Marco Rubio

{{bronze}}
[[File:Marco Rubio, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Rubio's official portrait.]]
{{uspolitics}}
{{Cquote|We should change the names of AR-15s to 'Marco Rubio' because they are so easy to buy.|||Sarah Chadwick, a Parkland shooting survivor, calling out Rubio for his initial defense of the NRA.}}

'''"Little"<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/watch-rubios-hearing-interrupted-with-taunts-of-little-marco/ Rubio’s Hearing Interrupted With Taunts of ‘Little Marco’: The Florida senator faced down an old Trump insult during his confirmation hearing to be secretary of state.] by Joey McFadden (01.15.25 1:50PM EST) ''The Daily Beast''.</ref> Marco Antonio Rubio''' {{lived|28 May 1971}} is the Secretary of State under [[Donald Trump]]'s second administration—the first Latino-American confirmed to the position. He formerly served as a [[Republican]] senior [[US Senate|Senator]] from [[Florida]], a [[lawyer]], and failed 2016 presidential candidate.

==Biography==
The son of [[Cuba]]n immigrants,<ref name="rubiobio">[https://web.archive.org/web/20210913202138/https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography Biography: U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).] rubio.senate.gov. Archived from [https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography the original] on September 13, 2021.</ref>{{efn|Who would have been deported under the same immigration plan Rubio endorsed when he ran for President in 2016.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ab5mIxq2bo Marco Rubio’s Immigration Plan Would Deport His Parents] YouTube</ref>}} Rubio first became interested in politics when he majored in [[political science]] at the University of Florida. Graduating with his B.A. in 1993,<ref>Bennett, George. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140407064531/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/republican-candidate-marco-rubio-casts-us-senate-r/nMBRR/ Republican candidate Marco Rubio casts U.S. Senate race as battle for America.] The Palm Beach Post. October 2, 2010. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.</ref> he began studying law at the University of Miami School of Law, during which time he worked for [[United States House of Representatives |U.S. Representative]] Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.<ref name="rubiobritannica">McNamee, Gregory Lewis. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210417015919/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marco-Rubio Marco Rubio.] Britannica. Archived from [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marco-Rubio the original] on April 17, 2021.</ref> He earned his J.D. and graduated ''cum laude'' in 1996.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210927005439/https://sipa.fiu.edu/people/senior-fellows/profiles/marcorubio.html Marco Rubio.] Florida International University. Archived from [https://sipa.fiu.edu/people/senior-fellows/profiles/marcorubio.html the original] on September 27, 2021.</ref> That same year he worked on Senator [[Bob Dole]]'s [[1996 U.S. presidential election | 1996 Presidential campaign]].<ref>Karl, Jonathan et al. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210508121622/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/exclusive-bob-dole-endorses-marco-rubio-2016-race/story?id=37117597 Exclusive: Bob Dole Endorses Marco Rubio in 2016 Race.] ABC News. February 22, 2016. Archived from [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/exclusive-bob-dole-endorses-marco-rubio-2016-race/story?id=37117597 the original] on May 8, 2021.</ref>

Starting in 2000, Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives, eventually becoming Speaker of the House.<ref name="rubiobio" />

Elected to the United States Senate in 2010,<ref name="rubiobritannica" /> he is (as of 2021) is one of six [[Latino]] Americans serving in the Senate, alongside fellow conservative Cuban-American [[Ted Cruz]], as well as Bob Menendez, Catherine Cortez Masto, Ben Ray Luján, and Alex Padilla.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210914142314/https://www.senate.gov/senators/hispanic-american-senators.htm Hispanic American Senators.] United States Senate. Archived from [https://www.senate.gov/senators/hispanic-american-senators.htm the original] on September 14, 2021.</ref>

In April 2015, Rubio announced that he would run for [[President of the United States]],<ref name="rubiobritannica" /> though he ended up suspending his campaign after [[Donald Trump]] won Rubio's home state of Florida in the [[Primary election | primaries]].<ref name="rubiobritannica" /> During the 2016 campaign, Trump had a particularly fun time bashing Rubio, calling him "little Marco" (in apparent reference to Rubio's relatively small stature of 5'9") and "a little frightened puppy".<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/03/03/donald-trump-marco-rubio-fox-debate/81297752/ Trump to Rubio: 'Don't worry about it, Little Marco']</ref><ref>[https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/270946-trump-bashes-rubio-hes-a-little-frightened-puppy Trump bashes Rubio: He's a 'little frightened puppy'].</ref> Perhaps Trump's "best" internet flame at Rubio was Trump's tweet that "Lightweight choker Marco Rubio looks like a little boy on stage."<ref>https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/insults-donald-trump-hurled-convention-speakers-marco-rubio/story?id=40755266</ref>

After dropping out of the 2016 Presidential campaign and initially stating that he would not seek reelection in the Senate, Rubio changed his mind and was reelected in the 2016 general election.

Rubio seemingly changes religious stances with the wind. He's transferred from [[Catholicism]] to [[Mormonism]], back to Catholicism, then to a [[Southern Baptist Convention]]-affiliated evangelical [[megachurch]], before joining up with Catholicism again.<ref>
[https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/01/marco-rubios-crisis-of-faith-213553 Marco Rubio's Crisis of Faith: Why his complicated, unique religious journey is causing him trouble with voters.]</ref>
While it's unclear what type of confusion could cause a person to completely reject, then be completely convinced, then completely reject again the factual assertion that an [[Joseph Smith| Angel named Moroni led Joseph Smith]] to the [[Book of Mormon| Third Book of the Bible]] in upstate New York in the 1820s, it probably has nothing to do with pandering to the voters.

==Fun fact...==
{{wpl|Len Blavatnik||,}} a [[Soviet Union]]-born dual national of the US and [[UK]], is financially associated with Russian oligarchs, and he donated $1.5 million to political action committees associated with Rubio.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180222203421/https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/12/15/putins-proxies-helped-funnel-millions-gop-campaigns/ How Putin's proxies helped funnel millions into GOP campaigns] by Ruth May (December 15, 2017) ''The Dallas Morning News'' (archived from February 22, 2018).</ref>

==Political views==
===Cannabis===
Rubio is against the legalization of [[cannabis]] and supports criminal penalties for recreational cannabis use.<ref>Wilson, Kirby. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210306001256/https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2020/12/08/what-is-the-future-of-legal-marijuana-in-florida/ What is the future of legal marijuana in Florida?] Tampa Bay Times. December 8, 2020. Archived from [https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2020/12/08/what-is-the-future-of-legal-marijuana-in-florida/ the original] on March 6, 2021.</ref> [[stopped clock| However]], he is open to the legalization of [[medical marijuana]].<ref>Joseph, Chris. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210613025510/https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/marco-rubio-says-hed-crack-down-on-marijuana-if-elected-president-7174851 Marco Rubio Says He'd Crack Down on Marijuana If Elected President.] New Times Broward-Palm Beach. August 11, 2015. Archived from [https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/marco-rubio-says-hed-crack-down-on-marijuana-if-elected-president-7174851 the original] on June 13, 2021.</ref>

In 2014, Rubio was asked if he had ever smoked marijuana, and he refused to answer.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVrpf0D_k9E Did You Smoke Marijuana Marco Rubio?] YouTube</ref>

===Education===
Rubio supports shutting down the Department of Education,<ref name="commoncore">Leary, Alex. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210926151420/https://www.tampabay.com/rubio-may-oppose-common-core-but-has-supported-the-ideas-behind-it/2262380/ Rubio may oppose Common Core but has supported the ideas behind it.] Tampa Bay Times. January 22, 2016. Archived from [https://www.tampabay.com/rubio-may-oppose-common-core-but-has-supported-the-ideas-behind-it/2262380/ the original] on September 26, 2021.</ref> expanding [[charter education|charter schools]],<ref>McLean, Joe. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210401080752/https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/03/29/rubio-touts-school-choice-in-visit-to-jacksonville-charter-school/ Rubio touts school choice in visit to Jacksonville charter school.] News4Jax. March 29, 2021. Archived from [https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/03/29/rubio-touts-school-choice-in-visit-to-jacksonville-charter-school/ the original] on April 1, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210730140651/https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2013/2/senator-rubio-introduces-legislation-to-expand-school-choice Senator Rubio Introduces Legislation To Expand School Choice.] rubio.senate.gov. February 13, 2013. Archived from [https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2013/2/senator-rubio-introduces-legislation-to-expand-school-choice the original] on July 30, 2021.</ref> and teaching [[creationism]] in classrooms.<ref name="flascience">Haught, Brandon. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200814222105/http://www.flascience.org/?p=2290 Florida’s presidential candidate Marco Rubio on the teaching of evolution.] Florida Citizens for Science. April 18, 2015. Archived from [http://www.flascience.org/?p=2290 the original] on August 14, 2020.</ref> However, he also does support the teaching of [[evolution]].<ref name="flascience" />

He is an outspoken opponent of [[Common Core]].<ref name="commoncore" />

===Gun rights===
In 2016, the [[National Rifle Association|NRA]] Political Victory Fund gave Rubio an A+ rating.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210515124155/https://www.nrapvf.org/campaigns/2016/marco-rubio/ NRA-PVF "A+" Rated and Endorsed Marco Rubio.] NRA-PVF. Archived from [https://www.nrapvf.org/campaigns/2016/marco-rubio/ the original] on May 15, 2021.</ref> He is a prominent supporter of the [[Second Amendment]].

====Parkland shooting====
In the wake of the [https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/School_shooting#Marjory_Stoneman_Douglas_High_School_.282018.29 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School] in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018, Rubio stated that he is against a ban on [[Assault rifle|assault rifles]]<ref>Stracqualursi, Veronica. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210226140411/https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/politics/marco-rubio-semiautomatic-rifle-ban/index.html Rubio says banning semiautomatic rifles is ‘well outside’ mainstream.] CNN. February 22, 2018. Archived from [https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/politics/marco-rubio-semiautomatic-rifle-ban/index.html the original] on February 26, 2021.</ref> but wouldn't go so far to suggest arming teachers.<ref>Samuels, Brett. [https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041038/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/374999-rubio-breaks-with-trump-doesnt-support-arming-teachers Rubio breaks with Trump, doesn't support arming teachers.] The Hill. February 21, 2018. Archived from [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/374999-rubio-breaks-with-trump-doesnt-support-arming-teachers the original] on November 9, 2020.</ref> After pressure from the Never Again MSD activists, Rubio announced his support for the ban of bump stocks as well as more stringent background checks.<ref>Timmons, Heather. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180225065003/https://qz.com/1213296/parkland-florida-shooting-four-gun-control-measures-marco-rubio-said-hed-back-at-an-emotional-town-hall-with-students/ Four gun-control measures Florida senator Marco Rubio says he’d back after Parkland.] Quartz. February 22, 2018. Archived from [https://qz.com/1213296/parkland-florida-shooting-four-gun-control-measures-marco-rubio-said-hed-back-at-an-emotional-town-hall-with-students/ the original] on February 25, 2018.</ref>

===Healthcare===
Rubio supports a full repeal of [[Obamacare]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210613174055/https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/1/rubio-votes-to-repeal-obamacare Rubio Votes to Repeal ObamaCare.] ''Press Releases''. rubio.senate.gov. January 12, 2017. Archived from [https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/1/rubio-votes-to-repeal-obamacare the original] on June 13, 2021.</ref> (because of course he does) and replacing it with tax credits and less regulation, saying that tax credits could be used for health insurance.<ref>Rubio, Marco. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210227054842/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/marco-rubio-plan-to-fix-health-care-121453/ My Plan To Fix Health Care.] Politico Magazine. August 17, 2015. Archived from [https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/marco-rubio-plan-to-fix-health-care-121453/ the original] on February 27, 2021.</ref>

Back in 2015, Rubio attempted to create his own equivalent of Obamacare. 42 people signed up for it, and it cost $2.4 million of taxpayer money in order to get off the ground.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9LBAKv4uhY Marco Rubio's 'Rubiocare' Flops Miserably] YouTube</ref>

===Abortion===
Not surprisingly, Rubio is [[anti-abortion]] and opposes [[abortion]] in all cases, including [[rape]] and [[incest]].<ref>Gillin, Joshua. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210829051322/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2016/sep/23/patrick-murphy/rubio-would-not-allow-rape-or-incest-exceptions-ab/ Rubio would take away right to abortions for rape or incest victims, Murphy says.] PolitiFact. September 23, 2016. Archived from [https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2016/sep/23/patrick-murphy/rubio-would-not-allow-rape-or-incest-exceptions-ab/ the original] on August 29, 2021.</ref> He strongly opposes ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', calling it an "egregiously flawed decision."<ref>Peters, Gerhard and John T. Woolley. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210926014033/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-life-definitional-issue Marco Rubio, Press Release - Life Is A Definitional Issue.] ''The American Presidency Project''. UC Santa Barbara. Archived from [https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-life-definitional-issue the original] on September 26, 2021.</ref><ref>Bassett, Laura. [https://web.archive.org/web/20201025061602/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/marco-rubio-abortion_n_7772510 Marco Rubio: Roe v. Wade Was ‘Egregiously Flawed Decision’.] ''Politics''. Huffpost. July 10, 2015. Archived from [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/marco-rubio-abortion_n_7772510 the original] on October 25, 2020.</ref>

===LGBT issues===
Rubio thinks that LGBT issues [[States' rights|should be left up to the states to decide]]. Though he is not overtly homophobic, he thinks that marriage should remain "traditional," between a man and a woman.<ref>Margolin, Emma. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210812125359/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/marco-rubio-challenged-opposition-same-sex-marriage-n514236 Marco Rubio Challenged on Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage.] NBC News. February 8, 2016. Archived from [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/marco-rubio-challenged-opposition-same-sex-marriage-n514236 the original] on August 12, 2021.</ref>

===Foreign policy===
Rubio does not like the current government of [[Venezuela]] and has advocated regime change.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/marco-rubio-us-military-solution-venezuela-1101123 Marco Rubio: U.S. Military Intervention Could Solve Venezuelan Crisis] Newsweek. September 1, 2018</ref> He also doxxed the man behind the 'Salt Bae" meme for cooking for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.<ref>[https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/9/18/17875822/marco-rubio-salt-bae-nicolas-maduro-venezuela-tweets Why is Marco Rubio tweeting about Salt Bae?] Vox. September 20, 2018</ref>

Rubio has said that he does not think the [[Iraq War]] was a mistake,<ref>Hensch, Mark.[https://web.archive.org/web/20201204230349/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/242339-rubio-iraq-invasion-was-not-a-mistake Rubio: Iraq invasion 'was not a mistake'.] The Hill. May 17, 2015. Archived from [https://thehill.com/policy/defense/242339-rubio-iraq-invasion-was-not-a-mistake the original] on December 4, 2020.</ref> though he would not have supported it at the time had he known there were no weapons of mass destruction.<ref>Sherman, Amy. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200918202934/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2015/may/18/marco-rubio/rubios-statements-iraq-have-shifted-not-flipped/ Rubio's statements on Iraq have shifted but not flipped.] PolitiFact. May 18, 2015. Archived from [https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2015/may/18/marco-rubio/rubios-statements-iraq-have-shifted-not-flipped/ the original] on September 18, 2020.</ref> He supports the current [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] intervention in [[Yemen]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210527231551/https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/video-rubio-war-powers-resolution-is-the-wrong-way-to-deal-with-yemen-conflict VIDEO: Rubio: War Powers Resolution is the Wrong Way to Deal with Yemen Conflict.] rubio.senate.gov. December 13, 2018. Archived from [https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/video-rubio-war-powers-resolution-is-the-wrong-way-to-deal-with-yemen-conflict the original] on May 27, 2021.</ref><ref>Rubio, Marco. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210903012853/https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/senator-marco-rubio-hold-saudis-accountable-but-dont-ignore-iran-in-yemen Senator Marco Rubio: Hold Saudis accountable, but don't ignore Iran in Yemen.] Fox News. December 12, 2018. Archived from [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/senator-marco-rubio-hold-saudis-accountable-but-dont-ignore-iran-in-yemen the original] on September 3, 2021.</ref>

Rubio is also vocal in his opposition to basically every country under Communist/socialist party rule, including the [[China|Chinese]] government, especially for their [[Uighur genocide|camps in Xinjiang]] and crackdown of the {{wpl|2019–20 Hong Kong protests||,}} enough to earn himself an individual sanction.<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/c2d78da3-1fcf-4678-b65d-e1d02aa48ae6 China imposes sanctions on US officials in retaliation for Hong Kong measures] Financial Times. August 11, 2020</ref> Given Rubio's [[hypocrisy|own track record]] and defense of [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|Trump's camps]] and [[Black Lives Matter|crackdown of protesters]], one has to question whether this is simply political opportunism and ruthless political careerism.{{efn|It is.}}

===UAPs===
The [[Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force]] (UAPTF) was created at Rubio's request to detect, analyze, and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security.<ref name="Politico230620">[https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/23/senators-ufo-government-reports-336021 Senators want the public to see the government’s UFO reports] by Bryan Bender (June 23, 2020) ''Politico''</ref>

==Sometimes you just need a drink==
[[File:Rubio water.webp|165px|thumb|right|The infamous picture.]]
One of Rubio's most infamous moments came about when he gave the Republican response to President Obama's 2013 State of the Union. During said speech, he randomly stopped to take a drink out of a water bottle.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19ZxJVnM5Gs Marco Rubio Pauses Speech for Water Break] YouTube</ref> This was the most well known example of a habit Rubio has of taking a drink of water during his speeches, which many view as a nervous tic.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/marco-rubio-love-water-216441 Marco Rubio’s ‘water thing’] Politico</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
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