RUBIO'S SOTU RESPONSE

After President BO (the amateur president)'s State of the Union message, Marco Rubio of Florida gave the Republican response.

He was low key in his delivery, but powerful in his words.

He started by reaffirming American Exceptionalism and told why we're different from every other nation that has ever existed.

"The State of the Union address is always a reminder of how unique America is. For much of human history, most people were trapped in stagnant societies, where a tiny minority always stayed on top, and no one else even had a chance.

But America is exceptional because we believe that every life, at every stage, is precious, and that everyone everywhere has a God-given right to go as far as their talents and hard work will take them.

"...This opportunity – to make it to the middle class or beyond no matter where you start out in life – it isn’t bestowed on us from Washington. It comes from a vibrant free economy where people can risk their own money to open a business. And when they succeed, they hire more people, who in turn invest or spend the money they make, helping others start a business and create jobs."

Rubio then went on to expose the reason PBO (tap) cannot possibly maintain or promote America's greatness.

"Presidents...have known that our free enterprise economy is the source of our middle class prosperity.

"But President Obama? He believes it’s the cause of our problems. That the economic downturn happened because our government didn’t tax enough, spend enough and control enough. And, therefore, as you heard tonight, his solution to virtually every problem we face is for Washington to tax more, borrow more and spend more."

He called the tax and spend philosophy one "...that’s an old idea that’s failed every time it’s been tried.

"More government isn’t going to help you get ahead. It’s going to hold you back.

"More government isn’t going to create more opportunities. It’s going to limit them.

"And more government isn’t going to inspire new ideas, new businesses and new private sector jobs. It’s going to create uncertainty."

Dealing with ObamaCare he said:

"For example, Obamacare was supposed to help middle class Americans afford health insurance. But now, some people are losing the health insurance they were happy with. And because Obamacare created expensive requirements for companies with more than 50 employees, now many of these businesses aren’t hiring. Not only that; they’re being forced to lay people off and switch from full-time employees to part-time workers."

Then Rubio illustrated the way Obama misdirects blame and facts to suit his own agenda.

"And tonight, he even criticized us for refusing to raise taxes to delay military cuts – cuts that were his idea in the first place."

He then dealt with the "tax andspend" idea.

"Mr. President, I still live in the same working class neighborhood I grew up in. My neighbors aren’t millionaires. They’re retirees who depend on Social Security and Medicare.

". ...The tax increases and the deficit spending you propose will hurt middle class families. It will cost them their raises. It will cost them their benefits. It may even cost some of them their jobs.

"And it will hurt seniors because it does nothing to save Medicare and Social Security.

"...our economy actually shrank during the last three months of 2012.

"...Raising taxes won’t create private sector jobs. And there’s no realistic tax increase that could lower our deficits by almost $4 trillion.

"...Simplifying our tax code will also help the middle class, because it will make it easier for small businesses to hire and grow."

On education, he said:

"We need to incentivize local school districts to offer more advanced placement courses and more vocational and career training.

We need to give all parents, especially the parents of children with special needs, the opportunity to send their children to the school of their choice.

And because tuition costs have grown so fast, we need to change the way we pay for higher education.

I believe in federal financial aid. I couldn’t have gone to college without it. But it’s not just about spending more money on these programs; it’s also about strengthening and modernizing them."

On the national debt issue, Marco Rubio said:

"Every dollar our government borrows is money that isn’t being invested to create jobs. And the uncertainty created by the debt is one reason why many businesses aren’t hiring.

The President loves to blame the debt on President Bush. But President Obama created more debt in four years than his predecessor did in eight.

The real cause of our debt is that our government has been spending 1 trillion dollars more than it takes in every year. That’s why we need a balanced budget amendment."

He dealt with Medicare:

"Republicans have offered a detailed and credible plan that helps save Medicare without hurting today’s retirees. Instead of playing politics with Medicare, when is the President going to offer his plan to save it? Tonight would have been a good time for him to do it."

It is common for President Obama to lay out choices that aren't there and to make statements that are deflective in nature. About that Rubio said:

"...here in Washington, nothing has frustrated me more than false choices like the ones the President laid out tonight.

"The choice isn’t just between big government or big business. What we need is an accountable, efficient and effective government that allows small and new businesses to create middle class jobs."

He gave an example with regard to the budget: 

"...In order to balance our budget, the choice doesn’t have to be either higher taxes or dramatic benefit cuts for those in need. Instead we should grow our economy so that we create new taxpayers, not new taxes, and so our government can afford to help those who truly cannot help themselves."

Rubio pointed out that government is not the answer to every problem:

"But our strength has never come from the White House or the Capitol. It’s always come from our people. A people united by the American idea that, if you have a dream and you are willing to work hard, nothing should be impossible.

Americans have always celebrated and been inspired by those who succeed. But it’s the dreams of those who are still trying to make it that sets our nation apart.

"...(The) dream – of a better life for their children – it’s the hope of parents everywhere. Politicians here and throughout the world have long promised that more government can make those dreams come true.

"But we Americans have always known better. From our earliest days, we embraced economic liberty instead. And because we did, America remains one of the few places on earth where dreams like these even have a chance."

It was a fine response (even though some dolt put his water out of reach). 

Marco Rubio knows where we came from as a nation and where we need to go.

President BO (the amateur president) is clueless and flounders about like a fish out of water.