E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
CHESTER TOWNSHIP, PA -- Florida Sen. Marco Rubio displayed flashes of the personal intensity and articulate conservatism that have prompted hopes that Romney would select Rubio as his running mate.
At his first joint appearance with the presumptive nominee since endorsing Romney last month, Rubio acted to bolster Romney in a way to underscore speculation about his role on the Republican ticket this fall.
Declaring Rubio an "extraordinary leader" before a crowd of more than 700 here in this Philadelphia suburb, Romney joined with Rubio for what more or less amounted to a vice presidential audition, though neither Romney or Rubio were eager to comment on those prospects at a press conference and subsequent town hall meeting.
"The process for selecting a vice presidential running mate is just beginning," Romney told assembled reporters at a press conference, his first since March 16th. "We're looking at various legal resources to help with in that process, accounting staff and so forth to take a look at tax returns and things of that nature.”
For his part, Rubio, a freshman senator, refused to comment altogether on his qualifications for the number two job.
"I’m not talking about that process anymore," Rubio said in response to a question about whether he was experienced enough to become Romney's vice presidential nominee.
But if he was cool to questions about his potential role in a future Romney administration, Rubio showed fire on the stump as he fielded questions from voters alongside Romney, frequently doubling down on Romney's policy positions.
After Romney told his audience it would be "simply unacceptable for Iran to get a nuclear weapon," Rubio took the mic and went further, calling the possibility of Iran getting a weapon "so horrifying" that "there is no cost too high to bear to prevent that from happening."
The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio also made reference to his own personal history in response to a question about the role of entitlements and government in society, praising his parents and the American values they instilled in him.
"Why am I here today with you? Why did I get to serve in the United States senate? Why have I been privileged to have opportunities they didn't? It isn't because I worked harder than they did. It isn't because I'm smarter than they were. Its because I had something they didn't: the privilege and honor of being born in the single greatest society in all of human history," Rubio said, drawing loud applause from a crowd that seemed to hang on his every word.
And while Rubio's fire, and humor (He joked about his wife telling him to buy an exercise bike because he was beginning to look "too senatorial.") provided a compelling contrast with Romney's cooler persona, the two appeared to lack some of the personal chemistry that was obvious between Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan, another likely candidate to join the vice presidential short list, as they campaigned together earlier this month in Wisconsin.
At least one vital policy issue hangs in the air between the two men: Rubio's Republican answer to the immigration reform DREAM Act, which Romney told reporters he intended to study further, but upon which the took no firm position. Romney said he was likely to roll out his own, more comprehensive, set of immigration policy proposals closer to the fall election.
“You know I anticipate before the November election we’ll be laying out whole series of policies that relate to immigration and obviously our first priority is to secure the border, and yet we also have very substantial visa programs in this country. I’ve spoken about the need to have a visa system that’s right-sized for the needs of our employment community," Romney said. "And so how we adjust our visa program to make it fit the needs of our country is something I’ll be speaking about down the road."
Leave a Comment:
Wasn't it just a couple of days ago that Romney was saying his highest priority would be readiness to be President? Now he isn't going to talk about what qualifications he is considering when he is campaigning with a 2-year Senator! Romney can't even keep his story straight for 2 days!
He might as well put Paul "Slick" Ryan on the ticket.
Marco Rubio was the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives before he was a US Senator....far more leadership experience than Obama ever had before running for President.
The best ticket would be Ron Paul and Paul Ryan. Between the two of them they could totally disassemble the federal government. 100% no state or federal services. There would be absolutely no benefit to being American......
The best ticket would be Ron Paul and Paul Ryan.
Yep -- that's a dream ticket -- for Democrats.
hell-o fisty an fiends lib lately ?????
vote
Oh oH, here we go again, Marco Rubio telling his constituents how fantastic George W. Bush was. That craziness might play in Florida, South Carolina, Texas or Arizona because those ignorant *****’s fall for that kind of BS all the time. But for the rest of Americans we need an explanation of why Rubio would lie to his people. When sane people think of Bush/Cheney they know better. Is Jeb running for anything?
National Alliance on Mental Illness in Florida
Of course Americans already KNOW Republicans/Conservatives have a problem with ethics, responsibility, accountability… BUT I feel LOW GRADE THOUGHT PROCESSES are the REAL topic here. Just LISTEN to Marco Rubio or Allen West
Republicans seem to be suffering from SEVERE superiority complexes, odd paranoia, guilt and identity issues. According to anti-gay activists George Rekers and James Dobson from the so-called Family Research Council… The Male Model/Escort industry has a great future in Republican Party politics… lol
GOP - Gay Old Party
At first I thought all these pretty-boy Scott Brown, Bob McDonnell, Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, Young Guns types were getting elected because frustrated Republican women were voting for them. They thought their men were constipated/impotent but as it turns out these poor sex starved women weren’t getting any because Republican Men are all as GAY as Larry Craig, Bill Cunningham, Marco Rubio, Mark Foley, Glenn Beck, Allen West and Ted Haggard… and enthusiastically VOTE for the pretty boys too!
All the Gay Republicans are throwing a party and want to know if they can hire those Male Stripers the silver spoon, trust fund babies were talking about. I think they called them “The Young Guns”. Even Joe Scarborough confessed to his “Man Crush” in 2010. But other than Marco “Primrose” Rubio, George W. Bush isn’t getting much of that man love, is he? (lol)
Remember Bush?
I know it’s a stretch… but for arguments sake lets say Americans can conveniently forget about the 5000+ dead, 30,000+ wounded US soldiers and only GOD knows how many Iraqis and Afghanis. Forget that Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rove/Wolfowitz took the good will of the world after 9/11 and turned it to HATE and mistrust.
How these chicken hawks sent our troops into battle WITHOUT PROPER ARMOR or any clear cut plan beyond George W. declaring “Mission Accomplished”. Never mind military strategists didn’t think it was a good idea to get rid of the ONE dictator (Saddam Hussein) in the Middle East that had an IRON BOOT on the throat of fanatical Islam. Remember… the terrorist, Osama bin Lunatic, degenerates that caused 9/11?
Forget IRAN? Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rove and Morning Joe can have victory in Iraq when they can stroll through Iraq WITHOUT an armored division and air support to keep them from harm… y’know like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has done several times since the USA got rid of Saddam.
FORGET the TRILLIONS of dollars wasted in Iraq or the 20 BILLION dollars missing or the 175,000 weapons misplaced or all the arms dealers and WAR profiteers that milked our national treasury. FORGET about all the Constitutional VIOLATIONS, domestic spying, bold lying, Justice Dept. bias, Walter Reed, Abu Ghraib, soldiers getting electrocuted in showers due to shoddy military contractor work…
YEAaaaaa… once again, imagine we live in a country where almost half the population is dumber than a tree full of monkeys. These citizens are so damn ignorant they allowed some of the worst criminals in history bend them over and #*~/ them in the *** for 8 years. Even worse these numbskulls LIKED IT so much they want MORE!
MORE of the waste, fraud, abuse, lies, incompetence, scandal, fear mongering, sexual deviancy, corruption, off-shore tax evasion, media consolidation, arms dealing, reckless economics, deregulation, war profiteering, Bush/Paulson corporate welfare, Constitutional violations and a Corporate Crime Wave of EPIC proportions.
IF THE READER CAN POSSIBLY FORGET ALL THAT… then the WORST thing the Bush Administration DID was NOT raise taxes to pay for the WARS, tax cuts for the rich and Medicare Part iDiot. You want to hear about Fiscal Irresponsibility GRANDE?
Instead, Bush/Cheney borrowed from COMMUNIST China and Saudi Arabia (at outrageous interest rates) AND put OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN under the thumb of MASSIVE FOREIGN DEBT!
If there’s ANYONE out there who can explain away Bush/Cheney Administration CRIMES please reply because I’m NOT GETTING IT! Funny how we never heard any complaints from the so-called Tea Party crowd while Bush/Cheney were spending our national wealth like a crack HO with a credit card. I am somebody who fights back against the true enemies of FREEDOM consciousmc.blogspot.com
You and your moonbat friends still think it is 2008. You go with the "Bush did it " lame lying talking points meme, it worked so well for the Dems in 2010!
Keep it up. The capitalization makes it so dramatic, too.
@ spoAct
"Took the good will of the world after 9/11 and turned it to HATE and mistrust."
The hate and mistrust came here if you remember correctly, spock
Vote
That's about as loony as it gets.
The greatest shame is fools like this get to vote.
And you belong to that group.
weery one - I beg to differ you are the monkey at the top of the tree and the greatest shame is not us voting but monkeys like you having the vote - much as I hate to say this Buckley was right an IQ test should be given before you're allowed that privilege
Ever hear the Phrase "Monkey sees as monkeys do"
Have a banana boy!
"You go with the "Bush did it " lame lying talking points"
Hey Bob --- you Republicans have a very short memory. From 1976 to 1992 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Carter of everything wrong in the entire universe. Then from 1992 to 2008 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Clinton for everything that was wrong in the entire universe. So – using the standard you set – the left has another 29 years to blame Bush for everything just to pull even with you.
Rubio will be a smart move. And a great VP.
Obama is crapping himself right now. Bet on it.
They thought Palin was a smart move too. Did you bet on that one?
They thought Biden would be a great VP, didnt they? LOL
Such a simple and shallow analysis of what went on last general election. I thought McCain was a terrible choice, a concession that the Republicans did not think they would win the White House.
I'm not surprised. It's a whole array of factors now, my simple minded friend. Pay attention.
It's already going to be a landslide for the base fact that as president Obama stinks. Why do you think the Big O is not boasting his (snicker) accomplishments? Rubio will just pile on.
to weery one - I lke the R & R combo also -
That stupid little clown O-bumski has GOT to go !!
First of all... it seems odd that Rubio would let a slip of the lip so early in the primary BEFORE Romney could make the announcement. IMHO... big mistake unless it was intentional. And yes... I think it was intentional. Sarah was a huge surprise. WHY would Romney and the GOP allow this? Because they wanted to... A different strategy with a lot of opportunity for Rubio to get hammered with Romney in the press. Rubio is done for a nomination.
And... yeah Bob... Biden is VP... not Palin. So your point is???
??
Your post makes no sense. You think that Rubio will not/cannot be a nominee because he had a slip?
Rubio has outstanding Ethics Violations with the FL Republican Party, along with a real estate foreclosure. R-money/R-unethical is a losing GOP ticket.
GOP = Goodbye Old Pharts
I agree that Rubio put it out there too soon. Should have been Romney's announcement.
Ok spock are you getting all ill-logical?
Are u ole engh to be-a drikin, pardnr ?
Done’t fell of yher horsy cowboi ;(
Boat im nobember
It look's like Mitt Romney has found himself a cuban puppet to try to capture the hispanic votes.The democrats need to demand that Mitt Romney disclose his tax records before and during when he was the President of Bain Capital.That would be more than interesting to know.The people need to know, and understand that the Mitt Romney, and the Republican GOP are using a double standard format.The format, they are using today is nothing more than an appeasement to secure their mission in removing President Obama out of the Office.This is what these greedy bastards think about the working class,elderly, women, vets, and the poor.Keep in mind, DAY ONE THE REPUBLICAN GOP, AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS DID NOTHING BUT OVER, AND OVER REPEAT DECEPTION, AND PROPAGANDA.Speaking of jobs, I wonder why, and who is not doing anyting in regards to creating jobs.........The republicans are the root cause of no jobs today, that is a fact.These people have done nothing but discredit the President.This is also a fact......
Another fact free moonbat rant...#23,895 in a series....repeating idiotic leftist talking points ..keep going Anthony...
That's a bit harsh and I'm going to say more than a little racist Anthony.
Shame on you.
Why is Romney's tax returns important? The IRS has reviewed them for his whole adult life and never determined he did anything illegal.
I want to see Obama's college transcripts, his college applications, and his personal records for all his finances going back 25 years.
Sound reasonable? Some would say it's as reasonable as asking for Romney's tax returns for 30 years.
They were here in P.A.? Hmm....must have missed it. Eh, no great loss
Ok spock are you getting all ill-logical?
Are you old enough to be drinking, partner?
Don’t fall off your horsey cowboy :0)
Vote ABO
atinio tony anthony
Do you really believe so profoundly in your omniscient sagacious erudite Deity BHO, that the culminations so rationalize any and every means obligatory to further proliferate his probable face in the mirror cocaine séance induced utopian idealistic fanatical fantasy based sociopolitical thesis of fallacious bovine excrement??? Or are you so egoistically entrenched in your own narcissistically conceived shamelessly brazen ignorance of reality that lures your perpetually focused Agape with incontrovertible veneration of this polemical self-proclaimed transformative savior of superficially hypocritical evenhanded fairness ???
vote ABO
tony,
Have you been pissing in the sump pump again?
When is your next American flag desecration event scheduled ?
vote abo!
ALEC and the Koch brothers......
GSA, Solyndra, Fast and Furious, Light Squared, 80% of DOE Green Energy Loans Went to Obama Backers, Half Billion Contract Sole-Sourced to Obama Crony, Biden charging Secret Service rent, the Department of Injustice, and one cannot emphasize the lies enough...too numerous to list.
And your left wing lunacy complaint is some left wing lunatic boogeymen known as the Koch Bros and ALEC (which I'm sure until a week ago you never knew existed)
u wil hav to giv a litl mor bil ct
vote
Do not believe that your immaculate Deity BHO will be occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Past January 20th 2013
The Voters are not up for that, even if he manages to start a war with Persia or spins the U E % down below 8.0 will not matter. Bottom line is he can-not run his campaign on his record or hope & change. So all he has left is Chicago style politics which is sometimes effective in local and state races however not very effective nationwide. Americans as a collective don’t respond well to (to bad for him/good for us) open mic. secretive conversations with Russian presidents or the divisive racial redirect/diversionary tactics. If he had not attacked America at the core of our existence,(the private sector) then he might have stood a chance at 4 more years in the oval office. As it stands now his Socialist agenda is imploding around him. The Clowerd & Piven plan was just that, a plan and a ill-conceived strategy at that.
I suspect our children will eventually ask the obvious question "What were you thinking?"
The people are not impressed with his mARXIST Ideological leadership attempt to, “FUNDEMENTALLY CHANGE THE UNITED STATES”
SO vote in November FOR PROSPARITY not polished b/s
Hey, evidently Fidel Castro kicked Rubio's parents out of Cuba several years before he even came to power: That's gotta be worth something, right?
great job fido castrate, more like worthless. At least they got out alive thank god.
vote
wow poncho and lefty.oh sorry i meant poncho and Rightys
or we could give them a good name.like mermaid man and barnacle boy
Rubio has outstanding Ethics Violations with the FL Republican Party, along with a real estate foreclosure. R-money/R-unethical is a losing GOP ticket.
GOP = Goodbye Old Pharts
Honestly what value is there in "experience" at the federal level of government anyway? It seems like the longer you are in there, the more corrupt you become, or you get a label as a maverick or weirdo like McCain or Ron Paul. I'd rather have someone younger who still may have some ideals left in him, even if they were ones i disagreed with, than a snake oil salesman like Gingrich who has plenty of "experience".
Many of the negative post of Romney are because of his sucess and wealth. Using this standard, would you vote for someone that is broke sitting on the sidewalk with a cup in his hand with "change" in that cup?
No... I'd rather vote for a Morman Missionary who was a draft dodging coward and went to France instead of going to Vietnam and laying his life on the line like 45,000 other Americans did who gave up their lives protecting sorry a-s-s-e-s like him.
And then when the war was over he decided...."F-u-c-k- this Missionary stuff"....I'm going to make myself a multi-millionaire raping US corporations in trouble, looting their pension plans, and throwing legitimate hard working US workers trying to feed their families out of their jobs.
And then I'm going to take all of this blood money and shove into Swiiss and Grand Caymen off-shore bank account because in the end .... America is nothing but my own personnel P-i-s-s-i-n-g- post.
frank --- i would vote for the guy with the cup on the sidewalk. at least he has more insight to the american condition. did you ever look at it from that aspect? you are a very poor judge of character if you look at the lack of money as being criminal. you must have had a very perverse upbringing.
bad mistake romney. presidential candidates pick a vp that has less charisma than they do. you're going to have to narrow your search to morgues and graveyards. maybe you could find an old ventriloquist's dummy to spread the message.
Finally! CSPAN aired coverage today on a legitimate third political Party, the Constitution Party and their Presidentail Candidate Virgil Goode. Check it out! Although I don't agree with a few of their ideas, over all, it is a hell of a lot better than the same old crap offered by the Democrats and Republicans from our corrupted 'Washington Establishment'.
As an American Citizen I have had enough of deception, outright theft and fraud, unwarranted costly wars, AND intentional dismantling of the 'United States Constitution' and our 'Bill of Rights'.
It's time for a political Party that reflects the will of this Nations people!
domingo de la torre --paleoconservative? check out ron paul? sounds prehistoric.
Thurston Howell the III interviews Gilligan to be his Vice Presidential running mate.
Could the Republicans be any more comical if they tried?
What a laugh.... Rubio as VP? Seriously? Palin had more experience than he does even.... he has no experience that would serve in this capacity....
If they think he will bring the Latino votes they are very mistaken. Rubio is Cuban American and they don't like the other ethnicities at all. They mistrust him, have heard his lies about his background, he doesn't even speak Spanish either! This is not how Latinos vote......
Got that right! They are gonna try that "looks like" crap again. The Dems had Hillary Clinton and they thought that throwing Palin into the race as VP would get the female vote but failed to see that there is NOTHING similar in the two.
Cuban is not Mexican, and the majority of hispanics/latins in the US are Mexican and will not vote for Rubio. In spite of what the GOP may think, not all latins are the same, even if they all look alike to them. Rubio is VERY Republican and most hispanics do not agree with the GOP current policy.
Actually, the GOP has no plan and has let the Teabaggers derail them. They have NO viable VP candidate. The Obstructionist Party (one in the same) has set back the Republicans about 20 years... well the GOP did actually help by bending over and allowing them to take them over.
"Cuban is not Mexican" Are you trying to "Balkanize" the USA?. Wow, what if a Paraguayan was VP? No good for Houstonite, not a Mexican. So Mondale lost in 1984 because he was Norwegian rather than German or English? Houstonite types is what is wrong with America with who still cling to their Ethnic heritage instead of judging one by their character.