Marco Rubio Will Deliver the GOP's State of the Union Rebuttal In English and Spanish

By Tim Elfrink Thu., Feb. 7 2013 at 8:30 AM

Any doubts that the Republican party is pinning all hopes of recouping Hispanic voters on Miami's own Sen. Marco Rubio should be dispelled by the news out this morning: Rubio isn't just going to deliver his party's rebuttal to President Obama's State of the Union speech next Tuesday, he'll be giving the same speech in both English and Spanish.

See also:
-- Marco Rubio, Tea Party Pretty Boy

It's the first time the GOP's ever had someone give such a high profile speech in two languages, the Miami Herald's Marc Caputo reports.

"I look forward to laying out the Republican case of how our ideas can help people close the gap between their dreams and the opportunities to realize them," Rubio says in a statement.

The State of the Union rebuttal is viewed as a prime showcase for rising talent, not that anyone doubted that Rubio represents a prime hope for future GOP elections.

The real question is how much Rubio will talk about immigration -- a decision that could come down to how much Obama touches on the topic.

TIME Magazine's Michael Grunwald has a new piece out this morning looking at Rubio's evolving -- or flip-flopping, depending on your political outlook -- views on immigration reform.

As a West Miami state representative, Rubio backed benefits for undocumented immigrants; as a higher profile House speaker, he didn't. The whole firestorm over Rubio's own grandfather being an undocumented immigrant -- a fact revealed in Manuel Roig-Franzia's biography last year -- further complicated his narrative.

Now TIME reports that in December, his mother, Oriales, left him a voicemail with a simple message: "Don't mess with the immigrants, my son. Please, don't mess with them."

Immigration aside, it's a fair bet that Rubio's questionable taste in Pitbull tracks and Swedish House Mafia fist-pumpers will probably not make the cut for the rebuttal.

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Juliancollins

Wow Marco Rubio, ashamed of his immigrant background, voted IN FAVOR for all the anti immigrant, minute men minded, Arizona like, PRO DEPORTATION laws, Sure go ahead give the speech in spanish, but hello the Voting Latino population is not as dumb as you think Rubio, we can understand you in English too, We are new wave of Latino generation,Higher education oriented, with more insight, and cunning. We will not let this Jack ass ACT LIKE HE SPEAKS FOR ALL THE LATINO COMMUNITY

Miguel Aybar

I can only LOL at this, I know the GOP thinks Marco is their next savior, and I truly hope they keep thinking that, so he can get smoked by Hilary in 2016.

milezero

1 Like

He can deliver the rebuttal in Chinese, he's still a toad.

drakemallard topcommenter

“Typical GOP -- obsessed about someone's ethnicity or race”

the Gop is a thing of past

War on the middle class, women, gays, freedom, non-Christian religions, war on other countries for oil. We need to reject this candidate and vote for a much more sane foreign and domestic policy

the American political system. The two-party system is a joke. American need more option: 'third-party candidate"

drakemallard topcommenter

the gop think putting tokens=the white house

Lied About His Cuban Exile Immigrant Background"=A Cuban on the ballot means nothing to the general population of the Hispanic community=Hispanic vote

José Manuel

I hate this lying scumbag.

José Antonio Navarro

This will be the most condescending speech ever directed towards the US Latin community. While families get torn apart due to deportations, Rubio will broadcast his live minstrel show for the party.

Billy Riano

1 Like

Douchbag

Barbara Salazar

1 Like

Marco rubio is not a representative of the Latin community he's nothing but a dirty politician! Using community money for his own pleasure and a liar ! Shame on him!

Leonel Rojas

1 Like

Why is Rubio still considered relevant? He's obviously just a token.

Phil Ramirez

2 Like

No Latin politicians have done more than Menendez (D-NJ), Serrano (D-NY) and Gutierrez (D-IL), even for south florida's undocumented!! But, since this is his alley, Diaz-Balart staged a "rawkus hero's welcome" and used that reel to further his grip.

James Eagles

Yes, but this guy is as sharp as a brick. It won't be long before his dirt comes out in the wash. Remember you heard it here first folks!

Phil Ramirez

de maricon (true story). He'll read whatever is given. Many people claim he'll run in 2016 and wish he does... Cuz as soon as the NY press gets a hold of his local records and "certain funds", his campaign will come to a screeching "suspension", since republicans don't drop out, but rather "suspend" their campaigns. That Karl Rove's a fucking genius!!

Sono Mataumo

Rubitongo anda ya gastando suela y dando muela, a cuatro años del jugoso trono, the chosen one, a lo jodedor judío, the great whitehispanic hope para los GOPers, los que lo están usando a él de la misma manera que él los está usando a ellas: to get to the Finish. Rubio se tiñe según la ocasión, ahora aprovechando el impulso del voto latino de las poselecciones, haciéndose el pionerito de la reforma de inmigración,cuando todo el mundo sabe que el único congresista que de verdad ha luchado y dado la cara por los inmigrantes (todos, sí, eso … no los cubanos, esos privilegiados por la pseudoley de ajuste) en este país ha sido Luis Gutiérrez, al que desde luego, los cubanoamericanos en el congreso siempre han tildado de … whatever.