Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
At a Spanish-language senatorial debate last week in Florida, The Daily Caller reports, candidates were faced with the following question from an elderly couple on a fixed income:
We have been victims of a fraud that eliminated all our capital, and as a consequence, we’ve been trying to modify our mortgage to be able to continue with our monthly payments…after always fulfilling our obligations, the bank began our foreclosure…what would you do to help people that are in similar situations?…Workers, responsible citizens that are just about to be without a home. Also, we’re veterans.
Marco Rubio, first up to bat on the question, answered:
It sounds like you’re a victim of a crime. First and foremost, we have to insist that our law enforcement agencies crack down on the people that have perpetrated this. You would also try to use pressure, and, if necessary, legislation, to force banks to deal with people like you in the appropriate way. It’s not your fault that you’re in the position that you’re in. You don’t just deserve a modification. It sounds like the position that you’re facing goes much further than that.
Over the past few months, we’ve seen plenty of evidence that speaks to Rubio’s limited-government conservative bona fides. But in this particular response, Rubio seems uncharacteristically reliant on the federal government to bring about social justice. While his expression of empathy is certainly appropriate, the suggestion that the federal government use legislation to coerce banks, or any private business, into extending charity is reminiscent of George W. Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” or even a more sinister strain of statism.
Is Marco Rubio becoming a squish?
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
Everybody's a squish as November approaches. This is the Long Season.
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
I'm not satisfied with his response, but being asked that question by a broken and vulnerable couple puts a politician in an impossible situation. In theory, the federal government doesn't exist to turn private businesses into charities, but the theory only holds if you have a populace that understands that. If everyone's clamoring for government assistance, limited-government solutions won't work.
Jul '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
I hate to say this, but one wonders if his response would have been different with a different audience.
Just as Obama (and Gore and Hillary, for that matter) sometimes dips into black argot before a black audience, it's conceivable that Rubio was playing to an Hispanic audience's propensity to look to government for solutions.
As for his being a squish, well, he did race to the microphone to denounce AZ 1070.
Jul '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
Yes, it did put him in an impossible situation. Which is very often what happens when a Republican allows himself to go into a debate without carefully defining the boundaries. No one would hold that answer against a Democrat - indeed, they would applaud it.
He did handle it better than I would have:
"Oh, you invested stupidly? Tough noogies."
Jul '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
What's the saying? Sob stories make bad law?
I don't think he's a squish, this is Agent Anti-Orange (TM) after all. But, at a bare minimum, he should have emphasized that federal action is probably unnecessary and almost certainly counterproductive.
Jul '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
Ack. This is explains why NR has loved him so.
Whatever happened to Burke's little platoons of society?
How about sell your home and buy a smaller house or rent?
Why would you look to government to solve your problem?
Jul '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
Michael Tee: Ack. This is explains why NR has loved him so.
Whatever happened to Burke's little platoons of society?
How about sell your home and buy a smaller house or rent?
Why would you look to government to solve your problem? · Sep 23 at 5:35pm
That's four times this week, Michael.
People are beginning to talk....
May '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
As Bill Clinton said of Robert Byrd (the former "Exalted Cyclops")
"He was just trying to get elected"
Jul '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
Kenneth
Michael Tee: Ack. This is explains why NR has loved him so.
Whatever happened to Burke's little platoons of society?
How about sell your home and buy a smaller house or rent?
Why would you look to government to solve your problem? · Sep 23 at 5:35pm
That's four times this week, Michael.
People are beginning to talk.... · Sep 23 at 5:37pm
Heck, the tent's only big enough for the two of you if Rubio is personna non grata.
Sep '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
Dang, you've convinced me. I'm moving to Florida and voting for Charlie!!!!!!!
Sep '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
Perhaps he sounded like Chris Christie in the original Spanish.
Sep '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
It is an almost impossible situation, but, vague extensions of sympathy and maybe a non-specific 'that sucks and something should be done about it if a crime has been c omitted" should have been enough. Specificity about government intervention is a little troubling. Still better that Christ or Meeks tho.
May '10
Re: Marco Rubio: "Compassionate Conservative"?
Sounds to me like they claimed to be victims of fraud, and his response was premised on their being crime victims, and that he might think they're claiming that the bank perpetrated the fraud, or that they're in the mortgage as a result of the fraud.
Edited on September 24, 2010 at 4:57pm