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Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will deliver Republicans' response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday, GOP leaders announced Wednesday.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., selected Rubio -- an influential Latino conservative who was first elected in 2010 -- to speak for Republicans in their official response to the president's speech.
The State of the Union response slot is often seen as a potential launching platform for politicians who harbor national ambitions; fittingly, Rubio is one of the most-hyped figures in the GOP, and is thought to have designs on the party's presidential nomination in 2016. The honor carries a degree of risk, however: many past figures to deliver their party's response have been panned for their performance.
Nicholas Kamm / AFP - Getty Images
Republican Sen. from Florida Marco Rubio speaks at the BuzzFeed Brews newsmaker event in Washington on February 5, 2013.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to discuss how limited government and free enterprise have helped make my family’s dreams come true in America,” the Florida senator said in a statement. “Limited government and free enterprise are the very foundation of what makes America special and separates us from the world, particularly through our strong middle class. I look forward to laying out the Republican case of how our ideas can help people close the gap between their dreams and the opportunities to realize them.”
Rubio has also helped take the lead recently in working with a bipartisan group of senators to craft a comprehensive immigration reform bill that allows a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Rubio has worked to sell that legislation to conservatives, just as immigration is sure to figure prominently in Obama's yearly address on Tuesday.
"His speech will focus on the Republican Party's agenda to grow the middle class," a Rubio aide said. "Immigration will likely be mentioned as one way to grow the economy, but the speech really is about the Republican Party's commitment to limited government as the best way to help the middle class, and how it differs from the President's plans for bigger government."
"Marco Rubio is one of our party’s most dynamic and inspiring leaders. He carries our party’s banner of freedom, opportunity and prosperity in a way few others can. His family’s story is a testament to the promise and greatness of America,” Boehner said in a statement.
Added McConnell: "Marco Rubio embodies the optimism that lies at the heart of the Republican vision for America. On Tuesday, he will contrast the Republican approach to the challenges we face with President Obama’s vision of an ever-bigger government and the higher taxes that would be needed to pay for it."
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Things that make you go, meh.
the next person you all will pick apart cuz there is an r after his name.why dont you all judge people on thier character instead of a political party . you mean thier are no bad dems?
Tom. You named Rubio as a Character, You hit the nail on the head. I live in Floriduh, and he is one of the biggest criminals in our State, except fo our Governor. Rubio is being investigated for many crimes in Florida. Rubio will not answer to Investigators. Rubio will eventually end up in prison for impersonating a Senator. He is a Criminal, it is just a matter of time until they lock him up.
Well "was"...a one man jury just doesn't cut it in America...it took 12 jurors to turn OJ Simpson loose...
well im off to work hagd all
I am completely ready and willing to listen to conservatives ideas around fiscal responsibility, debt management, entitlement reform. There are some good ideas there and conservatives base their beliefs in the idea that government should be as limited as possible. Until republicans, however, decide that that includes staying out of my reproductive life and really acknowledging and supporting equality for all people, there is not a chance I will vote for them. I agree with some of their economic ideas, I get the belief in individual responsibilites, I believe that many things are better handled by the states, but I will never support discrimination or the targeted control of another person's medical and health decisions.
I am glad the CUBAN LIAR is going to show his biased competency once again.This lying loser is the best the GOP can come up with. They have him and can keep him.Wait until his own people will not vote him in again then he can go for his desire which would be Prime Minister of Cuba after Fidel leaves this earth.
Anita honey, how long have you been a female? You actually believe any politican, party, whatever have control over your reproductive life??? AMAZING, simply AMAZING, you do realize this is the year 2013!!
Must be a slow news day..
No surprise here, Rubio is a slick politician that can pander to the base with the best of them. He may have a problem in 2016 in Florida so his best option is a run for national office. I am from Florida and know how Rubio came to win a senate seat when opposition votes were split. He could loose a reelection bid here along with the very unpopular Rick Scott. I'm thinking he needs to thread a very fine needle to stay in any office. The Republicans are desperate to close the gap with the hispanic voters and somehow believe that the face of Rubio will help them do it. The republicans need a lot more than a minor face lift.
Rubio should respond to his Ethics Violations in FL!
GOP Congress are Unethical, Un-American, & Undisciplined in carrying out America's wishes!
It is the desperate, yet shameless, blatant pandering the GOP does to attempt to secure votes.
First, they trot out a skirt and Jimmy Choo heels, purchased at Neiman Marcus, to counter a black candidate and they need the women's vote.
Second, they counter the win by the black dude, with a token black as the head of the GOP whose sole goal is to make the GOP hip and "off the hook".
Third, they trot out a Cuban that can speak Spanish, beyond "cervesa por favor" in the hopes of winning the Hispanic vote.
While amusingly transparent, it is pathetic, in the sense the GOP does not realize how insultingly obvious and totally disingenuous these lame attempts are to the intelligence of the very people they are trying to win over to their side.
But, by all means continue pandering, it has worked out to the benefit of the majority of Americans !
Hold the phone pal.
You have never had a Job or Position in the Free Enterprise world.
Your success was and is due to Public Service first as a Community Organizer for West Miami, then on to State Government then to US Congress.
So tell us again, and in detail.... how limited Government and Free Enterprise helped make your family a success.
Give me a freaking Break!
Everything he just promoted about himself was a lie.
He's nothing but the Tea Party Prince
Kevin....please list the jobs Obama has held in the private sector below:
1.
2.
3.
.......????
Hey Troll
My comment is about the article, and specifically about Rubio's statement about how his families success is due to "Limited Government and free Enterprise" - my point was his family's success is due to neither!!
You may want to take some courses in reading comprehension.
At no point did I say that being a comunity organizer or being a carreer politician was bad.....just don't go out and tell me and promote the GOP mantra is the reason you are a success without me or someone else calling him on it.
Further
What the hell is your Point???
Has Rubio released his long-form birth certificate yet?
Will Obama be impeached over violating the rights of U.S. Citizens? ....when??
As soon as Dubya and Dickless get executed for murdering 100,000+ innocent Iraqi civilians and for murdering and maiming thousands of fine, young, brave American soldiers
All of you evil, terrorist, homophobic, ignorant, hateful, ranting, Liberals hate Rubio because he's Hispanic... you bunch of RACISTS....
It is well-established that Rubio "pals around" with Mexican druglords.
Being Obama is transforming our country into looking more like Cuba, isn't it only appropriate someone with a Cuban background takes charge?
.
....Oh, and you leftists here really should consider moving to Cuba....the weather is nice, they LOVE labor Unions, they are ranked number one in environmental laws, they have lots of gun control laws, and they even have a nationalized healthcare system!! A liberal paradise!!
They are supposed to have some of the best fishing in the world......
Marco Rubio is currently being investigated by a secret task force for ties to Al Qaida. He may be an Al Qaida plant trying to infiltrate the American government at the highest level.
Al Qaeda was already successful at that......how many billions of dollars and billions in weapons has Obama given the Muslim Brotherhood?? ....look it up!
Marco Rubio hates white people.
Marco Rubio is an illegal alien who is unable to provide proof of his birthplace and he picks up young male prostitutes when he is back in his home country. And he eats cats regularly.
Reality check:
If you are middle class, you are not poor enough to benefit from the Democratic policies of helping those who only want a handout and you are not rich enough to benefit from the Republican's policies of tax cuts for the rich which will then "trickle" down. Just sayin'.
Marco Rubio is secretly a full fledged member of Nambla. Apparently he likes his male prostitutes young.
Marco Rubio is secretly plotting to confiscate everyone's cel phone and install Sharia law as the law of the land in America.
Where did they post that he is giving the response in English and Spanish? Now that is cospicously absent in the story, yet it was proudly stated on the news. I wouldn't be surprised if he will be holding an Islamic Prayer Rug next to a crucifix.
This is a Joke by the Republicans, Right? Rubio is one of the most corrupt, dishonest, Lying, @!$%#s that the Republicans have. I sure hope that the Republicans decide that it is Rubios turn to run for President. Rubio will finally be exposed to the Punk he really is. You Republicans talk about Obamas Birth Certificate, I would definitely have to see Rubios Birth Certificate. I live in his District in Florida, and know first hand what a criminal Rubio is, bring him on Republicans, this should be fun.
Yeah, right! The so-called “Takers”, “Moochers”, “the 47%” (The Middle Class) will never believe anything coming from another lip-sticked pig wearing a tea-bag wig even if he's a Tupac fan!
BS. Bet that immigration will hardly be mentioned given the drubbing he’s taken for supporting immigration reform lately. Bottom line is that there’ll be nothing new here other than classic GOP’s anti-Obama rhetoric Part Deux. 99.9999999% chance all this comes down to is the following old, tired mantra: (1) limited gov’t; (2) reduced taxes; (3) Spending cuts; (4) Obama-bashing (Obama...bad. GOP...good). So, nothing new except the Spanish version.
Bagga, puh-lease! Just a couple years ago this maricon, hijo de puta was mooching off the FL Senate credit card abusing it for personal gain. Inspiring leader? Really? Inspiring to whom? Old Florida Cubans? Good luck with that! I’m Latino and I can definitely tell you that the vast majority of us Latinos outside of southern FL (even Republican ones) see Rubio as an opportunistic, partisan hack whose interest in immigration is purely for political gain. Latinos won’t fall for his or the GOP’s misma mierda.
And like all Tea-toting Republicans, his vision for America is too extreme, outlandish, contrived and, frankly, un-American. His failure—like Jindal’s, Angle’s, Mourdoch’s, Akin’s—is assured. Delayed but inevitable!