One on One with Marco Rubio
U.S. Senatorial Candidate
He is reminiscent of the unlikely and inauspicious “Seabiscuit,” who rose through the ranks and ran in a match race against the seemingly invincible “War Admiral.” Marco Rubio, 39, has defied the odds and captured his party’s nomination against the formidable and well entrenched Gov. Charlie Crist. In a race that Rubio is first to admit is far from over, his clear sense of what makes America great and what he feels is being done to undermine this “Land of Opportunity” is unwavering. While campaigning in Brevard County, Spacecoast Business sat down with the former Speaker of the Florida House and current Senatorial candidate.
SCB: You are a first generation Cuban immigrant. How has that shaped your view of America?
MR: What first comes to mind is “exceptionalism.” In this county there are exceptional opportunities for anyone with the drive and determination to allow their abilities to take them wherever they want to go. What is more, that has produced exceptional innovations and achievements unparalleled in history. In Cuba you were locked into a well defined social plane, but in this country the plane is not one that defines you or keeps you down, instead it is one that you can board and go anywhere you want.
Also, for every one of me, who is in the public eye, there are literally thousands who are unknown or less visible and yet are contributing to their families, their communities and to America’s freedom and economy. Like Nelson Gonzalez and Alex Aguila, who founded Alienware, a computer manufacturer in South Florida. They started with the idea of making better products for video gaming and other graphically intense applications, which they recently sold to Dell for around $200 million.
SCB: Is that celebration of American freedom and opportunity something that is ingrained in the Cuban-American culture or was it more from your own family?
MR: It was both. My father tended bar, while my mother worked in housekeeping, yet they were always home at night and every decision they made was based on the impact it would have on our family. They encouraged us academically, but even more they encouraged us to dream, to believe in what was possible and here I am, the son of Cuban immigrants running for the U.S. Senate.
SCB: Being one generation removed from Cuba must influence your position on immigration.
MR: Absolutely, I am the most enthusiastic fan of legal immigration. People around the world want to come and be a part of what America means. In the same way I am also a big fan of driving, but I believe the reason driving is safe, efficient and enjoyable is because there are well-established laws that everyone who drives has to follow. Without those laws driving would be hazardous. We have laws that are designed to regulate people’s ability to come into this country, as does every other country in the world; we simply need to apply the law.
SCB: The Gulf is just beginning to see the impact from this terrible oil spill. What effect do you think it will have?
MR: The first question is, if they have been drilling off shore for so long, why haven’t the clean-up technologies been developed and put in place before this disaster hit? And why have all those concerned seemed to be so slow in responding to the crisis? Needless to say it will affect public opinion on offshore drilling; but to be realistic, it isn’t whether America will use and therefore need oil, the question is where is it going to come from? Importing a commodity we can domestically produce hurts our economy, our balance of trade, and in many cases, funds people bent on our destruction. Developing energy alternatives is essential, but this kind of innovation takes time and we are far from closing the cost-to-benefit ratio. We debate, while other countries, like Canada, continue to explore and open new reserves.
SCB: Obviously, innovation is important to you. Your book, 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida’s Future, reflects the concept that the best ideas are right in our midst. Which ones excite you the most?
MR: That book came out of numerous gatherings around the state, what we called “idearaisers.” One that has already been implemented was the recommendation of renewing your tags in two, instead of one-year increments; what a simple but brilliant way to add convenience along with substantial cost savings for the state. It’s a common sense idea, posed by real people. Also, in the educational sphere, to develop programs that would allow high school graduates to get their diploma along with an industry certification, allowing them to immediately enter the job market with a viable skill.
SCB: One of the great seed beds for innovation in our nation is the space program. What direction do you think it should take?
MR: What is troubling is that our national space policy seems unclear, if not invisible. This industry that has given countless new technologies constitutes less than one-half of 1 percent of the federal budget. Though the idea to stimulate private launch companies that can deliver men and supplies is a noble one, there is a gap in which, for the first time in history, America won’t have the capability to put men in space. What is more, once the focus and emphasis on space exploration is gone industry will move to other priorities. Once that brain trust and skill pool disappears, it is gone for good. Also, deep space exploration, beyond low earth orbit is not something that can be developed without a government/private industry partnership.
SCB: The Republicans have been called the party of “No,” especially when it comes to health care reform. What so you think we should do?
MR: I don’t believe the health care bill that has been signed into law is about providing or reforming health care, it is about redefining the role of government in the economy, something the current administration seems more and more eager to do. What they have legislated, we can’t afford and we only have to look at California or to Greece to see what happens when a government continues to out-spend its revenues. I can’t do that, business can’t do that and neither can the government without dire consequences. Some very viable reforms that never entered the debate were: 1) Allowing health care costs to be tax deductible; 2) Allowing small businesses to establish health care buyer’s pools; 3) What about tort reform? We know that much of our health care cost results from doctors being forced to practice defensive medicine; and 4) Allow health insurance to be purchased across state lines, like anything else.
SCB: Along with health care, the economy is on everyone’s mind. What do you think are the keys to recovery?
MR: It is sad to think that our children may be the first generation in our history to inherit a weaker and less secure America. One question we must ask is: are we going to be unique in the world and continue to follow the policies and ideals that made us what we are, a land of risk and reward, or will we be like everyone else? In other words, will we embrace the core principles of the free enterprise system? Secondly, if your only position in dealing with deficits is to raise taxes and not institute any serious efforts at entitlement reform, we will choke investment capitol and stall recovery. The majority agree that we need to seriously consider revamping our tax code, but there seems to be little effort to do so. What is more, both of my opposing candidates support the President’s economic agenda. I knew I would have to face one candidate with that position; I had no idea I would have to face two.
SCB: In your campaign you have had some pretty high profile endorsements, like Jeb Bush.
MR: That was incredibly gratifying; he is a family friend, a mentor and still one of the most popular political figures in Florida, which of course doesn’t hurt our fund raising efforts. Also individuals like Al Hoffman and Jeff Miller supported and encouraged me back when I was 30 points down in the polls. A national voice like Gov. Mike Huckabee has also been a great source of encouragement. I think all of these individuals share my desire, not to be a career politician, but to bring about effective change.
