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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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Here comes Uncle Tom...
Hopefully Rubio addresses the new politically correct name for ILLEGALS, UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS or ILLEGAL ALIENS. The democrats have decided to call THEM..."Out of Status", yes, that is the new politically correct term.
Lowering taxes on the rich increases investments which increases GDP which increases tax revenue. Not that hard to figure out unless you are a liberal.
With your eyes on the next subsidy the lot of you reject economic freedom.
Yeah, we heard that from Reagan and both Bushes. Too bad it never worked.
yea Don but this poverty thing with Obama isn't working either!!
I can hear it now: Obama " I need more money" Rubio: "stop spending" The really big news is not being talked about too much. The Dems are kicking around a plan to get thier hands on everyones IRA accounts and they are talking about some B>S> federal insurance on those monies.
I have evolved, I now see nothing wrong with spending 10 trillion per year in new debt. After all, it's just money.
Margret Thatcher " Socialism works great until you run out of other peoples money"
Not a bad choice on the Republicans part. He'll have more of the ladies as an audience, they think he's cute. Too bad everything he'll say is nothing different than what's already been said by his party.
I'm hoping he doesn't drag his family's background into his presentation, as he has in the past, there aren't too many more versions he could fib about.
As far as a presidential candidate is concerned, "FORGET ABOUT IT!". But the ladies still think he's cute.
Too short. Rubio is a Dukakis clone gone bed.
A rookie? Really?
And just because he is a flip flopping Hispanic.
I think most people will not be fooled.
It makes no difference who the GOP candidate will be if Hillary decides to run (and I think she will). She'll win in a landslide, approaching 60% of the popular vote and 500 electoral votes. The GOPers are all posing now, on the off chance she doesn't run. If (when) she declares her candidacy, the GOP won't be able to pay someone to run against her; even with their limited intelligence, potential 2016 GOP presidential candidates know it would be a lost cause and damage their future options. Gotta be tough to be a republican these days!
What difference does it make?
If she runs the fat and hair jokes will be good
Doubt very much if lowering the corporate tax rate would create more jobs, the corporations will continue to outsource, just their profits would increase, maybe if the corporate tax rate being lowered a certain perctange, would depend on how many jobs are created or brought back to the U.S. might be the better way
Gee Frank, guess what the corporate tax rate for foriegn companies in China is?
%12. 5 incentive rate for high tech companies.
Ours? %39.6.
Where are you going to start a business? Not the U.S.A
As a business man, I can state point blank; The corporate tax rate means NOTHING. After business expenses and deductions, the net profits are distributed to the owners/shareholders. Any corporation that actually pays tax "is doing it wrong". America could implement a 99% tax on corporations and it would mean nothing. Likewise, if we raise personal income taxes while lowering corporate rates, an individual would leave their money in the corporation, and use it for living expenses. It's all a dodge, when you HAVE that kind of money!
Your name must be Jeff Immelt.
How is that 1000 man tax department you have who's soul purpose to find loop holes while the rest of us pay.
After the $5.9 Billion G.E. made in the U.S. and not paying one dime in taxes,
I can see why you think a corporate tax means "nothing",
Sickening.
Great choice!
Who do the hyporate of the republican party do they think they are kidding.... I am Hispanic from Mexico... Now I am a U.S citizen and have a terminal degree.... Marco Rubio is nothing but an opportunistic seeing green at the end of the rainbow and he will ride that wave until he can... The republicans swee him as a Sunday starting quarterback who will be taking them to the glory of obtaining majority for both houses and the presidential office... I know the struggles of immigration.. tell me Marco Rubio.. as a Cuban how did you obtain your citizenship.. Ahhh.. that right.. it was merely given to you by the US goverment.... Tell us how did your parents come to this country?Marco Rubio why dont you start lying now.. abou t how much your family struggle in Cuba and how you waited in line to get your citizenship/..... Marco Rubio you are an opportunistic and a joke of a human being.
Spoken like the true La Raza member that you are,
Like that Julian Castro.
Castro is a loud mouth little man who has milked the system all his life.
His Mom is La-Raza, His mother was a Chicano political activist who helped establish the Chicano political party La Raza Unida. She ran unsuccessfully for San Antonio City Council in 1971. Known for being strong and a firebrand, she regards The Alamo as a symbol of bad times and has stated, "I can truly say that I hate that place and everything it stands for.
THAT's RIGHT! These are socialist America haters who want to milk the system for more!
Terminal degree? Liberalism? Or, simply socialist?
STOPusing the word UNDOCUMENTED, the word is ILLEGAL. You break the law and it is ILLEGAL. Got it?Once again the GOP has their token Latino pretend they aren't racist.
Upsetting isn't it Cameron?
yeah and the dms their token black man
Correction Yankee Obama is half Uncle Tom and half white boy. Which one did you vote for?
His response dosen't have to be much...in fact 1 word will say it all...this country under this adminstration is "FUBARED"
WOW! Youreally must have worked on this one. Clever. (Really.)
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Yankee boy...I noticed the very high level of intelligence your responses here and elsewhere below indicate you might have .......oh well takes all kinds....
The GOP leadership must really think the average American is stupid. Now think, for what reason the two biggest bigots, rednecks would select a minority to do the response. I'll tell you, because one thing the GOP leadership is good at is selecting token minorities. (including women). The truth of the matter is John Boehner and Mitch McConnell are not even in the same class as Hillary Clinton. When I look at people like Boehner and McConnell I can actually visualize them in the smoke filled backrooms, smoking their cigars and drinking their scotches, laughing and talking about how they can use minorities to their benefit. Thinking they are the smartest things in the universe, when in reality they are not even crap. Not knowing that someday what goes around is coming around.
Can you say "token Hispanic".
Can you say"clit licker"
These republicans are so creative (Well at least attempting to be )..
They like nothing more than a minority (Cuban) talking thrash to another minority (black); They really work Marco Taco up so that he can say things they themselves want to say, but cannot do it as a white men....
All the while poor marco taco thinks he must be real good ..
Kind of reminds me republicans choosing Micheal Steal as chairman. Any black man will not do...
Also, republican almost nominated the pizza man if it was not sexual harassment thing.. Pizza man would probably be the least smart of any presidential candidates to date.. But then again, when you think about palin, michelle.. he would fit in nicely.
Taco is mexican numbskull
Bush did more for minorities than any other. Rubio is awesome and must have you libs worried from the comments I have read. higher taxes, higher gas, people will put on part time or let go because of obamacare and lose health care prior if you have health care already, lmao, you fools got what you voted for.
And you must be living in a right wing fog.
He only means is to deliver another contrived GOP steamy pile of excrement.
No that is what we will hear before Rubio speaks.
OK, so he's the new repuke of the moment.
"President Obama’s vision of an ever-bigger government and the higher taxes that would be needed to pay for it."
Too bad the repukes weren't heeding this advice while W and his dwarf were running up deficits with two unpaid for wars.
Agree the Repubs need to get back to the small govt less or no debt ways which are supposed to be the basis of the party. You cant tell most of them from the Dems these days.
I love everything I have heard from Rubio. This man is truly a great speaker. He doesnt need a telepromter or three to give a speech. I cant wait to hear him knock holes in everything Obama sprews in his SOTU speech errr, lies.
So. Why did they have prompters up throughout the repuke convention? Including the ones for your RINO cult loser? (Or is your comment just more repuke wind bagging?)
GO watch the speeches he delivers. When you talk from your heart and about believe what you are saying you dont need them to talk to elementary school kids. The Great One is lost without his because he could never say what he really thinks.
Boehner says that the Republicans represent smaller, less intrusive government? I see, there is nothing intrusive about demanding vaginal ultrasounds? There is nothing intrusive about forcing a woman to incubate the sperm donation of a rapist? There is nothing intrusive about denying a poor woman access to birth control, even though she is married and might actually feel some sexual yearning for her husband? There is nothing intrusive about forcing a woman to have a baby with massive birth defects, even though she has no money to pay for the lifetime medical care that baby will require? There is nothing intrusive about forbidding two people who love each other, to marry, because they are of the same sex?
The only intrusive government the Republicans oppose is the oversight of banking practices and food purity. They hate rules that require business to behave ethically and responsibly, but they love rules that intrude into the most private of human concerns, reproduction and sexuality.
Republicans love big government. They love huge defense contracts for their buddies in the military industrial complex. They love government that subsidizes the oil industry and creates tax amnesty for those who earn billions every year from minimum wage employees. They love government that subsidizes religion and denies basic science. They just hate government that insures the common good.
Why should our Federal govt be so concerned about a woman's vagina. I dont think that is a critical part of what the Federal govt needs to be concerned with. Stop focusing on the minutia they want you to and look at the larger things that they dont want you paying attention to.
You are an idiot.Most GOPER'S are ok with a womens choice ..................but why should i pay for it or her pills.
Look around, which states are in the greatest debt crisis?? Red or Blue. And the ole' saying goes " it is what it is"
There you go with those facts and all. You really are messing up all those feel good, emotion lefty policies with things like facts.
Free smart phones now at tax payers expense, what's next free cars? Hope all you libs on here pay taxes, lol.
And right wingers pay taxes?
What a joke...
10 of the top ten poorest states are RED.....They also receive the most Fed tax $$ by far.
Least educated, fattest....Basically the biggest drain on the US is by RED states
Facts and Democrats dont get along well.
Facts about RED states sucking welfare?
hahhahahahhahahhahahah
Yeah
& the cities with the most people in poverty are all ran by Democrats
Democrat Party Rule in these Cities
Hell, here in CALIFORNIA we are going to give homeless people free phones!!!!
"....many past figures to deliver their party's response have been panned for their performance."
Yawn. Odds are 50 to 1 MSNBC, First Read and the rest of the Obama orchestra wont like Marco Rubio's performance, but will give their hero Obama the usual standing ovation....
So you seem to miss the fact that RED states are the biggest welfare suckers in the US
You hate facts?
Yes.
You do.
I think educated people will see this as little more than a ruse, something along the lines of an immigrant Uncle Tom. Repugnicans are really stretching credibility here, banking on general voter ignorance and apathy.
& the Dem's have more credibility that's a laugh.
No, you are the joke.
That's nice making laugh all that much more.