There appears to be a pattern here. And it’s nothing new.
I wonder who pioneered it: Was it David Rivera when he introduced similar legislation in Florida -- later thrown out by the courts, or is this really Marco Rubio now applying what he taught his ethically-challenged friend on a federal level?
If you haven’t heard of the amendment to a bill presented in the U.S. Senate by Marco Rubio, his first action as a Florida senator, take note of it. Marquito, as they lovingly call this sometimes teapartier born of Cuban parents, last week proposed an amendment to a Federal Aviation Authority funding bill that would prohibit any additional flights between the United States and countries designated as "state sponsors of terrorism'' by the State Department.
In other words, if Marco’s amendment were to pass both houses of congress as is, and the bill later signed into law by the president, a place like Tampa, Florida, would not be able to offer flights to Cuba, for example. The island nation is still on the “state sponsors of terrorism” list.
(Side note, I wonder if the U.S. has itself on this list? We seem to breed and train terrorists ourselves. Examples abound: Jared Loughner comes to mind immediately. Oh, and there are guys by the name of Posada and Bosch. And didn’t we train Osama bin Laden at one time?)
Like his soon headed to jail buddy, David Rivera, Sen. Rubio’s irresponsible action, and I emphasize for a second time, his first as a U.S. senator, demonstrates that Rubio will carry on a tradition. Theirs is a surreptitious political mantra: do what may be good politically (for me and only me) and let my lowly constituents in Florida rot, for all they care.
I say this for two reasons: first, Rubio and before him Rivera both know that Cuba is not a “state sponsor of terrorism.” You want sponsors of terrorism? Go to some countries in the Middle East that supply the U.S. with plenty of oil, for example. Secondly, by not allowing Tampa to offer flights to Cuba, Rubio is putting himself before a potential boost to that area’s economy.
Before Rubio’s selfish move, a jubilant Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano, in a press release, said: “This is great news from an international air service development standpoint.” Of course, more jobs and more business for the area. But our newest senator from Florida, despite Florida’s unemployment situation being one of the worst in the country and an economy that’s having a hard time improving, Rubio decides to place a boulder, not even a rock, in its way to derail what could possibly help – at least the Tampa Bay area.
Like I mentioned, these folks don’t care much about anything or anyone. Rubio, for example, and this has been recorded and written about, during last year’s campaign tried to convince people that he was a Catholic one Sunday and a hardcore and zealot Christian the next. Marco also defended the anti-immigrant Arizona law in some corners, but in Miami before Hispanic groups avoided talking about immigration. And he refused to attend a recent CPAC conference (a group which helped him get elected); there was a gay contingent present, but he did send a video. (In other words, it’s not cool to be seen to close to the gay crowd, but he still wants their vote.) Then again, Rubio was propelled by the Tea Party when he surprised the country by winning the U.S. senate seat last year, but he has said he is not a member of the Tea Party.
Which is it Mr. Rubio? As a politician you can’t be all things to all people. Especially when you have to lie to attain your goals.
And as for your lying, Mr. Rubio… is there anything you might want to share with us regarding your friend David? Or is it that hidden all the way in the back, might you be involved in the Rivera case? Something I’ve pondered.
Still, people, especially in Tampa, have questioned why Rubio would pull this last move. Especially as his first in the senate. The St. Petersburg Times had an interesting angle from Jason Busto, who publishes the online business news site Cuba Standard, who states that Rubio is simply trying to protect the Miami travel companies’ “monopoly” on travel to Cuba.
Interesting, I thought. Is Busto now revealing that Marco has yet another face: front man for the travel business to Cuba that stems from Miami?
