New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (R) convention keynote address on Tuesday generated criticism because it forgot to do something important: talk about Mitt Romney. It seemed as if Christie was already eyeing 2016, and wanted to use the opportunity to celebrate himself.
Last night, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who received a very high-profile convention slot -- he was penultimate speaker, appearing just before Romney -- did largely the same thing.
Rubio's speech was 1,733 words, only a handful of which were "Romney." What did the senator have to say about his party's presidential nominee? From the speech:
"He's a devoted husband, father and grandfather. A generous member of his community and church. Everywhere he's been, he's volunteered his time and talent to make things better for those around him."
That's it; that was the entirely of Rubio's praise of his party's presidential nominee -- at the national convention in which he was introducing Romney.
I can kinda sorta understand why Republicans are so enthralled with Rubio, to the extent that he's a handsome Latino from a swing state, a relatively good speaker, and extremely right-wing, but I can't help but notice that he doesn't seem to like Mitt Romney very much. The day after Rubio endorsed Romney, the senator said, "There are a lot of other people out there that some of us wish had run for president, but they didn't." In June, Rubio defended Romney's health care mandate in Massachusetts by saying Romney's constituents could flee to some other state, which to Rubio, somehow made the policy acceptable.
And last night, Rubio used his time in the spotlight to advance himself, not his would-be president. Given the larger suspicion that the Republican Party only tolerates Romney, and is primarily motivated by its hatred of the president, Rubio's speech helped capture a larger problem.
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here's a novel concept for the left... What one says is less important than what one does. Not the other way around.
For example, actually getting bin laden, rather than just talking about it.
Of course, in your case, I can't imagine anything being less important than what you have to say.
And what Rubio DID was embarrass the crap out of romney , and the republican convention , you finally made great point shiiter
I knew that at least one of the trolls would be trying to make excuses for Rubio.
Shooter, here's a novel concept for you:
1) When the very party that got US to the edge of the ledge is not only willing to acknowledge their part in this and accept responsibility for their actions, then we can talk.
2) When that same very obstructionist party has done nothing to either compromise with the other side even on issues that they once supported (and still want to revert to those same miserably failed policies) - and yet want to blame the President for the fact that his policies that never even received consideration and still call them failed policies - that's willful blindness and ignorance of FACTS.
and
3) When every speech given at the RNC had barely a passing whisper regarding the candidate that that party is putting forth not just as a representative, but as someone that can LEAD this nation - Houston WE REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM!
The fact that you and those on the right refuse to see it, and call it by name, and own your part in this fiasco - well that's just insanity!
Just the usual Baggerbabble from The Blank.
Blankman, it took US longer than 2 years to get US into this nonsense! I will agree that Robert Rubin helped, but I also know that where there is NO vision - the people will perish! And that's exactly what's been happening! Democrats did have 2 years and Nancy Pelosi passed over 200 pieces of legislation, however, the obstructionists in the Senate required 60 votes, no simple 51 vote majority would do - again stop acting as though Democrats were not being obstructed! Government is exactly what is needed right now - where else can spending start but at the government level - that stimulus that everyone is lambasting while it was too small - every GOTP Congress-critter wrote to ask for funds for their district to help "save or create jobs"! So don't pretend that they didn't - it is only the government that can actually borrow the money to invest in the economy, which flows into the states, which allows for projects (infrastructure) to start happening, which employs people on local levels, people who pay taxes and buy things which puts money back into the economy, which meas more tax money flowing thru the system! It is government investment in R&D that created the internet, just imagine what more might be created with more investment!
We are at a cross roads, and there are serious choices to be made going forward, there also must be a forward vision behind those plans! We cannot and must not go back to the redistribution of American wealth into the hands of the Plutocracy - because that and their avarice for more is what led US to the edge! WE cannot go back to having the wealthy pay less taxes than firemen/policemen/secretaries - all must pay their share, and yes the tax code needs to be severely changed to close the loopholes on the top 5% and the larger corporations!
Stop being willfully blind! Banks are sitting on billions and they are NOT lending, people don't have that "disposable" income, and are NOT spending recklessly, and yes there are still way too many people out of work - WE cannot go backward to a nostalgia that ignores the issues that WE face, and allows people like Mitt to off-shore jobs and money and pay less than the rest of US because of his own avarice! Your defense of the wealthy and their "right" to extort and keep our money is both short sighted, and unpatriotic.
Actually, there's this thing called "speech act", so saying is often in part doing or asking for something to be done. That way, Ryan wasn't just speaking, but also lying, and Rubio wasn't just speaking, he was messaging. They both were inviting certain actions.
By saying that what one does is always more important than what one says, you're underestimating the power of words. Especially because what these guys "are GOING TO do" isn't clear yet, as the future tense implies.
Actually it is quite clear. They will go back to the recklessness of deregulation, lowered taxes for the rich, and another war to help their 5% friends engorge on the peoples money! Oh, and did I mention that there will be another bail-out! All while slashing what is left of the social safety net!
Zora, anything having to do with the budget is a simple majority in the Senate. You can't hide behind filibusters there.
As for spending, Govt has already blown a trillion plus for the last four years and it isn't enough. The citizenry hoards their money in bad times, only when the people feel confident in the future will spending increase.
Banks aren't lending because people don't want to borrow, and most don't qualify. Let me point out that new jobs need the creation of new economic wealth (goods and services), and only business can do that. Business is the economy, the economy is business. Bash business all you want but realize that you are bashing the drivers of the economy as well. Does that really make sense?
Dam it you democrats , shooter wants to know why you can not fix everything his party messed up in a 2 year time line ? He has every right to demand satisfaction , right? I mean , it would be ridiculous to ask the gop to pitch in
All that adds up to yet another gop cop out , what a shocker
Quite a few people, from men-on-the-street to rising GOP stars, have been trotted out to sing Romney's praises.
To me, they are beginning to sound less like the throngs cheering a coronation, and more like a eulogy.
It will be interesting to see how the msm manage to ignore , and make excuses for, such a blaring confirmation of throwing your own guy under the bus
Why do I get a feeling Rubio knows , romney will not win Fl. , or the over all election?
Romney, Rubio, Christie and all the rest of the GOP spout off about giving the people their rights. Yet they the GOP are trying to take away the rights of the people. Got news for you GOP you cannot legislate morality, you cannot force people to believe what you believe. You have lied so much you now believe your own lies. I am sick of it all you people want to live in a society where we all believe in your relegion, believe in your right wing political views and you refuse to sit down and discuss reaching an agreement to help our nation. You are all a bunch of losers.
You forget the fine examples of Putin's Russia and the Il's North Korea, where the wealth is concentrated by a few at the top, and millions of people at the bottom suffer at the bottom, complaining amongst themselves but never really doing anything to challenge the dictates of their leadership.
What will we challenge if Mitt gets elected...
It is very important to remember that all of their speeches were fully vetted by the Romney campaign!
They knew exactly what Rubio and Christie were going to say and still let it pass.
That says something about their approach to things.
It seems they are regarding Romney as their sacrificial lamb and using the occasion to introduce the contenders for 2016. Christie&Rubio, anyone?
Watching this week was (not only boring), but bewildering at their audacity of lies and distraction.
I told friends, the heads of the Republican Party, were simply previewing the 2016 Christie / Rubio Campaign. (They WILL be tough to beat). They were both very moving speakers. One a bully, that one wants in your corner in a fight and the other a smart young man, that seems to make one think he really could be your friend.
Otherwise, what would make Rubio stand for this guy? They said NO to his "dream act" and President Obama said YES. and made it so by Executive Order.
Mr. Benen,
I think you need to chronicle Ryan's mendacity as well as Romney's. If you combine Ryan and Romney's mendacity you could have a book. WOW
We can't let these two get away with all these lies.
Keep up the great work!
AP
Did no one in the media catch this. When I hear Rubio's speech, this so stuck out like a sore thumb that I had to roll it back and listen to it again two times.
From the online transcript of his speech, he was to say:
"The story of our time will be written by Americans who haven't yet been born.
Let's make sure they write that we did our part. That in the early years of this new century, we lived in an uncertain time. But we did not allow fear to cause us to abandon what made us special.
We chose more freedom instead of more government.
We chose the principles of our founding to solve the challenges of our time.
We chose a special man to lead us in a special time.
We chose Mitt Romney to lead our nation.
What he ACTUALLY said was "We chose MORE GOVERNMENT instead of FREEDOM.
Check out the tape.
Mixing up "more government" and "freedom" is a MAJOR blunder for a Republican.
Great catch , and it sums up the gop very well
I am so glad someone else caught Marco Rubio saying what he and his party really believe!
It was more than just Rubio who "threw Mitt under the bus". They are all running for President, for Pete's sake, and only have four years to do it!
Hit it on the nose, Day.
Caller on NPR on DR show said Rubio's parents fled Communist Cuba, not Fascist Cuba which would have been factual. Yet non-shockingly no one bothered to correct the douche.
It is sad to see how low one will go to defame the President to for their personal gain. Ryan touts he is Catholic maybe in name only. I once had a supervisor tell me, "A lie is not a lie it is a perception that can be explained away." I lost all respect for the person. Thanks for your show to help enlighten us to seek out the truth
Yeah, America is exceptional. It is the only first world nation that does not guarantee health care for all of its citizens. It is exceptional among western nation in the number of idiots who believe the earth was created 6,000 years ago, or that man did not evolve from a common ancestor with apes, indeed ultimately from a common ancestor of all life. The US is exceptional in the number of people we have in our prisons. We are exceptional among western nations in still allowing capital punishment.
In almost every way that the US is exceptional, I wish we weren't.
Everyone expects Christie and Rubio to make a run in 2016. While they are the obvious contenders, there are the Jeb Bush people who are already laying the groundwork. We can safely assume that if Romney loses, the hard right will say he was not conservative enough. That would put Ryan in the lead for 2016 as the hard right candidate. If Romney loses, then Bush becomes the obvious unity candidate. Christie and Rubio are second tier because neither is ready for prime time or qualified to be president. Also, Christie will come up for reelection and if he opts not to run, it will be for the same reasons why Romney did not run for a second term in Massachusetts--voter polls show strong opposition to a second term.
What on earth could Christie bring to the Oval Office, besides a free pass from conservative voters for being a Republican. OMG, put a victorian suit and a pocket watch on the man and we could actually live Orwell's 1984. The man is uncouth, insubstantial, and a walking tribute for spoiled obese Americans. Wait, I guess that's everything the GOP looks up to.
Christie will have to reform his image regardless of his intentions to run. He is a loud obnoxious jerk and that does not win votes. I suspect he will run for the Senate as his next stepping stone and wait to see how 2016 shapes up for Republican contenders. But like Ryan, if he loses the next election then his future is bleak.
He will do just as well as rudolf gulianni did
I served in THE US ARMY with the 82nd AIR BORNE DIV. And also with the 101st in Viet Nam. Our MOTO, Was GUTS AND COURAGE AND A WILL TO WIN. DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR. I was so suprise to hear THE NAVY SEALS HAS A WEAK LINK IN THEIR CHAIN. I am sure trhe Seals will restore thier.
I had most of Clint Eastwood movies, I was a collector. After his speech I last night I thew all of them in the trash.
Just think of a GOP admin. all the lies... Could we ever trust what they say... would they ever tell the truth... it will be GB all over again!
Keep up the good work Rachel- love your show.