Posted on 02/06/2016 6:07:04 AM PST by Elderberry
Marco Rubio is often compared to Barack Obama on the campaign trail, and he's quick to refute questions over their comparable inexperience before running for president.
But there's at least one way the senator from Florida draws his own comparison to Obama - if only to pledge he'll score the big wins for conservatives that Obama did for liberals.
"Barack Obama has been the most consequential liberal president since Franklin Roosevelt," Rubio told NBC News' Gabe Gutierrez in a sit-down interview aboard his campaign bus in New Hampshire.
Rubio doesn't believe Obama's accomplishments have been good for the country: He claimed Obama orchestrated a government takeover of the healthcare system, wants to raise taxes and has weakened the military.
"Barack Obama has been an effective liberal. We need to reverse that with someone who is as committed to conservative principles as he has been to liberalism," Rubio said.
Related: Despite Endorsement, Santorum Stumped on Rubio Accomplishments
Rubio dismissed comparisons to Obama from his critics as sour grapes from other candidates jockeying for advantage in the presidential race.
"When people want to win a campaign they say all kinds of things," Rubio said. "I disagree with Barack Obama on virtually every major issue of consequence that's come before this country."
Rubio's comments came in response to recent criticism from his rivals that, like Obama when he first ran for president, Rubio has little concrete to show for his career in politics.
The criticism picked up steam Thursday when former Sen. Rick Santorum, who endorsed Rubio immediately after dropping out of the presidential race on Wednesday, struggled to name any accomplishments from Rubio's time in the Senate.
But Rubio pushed back against those critiques in the interview, telling Gutierrez that he's "proud of my record in public service."
Related: Cascade of Endorsements Gives Rubio Added Momentum
Rubio touted his work on property rights as speaker of the Florida House. In the Senate, Rubio highlighted his efforts to reform the Veterans Administration, eliminate the Obamacare risk corridors and pass new sanctions on Hezbollah.
Pressed on whether passing those sanctions - which drew widespread bipartisan support - constituted a prime achievement of his five years in the Senate, Rubio argued that the Senate had been "paralyzed" by former Majority Leader Harry Reid, making it impossible to pass anything of much consequence.
"Well, listen, we've been in the United States Senate that's been literally paralyzed by Harry Reid for four out of the last five years," Rubio said. "But yes, I'm frustrated at the lack of progress in Washington. That's why I'm running for president, because I want these things to be meaningful again."
Rubio dismissed overall the scrutiny on his record, arguing the election should be a look forward more than anything.
"At the end of the day, this election's about the future, not just a resume competition. This election is about what happens next for America," he said.
Rubio's been campaigning hard in New Hampshire, and heads into the final three days before voters head to the polls riding on the momentum of a stronger-than-expected finish in Iowa and a cascade of powerful endorsements from elected officials in a handful of states. The good week both provides a positive backdrop to, and ups the ante for, the next GOP debate, on Saturday night, when he's certain to have a target on his back.
But Rubio insisted he wasn't fazed by the pressure, and his prep-work for the debates was mostly just keeping current on the latest news.
"I'm running for president. I know what I stand for. I know what I believe. And so preparing for debates is basically just staying current on the news and be prepared to answer in a serious way the questions that are asked of you - but also outlining a vision for America's future," he said.
Isn’t that what Obama campaigned on? Something akin to “community activist”?
And since that scenario is reality, how do you propose to proceed to advance your interests?
Can’t read all the posts until tomorrow. This graveyarder has to go to bed.
But I note that this is exactly what one says when YOU DON’T HAVE A RESUME OF ACCOMPLISHMENT!
Why should anyone get a job based on their accomplishments? What’s that?
I wouldn’t trust Rubio to watch my dog.
Which is why we need to crush Rubio before he becomes the candidate.
His blank resume is better than his real life.
Easy to say when you have accomplished nothing, essentially quit your job but still taking the paycheck. :-)
Thanks. You have done your homework for this election, and I have learned a lot from you!
Thanks, Gramps. This is the last election we’re going to get to stop the bleeding.
See:Knowing what he knows now, would Marco Rubio still help Islamic terrorists topple Libya?
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3393738/posts
We don’t have a future if the Rube is elected..
Scary stuff!
“Limbaugh isn’t fooled. He sold out, just like Beck and LEvin....to all the same special interest groups.”
Nonsense. Selling ads to conservative sponsors is not selling out. Do you really think Limbaugh said nice things about Rubio because the establishment or Rubio paid him off?
Limbaugh is either ignorant or he sold out. You decide. He insists he’s not naive.
You better do some checking if you think his sponsors are ‘conservative’...they may have been at one time. Most of our ‘conservative’ sponsors have sold out as well, like club 4 growth, Freedom works, Heritage foundation, ACU, Amer. 4 prosperity.
WHY does Rush REFUSE to shed the light on the people who recruited and own Rubio, Cesar Conda, Grover Norquist? WHY? THEY are our enemy, unless you are for mass Islam immigration, propping up terrorists and every bad trade deal to come down the pike.
Wise up, we’ve been sold out! Ignorance won’t change it.
WHY doesn’t Rush talk about this?
Knowing what he knows now, would Marco Rubio still help Islamic terrorists topple Libya?
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3393738/posts
Get informed or admit you support the same traitorous policies.
Great points! They should be repeated and repeated to voters.
Feel free to use any of this info.
Thanks!
“Get informed or admit you support the same traitorous policies.”
So because I dont buy into your crazy conspiracy theories I must admit being a traitor. Interesting.
1. Go frak yourself.
2. Loosen your tinfoil hat.
3. Adjust your meds.
4. Go frak yourself.
>>And what Mario Rubco wants to happen next for America is for us to abandon the rule of law and surrender the country to illegal aliens and their employers.
Not quite. Rubio’s future is one where there is no such thing as a illegal alien. In his future, everyone who can get here is a legal resident and probably a citizen.
Except Europeans and Asians. Rubio doesn’t need those kind of people.
“The future when Rubio got sent to congress was an immediate betrayal of the people who sent him there. ‘
Is that the reason he sought only one term? Thought he would not get reelected as those in Florida have now ‘caught on’. Guess he thinks the rest of the country can be his next case for betrayal as they have yet to ‘catch on’.
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