Two-faced? Cowardly? Both.
If there is one thing I agree with Donald Trump on is his reference to Marco Rubio as “Little Marco.” And on Monday, Sen. Rubio, once again, lived up to the pejorative nickname Trump used to describe him.
You know the story. Rubio pulled out of the presidential race after getting wiped out in the Florida primary by Trump. At that point, and stepping off the presidential stage, he promised to not run for the Senate seat he was vacating. Then, of course, he changed his mind.
Still, Florida voters, who have not always distinguished themselves as smart voters, sent him back to Washington in November. These are the same voters who elected Gov. Rick Scott — twice! By the way, Marco has promised to serve out his full term in the Senate. (Sure, Marco… we’ve seen how you drool when you turn to look at the White House.)
During Senate committee hearing the past few weeks Little Marco seemed on the comeback trail. He appeared to be a new man, gaining the attention of the American public by his impassioned, forceful and critical interrogatory of secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson. He tore into Tillerson asking him uncomfortable questions in reference to the nominee’s close ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin. He asked if “Putin was a war criminal?” Tillerson seemed at a loss for words.
People around the country were delighted. The Washington Post referred to Rubio as a “bull-dog.” Americans were amazed at the force of his questions and the strength of his conviction. Politically speaking, his star again was rising. My sister in Virginia called telling me that although she was not a big fan of “Little Marco” (yes, that’s how she referred to Rubio) that he had done a “good job” while interrogating Tillerson. I told her to wait and see. He would vote in his favor, I said.
Today, Monday Jan. 23, we learn that I was right. Sen. Rubio will be voting for the Tillerson appointment. And although he was critical of the former Exxon/Mobil CEO, Sen. Rubio is back to his Little Marco ways. The bulldog turned out to be no more than a playful kitty; a little pussy with fake claws.
The real Marco stands on all sides of any one issue. But now I ask: Is he a coward, too? Fearful of President Trump who demeaned him during the primaries?
Sen. Rubio posted in his Facebook page that he will back President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state. In his 752-word post, where he mentions the many worries he has about the pick, he writes that “Mr. Tillerson is likely to have a potentially unprecedented level of influence over the direction of our foreign policy. I remain concerned that in the years to come, our country will not give the defense of democracy and human rights the priority they deserve, and will pursue a foreign policy that too often sets aside our values and our historic alliances in pursuit of flawed geopolitical deals.”
But then cowers to Trump by adding, “But in making my decision on his nomination, I must balance these concerns with his extensive experience and success in international commerce, and my belief that the president is entitled to significant deference when it comes to his choices for the cabinet.”
Two weeks ago Marco Rubio questioned Tillerson’s moral clarity, lecturing him and stating: “In order to have moral clarity, we need clarity. We can’t achieve moral clarity with rhetorical ambiguity … We need a secretary of state who will fight for these principles.”
Still, he will vote in favor of the man to become the country’s secretary of state.
There is no doubt that I have always disliked the politician Marco Rubio. His record, double standard, moral unclarity, and now cowardice bear this out and give me good reason.
It’s just that I would like Marco’s Cuban-American voters here in Miami to open their eyes to the facts. Because their senator, Little Marco, is about to vote in favor of a man, Rex Tillerson, who has close ties to Vladimir Putin, who’s been decorated by the Russians, and whose loyalties many in this country question.
Folks, it’s time you woke up!
[Photo at top of Tillerson, left, and Rubio.]
