I guess Marc Theissen just doesn’t want to accept that Marco Rubio is a two-bit grifter and a thief. Yet, unlike the case with Sarah Palin, Rubio’s record is well-documented. The reason there is a whispering campaign in Washington DC against selecting Rubio as a running mate is because people know he’s a grifter and a thief. They read about it in their newspapers. That the Florida voters decided to elect a crook as their senator (and their governor) is somewhat inexplicable, but that changes nothing when it comes to sending Rubio out to face a national audience and press corp.
The most confusing thing of all is that Marco Rubio was stealing from the Republican Party. Ordinarily, that would be something that would annoy Republicans. I know I wouldn’t be impressed by a Democrat who used the party’s credit cards to buy liquor and make repairs on their SUV.
And that’s totally aside from his naked corruption when he served as Speaker of the House in Florida.
I don’t dispute that Sen. Rubio has some things to recommend him as a vice-presidential candidate, but so did Sarah Palin. They’re both attractive and telegenic. The Tea Party base of the GOP loves them both. They each bring some strength among key demographics. But Romney will spend a lot of time trying to explain Rubio’s record in the Florida House if he is stupid enough to go with him as his running-mate.
And he’ll also have deal with the birthers. And the fact that Rubio has consistently lied about when he parents left Cuba. They did not flee Castro’s revolution, as Rubio would like you to believe. Theissen tried to clean that mess up, too.
I imagine there’s a lot more water carrying for him and Sarah because women are fleeing the GOP more than usual, and Rubio — while Cuban, with Cubans of Florida supporting Obama with 47% with McCain’s 53% — is one of the last remaining racial minorities in the party. Same reason they didn’t immediately abandon Michael Steele.
Could someone please explain to me why reassuring the “base” is going to work in Romney’s favor?
I don’t see a viable 3rd party coming on. Ron Paul won’t run outside the R’s and even if he did, anyone who votes for him wouldn’t vote for Romney anyway. And please, Roemer and Johnson? No current R’s can spell Roemer and Johnson is NewMexican for “who???”
The base will hold their nose and vote for Romney if asked politely … or if told in a mock German Blazing Saddles order. They will not work their butts off, no matter who asks.
The base will not win the Presidency. But they sure as hell can lose it.
I could see him going with Paul Ryan. He’s popular with the base, the press loves him, he’s young and telegenic. Don’t see him going with a woman or ethnic. Condi Rice would alienate the pro life crowd. Jindal’s not ready for prime time and could neutralize the Southern Strategy. Rubio would be a high risk choice; not the kind a guy like Romney would favor. If nothing else emerged about him, they might be able to beat back the allegations. He would fire up the base and give the Republicans an in with a very important demographic. His humble background contrasts nicely with Mitt’s patrician roots. At the end of the day, though, too many vulnerabilities.
Paul Ryan makes more sense.
you called him a grifter…thanks for telling the truth