Sen. Rubio stumping for Senate candidate Josh Mandel in Ohio

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This is a very big issue for Republicans included those who say that that what ever the battles that Republicans are having.

I've been arguing that voters are more interested in solutions than soap operas -- -- media won't tell you that of course from Florida senator.

Marco Rubio it's hitting his considerable political left to getting more Republicans to join him in the senate.

Today barnstorming a -- us.

-- Ohio State treasurer Josh Mandell.

Who many -- compared with the rising young Florida's star in his challenge to incumbent senator Sherrod Brown.

Both gentlemen joining me right now gentlemen welcome good to have you.

Thank you thank you.

Senator room where you can have your pick of a lot of candidates and causes to support right now you put it.

To the Ohio -- rural.

Trials -- a lot in in a mock ups what Sherrod Brown that could change.

But obviously you didn't take -- sure political route.

-- and it was very close.

On you chose this as your debut.

Endorsement start one.

Well first of all Margaret I started -- thirty to forty points behind so he's actually if you -- to me actually in the lead I guess in terms of that but.

It just in terms of this profile first of all he's accomplished I mean this is someone with a wealth of life experience even before.

Getting to the stage in his career he's younger than I -- -- he served I think two tours overseas on behalf of our country and our military.

It's come back here to the state where he -- the legislature now.

Of course he's the treasurer of the state has been very successful in that regard and we need more people like that in the United States senate clearly -- a critically important state in our country.

But moving forward.

I think it's important that we change who's in charge in the United States sent that we need a majority in my opinion a majority of Republicans.

So we can start to tackle some of these issues like saving Medicare and Social Security.

Like making sure that we the United States the most energy rich country in the world.

It's fully utilizing all of our energy resources not just to lower costs but to grow our economy and to create jobs.

We're not gonna do that with a current bunch that the charge right now -- need to make some changes.

And I think he's a great start in that regard.

Treasurer mainly -- to.

-- reference in this race her critics have said they you have been sort of like an absentee treasurer that you missed almost every.

Border deposit meeting -- aboard that you chair.

On and that you've been almost as soon as he got in this post you've been running for his new pulse Wendy's.

We believe we're running one of the most efficient and effective state treasurer offices in America.

I -- US credit rating was unfortunately downgraded for the first time in American history last year.

And fourteen local government funds around the country were downgraded -- in the highest -- we can -- Triple -- rating from Standard and Poor's on the four billion dollar local government investment fund I managed a -- then issued for us the highest rating -- issue.

And a short term general obligation bonds.

Our liquidity portfolio is up one point four billion dollars and we've done all of that while cutting the budget and our office over a million dollars the attitude and the approach we've taken in our office is that a families and small businesses throughout Ohio and America are gonna tighten their belts we're -- to the same thing in state government and frankly heavily when he more people like Marco Rubio in Washington that same approach to of the federal government all right -- -- you -- -- and his readiness ratings or not.

Thought I was doing as far as -- digits of.

So we believe in the treasurer's office here were set an example for the entire country.

We're set an example of how a fiscal office so should be -- in addition to that we put in place so one of the most effective.

And the professional staffs that any treasurer's office has in this in this country.

We also are instituting a heightened sense of discipline.

I'm a Marine Corps veteran did two tours in Iraq and discipline and attention to detail is a very important to me -- -- instituting a higher level of both of those characteristics and our treasurer's office.

Armed you know the attention to detail -- in fact be the case that senator -- on all certainly raised this with the treasurer.

The rap against him is that may be running for this office and this is something happens along the way.

You try not -- offered too many details for example on the recent contraception.

Today.

The treasury said that American citizens of the right.

To purchase birth control if they choose but he also set I think the Catholic Church has the right to follow its doctrines and its teachings.

What do you think of that position senator rubio.

Well that's exactly the argument most people are making -- thought in Washington on our side of the while this is not about contraception I was talking about banning contraception don't want talking about outlawing them.

-- -- -- Catholic Church can't choose to pay -- of the Catholic Church.

Wants to pay for -- this is not even about contraception this is about the constitution of the United States which is one of its fundamental tenants protects religious expression.

And religious liberties the Catholic Church teaches its followers not to use contraception does that mean it has the right to prohibit its followers from using -- of course not.

But does that mean the federal government should have the power to force the Catholic Church to pay for something that the Catholic Church teaches against.

Well that -- federal government has the power to do that than there is no religious liberty protection.

In the constitution and so -- that's what this issue is about at the end of the day.

Today it just happens to be about contraception tomorrow to be about something else but the fundamental principles of religious liberty which in many ways are at the core of the founding of this great republic.

I think those are always relevant issues and they should always be protected.

So senator reveal would you hear -- have been the the response of the controversy generated by Rush Limbaugh's remarks on this very issue.

Justified -- sponsors would want to bolt from them.

An American you don't have to sponsor any radio program the people can make that decision they did -- made it before he made.

Those comments -- I can't overlook however at the end of the day this issue ever forget about radio hosts forget about that the people are saying on the air for a second.

This fundamental issue at the end of the day is not about any of that it is about the constitution's protection of religious liberties that's -- this issue is about.

Obviously the left and the Democrats want to create distractions because they don't wanna admit that what they're trying to do is use the power of the federal government.

To force -- church to pay for something that the church teaches against.

And they don't want to admit that because when it's explained that way to people people get pretty turned off by it.

But you were critical I guess of the language mr.

Limbaugh -- so -- so critical.

Well look what I said I'm not gonna have a common every time somebody says something on the air I mean the bottom line is that you know he has apologized for people -- doubt whether by pulling their ads.

And the Obama administration the others are doing what they're doing those -- words that I use but you've got the end of the day that's -- with this issues about.

And obviously I think most people would say they wouldn't use that terminology.

But that's not what the issues about the issue here is about religious liberties and obviously that's been lost a little bit in the last couple weeks -- -- to remember what's happened here and why it happened.

On the treasury you know you've probably seen -- -- experience and our first and he's rising gas prices and now it is hitting the president is his popularity.

All these other issues notwithstanding.

Do you think that out of the blue that is the issue that could define this election maybe -- your election not done.

-- jobs jobs jobs but it could come down -- something's -- gas gas gas.

Well here in Ohio those gas prices fall under the umbrella -- job from the economy.

Since my opponent -- brown has taken office in the senate a gas prices in Ohio and America.

Have risen approximately 65%.

This is one of the main areas of the French in different differential between -- brown and me.

I believe in a responsible way the -- air we breathe and the water we drink we should be exploring for natural resources.

Here in the United States of America here in the Utica shale in the Marcellus -- right here in the state of Ohio our opponent has sided with the federal government.

A blocking the exploration of natural resources here in the state of Ohio.

Last week he voted against the keystone pipeline and this is gonna become the defining issue in this campaign it's one of those issues that are attracting a lot of Democrats -- -- campaign -- well.

Democrats Republicans and independents understand overwhelmingly that natural resources we have underground America.

Our assets not liabilities and a responsible way to maximize these assets we need to be explored for all -- oil and gas so we -- on top of that they -- to tell you as a Marine Corps veteran did a couple tours in Iraq this is a national security issue -- we should not be source and energy from places like Saudi Arabia and Iran Iran calls for the destruction of our country destruction of our way of life when we have natural resources right here in the heartland in Ohio in Florida.

And throughout the country.

Treasurer of that you you mentioned your service.

And commendable of that to this country and obviously you were aware of the fallout from this.

Marine who shot and killed sixteen Afghans over.

The weekend and and President Karzai of Afghanistan -- so this is unforgivable.

On the -- are heightening the tensions between our two countries.

And some arguing that Karzai himself has fanned the flames what do you think about.

In the in my second tour in Iraq was in a town called Haditha.

You might recall early on and -- Iraq War there was a something that was classified by politicians in the media as the quote unquote.

Haditha massacre where the media and some politicians in Washington publicly prosecuted these Marines wrongly I should say because now.

Most of those Marines have been found not to do anything wrong they were doing their job United States Marines and so.

I think it's important what's not past quick judgment let's allowed united states military to conduct their investigation make a decision and if this army staff sergeant did in fact if something egregiously wrong he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law -- -- but frankly I'm sick and tired of the media.

And politicians in Washington.

The -- be prosecuting our soldiers sailors airmen Marines I believe the men and women carry a weapon overseas Wear -- uniform our country should receive the benefit of the doubt.

-- Still.

Is senator reveals market wrap this up would you -- thoughts on this do you think that President Karzai.

Has made this situation worse body going so far as to call American reaction behavior.

Unforgettable.

Well look again and that I think Josh makes a good point about -- and all facts -- -- -- what we've read in media accounts is very disturbing and I have confidence in American military justice.

And the fact that these issues and in fact -- -- are being reported they're going to be dealt with.

What President Karzai has always been -- difficult -- because the circumstances and or Afghanistan have always been very difficult that is and difficult engagement to be involved and and there are a lot of pitfalls along the way not the least of which is you know -- the Afghan people ever create a functional government for themselves so the United States' engagement can be -- and we hope that that will be the case.

And it's not going to be easy and it's a real challenge but there are real strategic interest there for the United States.

We can't forget those either is and I think that we need to remember now is that there's a greater goal here in mind and we hope to accomplish that.

And ultimately have Afghanistan have its own security forces if functional government one that succeeds after.

-- out of office and a couple years.

Gentlemen thank you both very very much we appreciate it thank thank you love the by the way we did put out -- -- to Sherrod Brown of the incumbent on the senator.

We are trying to arrange an interview we'll have more including Mitt Romney after the.

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Sen. Rubio stumping for Senate candidate Josh Mandel in Ohio

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