Marco Rubio: Mitt Romney is no Charlie Crist

Tampa Bay Times ^ | 1-24-12 | Marc Caputo

[jpsb]

I’ve heard him speak about Newt a couple of times and don’t recall him being critical or supportive. Armee plays his cards close to his vest and I don’t think he wants any part of the presidential race. Hopefully he and freedom works will be doing their work on the House and Senate level.

[af_vet_rr]

The Florida GOP, Hispanic Leadership Network, and CNN are hosting the debate.

I have no doubt that they are going to be looking to take Newt down. Newt embarrassed CNN not long ago, the Florida GOP has plenty of RINOs looking to protect one of their own.

It's going to be ugly.

The good news is that Mittens has to be even more nervous that Monday's attacks against Newt didn't work. When Mittens gets nervous, he rattles easily.

And I doubt any of the CNN hosts want to end up looking like John King did.

[Theodore R.]

he could be trying to play both sides. Trying to look good with the GOP elite for sticking up for Romney, albeit without an endorsement.

Excellent analysis

[Theodore R.]

You are so right; Dick Armey is on a long list of unreliable Republicans: the list seems endless and grows annually. One name never on it: Jesse Helms.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Anti-Hillary.

Newt Gingrich's decision today to bash Mitt Romney for hiring former Charlie Crist loyalists and employees doesn't seem to be sitting well with Sen. Marco Rubio, who drove Crist out of the Republican Party before beating him at the polls in 2010.

Yeah, he drove him right out of there. Partisan Media Shills ping.

[WalterSkinner]

..sounds like he is from the Nikki Haley school of political strategy—get voted in by the Tea Party then turn into an establishment Republican...

[Scooter100]

By the way, Mitt was the first to endorse other Tea Party candidates in the last election.

Well, let me just respond to your pro-Mitt comment..... Mitt, the flip-flopping Liberal Obamacare-lover, can endorse any Tea Party citizen he sees fit. The question is, are any true, conservative, Tea Party people endorsing HIM? I doubt it.

Go Newt!

[reaganaut]

Mitt was the first to endorse other Tea Party candidates in the last election.

- - - - -
Well, duh. He gave campaign donations and endorsements all over the place and is now calling in his markers. All of that was just typical Mittens working the system knowing he would have trouble getting support from the Tea Party.

Best way to get TeaParty support? Buy the lower candidates which is just what Mitt did.

[Scooter100]

By the way, Mitt was the first to endorse other Tea Party candidates in the last election.

Well, let me just respond to your pro-Mitt comment..... Mitt, the flip-flopping Liberal Obamacare-lover, can endorse any Tea Party citizen he sees fit. The question is, are any true, conservative, Tea Party people endorsing HIM? I doubt it.

Go Newt!

[GregH]

As recently a few months ago, Gingrich threw Ryan’s Medicare plan under the bus.

It is concerning that Gingrich has come around too often, no wonder he is such a self destructive personality.

[Godebert]

"Go back and see the post to which I was responding. Then go take a look at the title of this thread. Those are two big clues. I’m glad I could help."

No help at all. Why not just say what you mean the first time instead of playing games?

[Ohioan]

Rubio came about as close as anyone could to absolutely destroying the political support for a sitting Governor, in their Senate race; so he should definitely be heeded on this.

My problem with Gingrich is not that he is opposing Romney, but his hysterical approach to the Iranian problem. It is not that it is not a problem; but his approach is both morally questionable & tactically fallacious. (See Pseudo Pragmatism.)

I certainly hope that Newt rethinks his approach, and makes it clear that he has done so. While I am not prepared to endorse any candidate, right now, I wish that I did not have to take a negative position against the former Speaker--whose Contract With America, was a true landmark for our side.

William Flax

[Waryone]

I am sorry. I am not playing games. I see the confusion comes from the fact that someone made mention of Santorum earlier in the thread, so it is possible you would be confused now. I was referring to Rubio whose name is in the title of this thread. His parents were not citizens when he was born here.

[Godebert]

Thanks for the clarification. That is correct.

[Pelham]

I agree with your assessment of all four of them.

[Pelham]

Jesse Helms

They don’t make them like Jesse anymore. And if we found one he’d get denounced by the GOP establishment for being too extreme.

[lonevoice]

This is no different than Palin endorsing McCain in 2010, you have to pay back personal debts and favors. Romney helped him out in 2010, so Rubio is not going to stab him in the back.

That's the way I'm guessing it is, too. As long as Marco doesn't go all in and endorse Romney, I'm not throwing him under the bus. I'll keep a closer eye on him for awhile though, like I did with Gov Palin for a time after her McNasty endorsement.