Marco Rubio was running late. He was expected at the Lauderdale Beach Republican Club meeting by 6:30 p.m on Wednesday but was delayed by car trouble on his way from a Fort Myers event. "My plane is not in service yet,'' he quipped, in what could have been a dig at his U.S. Senate rival, Gov. Charlie Crist, who frequently flies on state planes and corporate jets.
The audience laughed, immediately charmed by the handsome 37-year-old former Speaker of the House, who went on to talk about how much he misses his four small children when he's on the road. While the crowd of about 50 people doesn't represent the Florida electorate, which widely approves of Crist, it was a fair sample of the more conservative voters who dominate the state's Republican-only primaries. Several said they were incensed when Crist campaigned with President Obama for his deficit-increasing spending plan.
"He's Democrat-lite!'' cried Dennis Ritchie, who was standing in the back.
"The tea-party people are starting to talk,'' said Laura Jean Dluzak, referring to the Boston Tea Party-inspired protests in Florida and around the country last month against government spending.
"Mr. Crist was not loyal to us,'' said Kathy Bishop, who snacked on chicken wings before Rubio arrived. "We supported him through thick and thin, the water got a little murky and now he's ready to bail.''
Rubio's pitch was classic Republican dogma: government is not the answer. He called for a federal balanced budget amendment, term limits, a strong national defense and tax reform -- he said he's a "fan'' of the fair tax and also likes the flat tax. He drew applause for sending his children to "faith-based'' schools and decrying government intervention in the healthcare system. "The more that we are like Democrats, the less need there is for a Republican party,'' he said.
In response to a question about immigration, Rubio dropped his previous pleas against harsh attacks on illegal workers. He said he would not have voted in favor of the legislation -- backed by Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez -- that would have allowed illegal workers to earn legal status, which he called "blanket legalization."
"Nothing is more disruptive to legal immigration than illegal immigration,'' he said. "We must secure our borders."
Rubio also assailed the Democratic administration's economic stimulus plan but hedged when pressed on how he would have balanced Florida's budget without that money and a cash infusion from a gambling deal with the Seminole tribe. "I'm not going to second guess our legislative leaders,'' he said. "I don't have the budget in front of me."
Surrounded by well-wishers after his speech, he said he plans to keep going to club meetings like this one and that he's not thinking about switching to the governor's race."I have a lot of these to do over the next 16 months,'' he said. "I don't think the odds are as long as you think."
More on the Rubio-Crist battle is here.
Looking like you may just have a shot Mr. Speaker!
Posted by: former doubter | May 16, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Rubio Is the future of our state. My money and my vote go to Rubio.
Posted by: janie | May 16, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Now, here's a more informed discussion of Rubio and immigration.
The paragraphs about that above raises several questions. The first sentence in the first paragraph sounds like smear. The second sentence raises the question what he would vote for.
The following paragraph sounds like he supports something like Bush tried to do. The other part of that sounds like the hoax that McCain tried to pull and that now Obama is trying to pull.
It's time for real reporters to press him on this issue rather than hacks or those who don't know the right questions to ask.
Posted by: NoMoreBlatherDotCom | May 16, 2009 at 03:53 PM
I guess you can't include a href links, so let's try this:
http://24ahead.com/marco-rubio-illegal-immigration-amnesty-supporter-or-not
Posted by: NoMoreBlatherDotCom | May 16, 2009 at 03:54 PM
If you really mean your money and vote go to Rubio, you can donate online here:
http://www.marcorubio.com/donate.php
If you are serious, do it NOW.
Posted by: Support Rubio! | May 16, 2009 at 06:37 PM
Didn't we just have 8 years of Marco Jebio? Been there, done that.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen | May 17, 2009 at 09:23 AM
What ever happened to " THE PEOPLE" Gov. Crist is sooo found of. Shouldn't WE have a RIGHT to pick our candidate( and it might be him) rather than the Washington elite who do NOT represent the wishes of the PEOPLE of FLORIDA...
Greer needs to stop trying to be a dictator and behave like a legit LEADER for ONCE!
Posted by: francis S. Key | May 18, 2009 at 09:21 AM
Charlie Crist has lost the trust of Florida's Republicans and the NRSC endorsement represents nothing more that the fear of the Republican establishment for new blood with new ideas in the party.
Rubio had it right regarding property taxes. Crist lied!
Check http://boycottnrsc.blogspot.com
Posted by: FDuran | May 18, 2009 at 01:12 PM
I live in Southern California and I'm always trying to find those young up-and-coming conservative Republicans who could be the future of the party and I strongly believe Marco Rubio is just that. I will closely be watching how Florida votes and will be praying that they get this one right. If he eventually wins this Senate seat, I imagine he'll be running for the White House in the near future. Get this one RIGHT Florida!
Posted by: Scott H. | May 29, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Former Speakers of the House who sought state-wide office:
Johnnie Byrd
Ralph Haben
-------
Former Speakers of the House who won state-wide office:
Doyle Conner
________________
I need some help, folks.
Who am I missing?
I know that I am missing a good number.
Posted by: Paul D. Harvill | June 03, 2009 at 09:57 PM