The Florida Democratic Party is getting out ahead of Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s expected Monday night presidential announcement.
“As far as self-serving vanity projects go, Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign should win a prize. After failing to win a majority of the vote in 2010’s Tea Party wave, Rubio bailed on Floridians, and now embodies everything voters hate about Washington – partisan dysfunction and placing the needs of the wealthiest few above the middle class,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Alison Tant.
The party is highlighting what they’re calling “the real Marco Rubio.” That includes talking points that he oversaw increases to college tuition during his time as Florida House speaker and voted to increase taxes, the latter of which is a GOP no-no.
They also allege he was involved in ethical scandals presumably referring to disclosure violations that led to an $8,000 fine.
Democrats are also not too keen on Rubio’s record on climate change, noting that he continues to deny it’s real despite the fact that he lives in Miami, where the effects of sea level rise are expected to be catastrophic. His home town already experiences frequent flooding.
They also call Rubio out for his use of the Republican Party’s American Express account for personal purchases also while he was House speaker. During that 2010 scandal, Rubio was found to have repaid at least some of his personal expenses, but some remained possibly unaccounted for, including questionable business spending at places like the Apple store and an electronics and music store for “computer supplies.”
“While many across the country only know Marco Rubio — if they know him at all — for his support for the government shutdown, his rejection of immigration reform, or his statements disparaging Social Security and Medicare, Floridians have known him for much, much longer. And we cannot wait to introduce you to the Marco we know.”
But it doesn’t stop there. Florida Democrats are also playing on Rubio’s friendship with former U.S. Rep. David Rivera. Rivera and Rubio co-owned a home together in Tallahassee that landed in foreclosure proceedings once and is now being sold for less than what the two paid for it.
Rivera is best known for his alleged role in a campaign finance scheme that landed his girlfriend in prison. She continues to testify he was the mastermind behind the scandal.
“Floridians know the real Marco Rubio, no matter how much he hopes we will forget. Americans rejected Marco Rubio’s tired Republican policies in 2008 and 2012, and will be happy to send him back to Miami in 2016,” added Tant.
