By Tim Baldwin
Marco Rubio is now running for president. Rubio shares little differences than the other announced and potential Republican runners, except for Rand Paul with noticeable libertarian-leaning principles. Does Rubio have enough to gain popular support?
On foreign policy, Rubio favors aggression like most Republicans. He criticizes Paul here even though Obama got elected partly for his non-aggression campaign.
On gay marriage, Rubio admits people are born with sexual preferences but opposes their right to marriage. Oddly, Rubio believes government should deprive people of what admittedly nature created. Reason aside, Rubio is Republican so he must dogmatically oppose gay marriage.
On Obamacare, he wants to replace it in the form of tax credits. Rubio acknowledges the horrific situation many people face without health insurance, so he prefers some policy to help them. On this, he is more moderate than Cruz.
On taxes, he proposes a cut for 90 percent of Americans. Yet, Rubio supports the “War on Drugs” that costs billions to execute, not to mention the billions to wage endless wars. Alternatively, Rubio could propose that America’s billionaires pay for these profiteering ventures and not middle-class America, but he won’t.
Rubio is young, smart and attractive – partly because his last name is not Bush. But does he have enough to win the Republican primary? Too, is he non-establishment enough? I predict no.
By Joe Carbonari
Marco Rubio walks a tight rope. He’s a straight talker, which I like. He is also smart, which I like, and he seems to read people well. In the Middle East he sees the big picture and the big danger – Ayatollahs on the loose with a nuclear bomb.
The Iranians, Shia Muslims, chant “Death to the Infidels.” Infidels specifically mentioned often include Jews, Sunni Muslims, and Americans. The Iranians have an impressive military and Shia allies across the Arab world. There is an Arab secular war going on now, in Yemen, Shia versus Sunni.
Marco Rubio has so stated. He leaves the discussion at that point, which should give him some support from the military right, a significant factor in financing and, hopefully winning, the Republican presidential primary. Unfortunately, that leaves people thinking that military action is inevitable.
I think that it is poor form for Rubio to lead us to the military edge with the danger and the stakes so high. The Middle East is a tinder box and he’s left us discussing matches. This is pandering for the primary, it is misguiding, and it is dangerous.
Marco Rubio is impressive, but he is not ready. Whether it be on immigration, Iran, or whatever, he must stay true to himself if he is to be believed and to be followed.
I hope he risks this primary for a future general and stiffens his spine.