Peter Schorsch
Remember how in my previous postcard I wrote that I would be disconnecting (for the most part) from political social media while on vacation?
Well … that lasted a wonderful two days.
Thanks, Donald Trump.
Defiant in the face of widespread criticism, Trump renewed his belligerent call for four Democratic congresswomen of color to get out of the U.S. “right now,” cementing his position as the most willing U.S. leader in generations to stoke the discord that helped send him to the White House.
“It doesn’t concern me because many people agree with me,” Trump said at the White House. “A lot of people love it, by the way.”
There was near-unanimous condemnation from Democrats for Trump’s comments and a rumble of discontent from a subset of Republicans — but notably not from the party’s congressional leaders.
Nor Florida’s Marco Rubio.
Rubio’s silence is par for the course in the Trump era, but on this occasion, it is deafening.
Rubio is the child of Cuban immigrants. His father was a bartender. His mother was a housekeeper. They lived, as Rubio himself puts it, the American dream.
This isn’t a secret. It’s something he reminds us of often.
Choosing to sit idly by while the President demeans congresswomen whose stories are reminiscent of his own is cowardly.
As a member of the U.S. Senate, he is one of the most powerful elected leaders in the country. The nearly 22 million people he represents — many of them immigrants — should expect more from him.
Unfortunately, Rubio has done nothing to convince Floridians he’s better than that.
In addition to his silence on Trump’s tirade, Rubio is a longtime friend of Alexander Acosta, who last week resigned as labor secretary in disgrace.
Instead of calling on Acosta to resign, Rubio sat on the fence, saying he should if the Department of Justice found misconduct in the sweetheart deal the former U.S. Attorney gave to Jeffrey Epstein — a registered sex offender who is now facing sex-trafficking charges — that “those responsible should face consequences.”
I’m all for giving someone the benefit of the doubt. But anyone who read the Miami Herald’s excellent reporting on that 2008 plea deal should be angry. Angry enough to call for Acosta’s job at the very least.
And then there’s his full-throated defense of Trump after it was reported he was losing interest in Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
He didn’t just push back. Instead, he trotted out some of the President’s greatest hits, saying the report was “fake news” and threatening to name the leakers publicly.
I strongly support Rubio’s objectives in Venezuela, but America’s increasingly disappointing foreign policy there is just another example of Rubio’s down-streak.
You almost have to wonder if these kinds of losses continue to rack up for Rubio what kind of position he will be when he’s up for reelection in 2022. If Trump is reelected, history suggests members of the president’s party will suffer at the midterm ballot box. On the other hand, If Trump is swept from office, will voters be looking to punish those who sat idly by as the president did his worst?
Either way, with Florida Democrats like Nikki Fried or Stephanie Murphy — or dare I say Charlie Crist looking to avenge 2010 — possibly running against him in 2022, Rubio needs to do more to show he speaks for all Floridians, not just those who support the president.
15 comments
Olga Suarez
July 17, 2019 at 3:14 am
Rubio is not a communist who hates America nor a terrorist loving Muslim infiltrated in our government.
Us, Cuban-Americans love America and hate what the Squad is all about. Omar is a danger and a disgrace
Michael Addison
July 17, 2019 at 4:02 am
Funny how if you don’t agree with Trump you are labeled as a hater of America. The real disgrace is the child-like behavior of Trump and his hateful policies as he tries to bully people and countries. The name calling for those who disagree with Trump is what middle schoolers do.
gary
July 17, 2019 at 4:02 pm
@Michael Addison: In case you missed it, the adults in the room have always been REPUBLICANS/CONSERVATIVES. We have been sitting on our hands throughout history while being called names by the low educated Democrats. Those days are over! Democrats do HATE America, if they did not, they would not try to transform it. Wake UP!
Tony Branch
July 17, 2019 at 5:55 am
Olga, the proper English word is “We” Cuban Americand not “us.”. By the way, I know a lot of young Cuban-Americans who don’t necessarily agree with you on Rubio.
Teri D. Springer
July 17, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Under Trump, YOU are considered an “undesirable.” Amazing that you are so blind to that.
BTW, one can disagree with the POTUS without being a communist or hating America. I took an oath to defend the US Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign or domestic. Those US citizens like you who would deny those you don’t agree with the right to exercise their free speech (violation of the First Amendment ) or would demand anyone not “Christian” (in and of itself a very UNChristian attitude) be forced out of the country (again: First Amendment) or demand those who protest the government’s actions (wow…again the First Amendment- did you EVER study Civics??) be booted out of the country are, in fact, the enemies of this country. So, maybe YOU should be the ones packing your bags?? Can’t demand YOUR rights and, at the same time demand others give up theirs.
Doesn’t work that way.
gary
July 17, 2019 at 4:08 pm
@Teri D. Springer: If anyone is denying free speech it is the Democrats. They shut it down whenever it opposes there speech. Look at all the campuses of higher learning that are blocking their students from a different look at issues. Higher learning has become nothing but indoctrination centers. Trump simply told them stop all crying about America or leave. I guess you are not old enough to remember in the 70’s a bumper sticker that VERY popular. “AMERICA, LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT” well I do. Was the bumper sticker racists? Democrats are a joke!
Peter Mullen
July 20, 2019 at 5:47 am
Apparently the US education system has failed poor Olga Suarez ? 12 million Cubans are a diverse group Olga. It’s hard to see how you make such a broad statement about how they think. As long as we’re generalizing, here’s something for you. Two million US Cubans are considered (black African/non white) by the very same Racist ignoramuses that you seem to think are heroes. “That’s right.” “Republicans” in general, think of Cubans as (“un-American darkies / inferior, radical, hot blooded, hot headed tools of the rich”). I’ve been around Republican frauds all my life Olga. I hear how they talk, and think when the (Cubans / darkies) “as they refer to them”, aren’t around to hear them. They generally dislike / hate you. They have exploited your presence in this country to destroy Castro, nothing more, so they can “recolonize”. If Republicans had their way you would be a slave in a sugar plantation, or serving American millionaires in the resorts of Havana for the wealthy. “Good old Havana”, what those same racist Republican mobsters use to call the (whore house of the Caribbean). Being a Muslim, or a Catholic for that matter is “utterly in compatible with being a “communist” Olga. Sadly your lack of education left you pretty clueless. We can’t fathom your twisted logic? Being “duly elected”, is hardly considered to be “(infiltration)”. Being duly elected is the essence of “American democratic principles”. These women represent their constituents interest, the ones who sent them there to say and do exactly what they are saying and doing. That’s called (“democracy” / a democratic republic) The degenerate racist freaks you seem to think are so righteous, actually think of you as a (tool), (sub-white / subhuman). Think about that next time you’re defending these racist fascist mobster clowns, and their brown nosing coward minions like (Marco Rubio / “Little Marco”) as your psychotic freak hero Trump calls him.
Karen
July 17, 2019 at 6:02 am
Funny how if you agree with President Trump & his policies you are a racist, a hater, a misogynist, a xenophobe, a deplorable, etc. etc.! The real disgrace is the manipulation of dumbed down citizens by our elite power & money hungry leftist educators & media selling victimhood. The name calling from the left, the antifa thugs threatening innocent bystanders, the killing of babies, the notion that everything is free, is all they have to sell because as middle schoolers they haven’t matured to know that work & personal achievement is good!
Only a group thinker would blame a current sitting president for all the world problems!
gary
July 17, 2019 at 4:10 pm
BRAVO KAREN!
Fed Up
July 17, 2019 at 6:49 am
Bravo Peter!
linda
July 17, 2019 at 7:58 am
I think it’s a smart move for Rubio to remain silent. The 4 women are a tainted subject–any comment would be blown up by the media, so best to leave it alone. If he speaks in favor of the 4 women- he loses his supporters. If he doesn’t say anything, the media, like you, are all over him. Now, to be fair–let’s see how every single senator around the country is reacting and their comments. No? Okay, how about every Florida representative and the remaining senator. Where are their comments? By singling out only Rubio, you have shown incredible bias. And now, everything you write, is suspect. We, your reading public, would much prefer just the facts. Go back to your vacation, you need it.
gary
July 17, 2019 at 4:12 pm
WELL SAID LINDA
Renzo A Bontempo
July 17, 2019 at 8:05 am
Being an Italian immigrant myself, I find your article very offensive.When we came to America, none of us spoke a word of English. My parents went to night school, along with the Greeks,And French,Armenians, etc; There was no press one for Italian, two for Greek etc;. The Hispanics are being enslaved by the Democrats, and not allowed to assimilate, like others before them. Yes, Socialism is indeed the philosophy of shared misery, except for the Elite. President Trump is constantly being demonized, although in my lifetime, no president has done more for our security, protection of our prosperity, and trying to create world piece thru strength. I have three questions to ask, one, where can I find your article condemning Obama association with the murdering,torturing,raping, and thieving Castro Regime.Two, other than CORRUPTION, why is Hillary Clinton, not in jail. I had the same level clearance, and would be in jail for the felonies committed by exposing classified information,or do we have laws for the Elite and connected,and laws for ordinary citizens? Thirdly, Where can I find your article on how we can keep our Doctors and Plans under Obamacare?Your article Sir wreaks of left wing propaganda designed to take advantage of the Ignorant and Stupid. Left wing propaganda characterized by Sophistic statements, twisting of the truth, and out and out lying. I for one love America and our President Trump
Peter Mullen
July 20, 2019 at 7:47 am
My words probably won’t penetrate your twisted, inaccurate expressions of ignorant right wing propaganda, but I will give it a shot. Could you share with us the means / the law, by which (Democrats) forced Hispanics to “not assimilate”, not learn English ? No? I didn’t think you could, because there is no such silliness. 54 % of Hispanic students attend college, and graduate with Bachelors degrees. That’s pretty good for those who didn’t assimilate. They did that despite the fact that the Republican party, and it’s representatives have done everything they can to insult, and disenfranchise them. They / Republicans do it with ( election rigging), (vote caging), and (Gerrymandering), because (they / Republican frauds) see Hispanics as (subhuman / non white) trouble makers, looking for handouts. In trumps words they are all (drug dealers / and rapists). Funny thing is, American business wouldn’t be able to function without Hispanic labor of all kinds, from hospitals, to scientific laboratories, to the military where they have long served proudly despite right wing attempts to discriminate. They cut your grass, pick your fruit, prepare your meals, groom your golf courses, fix your airplanes, defend our nation, and wipe your a– in the nursing home when you’re old. As far as that incredibly ignorant purely asinine statement about Trump the degenerate whore master ignoramus fraud making us strong? Let me clue you in. That incompetent brain dead colluding conspiring freak, has done more damage to our military, and our strategic national interest than any enemy we’ve had since Pearl Harbor. In his incredible self serving criminal conspiracy to expand his own criminal network, he has utterly destroyed 75 years of progress debasing, and insulting our strongest allies, to the gleeful cheers of Vladimir Putin, and Russian Intelligence.. He has sided with totalitarian dictators like Kim Jon Un, because of his unfathomable psychotic ignorance of international relations and his sick insipid ego. He has caused grave malicious harm to America’s interest in East Asia, and the Middle East. He has gone for months without appointing a properly vetted, Secretary of Defense. That fact, along with his utterly insane, destructive executive orders, about gays in the military, transsexual service, have done serious damage to our military readiness, and unit cohesion. Perhaps you can tell us how the “vital mission critical work” those brave / patriots do, will be accomplished when these honorable soldiers, sailors, and airmen are gone after we’ve spent years, and hundreds of $millions training them? This ignoramus fraud coward Trump dodged the draft during Vietnam because of (bone spurs?). He got a cowardly “BS” deferment because Daddy the Nazi paid off a doctor to lie for him. He’s a despicable coward, who spent his youth deflowering virgins, while some other poor soul died in Vietnam in his disgusting cowardly place. He canceled the Iran nuclear agreement as everyone with half a brain knows because he wanted to attack anything Obama did with the brilliant work of a real patriot John Kerry,and a team of brilliant negotiators who actually understand what they’re talking about. Blabber mouth Trump did it because he knew his brain dead racist twisted fundamentalist base of hateful ignoramuses would love it. That has put us in grave danger causing the Iranians to restart their nuclear program. The brilliantly crafted Iran Nuclear deal was the best way to keep the Iranian regime in a box. Now when the Mueller investigation has his treasonous conspiring fraud campaign manager, his personal long time lawyer, his national security adviser, and many others are pleading guilty, or in prison, he’s desperate. He does and says any insane ignorant hateful thing to draw attention away from his criminally negligent debauchery, theft and incompetence. His insane Trade wars with China have destroyed years of progress in trade, destroying soy bean farmers, and costing consumers $billions because (tariffs are a “TAX”) on Americans. So far he has presided over the attempt to take health care away from 30,000,000 Americans by trying to kill Obama care. Everyone around the world with a functioning brain, and an education knows he is a moron. They know his entire regime, the entire cabinet, and his lunatic fringe supporters in the senate have established a kleptocracy, that is bleeding our nation, our treasury, and our society dry. He has the largest $trillion dollar deficit in history, and because of the insane Trump Cult (deficit funded tax cut) for the billionaires, and highly profitable corporations leaves us with a $22,000,000,000,000 national debt. Sad thing is Renzo, you’ve been taken for a ride, a scam, the Trump con game. Unfortunately Renzo, you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Elaine
July 18, 2019 at 1:01 am
Marco Rubio may have sat idly by because he could not respond either way without being perceived as one against Republican views on this, or one who responds without forethought of considering both sides on this issue.
Very apparently there are two sides..maybe more..
As he sat idly, Marco may have considered his truth about his family immigration and the strong feelings of the anger about this issue being THE REPUBLICAN he is. Sometimes maybe it is better to sit, whether idly or in thought, than to spring forward with one thought that does not represent the true complexity of what we feel and ruin that perception without forethinking.
Sometimes idle is ensign of intelligence and consideration…even in 2019.
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