that any clearer.
DannyX
July 7th, 2012
4:47 pm
“then bush caved to overspending.”
LMAO! Democrats must have held a gun to Bush’s head when he signed the unfunded socialist Medicare Part D. Democrats must of forced W to not fund the trillion dollar wars he started. Hey, maybe you can revise history and call them the “Bwany Fwank tax cuts,” instead of the “Bush” tax cuts. “The Bridge to Nowhere” Republican earmark spending can now be known as “The Bridge to Republican Utopia”
Yes, what substance, makes me feel like I’m in over my head! Massive spending + massive tax cuts = Happy Republican Days are Here Again!
Centrist
July 7th, 2012
4:59 pm
td – See what you get when you engage simple minded partisans? Why do you bother? Just skip over screen name posts you already know are a waste of time.
Michael #1
July 7th, 2012
5:13 pm
Centrist, I do that with your posts all the time.And TD’s as well. You guys have the groupthink going on quite well. BTW, how many Latino’s do you see at republican get togethers. Two or three?
hiram
July 7th, 2012
5:16 pm
red herring
July 7th, 2012
3:49 pm
“…a large part of the mess the usa is in today was brought on by barney frank/chris dodd and the dems wanting people with $36,000 salaries to buy $450,000 homes on adjustable mortgages.”
This is Murdoch’s and Rush’s most repeated talking point, and is the sum of all their devoted listeners know about “the mess the usa is int today”.
hiram
July 7th, 2012
5:20 pm
@michael
Centrist’s posts are straight off of right wing sites and represent their daily spin. td just makes it up.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 7th, 2012
5:29 pm
td – See what you get when you engage simple minded partisans?
Engaging = wanting me to defend a position that I did not take.
Too funny!
I may have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night, sport.
Hot Dog
July 7th, 2012
6:19 pm
Hey
td,
July 7th, 2012
11:44 am
Oh yes, Southern Baptist would much rather vote for a person that believes in Liberation theology and its social justice (equal outcomes) and at worst is a hidden Muslim.
Yes, we have a winner here.
*******************************************************************************************************************
Now we know why America is so flawed..You would not know a Muslim from a SKINHEAD if he bit you! When are you going to tell everyone that are a member of the KKK. You apparently thought no one knew but, you were wrong! You have been observed at the meetings. It’s time you took off that sheet and show everyone who you really are!
LOSER!
As for Marco LOSIO, even the used car salesman can’t be that stupid to pick someone who has credibility issues within his own family…. I and the rest of the world, though the Hillbillies from Wasilla were the comedy of the century! Sarah, First Dude, Trag, Trit, Bristol, Willow and I almost forgot, Levi Johnson! What a joke!
Another bunch of LOSERS!
SO SPEAKS HOT DOG!
Attack Dog
July 7th, 2012
6:26 pm
Debating which comes first, private sector versus public sector was done two centuries ago, when the phrase “public good” was defined. 1. The reason why unions are not as relevant today is because government (the people) passed laws that has addressed many (not all)of their issues. Not because free-market aristocrats gave a darn. 2. The reason why your homeowner’s insurance is lower is because the people built fire stations. Not because plutocratic aristocrats cared. 3. The reason why you don’t have your so called money hidden in your back yard is because the people formed the FDIC that just ate $75 million in a small town that 99% of Georgians have never heard of. Not because finanical aristocrat gave a darn. 4. Sometime you should watch Gene Autry and then tell me who you relate to, Gene or the “towns people.” 5. Since most people would not recognize Rubio, I dare him to spend two weeks not wearing a suit and driving an older model pickup truck in Utah or Arizona. 6. Folk now talk about Stockton, but I remember that liberal-based city of Birmingham. 7. Fingers locked…will wait for the next subject.
td
July 7th, 2012
6:53 pm
Attack Dog
July 7th, 2012
6:26 pm
The government you described was 1/4 the size and power of our current government. So I can live with a government to be reduced to the size of the government that gave us all those things can you?
md
July 7th, 2012
6:58 pm
I haven’t seen anybody advocating for no gov’t….why the red herring?
But size of gov’t has a direct relationship to growth of the private sector…..when it becomes too costly, both wither and die……….
Greece is a case study……or try Stockton, CA……….running out of private sector money is a possibility and reality……….
Bernie
July 7th, 2012
8:21 pm
Kris @ 3:32 pm – We have already had the MORONS, they are the ones that got us into to this mess and are OBSTRUCTING NOW! Then they demand PRES. OBAMA to turn it around in four (4) years, all the while blocking his every legislation at every turn.
The most TREASONOUS CONGRESS EVER! in this GREAT NATION’S History!
Bernie
July 7th, 2012
8:24 pm
red herring @ 3:49 pm – What an appropriate USER NAME. Comments are delusional
and far from realty as things happened, too! GEEZ!
Winnie
July 7th, 2012
8:27 pm
That “young cross cultural politician” you speak of, Jim turned out to be a garden variety hard core lefty seemingly dedicated to the politics of divison. Whatever promise Barack Obama once appeared to offer, the reality is pretty awful.
td
July 7th, 2012
8:29 pm
Bernie
July 7th, 2012
8:21 pm
What complete and moronic nonsense. Obama had 2 years of total control of Congress and accomplished very little besides increasing the debt by more the $1 trillion to pay his supporters and allowing government to take control of 20% of the nations economy.
He has no leadership skills and his policy agenda is so far to the left that all 414 members of Congress voted no on his latest budget.
KrystalsBalls
July 7th, 2012
8:31 pm
For ALL the rhetoric, whining, insults, delegitimization and on and on from the HATERS of President Obama (who yes, truly only have a problem with the Black man living and GOVERNING the nation from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue), come about 11 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time your life will become a living hell! It is at that time that you will realize that like a spot on your lung, you will for the rest of your life carry around the stress of knowing that this man (in spite of all your hatred, lies, misrepresentation, voter suppression attempts, and everything else), CONQUERED and reclaimed the Presidency yet again – destroying your narrative and helping you realize just how insignificant you and your opinions really are. The only thing that you could hope for is that the “U.S. History” books will omit as much information as possible about this man and his historical accomplishment so that the cycle of White supremacy may thrive in your future generations, that you may in your grave “rest in peace”. Living with that level of stress and harboring such seething hatred is such an unfathomable thing, yet it is very real in too many of you.
I will be here to remind you of it intensely the morning of Nov. 7th.
Rich
July 7th, 2012
8:39 pm
I think Condi is very vulnerable to criticism about how she handled 9/11 and the media.
Press Secretary and official White House Ari Fleischer said, “The president did not receive information about the use of airplanes as missiles by suicide bombers. This was a new type of attack that was not foreseen.”
This was followed by Condoleeza Rice, who seem to repeat the spin: “I don’t think that anyone could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Center.” Bush himself issued a statement that he had no indication beforehand that “terrorists would hijack jets and deliberately crash them.”
Planes have used as weapons for decades, and they was plenty enough intelligence to indicate terrorist were looking at them, as a possible tool of destruction. And, hijacking has long been a problem in this world. So…. what was Condi doing, spinning ignorance, or her party’s line?
td
July 7th, 2012
8:43 pm
KrystalsBalls
July 7th, 2012
8:31 pm
More moronic nonsense being spewed by a leftest that only sees the world in colors.
I have read and seen more pure hate thrown at GWB by the left then Obama could possibly imagine. If Obama had the actual hate thrown his way that you suggest then he would be hid in a closet in the White House fearing for his own life.
hiram
July 7th, 2012
8:45 pm
td, Have you ever thought about getting your own right wing radio talk show, where you can share all of your fabrications with hillbillies who don’t know any better?
td
July 7th, 2012
8:54 pm
hiram
July 7th, 2012
8:45 pm
Fabrications? Yes let us talk about the fabrication that white people are only campaigning against Obama because they are racist? Maybe we can talk about the fabrication that Obama has excellent leadership ability or that he has no responsibility for anything that happens?
double
July 7th, 2012
8:59 pm
Don’t think I would bet the farm.Maybe the ramp patch.
He’s An American Nighmare To His Own People
July 7th, 2012
9:00 pm
Rubio is a turncoat.
Rubio is a sellout.
Rubio has stabbed his own race in the back.
Rubio has thrown his own race under the bus.
Rubio is self serving.
Rubio wants to be a caucasian.
Rubio is ashamed of his heritage.
Rubio is being used.
Rubio will never be one of them as long as his name is R-U-B-I-O.
deegee
July 7th, 2012
9:07 pm
Does anyone really think that Mitt is going to pick out his running mate? Mitt had trouble picking out a chocolate covered doughnut. Mitt’s handlers will pick his running mate. Under pressure, Mitt will have to concentrate on getting the nominee’s name right.
He’s An American Nighmare To His Own People
July 7th, 2012
9:08 pm
@hiram
July 7th, 2012
8:45 pm
td, Have you ever thought about getting your own right wing radio talk show, where you can share all of your fabrications with hillbillies who don’t know any better?
______________________________________________________
Unintelligent people always look for a scapegoat.
He’s An American Nighmare To His Own People
July 7th, 2012
9:11 pm
@deegee
July 7th, 2012
9:07 pm
Does anyone really think that Mitt is going to pick out his running mate? Mitt had trouble picking out a chocolate covered doughnut. Mitt’s handlers will pick his running mate. Under pressure, Mitt will have to concentrate on getting the nominee’s name right.
_____________________________________________
Myth’s billionaire donors will pick his running mate.
Myth has sold out to the HIGHEST BIDDER.
KrystalsBalls
July 7th, 2012
9:11 pm
There is in fact no “fabrication” that “white people are campaigning against Obama because they are racist”. Obama would not be in the “White House” if not for all the “White” support he captured (and maintains). However, ANY halfway intelligent and principled person can detect underlying racist motives in people’s expressions based on their language and placing them in CONTEXT with past and present events, and performaning LOGICAL comparison. Having a brain and an ability to actually use it is a wonderful thing!
President Obama does not have to resort to “hiding in a closet” because he like all Presidents is afforded secret service protection, wears a bullet proof vest and all those things. A president knows what he signs up for, and surely this President did understanding the history of this country. Whether you can deal with those truths or not is YOUR issue. Nice try at attempting to trivialize the argument with the Bush delfection. Bush was never subjected to the overtly racial and hostile depictions, verbal attacks, upstages and other things during his tenure. I can waste my time giving a full rundown of the list, but it is as I said (with you) a waste of time.
md
July 7th, 2012
9:11 pm
Wow, I’ve seen the race card played many times on blogs, but never as four of a kind……..yes, bigotry is alive and well but some need to look in the mirror to see it……..
Rick
July 7th, 2012
9:16 pm
OMG!!!! the racist rantfest here is UNf—king believable! He’s a very sexy guy. what’s not to like?
larry
July 7th, 2012
9:20 pm
ROMNEY LOSES MY VOTE IF HE PICKS RUBIO!!
WHAT HAS RUBIO DID IN LIFE ?
HE SHOULD NOT BE NEXT INLINE TO POSSESS THE FOOTBALL !!
HIRE A MILITARY VETERAN TO RUN WITH YOU MITT !!!
Kris
July 7th, 2012
9:20 pm
HA Smitty pick a running mate….Hes so out of touch with the world, someone to bring him inside when it rains. Just like a Turkey he would open his mouth and drown..
As for Rubio….almost as as big of a joke as newt.
Re-elect President OBAMA
td
July 7th, 2012
9:28 pm
KrystalsBalls
July 7th, 2012
9:11 pm
You do understand that Obama is in the White house due to White people? Blacks represent 13% of the population and 50% of them live in the south. If you break it down then only 7% of the total votes that counted for Obama was cast by blacks. Since Obama carried about 53% of the total vote then that means 40% of all votes cast for Obama was cast by non blacks. Yes, I can see where you can see racism in those facts.
He’s An American Nighmare To His Own People
July 7th, 2012
9:30 pm
@md
July 7th, 2012
9:11 pm
Wow, I’ve seen the race card played many times on blogs, but never as four of a kind……..yes, bigotry is alive and well but some need to look in the mirror to see it……..
___________________________________________________________
Republicans are always accusing others of playing the race card.
All the while they have been dealing from the bottom of the deck.
And what about the TAINTED TEA?
Myth Romney is Lord of the Flies.
KrystalsBalls
July 7th, 2012
9:32 pm
@md
Yes, those of us bold enough to actually provide concrete examples of bigotry aimed at others are perfectly comfortable with being labeled as “bigots” ourselves, or “race hustlers” and all that other garbage. It’s right out of your playbook. We know it’s bunk. It’s kinda like blaming a woman for the way she was dressed for being raped. It’s usually he rapist that does such a thing – more comprative analysis for you, to support the argument.
As for Rubio, he won’t be Romney’s running mate. Really, it doesn’t matter who his running mate is because Mitt Romney for all his rhetoric simply desires to try to win the office by bombarding the public with money in pushing a message of “things are bad, it doesn’t have to be this way”. Yeah, no —-! What are YOU going to do to improve the situation, beyond “lowering taxes” ( which have been “low” for 10 years) yet we are where we are? *crickets*
He’s An American Nighmare To His Own People
July 7th, 2012
9:32 pm
@td
July 7th, 2012
9:28 pm
KrystalsBalls
July 7th, 2012
9:11 pm
You do understand that Obama is in the White house due to White people? Blacks represent 13% of the population and 50% of them live in the south. If you break it down then only 7% of the total votes that counted for Obama was cast by blacks. Since Obama carried about 53% of the total vote then that means 40% of all votes cast for Obama was cast by non blacks. Yes, I can see where you can see racism in those facts.
_______________________________________________
No one said that ALL white people are RACISTS.
Just the MAJORITY ARE.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 7th, 2012
9:33 pm
Obama had 2 years of total control of Congress…
Not intended to be a factual statement.
He’s An American Nighmare To His Own People
July 7th, 2012
9:37 pm
@Rick
July 7th, 2012
9:16 pm
OMG!!!! the racist rantfest here is UNf—king believable! He’s a very sexy guy. what’s not to like?
____________________________________________________
There are leaders……
and
There are Rublicans
He’s An American Nighmare To His Own People
July 7th, 2012
9:42 pm
@Rick
July 7th, 2012
9:16 pm
OMG!!!! the racist rantfest here is UNf—king believable! He’s a very sexy guy. what’s not to like?
____________________________________________________
CORRECTION
There are leaders……
and
There are Republicans
KrystalsBalls
July 7th, 2012
9:43 pm
Yeah td, thanks for supporting (and parroting) MY point! I don’t have a problem with White people, just the racist ones. This same statement applies to any race by the way. It is the THEIR rhetoric and attitudes that are easily identifiable. There are things that Black people who support Obama disagree with or are unhappy with, and do. It stands to reason the same would be true for other races as well. HOWEVER, there is a distinct difference in the disposition and language that a person who simply has a problem with the man’s phenotype uses when compared to an individual who disagrees with his presidential policies. I do not expect you to even understand the concept.
td
July 7th, 2012
9:45 pm
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 7th, 2012
9:33 pm
Obama had 2 years of total control of Congress…
Not intended to be a factual statement.
Really? Name another President in the past 50 years that had 60 Senate votes for a year and 59 votes for another year? Clinton did not and look at what he accomplished (most of it I did not agree with), Reagan did not even have Republicans control either house for 8 years and look at what he accomplished. What has Obama done?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 7th, 2012
9:52 pm
Really?
Really.
Democrats don’t walk lock step like Republicans have since St. Ronnie-of-the-RayGun.
You got more projection than an IMAX theater goin’ on.
Just sayin’.
td
July 7th, 2012
9:56 pm
KrystalsBalls
July 7th, 2012
9:43 pm
Oh please with the Bull. Obama is a far left progressive at best and probably a Marxist leaning/ Socialist. He is farther to the left philosophically then any President we have had since FDR. This is a much bigger problem then any perceived “racism” for people to not only not support him but to despise him as the President. If people were truly bigoted or your words racist towards him then they would also attack him personally and I frankly seen less personal attacks against Obama then any President in my lifetime.
Now chew on those facts for a while and come back with some racism argument.