Marco Rubio Continues to Demonstrate his Inexperience

Governor Crist really separated himself as a true leader in his first debate with Marco Rubio on the Fox Morning Show with Chris Wallace this Sunday.

Crist was clearly the winner. At every turn Crist showed that he had the people of Florida’s best interests at heart. Rubio, on the other hand was combative, evasive, and demonstrated his inexperience.

“Here are the facts”, a phrase Rubio quipped so frequently during the debate I almost thought it was part of an insider’s drinking game:

• Rubio didn’t have any answers to the allegations of the misappropriation of funds.

• Rubio admitted that he supported the largest tax increase in Florida’s history.

• Rubio tried to sidestep his lack of work on the issue of immigration in the Florida house.

• Rubio said he would raise the age for social security for Florida’s retirees.

• Rubio continued to highlight his youth and inexperience each time he mentioned his age.

Referencing the $34,000 in PAC expenses that he failed to disclose, Rubio says “all this money’s been accounted for,” but I haven’t seen a full accounting nor has anyone else in the public or media.

Crist has not only released his tax returns, but has them posted front and center on his campaign site. Rubio hasn’t released his tax returns yet and has given no indication of when he will.

Inquiring minds want to know why? What is Rubio hiding?

When the debate got to Rubio wanting to replace property taxes with a statewide sales tax, Crist was quick to remind viewers that such a tax would create a new tax burden for 40% of Florida residents who are renters and do not pay property taxes.

But in a brief moment of honesty, Rubio admitted: "Let me tell you about that supposed program to raise taxes that he keeps talking about, it was probably the largest tax increase in Florida's history."

On Social Security, Rubio believes that we should all continue to pay into the Social Security fund, but wants to change the rules in the middle of the game. Rubio would lower benefits and push for a greater age for retirees to start receiving those benefits.

Crist, on the other hand, would work to gain support to reform Social Security for Floridians and all Americans through personal accounts where taxpayers would receive higher returns and benefits than are possible under the current system.

And then there was the issue of Immigration. Chris Wallace noted that some anti-illegal immigration bills didn't get to the state House floor while Rubio was speaker. Rubio claims: "We gave it a hearing," Rubio said. "The support wasn't there among the membership at the time." Rubio didn’t push or fight for it; he just accepted that there was “no support” for it. This is clearly a harbinger of how Rubio would further fail the people of Florida if he were to become part of the Washington, DC establishment.

Rubio had the audacity to say Crist doesn’t get it, but in reality it’s Rubio who doesn’t get it.

This election is about changing Washington, not managing it. The people of Florida need someone who lives their values; who works to find solutions; and someone who tells the truth to his constituents and his peers.

Ronald Reagan wrote in his American Life:"I'd learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: 'I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average.'”

That’s how I think of Charlie Crist, someone who is seeking to do the best he can each time he gets up to bat for Florida. And that’s how I think Republicans in Florida are going to feel come August 24 when they cast their vote.

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