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Florida senator talks budget crisis and foreign policy, steers clear of vice presidential rumors
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And hello again from fox and is in Washington.
President Obama officially launched his reelection bid this weekend.
-- Mitt Romney the presumptive Republican nominee.
We want to discuss the economy in -- foreign policy issues with a man -- many Republicans wanna see as Romney is running back.
Florida senator Marco Rubio he joins us now from Miami and senator welcome back to FOX News Sunday.
Good morning.
President Obama kicked off his campaign this weekend saying that voter -- face a choice between his agenda of reform.
And the old Republican agenda take a look.
This time they want even bigger tax cuts.
For the wealthiest Americans.
At times they want even deeper cuts.
Things like education.
That Medicare.
And now after a long and spirited primary.
Republicans in congress have found a nominee.
For president -- promise -- rubber stamp this agenda if he gets the chance.
-- in fact Romney -- endorsed the house budget which does call for more tax cuts for the wealthy.
And more spending cuts for programs for the poor and middle class.
Well this president doesn't have a budget neither does -- congress.
Neither does the senate for example have operatives the budget but look this campaign is very simple it's not out.
Difficult -- understand this president asked us to hire him for years ago on the promise that he knew how to fix this economy.
And that he would be different that he would unite this country.
That's the standard we should judge him by the standard that he set the economy's worse off.
The debt is five trillion dollars higher and he's become increasingly -- this and in fact this president's rhetoric today.
Quite frankly it's just like anybody else in Washington.
All the things that made him different and special for years ago are gone.
And now all he does is run dividing Americans against each other obviously because he can't run on his record.
But he says that he inherited a -- I know what's become an old phrase that that he inherited a -- his programs are working yes more slowly -- thought they would.
And the Republican agenda is the one that would take us back to the -- -- of course that's what he's saying but the facts -- something very different he didn't inherit a very different difficult economic climate.
And he knew that when he was elected but one of the reasons why he won is because he told the American people he knew how to fix it he's run up a five trillion dollar debt.
And you have some more people since then then since 1981.
That are either underemployed.
Unemployed are stopped looking for work you just saw the jobs report on Friday they are abysmal things have not gotten better and let's not forget.
After the first two years of his presidency his party controlled both chambers of congress he could have had anything he wanted.
He got those things the health care bill for example and the stimulus.
And things keep getting worse under his watch he's accountable for that and so obviously he doesn't want to run on that record so he wants this campaign to do about anything but.
His record of of the year on the economy.
The Romney camp responded to the president's speech yesterday with a new video.
I attacking the president's record on the economy let's take a first look at the.
Job creation -- -- for the third straight it's not just about how we're doing today.
But how will be doing tomorrow.
Romney says that that job growth should be 500000.
Jobs a month not -- 1151000.
Wasn't last month.
And that the unemployment rate should be 4% not the eight point 1% was last month but.
But it -- a couple of statistics senator the fact is that this country has achieved 500000.
Job a month job growth.
Only two months in the last twenty years.
And in fact as governor of Massachusetts.
Romney never had 4% on -- One.
Well first of all we want a president with high expectations.
We want a president that understands that the way things are now are not acceptable on that we have to make them better.
Second I think the steeper your fall has been in essence the steeper they -- their recession is the faster and that the sharper the recovery should be.
And I think that's what governor Romney is talking about and rightfully so look I have faith there's nothing wrong with the American people.
And the American people -- the backbone of this economy they haven't run out of good ideas they haven't run out of ideas for businesses they wanna open American people haven't forgotten how to create jobs.
But they do need a government whose policies make it easier for them to do these things.
Not harder.
And if you look at the president's record over the last three and a half years.
It is a record of policies that make it harder for Americans to start a business or grow an existing business and thereby create -- jobs and so I'm glad that we have a nominee who has high expectations.
For the American economy because the American people have high expectations for the American accomplish.
-- when you say that that that the president's policies have made it harder to start a new business or hire people.
Give me two examples where you think underneath the Obama flat policies that would make it harder and the Romney policy would make it easier.
Well first of all -- the president's run up a five trillion dollar debt which creates tremendous worry about the feature people look at that and say okay this is a country that's running up massive debts.
They're destined for -- of tax increases to Begin to pay it off.
That scares people from investing in the American economy and without investment money how are you gonna open a business or -- an existing one the second thing is uncertainty about the tax code.
You have a president that constantly goes around the country using the tax code as a weapon for class warfare dividing Americans against each other.
Constantly looking for he thinks the solution to every problem the nation faces as some sort of tax increase on somebody.
That there is a regulatory environment just the health care law alone.
Is an -- stream of regulations.
That scare people so you're small business person.
You're afraid to hire employees because you have no idea how much it's going to cost you.
To comply with the health care law those -- just restart examples that I didn't make them up.
But I'm hearing from real people here in Florida.
That are afraid about hiring afraid of hiring people or starting a new business because of things directly attributable to this president and his administration.
Senator let's turn to the other big story this week and that is that the case of the Chinese dissident Chen.
Who the government -- now says count apply for a travel -- -- to go to the United States to study.
Before us secretary of state Clinton worked out this apparent deal with the Beijing government.
Mitt Romney way again and here's what he had to say about the -- case and what at that point seemed to be the fact that he would had been turned over to the Chinese.
Without -- protections.
This is a dark day for freedom.
And -- a day -- shame for the Obama administration.
Question did governor Romney overreact in the middle of the diplomatic crisis.
No I don't think so first evolved in this crisis is a reminder of what we're dealing -- China and we hope that there are reformers and that government that are pushing for a more open system.
But what we know for a fact we're -- -- our people that are paranoid.
And our control freak -- and to talk and a totalitarian system I mean they control everything from the words you can search and the Internet.
To who gets to visit this gentleman when he was in jail.
And I'm sorry and and the hospital and so that these are the things that that we're dealing with this is a reminder of that secondly there's this propensity that this administration seems to have.
-- an unwillingness to forcefully assert America's -- We've seen that and a number of occasions tragically we saw that in 2009 during the Green revolution.
In Iran and we see that again here now and China were somehow this administration looked almost reluctant.
To forcefully assert the United States defense of human rights.
And and and the no principles.
Human rights of respect for human rights democracy freedom etc.
so I think that is troubling I'm not sure why this administration has this propensity to feel.
Reluctance -- wrongfully assert America's principles we should be proud of those values and principles that made the world a better place.
The Obama administration also this week has played -- and understandably the president's decision to launch the raid to kill Osama bin Laden.
And Vice President Biden suggests that Mitt Romney might not have made the same call.
Thanks to our President Obama.
And mine is dead in General Motors -- lives.
You have to ask yourself.
The governor Romney and presents.
Could use had to use the same slogan.
Can reverse.
Two questions first of all is that fair game in politics and secondly.
Senator what do you think of Joseph Biden especially when it comes to foreign policy.
Well I think Joseph Biden's record on foreign policy is one of being wrong on virtually everything he's ever advisor than he's ever asked more from dividing Iraq to admittedly telling the president.
Not to go in and do this operation that being said I have to think he's a very nice person that Vice President Biden has a tendency to say some.
Insisting things to say the least now let me focus on this issue of bin Laden for a moment that was a very proud day for all Americans are armed forces did a phenomenal job.
And the president made an important and wise decision and he has gotten his due credit and rightfully so for making that decision but now he's taken it further.
He has taken something that should unite the American people.
A moment of pride for our country and instead turned it into a weapon for political warfare.
And I think that's wrong I really do I think it's wrong for the president for the vice president.
To take this issue and use it for politics and and it goes back to the point I tried to make earlier.
When this president ran for office in 2008 he said he was going to be different he was going to be a post partisan uniter the bring Americans together.
And three and a half years later the president quite frankly.
Has become just like anybody else in Washington DC.
And this obsessive -- in its obsessive effort to get his written wins reelection he has lost himself and he has lost what makes him different.
And this issue of how -- use the bin Laden -- is one example about how his administration.
Has become just like everybody else.
You are a member of both the senate foreign relations in the Senate Intelligence Committees like wanna do a lightning round and I emphasize quick questions and quick answers and a number of foreign -- hotspots -- -- -- -- you said that we should.
Pursue a dual track on the want to hand imposing tougher sanctions and keeping open the possibility of negotiations.
While on the other hand also preparing for a possible military strike is not exactly what President Obama is doing.
Why I think that the tactics there are one thing the the attitude towards the tactics are another for example I am concerned.
That the president and his administration has put too much faith and negotiation route in particular if success in these negotiations.
Are deemed a willingness to continue to negotiate I mean it's not an indefinite period of time but I think generally the track that I've outlined as one that people build the consensus around.
And when I raise that point on Iran by the way I didn't raise -- as a criticism of the administration.
I -- that is an observation of the right way to handle it but I do think that we need to do a better job.
Are beginning to prepare our allies in the world for the reality that at the end of the day of negotiations.
And sanctions don't work.
There will be a need for military action because what we cannot tolerate I think the whole world would agree what we cannot tolerate as a nuclear Iran.
You say we should continue foreign aid as you put it as -- cost effective way.
To advance our values and our interest Romney is on the record as saying we should cut foreign -- by a hundred million dollars is he wrong.
Well I think first of all he's always looking for efficiencies in the budget and rightfully -- -- we are that it's never a good time to spend more money than we have and it's never a good time to waste money on the other hand I do think we have made improvements to the millennium challenge grants and other methodologies.
To ensure that the money is getting to those recipients.
So I would make the forceful case the governor Romney that foreign -- actually gives us leverage and allows us to spread.
Our vision throughout the world.
I think you made an observation from a budgetary perspective.
But at the end of the day I don't I think that we can make a very compelling argument that there are places around the world -- without foreign -- The US would not have the kind of leverage or influence that we want to have in those regions that are so important to our national security Richard.
-- now a respected foreign policy spokesman who was openly gay resigned from the Romney camp this week.
After he was not allowed to talk to reporters because of opposition from social conservatives.
What does that say about tolerance.
Colorado first thought if I make that are just about tolerance -- -- the Romney campaign and in the Republican Party.
Well first of all mr.
-- who -- don't know nor the circumstances of his hiring but my understanding is that he has left the campaign.
On his own volition and it was his decision to leave the campaign that's -- it but in fairness yeah it does is after he gets -- -- a conference call -- -- by the campaign.
We don't want you to talk because there was so much concern from social conservatives.
About the fact that they'd hired a guy and and and we should point out we're now had been the spokesman for the US mission the United States ambassador to United Nations for years.
Well I don't know mr.
-- I don't know the circumstances behind -- hiring and obviously that I think the campaign.
Has responded to that and certainly I'm I'm sure they would respond to you if you asked the monitor what what -- stuff familiar with that but what I can tell you what I have seen in the public statements as -- governor Romney says that they hire people based on their merit and their qualifications.
And their ability to do the job and and down and as I've seen them publicly state that leaving the campaign was a decision he made he was not asked to do that.
And on the on the bigger issues senator and this is one of the points that that -- -- -- made yesterday President Obama made in his speech yesterday he says.
The Republicans and Romney will take this country back when it comes to gay rights when it comes to birth control -- it comes to abortion.
Well once again I mean there's been differences of opinion on the between the parties on these issues for example on the issue of life yes.
And the Republican Party by and large double there's diversity in the Republican Party on the life issue in essence.
There are such a thing as pro choice Republicans they're very few pro life Democrats that are certainly tolerated within the mainstream of the Democratic Party so I think that's important to point out.
Think -- on that issue is actually more tolerance in the Republican Party that being said I'm proud of the fact that the Republican Party is the pro Life Party on the issue of life.
On the yesterday other issues that you've raised.
I don't know anything about a contraception have been I keep hearing about that I do know about a religious liberties debate that we -- in this country.
About whether the federal government should have the power to force it religious institution in this case the Catholic Church to have to pay for something at the church teaches against.
That so that issue was about.
I understand the president turned it into -- contraception issue.
Doesn't ties back to the strategy of his administration he doesn't want to run on his record so instead they are constantly in search of some issue that they can divide the American people -- and that's wrong that's not what he ran -- I remember the speech in 2004.
-- when he when he spoke of John Kerry's nominating convention.
They said it wasn't a red America or blue America that was the United States of America whatever happened about Barack Obama -- -- president we have today is -- typical Washington politician.
That that's prone to hyperbole and divisiveness and and and and false outrage and I think it's very sad very sad to watch.
Senator I want don't move onto a couple of more specific issues you proposed a scaled back version of the DREAM Act which would.
Allow children of illegal immigrants to get visas if they are either attending college or serving in the military and then then what allow them.
To stay in this country while applying for permanent residency.
Isn't that I mean I understand a scaled back it is and that's still a form of amnesty.
No because first of all we don't create any special pathways we use the existing immigration system to deal where they humanitarian issue.
And that is these children who entered this country.
Illegally or have -- he says illegally through no fault of their own these are children they follow their parents the parents put them in this predicament.
Now they've grown up here and there are ingrained into our.
Culture and our society we spend public dollars to educate them.
And they have much to contribute to our future the case of a young girl here in Florida -- the valedictorian of her high school who's been accepted to Dartmouth the study molecular biology.
And -- has a deportation order I think most Americans would say that's crazy to deport someone like that so we use the existing immigration system we give him a non immigrant visa.
Which we do now for people that -- all around to stay here legally and study and work.
At some point in the future if they decide they want to stay here permanently as I suspect most of them well.
They will be able to do so but they'll have to avail themselves of the existing system but it existing -- senate not a special one like the dream -- They're -- given such a good idea and some analysts -- your helping also to throw a lifeline to Mitt Romney that.
He could use to win back Hispanic voters after the very strong anti immigration.
Illegal immigration positions that he took -- he'll say is he studied.
Well it's -- it's impossible -- him or anyone for that matter to take a firm position on a bill that hasn't been filed yet we still we've only discuss this and concept we still don't have a piece of legislation with the details and it.
But but the other thing I would say I think this is really important.
The vast majority overwhelming majority of Hispanics in the United States are here legally and that I don't have an immigration problem nor does their family.
And took it to somehow some folks suggest that there Hispanic community is in favor of illegal immigration and that's wrong as well now.
The fact of the matter is that if you're in Hispanic community you probably know someone or have a family member that's been deeply impacted.
By the illegal immigration problem and so you're sensitive and compassionate to that.
That's why I think it's so important at the Republican Party be clear about the things that we are for not for governor Romney's been doing.
He is for a legal immigration system that works.
And we have a legal immigration system that works the illegal immigration problem becomes easier to deal with and becomes much less complicated.
Senator we got at less than five minutes left and wanna go through a bunch of this is what the -- -- like it or not and you knew I was gonna get to this you are widely considered.
Perhaps these front runner to be Mitt Romney's running mate.
In the fall election so let's deal without your 41.
You say that -- look 35.
Honestly do you think that you have the experience.
The experience to be a heartbeat away.
For the presidency.
-- Chris so that's that I'm not going to discuss the vice presidency I'm not gonna Adams governor Romney has a process in place I'm going to respect that.
I'm more than happy to tell you why I'm qualified to serve in the United States senate however.
And then people can take from that what they want obviously I have experienced first about local government where I served a year and a half.
Then I served in state government for nine years eight of those nine years and leadership I was the majority whip -- majority leader.
The good speaker designate of the Florida house and I was the speaker of the Florida house for two years -- now served a year and a half or close to a year and a half in the United States senate.
So -- that's my record I mean I certainly am not the most experienced person in Washington DC.
But by the same token I certainly -- had experience in serving in government and particularly in the legislative branch.
And one of the largest states and more complex states in the country in terms.
A public policy and and the good news is that every day that goes by I gain more experience on these things but I would also say this.
There is a point of diminishing return -- Washington experience and what I've learned about Washington is that sometimes if you're there too long you start to believe that certain things are no longer possible.
If you're there too long.
You start to become like the way the president has become that this of cynical.
Given to hyperbole on these issues always looking for the opportunity to pit Americans against each other and some sort of political calculation.
What made President Obama different in 2008 at what he promised to unite Americans and when -- talk above these kind of issues are hadn't done that anymore.
Senator I did you think you've -- a five minute -- that fact that's.
That I want to show you some polling numbers.
His bags make up 46% of New Mexico's population 27%.
And Nevada.
23% in Florida and 21%.
In Colorado when right now.
Obama leads Romney among Hispanic voters 67%.
To 27%.
As just a professional politician.
Can Romney win the presidency.
If Hispanics vote for Obama over him more than two to one.
Well again Chris there is no such thing -- the Hispanic vote I mean it's it's as diverse as the country is I'll give you an example I have a family member of my cousin is the democratic leader of the state senate in Nevada.
And yet we come from the same family same background same shared experience so some of it depends on where you grew up -- and where you live on what the politics of this place of the place you live -- is so.
For Cuban Americans in New Jersey -- Democrats Cuban Americans and Miami.
Our tend to be Republicans I mean there's great diversity which he has -- -- that's that that brings up two points -- one.
You what a great doubt that he can't win the presidency if he loses Hispanics to a -- -- more than two to one wouldn't you.
Well first of every state is different he's not gonna lose Hispanics two to one in Florida in fact I think he has the opportunity to win Hispanics and Florida.
I think he has the opportunity in other parts of the country to make a very compelling case look while there is no such thing as the Hispanic vote.
There are some things that unify the Hispanic community chief among them is an economic -- they want to do better for themselves and they wanna leave their children better off than themselves.
And I think if you look at the Obama record is not a record of upward mobility it is a record of -- a record job losses and record unemployment people dropping out of a job search Hispanics have been disproportionately.
Affected by the Obama's.
Administration's.
You know.
Bad.
Policies with regards to the economy.
On the other hand the American free enterprise system which is what Mitt Romney is campaigning on that's the only economic system in the history of the world.
That allows people to climb out of the circumstances of their birth.
And leave their children better off than themselves that's a very compelling argument to make to all Americans finally actually Americans and Hispanic descent finally senator rubio will you do what ever Mitt Romney now asks.
Whatever Mitt Romney asked to help you have been Barack Obama.
That's an very clever question Chris I wanna be as helpful as -- Camby.
To this that that our nominee who is going to be the next president of the United States.
And the good news is we have a deep bench of folks in the Republican Party governor as a newly elected senators and some folks -- have been around for a while we have a good team of people that can go across this country.
And -- governor Romney's message and that's why I'm comfortable that he's gonna win this election and -- But when you say you -- -- be as helpful as you can very I'm an anti lock.
I understand you're not campaign in Florida and to stand the idea that you know you wanna respect the process and I believe you when you say you don't want to be the choices -- Having said that if Mitt Romney comes to you and says I need you.
To help me beat Barack Obama you have been given your feelings about this country about the your your rebel -- -- patriotism.
You're not gonna -- out of that.
Chris -- I -- you're gonna.
I want more time but -- I'm not gonna talk about the vice presidential.
That process but I can tell you that there are multiple ways that someone can help our nominee and and I look forward to doing.
I hope I did that here today.
Senator rubio we want to thank you so much for joining us today.
And we'll see what -- you end up flying in this campaign thank user.
Thank you.
