Rubio questions need for tea party caucus

Miami Herald ^ | 1/27/10 | LESLEY CLARK

[Mozilla]

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who hasn't joined a new Senate tea party caucus, told reporters Wednesday he's not even sure there's a need for one.

The Florida Republican, who became a darling of the conservative movement, said he still hasn't decided about joining any caucuses, but plans to meet with tea party caucus members to ``get their sense of what they want the caucus to be about.''

He said he's not certain a Senate tea party caucus is a good idea.

``Really what I think the strength of the tea party is that it comes from the grass-roots,'' Rubio told a group of Florida reporters Wednesday in an interview in his temporary Senate office. ``That it is not a political organization, it's not something run by politicians or people seeking higher office, but rather it is a movement of every day citizens from all walks of life. That's the strength of the tea party: that it's not a political organization run by people out of Washington. My concern is a tea party caucus could intrude on that.''

He said he does plan to join the Republican Steering Committee.

(snip)

``The fundamental question I have -- and there might be a good reason for it -- is what's the difference between the tea party caucus and what already exists in the steering committee?'' said Rubio, who first questioned the need for a separate tea party caucus during a CNN interview last July.

(snip)

Some activists have taken note of Rubio's reluctance to join the caucus -- which meets for the first time Thursday -- and expressed concern; others have said he'll be judged on how he votes.

[Mozilla]

The tea party caucus is needed to show support for the tea party movement and thus keep the Rino's on notice. Rubio doesn't seem to think he needs to be a part of it because he doesn't understand what it will do and it doesn't fit the refined image Rubio has created. In other words, he does not want show support.

[MichaelP]

The old guard is whispering in his ear...

Mike

[org.whodat]

He just wants to be treasure and hold the credit card. Another Mel!!!!!

[GeronL]

Its needed to show that Republican and conservative are not synonymous

[normy]

I disagree. Why separate yourself? Move freely in and out, get RINO whispers and keep them close. Do not, I repeat DO NOT, become a secluded block.

We want to take the Republican Party over. Simply do not reelect RINO's and put Tea Party candidates in Primaries against Rino's. Do not become a minority within a minority (in the Senate).

[TexasCajun]

Seems a bit ungrateful for the T.E.A. Party support, jerk!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Ya dance with the one that brung ya, Marco, or you don't get invited to the next dance.

[FatherofFive]

Its needed to show that Republican and conservative are not synonymous

If the RINOs don't get on board, they will be defeated at the polls. This is a wonderful time.

[Shethink13]

``Really what I think the strength of the tea party is that it comes from the grass-roots,'' Rubio told a group of Florida reporters Wednesday in an interview in his temporary Senate office. ``That it is not a political organization, it's not something run by politicians or people seeking higher office, but rather it is a movement of every day citizens from all walks of life. That's the strength of the tea party: that it's not a political organization run by people out of Washington. My concern is a tea party caucus could intrude on that.''

I think this is a reasonable argument. Why don't we just wait and see how his votes pan out?

[normy]

No! Rubio understands the Tea Party and why it is successful. Hard to demonize 50 million middle aged Americans but it's easy to demonize a 8 or 9 block caucus as extreme. Jeeze! Our power is at the polls.

Everyone needs to quit getting their feelings hurt so easily!

[Crimson Elephant]

We will have to see what he actually does. I can see both sides of this argument. The “tea party” can be ruined by creating a caucus just as much as NOT having a caucus.

We have gone so far down the orwellian rabbit hole with language and media that the “tea party” is just as sure to become as meaningless as “conservative” “progressive” “Security” and the names of the parties themselves. It is the movement that matters, and it is true that creating a caucus might just give the establishment something to get their hands around and attempt to control.

On the other hand, Rubio could also just be getting himself set up to be the establishment later on, or get their support, or change the party from within.

Hard to know what is truly one’s intent until their actions show us something.

[Spok]

Until the Republicans have the courage to stand up to the corrupt MSM, they’ll be a frightened useless appendage of the leftists who are resolved to destroy this country. The MSM has successfully libeled the Tea Party,Palin, Bachman and anyone who has the fortitude to call BS. Rubio is frightened to be associated with conservatives; he should caucus with McCain and the rest of the eunuch fellow travelers who think they can work both sides of the street.

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

I believe this is spinning to it's finest! Check out
http://shark-tank.net/2011/01/24/senator-rubio-questions-the-need-for-senate-tea-party-caucus-video/
and see where Rubio believes precisely on the Tea Party movement and not the TP Caucus, which is nothing else but a political elevator. Sorry to bust your bubble, but the caucus is precisely that. There's no need of another caucus in order for a politician to maintain and support conservative tenets. One can join all the caucuses available, it means absolutely nothing. And how exactly is the TP going to hold any of the TP Caucus responsible if they go against these tenets? By voting them out at re-election time,right? Well, that can be done, regardless of the caucus. I just want these elected officials to keep their promises and leave up to the idea of being a conservative. Membership or lack there of, will never sway any politicians.

[PDMiller]

We Tea Party Patriots are like the smart nerdy high school kid. The jocks come to us all nicey nice when the need the answers for the science test, but when they pass us in the hall with their friends they act like they've never met us and call us names.

Dance wit the lady whut brung ya' Marco

[Will88]

Better Rubio than any Florida Dim, but many people have put him on a pedestal without knowing his stance on some key issues. He is Jeb Bush’s pick after all. More definitely needs to be known about him, but it’s already safe to say he’s not a Tea Party type conservative ready to go against business as usual.

[Carley]

Rubio has chosen as his Chief of Staff a man who was Dick Cheney’s domestic policy adviser.

Can we allow Rubio o be Rubio please.

[Erik Latranyi]

Rubio is right.

[wilco200]

Because he’s a pro-amnesty RINO.

He thinks that if he remains clean and articulate that the old guard Republicans will put him up as the first brown President.

Ugh.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

He must be a RINO!

(except he’s not)

[Cobra64]

I agree. It’s amazing how many people who know little or nothing about the man, are jumping to instant conclusions.