Rubio in Rand's Stomping Grounds Promoting an Aggressive Foreign Policy

[supermario21]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/marco-rubio-rand-paul-foreign-policy-89303.html

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio swung by Rand Paul’s home state here on Monday where he effectively made one thing clear: He’s no Rand Paul — particularly on foreign policy.

In a soaring speech on the University of Louisville campus, Rubio made the case for American military might around the world, vowing that the U.S cannot “retreat” from international conflicts, must encourage democracy and continue spending money overseas aimed at bolstering the country’s image. He didn’t mention Paul by name, other than when he corrected a questioner who thought a speech he delivered recently called for the elimination of the Department of Education.

“I actually think that was your other senator’s speech,” Rubio said as he flashed a grin, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sitting stoically behind him.

But Rubio’s remarks come just as Paul has been trying to clamp down on federal dollars spent on foreign aid and as the Kentucky freshman has been pushing for a “less aggressive” American role in the world — as the two prospective 2016 rivals continue to lay out competing visions of the GOP’s future.

“We can’t solve every humanitarian crisis on the planet, we can’t be involved in every dispute, every civil war and every conflict,” Rubio told a concert hall filled with young adults and middle-aged Kentucky voters. “But we also cannot retreat from the world. It’s not that America will continue to function as the world’s police officer. The problem is that like anything in the world: If you pull back from it, a vacuum will be created.”

Rubio added: “The alternative to U.S. [engagement] on the global stage is chaos.”

And as Paul — a fellow tea party favorite who, like Rubio, was elected in 2010 — has called for dramatic reductions in foreign aid at a time of huge deficits, Rubio pointed to post-World War II reconstruction efforts in Europe and U.S. taxpayer dollars spent to help eradicate AIDS in Africa as positive examples that bolster the U.S. image around the world.

“Every single time that nations have retreated from the world, every single time this nation has retreated from the world, we have paid for it in the long run,” Rubio said. “We have paid for it dearly.”

Rubio’s appearance here in the Bluegrass State came as part of a lecture series put on by this university’s McConnell Center, named after this college’s powerful alum in the Senate who has served for nearly three decades. Rubio is also joining McConnell at high-dollar private fundraisers Monday evening here in Louisville to help the GOP leader’s reelection bid next year.

Rubio’s remarks — just under an hour, which he delivered from just one crumpled-up page of notes — came across as a sweeping stump speech, touching on virtually every topic in Washington, including typical GOP dogma over limited government, lower taxes and business-friendly regulations. He stayed away from attacking Democrats here at this progressive campus, instead referring to the White House vaguely as “some people in Washington” when he criticized their calls to raise taxes on the rich.

As he’s negotiating with a bipartisan group of senators on an immigration overhaul, Rubio made the case for more foreign workers into the United States - and he made clear that he was only in the ninth grade when the country enacted immigration policies in the mid-1980s that critics say led to an influx of illegal immigrants.

As Republicans have been losing support from middle-class voters, Rubio made an aggressive appeal to that bloc, both in personal and policy terms. Rubio spent considerable time talking about his upbringing, the son of Cuban immigrants and working-class parents. He said every poor child should have the opportunity to attend “any” college of their parents’ choice, and he condemned those who “stigmatize” people with working-class jobs, like plumbers or carpenters.

Seeking to sympathize with this university crowd, Rubio said the “student loan crisis” is the “next big bubble” bound to burst, and he pointed to his own $100,000-plus in student loans from college and law school. Rubio said he has now been able to pay off that debt from sales of his 2012 book, “An American Son.”

“Now available in paperback,” he joked.

Rubio made no mention of a possible White House run, but McConnell joked that Rubio’s career was so promising that he may soon consider buying a vacation home in Iowa.

 

[J_White]

well, at least Rand is getting a lot of coverage, as a major GOP candidate, which Ron Paul never was.
its not going to be easy to defeat the establishment, but things seem to be going well.

 

[anaconda]

Rubio is obviously now owned by the military-industrial complex. His mother must be very proud of him.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Tired neo-conservative rhetoric. Rubio is the new John McCain. He must be a maverick.

 

[itshappening]

Aaah yes, the alternative is chaos... Right, what do we see in Iraq and Afghanistan then after being there for over 10 years? car bombs, sectarian violence, corruption... This is Rubio's fairy tale foreign policy and shows you he has learned absolutely nothing.

 

[TheTexan]

I like Rand's domestic policies, but he's weak on defense. Rubio is just as conservative but terrorists won't win if we nominate him

 

[itshappening]

Tired neo-conservative rhetoric. Rubio is the new John McCain. He must be a maverick.

But it works Brian, that's the sad thing after 12 years of war and failure. Romney got through the nominating process saying the same crap and finished on top so maybe that's what Rubio's consultants are looking at. I think it it will seem even more dated and stupid in 2016 but who knows.

 

[anaconda]

I like Rand's domestic policies, but he's weak on defense. Rubio is just as conservative but terrorists won't win if we nominate him

Rubio!

 

[anaconda]

RUBIO 2016 (READ MY LIPS: NO NEW IDEAS!)

 

[anaconda]

Rubio is just as conservative but terrorists won't win if we nominate him

I'm hoping the "tipping point" concept applies to Rand's message.

 

[XTreat]

Rubio added: “The alternative to U.S. [engagement] on the global stage is chaos.”

The very essence of Imperial Hubris.

 

[Sola_Fide]

The very essence of Imperial Hubris.

The only effective argument against that is to argue that we create chaos with our intervention. I hope Rand argues this way against that. If not, they could conceivably win the argument by saying things like that.

 

[kathy88]

The only effective argument against that is to argue that we create chaos with our intervention. I hope Rand argues this way against that. If not, they could conceivably win the argument by saying things like that.

That's a great point. Rand really could shape that argument to our benefit.

 

[Brett85]

I don't see how Rubio could ever win a general election with that kind of foreign policy platform.

 

[Christian Liberty]

Rubio "We don't need to be involved in every conflict..."
I guess he's better than the GOP mainstream...

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Rubio "We don't need to be involved in every conflict..."
I guess he's better than the GOP mainstream...

They don't want to be involved militarily in every conflict. Just pick a few and go all out for a decade+ and that keeps the wolves fed over at the MIC.

 

[Sola_Fide]

Rubio "We don't need to be involved in every conflict..."
I guess he's better than the GOP mainstream...

No, that's just what they say before they start a few new wars. All of them in the past 20 years have said that.

 

[Feeding the Abscess]

Rubio making the minarchist argument against global anarchy.