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Fla. senator addresses recent comments about Pres. Obama, plans to revitalize the economy and growing rumors about being Romney's running mate
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Right now -- me tonight.
Governor Mitt Romney and President Obama in a dead heat the very tight presidential race could be decided by.
Florida senator Marco Rubio and governor Romney -- speaking at the Latino coalition economic summit.
-- we caught up with senator rubio at the event.
I see is there nice to see and I am very receptive audience people -- very nice and hearing what you had to say.
That's great to be here on and I I as I said and I I think all Americans value our heritage -- nation of opportunity but I don't know of any community that valleys of war.
That Americans of Hispanic descent who are literally a generation removed many most of them from a very different life may not because I am I think America's future of the better than its past.
I believe we're gonna get our problems solve I just think the sooner we solve them the better we're all going to be.
We citizenry sell them on things he said the speeches that and correct -- find this boy is that they don't have the sense you don't see the sense of urgency in Washington.
Them that you would give an idea that day -- think some -- much faster.
Well and that's my point I mean there isn't a sense of urgency now and I think we're going to solve these problems because Americans always get it right in the end.
But the longer we wait to solve on the harder it's going to be a solvent and the less options we're gonna have to supplement not that we do have -- going to be.
More painful so.
The sooner we can start dealing with the -- this is the better the truth is we haven't solved any major issues in this country a long time.
My evening -- -- -- the US senate if they sit here frustrated that I -- and I am I think part of is that lack of urgency I think part of it is that we're now perpetual campaign.
And the -- a perfect example the United States senate every vote on the -- pre determined they know that's gonna fail.
Are -- they're literally just bringing them up to create material for campaign commercials in the fall.
And instead of solving injury dealing directly with some of the major issues that we face as a country.
Other senators saying the same thing as a service -- the -- over the senate.
-- some of the younger ones sort of like you know let's -- things -- -- I'll tell you yesterday a group of us to Democrats to Republicans came together.
And file something called the start up 2.0 act which is basically a connection a collection of ideas that we have gotten from start a business types.
Of what they're looking for and what they would need to see changes in our law and order to create new jobs in the businesses.
It's a collection of ideas everybody agrees on and we put it together -- -- bill we filed yesterday there's no reason why that ancient past so that's the kind of thing that we're trying to do -- -- we.
-- there are some sort of action at least on the things we agree on.
-- -- asked to me earlier you're not just an endless in -- speech talk about the the mother -- her child on the bus route and then just thinking of that the child's gonna have you know have off isn't she wasn't able.
Yeah that's right I mean every single morning all across this country.
Parents single mothers married couples whatever.
Put -- children to school in the hopes that those kids are gonna have a chance to do everything they never had a chance.
To do with a sincere hope that everything that went wrong in their lives we'll go right for their children.
And I and I think whether they're successful or not we'll determine what kind of country we're gonna have in this century.
They haven't particularly receptive audience obviously because -- very good to have you here exit this.
Filipinos together here that particular favorite -- there's understandably so but this is also the chamber of commerce is in the businesspeople.
-- when it comes time for election that Hispanic vote.
That may determine elections -- huge vote right now President Obama is leading that governor Romney -- Hispanic vote.
-- well I don't know why a lot of its historic some of it is people have been registered Democrat for a long time.
That's how they vote some people -- how hope that the president will become once again what he said he was back in 2008 before he became you know -- that was constantly dividing the American people.
Against each other but at the end of the day I think of Americans and Hispanic descent as much as any community in this country.
Definitely want to be able to start -- their own businesses.
Desperately want to be able to be their own boss sir definitely want their kids to be able to go to college graduate and find a job and the truth is that the president and his policies are making it harder for those.
Things to happen and -- get the campaign goes on and more Americans begin to realize that you're gonna begin to see a change especially in this Americans of Hispanic descent.
But why -- Democrats but more able to -- they get their message they're convincing message apparently.
-- -- -- The Republicans numbers actually you look at the poll numbers now.
Between 2008 and now it's up about 6% six points give -- take in polls favor the Democrats more than it was -- -- so what's happened.
Well I think a couple things first of -- wasn't that long ago that George W.
Bush did very well among Hispanic Americans.
And and I think we can get to that point again obviously the president's -- -- very targeted campaign.
To these communities I think the other issue some of it in certain states is the story.
-- people have been Democrats twenty years that's what they are and that's what they vote in their communities so -- the party affiliation comes the bear.
So I don't think this is -- -- election commitment by Republicans I think of the Republican Party we need to be the party of the free enterprise system.
And we've got a very compelling argument to make and that argument is that the free enterprise system.
The American free enterprise system.
Is the only economic system in the world where you're going to be able to leave your children with a chance at a better life -- the one you've had.
We've got to make that argument consistently -- over a prolonged period of time not just one election cycle.
See -- historically -- -- artist and very well with the Cuban Americans in South Florida.
-- Hispanic population out Russell -- a little different look different interest different concerns in the community even.
Population I'm curious -- of the governor Romney saying that this team isn't -- -- becomes self deportation with many what many Hispanics in the west by the next day they're not wild about that.
Well I think with the governor was responding to was this idea that somehow we could round up from the port nine million people think his answer -- that's not a realistic.
Approach I think the -- been very clear -- a supporter of illegal immigration system that works and I touched upon that in their today.
If we had a legal immigration system that works and -- we had a workable guest worker program that didn't threaten American jobs.
A lot of the illegal immigration problem would begin to diminish rapidly.
Thought I think that's what the Republican Party and we're governor Romney is about and that is supporting it reforms and modernization for illegal immigration system.
That would only make it easier for us to enforce the law but quite frankly -- make it easier for people to be here legally.
Maybe -- -- person asked this but that President Obama about three years ago gave a speech about immigration.
American university and it was a little landmark speech on immigration and when you listen to speak at the timing heads the house -- of the senate.
Both Democrats and and now things have changed but.
Why wasn't he able to do something about immigration policy then he had he had.
Three Missouri Aaron policies he thinks he want to do is it simply he just isn't that will even within his -- Party flooding that's true that's the first thing but the second thing I would say about it is that.
I think there are some of the Democratic Party not all I think there are some people in the Democratic Party I think the immigration -- more valuable to them unsolved.
That it gives them something to talk about that they can go back -- Hispanic communities and make unrealistic promises every two years and -- votes.
And I think for some not all but for some Democrats the issue of immigration is better politically -- -- just -- it the way it is right now because they can use that against.
Republicans passed your prime one of governor Romney -- greatest places to reach out the F Latino community how do you plan to go to the western part of the United States.
And speak to the Hispanic community and and and and how can you reach -- mean how how can you get the vote for governor -- Thought -- I think I'll I wanna be as helpful as I can -- governor Romney's campaign -- I think it's so critical.
That we have a new occupant of the White House -- somebody you take the job and you and six months I don't think that we're going to be able to solve.
The major issues that we face as a country to Barack Obama's reelected so wherever they think I can be helped -- willing to do it.
But that doesn't season how to get the masters because that is session -- vote just like you know they might have him particularly -- Particular demographic may favor another party -- this one demographic that has really solidly in -- increased up one floor for the Democratic Party and he is and since it set significant voting bloc because it can't just be ignored by the -- part of it aggressively -- And I would -- -- -- that I'm not sure that the message of the Republican Party should have.
For Americans and Hispanic descent is any different than -- -- should have for the rest of America and that is that the free enterprise system works.
And he gives people the opportunity to -- about the circumstances of their birth.
Do better for themselves -- these -- children better off than themselves I think that argument is particularly effective.
And Hispanic community because all of us are but a generation removed from those very hope.
I didn't get to resonate in hiding -- get it to connect with the Connecticut and then disappeared and it's supposed governor Romney has gotten into says all those things -- -- -- to get to an accident actually believe him.
What a I think you need to say it and then BBS beginning to explain how the policies work as I tried to do today.
I mean my father was a bartender who worked at hotels.
Why did he have a job working at hotels because we had a big enough economy where people could afford to come down to Miami Beach and stay there for a weekend or for a week.
And so our dreams are directly related to the size of our economy in the policies we -- and because my dad had a job as a bartender I got to go to law school and I'll be here.
I -- -- credit I don't ask the vice president questioned yeah do you remember that I guess I want to ask.
