Joe Henderson: Marco Rubio shrinks again in the spotlight

Marco Rubio talks capitalism for the common good.

Marco Rubio fumbled yet another opportunity to show some gumption.

I know, you’re shocked, right? When the spotlight is on Florida’s senior U.S. Senator, he becomes the incredible shrinking man.

You know the story by now. He casually said President Donald Trump was just trying to “gig you guys” (reporters) when he said China should investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.

Oh really?

The leader of the free world sure is a prankster. Do you think the Chinese leader called Trump later on a secure line to share a laugh about the goof on gullible reporters and Democrats?

Well, there is nothing funny about this, except maybe Rubio’s lame dismissal of the indefensible. It was all there for him, laid out like a #Rubio2024 campaign ad. He has been a staunch critic of the Chinese government and Trump gave Rubio a chance to shout, “NO! NO!”

But he didn’t.

The President’s words matter and Rubio should know that.  Even more, he should say that because his silence can be taken for an endorsement.

Apparently though, Rubio is OK with the President’s cavalier approach to his duties as leader of the free world. That’s troubling, but not unexpected given Rubio’s wishy-washy track record. He always talks better than he delivers, except this time he didn’t even talk.

Let’s review, shall we?

An impeachment investigation is underway. The President confirmed – CONFIRMED – that he asked Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Biden’s business dealings in that country.

Trump said he was only trying to weed out corruption. He said it had nothing to do with the 2020 presidential campaign. By the way, he also can get you a good deal on the Brooklyn Bridge.

China, if you’re listening …

When asked about all that, Rubio shrugged it off.

“I don’t know if that’s a real request or him just needling the press knowing that you guys are going to get outraged by it,” Rubio said Friday in the Florida Keys. “He’s pretty good at getting everybody fired up and he’s been doing that for a while and the media responded right on task.”

He is right about one thing. People are pretty fired up about that because, let’s say it again, words matter.

Rubio could have responded like Utah Sen. Mitt Romney.

“By all appearances, the President’s brazen and unprecedented appeal to China and to Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden is wrong and appalling,” he tweeted.

Romney understood he would receive Trump’s blustering wrath, but he also knew that doesn’t matter. Trump, incredibly, even suggested Romney should be impeached because nothing matters more than loyalty to him. Romney, though, seems to believe the oath he swore to protect the U.S. Constitution trumps even the President. This is a time for leaders and Romney passed the test. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine told the Bangor Daily News that Trump’s outreach to China was “completely inappropriate.”

Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, another Republican, told the Omaha World-Herald, “Hold up: Americans don’t look to Chinese commies for the truth. If the Biden kid broke laws by selling his name to Beijing, that’s a matter for American courts, not communist tyrants running torture camps.”

But Marco?

Nothing to see here.