Rubio Speech Drops Hammer on Anti-Israel President

 

If Marco Rubio keeps talking like this, he’ll be the GOP front runner before we know it.

Two days after Benjamin Netanyahu’s big victory in Israel, one day after Obama’s peevish reaction, and on the same day the White House stated that they foresee “terrible days” for Israel ahead, Rubio spoke up. In 15 minutes, Florida’s junior senator vivisects Obama’s Israel policy before dispatching it once and for all into the depths of hell.

Who would have thought the man who nodded approvingly for two decades in a Farrakhan-friendly “church” would be the one to grant Iran nuclear weapons and sever the ties with the only Jewish state on earth?

Published in Foreign Policy
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  1. AIG Inactive
    AIG
    @AIG

    Maybe Marco Rubio can run for President of Israel. Then the GOP can really have that war they really really really want, but which Israel’s own generals aren’t willing to do, or think is a good idea.

    So this is the GOP’s 2016 strategy: “We want another war”?

    Great.

    PS: While we’re at it, let’s recall the massive amounts of aid we give Israel every year, before throwing out accusations of “abandoning” poor old little Israel. Big boys like Israel aren’t supposed to come crying to us to do their fighting for them. They can do it themselves. Go for it Israel!

    • #1
  2. Ricochet Member
    Ricochet
    @GilReich

    I fell in love with Rubio during his victory speech in 2010. Not since Reagan have I heard a man speak so passionately, lovingly and appreciatively about the United States. He sees the US as the solution, not the problem, in the war against tyranny. I know he doesn’t poll well on Ricochet, but he’d be my first choice for president.

    • #2
  3. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    Is Rubio not the best speaker in American politics, period?

    • #3
  4. user_82762 Inactive
    user_82762
    @JamesGawron

    Jon,

    His comments about Obama’s behavior in 2009 with the Green’s is the most damning. Rubio is calm, strong, well reasoned, and fearless. It’s way early but performances like this and his work on Venezuela are very impressive.

    I think this is what we want to see. Republican candidates who wade into Obama’s record and tear him apart for substantive behavior. No time to waste criticizing each other.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #4
  5. AIG Inactive
    AIG
    @AIG

    Leigh:Is Rubio not the best speaker in American politics, period?

    Kind of reminds me of Obama. Tingles down my leg at how good of a speaker he is.

    As for ideas, well, the less I say on that the better.

    So GOP’s plan is to put forth: their own version of Obama?

    Great.

    PS: Notice the track record of the terrible “anti-Israeli” President. Hammer time Mr. Rubio.

    Now I get it. He’s a lawyer. Numbers aren’t his forte. But surely, even he can read this chart.

    US aid to Israel (graphic credit - Reuters)

    • #5
  6. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    AIG:

    Leigh:Is Rubio not the best speaker in American politics, period?

    Kind of reminds me of Obama. Tingles down my leg at how good of a speaker he is.

    As for ideas, well, the less I say on that the better.

    So GOP’s plan is to put forth: their own version of Obama?

    Great.

    Well, I didn’t endorse him for President, but I hardly see how extraordinary skill in public speaking is a disqualification.

    • #6
  7. AIG Inactive
    AIG
    @AIG

    Leigh:

    Well, I didn’t endorse him for President, but I hardly see how extraordinary skill in public speaking is a disqualification.

    The question is, what else has he got besides that? I’ve heard his ideas, and they’re essentially “lets subsidize the middle class some more” arguments. So I’m not impressed by his “ideas”. He’s by far the weakest of the GOP potential candidates on ideas, with 0 track record. So he’s our version of Obama.

    • #7
  8. Nick Stuart Inactive
    Nick Stuart
    @NickStuart

    Doesn’t matter what his ideas are. The 2016 election won’t be about ideas or policies so much as whether the GOP candidate is willing to fight for the office like they really want it. Maybe Rubio is that person, maybe not. We’ll see.

    • #8
  9. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    He’s better without the notes. Anyone else remember when he gave the SOTU response?

    • #9
  10. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    AIG:Maybe Marco Rubio can run for President of Israel. Then the GOP can really have that war they really really really want, but which Israel’s own generals aren’t willing to do, or think is a good idea.

    So this is the GOP’s 2016 strategy: “We want another war”?

    Great.

    PS: While we’re at it, let’s recall the massive amounts of aid we give Israel every year, before throwing out accusations of “abandoning” poor old little Israel. Big boys like Israel aren’t supposed to come crying to us to do their fighting for them. They can do it themselves. Go for it Israel!

    You didn’t appear to address the substance of Sen. Rubio’s speech. Do you support Obama’s handling of Israel, his handling of Iran, or his diplomatic skills in general?

    • #10
  11. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    AIG:

    Leigh:

    Well, I didn’t endorse him for President, but I hardly see how extraordinary skill in public speaking is a disqualification.

    The question is, what else has he got besides that? I’ve heard his ideas, and they’re essentially “lets subsidize the middle class some more” arguments. So I’m not impressed by his “ideas”. He’s by far the weakest of the GOP potential candidates on ideas, with 0 track record. So he’s our version of Obama.

    Here’s one thing he has that is important to me: he appreciates and is passionate about the uniqueness of our liberty, and is prepared to call evil by its name (and not just Iran).  As you’d expect from someone with his personal history.

    I also recall him being ready to stick out his neck on entitlement reform, and it’s awfully early to dismiss someone for not having put out sufficient ideas.

    But a first-term senator would not be my preference, either.  Not if we have better options.

    Nonetheless he’s a really good speaker, and I am glad that he uses that ability on these issues.

    • #11
  12. Ansonia Member
    Ansonia
    @Ansonia

    Here Rubio speaks for me but that doesn’t mean I think he should run for President.

    • #12
  13. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Love. Him.

    • #13
  14. Ricochet Member
    Ricochet
    @DougWatt

    For what it’s worth at this point in time Rubio is my front runner. He is articulate, and his family history provides him a deep understanding of that phrase that some see as something to loathe: “American exceptionalism.” I know many will disagree with me but I’m rather tired of the dog and pony show that has become the Republican primaries where every dollar is spent to savage every Republican candidate providing the Democrat Party endless sound bites as well as facing a Republican candidate with a depleted war chest. Rand Paul is beginning to weary me with endless email polls and with every transient I see on a traffic island I keep seeing Rand Paul holding a cardboard sign with the words: “Will pander for votes.”

    • #14
  15. EstoniaKat Inactive
    EstoniaKat
    @ScottAbel

    To tell you the truth, Jon, that speech doesn’t really it do it for me.

    IMO, fine on content, weak on delivery. It doesn’t help that these kind of speeches are delivered in front of an empty chamber.

    It seems like he on the Speed bus, and if he doesn’t keep up a certain miles per hour, it will blow up.

    • #15
  16. EstoniaKat Inactive
    EstoniaKat
    @ScottAbel

    Doug Watt:For what it’s worth at this point in time Rubio is my front runner. He is articulate, and his family history provides him a deep understanding of that phrase that some see as something to loathe: “American exceptionalism.”

    I am keeping in my voting mix as well. But I want to see how these guys do on the debate stage.

    • #16
  17. AIG Inactive
    AIG
    @AIG

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    You didn’t appear to address the substance of Sen. Rubio’s speech. Do you support Obama’s handling of Israel, his handling of Iran, or his diplomatic skills in general?

    Before anyone can answer that question, the first question is: what are these things in actuality? I know the standard talk-radio 30-second spiel: Obama sucks, he hates America, he hates Israel, he loves Iran bla bla bla.

    But if you want a serious answer, than “we” are going to have a serious analysis of what these things actually are. Case in point: military aid to Israel has increased substantially under Obama. That’s the reality, and it’s different from the rhetoric of the “right”.

    So, you want me to answer on the bases of reality, or on the bases of rhetoric?

    • #17
  18. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Scott Abel:

    Doug Watt:For what it’s worth at this point in time Rubio is my front runner. He is articulate, and his family history provides him a deep understanding of that phrase that some see as something to loathe: “American exceptionalism.”

    I am keeping in my voting mix as well. But I want to see how these guys do on the debate stage.

    Good! Rubio will wipe the floor with all of them as he usually does.

    • #18
  19. AIG Inactive
    AIG
    @AIG

    Nick Stuart:Doesn’t matter what his ideas are. The 2016 election won’t be about ideas or policies so much as whether the GOP candidate is willing to fight for the office like they really want it.

    Leigh:

    Here’s one thing he has that is important to me: he appreciates and is passionate about the uniqueness of our liberty

    I keep hearing Republicans say stuff like this. We don’t care about ideas, we don’t care about experience, we don’t care about results. All we care about is someone who “fights for me” and “is passionate”.

    So, in essence, you want the kind the same thing the Left wants.

    Great. Tingles down everyone’s legs.

    • #19
  20. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    AIG:

    Leigh:

    Here’s one thing he has that is important to me: he appreciates and is passionate about the uniqueness of our liberty

    I keep hearing Republicans say stuff like this. We don’t care about ideas, we don’t care about experience, we don’t care about results. All we care about is someone who “fights for me” and “is passionate”.

    So, in essence, you want the kind the same thing the Left wants.

    Great. Tingles down everyone’s legs.

    Except I just specifically said I did care about experience and a record and that Rubio wasn’t my first choice because of them.  I’m making a Jay Nordlinger point — I think it’s revealing when Leftists choose to ignore the evils of oppressive dictatorships (whether Middle Eastern or Latin American), and revealing and refreshing when someone like Rubio calls them what they are.

    It’s early, but I’m most likely to vote for my former governor, Scott Walker, because of his experience and history of real results and credible leadership.  (And not just in “taking on the unions,” though of course that’s part of it.)  It doesn’t bother me in the least that he’s only a pretty good public speaker.

    But I’m glad Rubio is in the Republican Party.  And I’m glad he’s an extraordinary public speaker.  And I’m not embarrassed by that.

    • #20
  21. Boots on the Table Member
    Boots on the Table
    @BootsontheTable

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    AIG:Maybe Marco Rubio can run for President of Israel. Then the GOP can really have that war they really really really want, but which Israel’s own generals aren’t willing to do, or think is a good idea.

    So this is the GOP’s 2016 strategy: “We want another war”?

    Great.

    PS: While we’re at it, let’s recall the massive amounts of aid we give Israel every year, before throwing out accusations of “abandoning” poor old little Israel. Big boys like Israel aren’t supposed to come crying to us to do their fighting for them. They can do it themselves. Go for it Israel!

    You didn’t appear to address the substance of Sen. Rubio’s speech. Do you support Obama’s handling of Israel, his handling of Iran, or his diplomatic skills in general?

    AIG, You are avoiding the question.

    From my experience, when a person avoids the question, it’s usually because they either A) don’t have an answer, B) know their answer will just either embolden their opposition, or prove their opposition correct, or C) know in their heart that they have no basis for their opinion and don’t want to prove themselves to be a fool.  So, Is it A, B, or C, or, would you like to answer the question put to you by Jon?

    • #21
  22. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    AIG:

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    You didn’t appear to address the substance of Sen. Rubio’s speech. Do you support Obama’s handling of Israel, his handling of Iran, or his diplomatic skills in general?

    …So, you want me to answer on the bases of reality, or on the bases of rhetoric?

    You had claimed that what the GOP “really really really” wants is a war, and then discussed the “massive amounts of aid we give Israel every year.” Rubio’s speech concerned our moral obligation to Israel. I agree with him on that point.

    • #22
  23. Doctor Robert Member
    Doctor Robert
    @DoctorRobert

    Looking at AIG, the first comment on this thread, that’s BS. I support Israel and the last thing I want is my sons taking a bullet. The US can do what it must for Israel by simply defunding the Palestinians, whom we offensively support at great cost, by being Israel’s diplomatic ally and by insisting that our NATO allies either do the same or just shaddup.

    Rubio’s speech was brilliant and reveals him, to me, as a first rate candidate for 2016, or 2020. There is one thing he and most others miss, though. This is not about Israel. This is about western civilization. Israel is merely the most obvious front in the 1400 year war between Islam and modernity. Lose Israel, be one step closer to your granddaughters wearing burkas. We should be encouraging Israel to crush Hamas and any other group that wages war on them, to restore the 1968 post-war borders and to be bold and assertive in defending their borders and their cultural integrity. Their victory is modernity’s.

    • #23
  24. billy Inactive
    billy
    @billy

    AIG:

    Leigh:Is Rubio not the best speaker in American politics, period?

    Kind of reminds me of Obama. Tingles down my leg at how good of a speaker he is.

    As for ideas, well, the less I say on that the better.

    So GOP’s plan is to put forth: their own version of Obama?

    Great.

    Silver-tongued orators have no place in the GOP. Give me the mangled syntax of the Bush family any day, that’s the mark of true leadership, not fancy rhetoric.

    • #24
  25. AIG Inactive
    AIG
    @AIG

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    You had claimed that what the GOP “really really really” wants is a war, and then discussed the “massive amounts of aid we give Israel every year.” Rubio’s speech concerned our moral obligation to Israel. I agree with him on that point.

    Which has nothing to do with the fact that we’ve done everything for Israel. And that Obama hasn’t done anything remotely “anti-israeli”.

    So again, you want to address the reality of the matter, or the rhetoric?

    Doctor Robert:

    Looking at AIG, the first comment on this thread, that’s BS.I support Israel and the last thing I want is my sons taking a bullet. The US can do what it must for Israel by simply defunding the Palestinians, whom we offensively support at great cost, by being Israel’s diplomatic ally and by insisting that our NATO allies either do the same or just shaddup.

    1) US aid to Palestinian authority happened under Bush too.

    This has nothing to do with US aid to Israel, or in any way being “anti-Israeli”. Israel provides financial assistance to the Palestinian authorities as well. Are they being “anti-israeli”?

    This is the sort of “black vs. white” nonsense that gets us into trouble.

    2) You want us to sacrifice our relations with out NATO allies?

    Sorry. US should do what is in US’s interests. Israel, is supposed to do what is in US’s interests. Not vice versa.

    Worth remembering.

    Boots on the Table:

    From my experience, when a person avoids the question, it’s usually because they either A) don’t have an answer, B) know their answer will just either embolden their opposition, or prove their opposition correct, or C) know in their heart that they have no basis for their opinion and don’t want to prove themselves to be a fool. So, Is it A, B, or C, or, would you like to answer the question put to you by Jon?

    I have no problem answering the question. Rest assured. Just wanted to make sure that we were talking about…reality…not talk-radio 30-second rhetoric of “Obama is the devil”.

    The answer is yes. Yes I agree with, most, of what he’s done in terms of foreign policy.

    Prior to 2014, I would have said no. Since 2014, I’d have to say: yes. He responded in the most forceful manner a US president has responded to Russian aggression (Bush by comparison did absolutely nothing when Russia invaded Georgia). He kept us out of a civil war in Syria (which any Republican prospective president would have gotten us into). He kept us from getting involved in another Iraq war (ditto).

    As far as Israel is concerned, it’s a complete non-issue. He’s done nothing to warrant such an absurd criticism as being “anti-Israeli”. The US has increased its aid to Israel substantially. It has increased its transfer of military technology to Israel.

    Simply because Bibi wants to go to war with Iran, doesn’t mean we should, or that it’s in our interest to do so. It’s in our interest to keep Iran fighting ISIS and other Sunni extremists as long as possible.

    Only a fool gets in the way of his enemies killing each other.

    Nothing I’ve said here, I haven’t said 100 times before. So I didn’t think it needed an answer.

    • #25
  26. Frank Soto Member
    Frank Soto
    @FrankSoto

    AIG:Maybe Marco Rubio can run for President of Israel. Then the GOP can really have that war they really really really want, but which Israel’s own generals aren’t willing to do, or think is a good idea.

    So this is the GOP’s 2016 strategy: “We want another war”?

    Someone is grumpy.  Settle down, we can get you another juice box.

    You’d be greatly served by not allowing every comment you make on the site drip with condescension.

    • #26
  27. Dick from Brooklyn Thatcher
    Dick from Brooklyn
    @DickfromBrooklyn

    AIG is trolling again. Either he/she is a media matters plant or a crank. In either case, ignoring him or her is the best response.

    • #27
  28. user_657161 Member
    user_657161
    @

    AIG:

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    You didn’t appear to address the substance of Sen. Rubio’s speech. Do you support Obama’s handling of Israel, his handling of Iran, or his diplomatic skills in general?

    Before anyone can answer that question, the first question is: what are these things in actuality? I know the standard talk-radio 30-second spiel: Obama sucks, he hates America, he hates Israel, he loves Iran bla bla bla.

    But if you want a serious answer, than “we” are going to have a serious analysis of what these things actually are. Case in point: military aid to Israel has increased substantially under Obama. That’s the reality, and it’s different from the rhetoric of the “right”.

    So, you want me to answer on the bases of reality, or on the bases of rhetoric?

    As for me and my house we’d prefer your answer to be on the bases and/or basis of rhetoric.

    • #28
  29. user_657161 Member
    user_657161
    @

    AIG:

    Nick Stuart:Doesn’t matter what his ideas are. The 2016 election won’t be about ideas or policies so much as whether the GOP candidate is willing to fight for the office like they really want it.

    Leigh:

    Here’s one thing he has that is important to me: he appreciates and is passionate about the uniqueness of our liberty

    I keep hearing Republicans say stuff like this. We don’t care about ideas, we don’t care about experience, we don’t care about results. All we care about is someone who “fights for me” and “is passionate”.

    So, in essence, you want the kind the same thing the Left wants.

    Great. Tingles down everyone’s legs.

    I keep hearing Republicans say stuff like this. We don’t care about ideas, we don’t care about experience, we don’t care about results. All we care about is someone who “fights for me” and “is passionate”.

    So, in essence, you want the kind the same thing the Left wants.

    Strawman meet House of Cards.  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot – over?

    • #29
  30. AIG Inactive
    AIG
    @AIG

    Dick from Brooklyn:AIG is trolling again. Either he/she is a media matters plant or a crank. In either case, ignoring him or her is the best response.

    When one has no answer, this is always the best choice.

    Let me put this here again, just in case:

    US aid to Israel (graphic credit - Reuters)

    • #30
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