Senator Marco Rubio
Sen. Marco Rubio has been called the political equivalent of a rock star. The son of Cuban immigrants, he has risen farther faster than just about any other Latino in American politics. He served in the Florida House of Representatives for eight years and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 at age 39. His name has been one of a handful frequently mentioned as a potential running mate for Mitt Romney. But his tough stance on immigration has made him few friends among U.S. Hispanics. In a new memoir, Sen. Rubio writes about his political ambitions and mistakes – and his ideas for America's future.
Guests
U.S. senator from Florida and author of "An American Son: A Memoir."
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From The Studio
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) addressed what he takes into consideration when making decisions, including what he would consider if presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney chooses Rubio to be his running mate. The nation’s largest Tea Party group endorsed Rubio as its pick for vice president Wednesday. Rubio said he agrees with the tea party movement's concern that the U.S. government is overstepping its constitutional mandate. "I think one of the most unfair things that's emerged in American politics over the last couple of years is this definition of the tea party as an outside-the-mainstream movement," Rubio said.
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Read An Excerpt
Excerpted from AN AMERICAN SON: A MEMOIR by Marco Rubio by arrangement with Sentinel, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc., Copyright (c) Marco Rubio, 2012.


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"StLouis wrote:
Good thing the left wants cooperation and political compromise, not obstructionism."
Who cares what the left wants? I don't want my representatives cooperating or compromising with the left.
I understand what you are saying, but compromise is not worth pursuing.
Lock up the government and leave it be.
I get the feeling that Rubio might be a little too controversial for Romney's liking. And Romney already has plenty of controversy of his own to deal with.
But as the late George Wallace said, "There's not a dime's worth of difference between the Democrats and the Republicans".
Once again, we seem to be in the quandary of picking the least of evils. No matter who gets elected, "big money" will control them. Just as it always has done.
I am glad I was able to listen to this show today. It reconfirmed that Rubio does not represent me. Political ambitions... yes. Ideas for making America better... I think not.
partisan politics,
Your reaction to Sec Paulsen's use of TARP is predictable........calling it "illegal" is a joke since Congress passed its creation as a LAW (aka legal) and was signed by YOUR boy W and implemented by the Republican administration. And trying to use such bailouts as "unamerican" is therefore hypocritical too. Conservatives and liberals backed TARP and all benefited. Namecalling is oh SO juvenile. Maybe a few years in the armed forces would clear your foggy thought processes.......and your spelling ("your" instead of "you're").
P.S. Mitt's pop was born in Mexico....Obama's dad born in Kenya.........does that mean Mitt is just as unamerican? unless you are including the continent......
Karma sux doesn't it?
Yeah, this one always seems to slip by without a challenge.
Revenues minus expenses equals income.
(REV – EXP = INC).
Only 3% of small businesses have income over $250,000 a year. They can have revenues in the millions, but have only a small income after expenses. The claim, that many “mom and pop” businesses are going to get a tax increase, is very misleading.
I think when many people hear a politicians say income will be taxed at a certain rate, they are actually thinking revenues (Gross income) not actual income/net income (REV – EXP).
"Smoot wrote:
I hope Senator Rubio is president one day.
I agree with his opinion regarding cutting taxpayer funding for NPR - they are a Democrat media tool, let the Democrats pay for them.
July 19, 2012 - 11:06 am"
We do pay for it, even though we aren't even a little convinced it is a Democrat media tool.
First the Jews raged at NPR for glorifying a Palestinian Suicide Bomber, WE ARE WITHDRAWING OUR SUPPORT!!!
And guess what happened to NPR coverage of Israel/Palestine??
Then it was painting the Military in a dark light, WE ARE WITHDRAWING OUR SUPPORT!!!
Guess how many Marine Officers were allowed to explain how they painted schools in Iraq and forgot about killing 1000 Civilians in one day at Fallujah??
Then came the Right wing Troglodytes, who haven't supported NPR since Larry Pressler's Racist attack on PBS.
http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/PBS-Says-Questionnaire-Cost-...
"1995-02-15 04:00:00 PDT Washington -- Public broadcasters say $92,000 of the taxpayers' money went into providing information to a senator who wants to eliminate federal funding for the industry.
Pressler's questions about the ethnic background, gender, previous employment and political orientations of public broadcasting employees put him at the center of a firestorm earlier this month. He withdrew the questions after complaints that they invaded the privacy of employees. Pressler said he sent the questionnaire to obtain more information on how federal funds were used and editorial decisions were made."
Of course, this was during the Pre- Crypto-Jew Bush Era when the Right Wing hated Jews.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
"Cecil Eastman wrote:
Mr. Rubio obfuscates, as per Republican wont. Every business has operations expense, basic deductions from revenue to arrive at taxable income. Thus, a business with $200K revenues would have far less taxable income and be immune to the tax breaks that the Democrats wish to sunset.
Cecil Eastman, CPA
July 19, 2012 - 11:06 am"
A working Home Building Contractor who builds one or two houses per year, might easily have revenue of $200K to $500K.
If he is lucky and doesn't make any big mistakes, he gets whatever is left above his costs plus his wages as a Carpenter, which is a long way from $200k.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
First of all what is a typical Cuban: a cuban can be white, blue eyed and blonde, Black with dark eyes and afro kinky hair, or you can be Jewish from Syria or Russia, you can have African heritage or indiginous Cuba Native Indian heritage or as others suggested of Spannish decent.
In Miami you can be descibed as White Hispanic or Black Hispanic.
I wish some one had called in and asked Sen. Rubio what he thought of Federal Gov't funding of Radio Marti. I would haved loved to hear him squirm his way out of Federal funding for NPR. The U.S, spends over 28.4 million $$$$ to broadcast to Cuba, which the ITU has condemed. Less than 1% of Cubans ever hear Radio Marti. $200,000 daily was paid to latin TV stations a to broadcast TV Marti, and 9 out of 10 Cubans have never heard or seen it. Talk about wasting money. At least when I listen to NPR I learn something.
"SteMar wrote:
Yeah, Rubio believes immigration is important to this country, believes in immigration, believes in "the American Dream", yada, yada, yada... Never mentioned is the fact that Cubans enjoy an "elite" status as immigrants, all you have to do is show up, you're in! Everybody else, get in line, or better yet, according to the Tea Partiers that support him, get out, we'll call you. The Cuban "exile" community has held hostage better relations with Cuba for decades, and you better not cross them. Bad things might happen. Why do we have the relationship we do with every other "communist" country in the world, but treat Cuba differently? Our trade, diplomatic, and cultural relationships with these other countries has changed the world, but we are going to treat Cuba the same way we did in 1960? This is an absurd form or reality, that we kowtow to this small community of immigrants, but no politician in Florida can be elected without doing so.
July 19, 2012 - 11:09 am"
Yeah, what do you think about people like the Cuban Batistaistas and the South Koreans who use every possible means at their disposal to screw their Fathers, Mothers, Relatives and Friends suffering Back Home.
All the Cubans want is to go back to Cuba and turn the Black Women into Prostitutes again and welcome the Mobsters, Murders and Dictators back.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
Thank you, Cecil for your comment. I was confused after listening to Rubio's explanation of how the proposed tax hike would have a significant impact on so many small businesses. He seemed to be saying that businesses that earn at least $200k in Revenues will be taxed on those top line revenues, as opposed to what the business owner actually gets to keep after business expenses (Income). This is a huge distinction. I was left wondering whether he genuinely doesn't understand the tax, is intentionally spreading misinformation, or if I was simply confused about what would be taxed. If indeed it is income (and not revenues) that will be taxed, he should be challenged about spreading (very material) misinformation.
LibVet wrote:"Your reaction to Sec Paulsen's use of TARP is predictable........calling it "illegal" is a joke since Congress passed its creation as a LAW (aka legal) and was signed by YOUR boy W and implemented by the Republican administration"
Wrong again, the illegal GM bail out was Obama's work. And don't switch the topic, your the one who brought up the GM bail out.
"Bush was a lame-duck president when TARP, (Troubled Assets Relief Program), was created, (Bush's Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's plan), to fight the crisis in the U.S. financial market. But he supported it, as did Congress, and incoming President Obama. It would be Obama's administration that would take over and administer the government's TARP efforts for the General Motors bailout"
"Using TARP was seen as the only option to save GM. But there was a problem - this was the start of government's shenanigans in the GM bailout saga - TARP was legislatively created specifically for the financial market's crisis, and its use of funds was mandated for the purpose of buying troubled assets from financial institutions that would fail if they could not get rid of those toxic assets. Hence TARP. There were no provisions or authorities that would allow TARP to be used for a GM bailout. It would take more legislation from Congress to authorize such use"
http://gaanderson.hubpages.com/hub/Obama-General-Motors-GM-Tarp-Bailout-...
Diane, I love you and I respect you but I was so disappointed listening to your interview today. I am an educated hispanic living in Florida. I want to hear answers from Senator Rubio. In summary I hear from Rubio only self promotion. He appeals to tea partier because he is good looking and he falls right in line. Hispanics in Florida are not fooled. He will need to account to his tea party affiliations. We will not forget in the next election.
"CarlosKStreet wrote:
Most americans might not be aware of this, but Hispanoamerica can be described as a "pigmentocracy." Race, more so than wealth, determines your position in society. Marco Rubio (whose last name means "blond") would be considered of Spanish descent, and thus automatically be given preferential treatment throughout LatAm. On the other hand, someone like Charlie Rangel or Sammy Sossa would not be afforded the same treatment.
Unfortunately this caste system is still present in the latino immigrant community. Spanish criollos have benefits over mulatos, zambos, or indigenous people.
July 19, 2012 - 10:40 am"
The ignorance of these Republicans is appalling!!!
You are absolutely right, certainly the Mexican Caste System is alive and well in Mexico and carried to the US almost intact. If you need proof, look at the Owners of the Businesses, the Politicians and the Spokespersons who are almost always "Spanish" who derive all their power from the Campesinos, who they despise, and who do all the heavy lifting.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
LibVet wrote:"P.S. Mitt's pop was born in Mexico....Obama's dad born in Kenya.........does that mean Mitt is just as unamerican? unless you are including the continent......"
How can you possibly be this shallow? Obviously the comment was on un American philosophies not where someone was born. When you resort to the need to comment on a typo, you know you have lost the argument.
Heard only a few minutes of his interview, but his rapid-fire, know-it-all attitude, plus his numerous errors, made me wonder why the GOP thinks he is a rising star. He stated that lower income tax rates spur economic growth, overlooking that studies show very little correlation between tax rates and economic growth. The 1990s contrasted to the 2001 Bush years is a wonderful example: the 1993 tax increase, marginal tax rate raised to 39.5 percent received no GOP votes and many predicted a recession. Result was a period of job creation--some 20 million or so and a low unemployment rate. Tax rates cut dramatically in 2001 and 2003 and job growth sluggish--4-5 million prior to the recession. Rubio also suggested that poor business owners would have a 39 percent tax rate, suggesting that all of their income would be taxed at that rate. Note to Sen. R: the marginal tax of 39 percent is only on income above 375,000 thousand, or so; and many higher income earners have much of their income from capital gains, taxed at 15 percent. Diane: please disinvite him from future programs.
mchaun wrote:
"We do pay for it, even though we aren't even a little convinced it is a Democrat media tool."
Maybe you do contribute, which is fine for you do with your own funds as you see fit.
However, NPR is in fact biased in favor of the democrats and everyone knows it, except you, apparently.
I think you and your fellow lib travelers should pick up the whole bill for NPR.
Taxes should not be going to this democrat media outlet, and perhaps next year we can fix it so they don't.
Listening to this show today was like listening to Rachel Maddow light.
Diane is just too nice. I think it was rather clever of that one caller to turn the tables on Rubio regarding issue of funding NPR. But both of them missed a golden opportunity to talk about how advertising controls the message of the media. The power of public broadcasting is that it can be an independent voice. This could have also moved into the how money perverts the political process, referencing Citizens United and the Super Pacs.
Other good comments about taxes and their effect on the economy have already been made. Suffice to say the Republican view of taxes is dead wrong. What we need to do is stop the waste in government, especially our largest entitlement program, the Department of Defense.
Senator Rubio dancing around the issues and weak with his responses left me clueless ; He lacks the vision of a genuine statesman and is not ready for prime time in my opinion .
Kudos, Diane Rehm-you hit it out of the ball park when you told Rubio that it only takes one letter to start a witch hunt. And you said it again!.
Rubio's hostility and rudeness toward the host seem typical of the Tea Party. Such selfishness on the part of politicians (the "me first and nobody second" attitude), and unwillingness to be fair and polite are what is wrong with our politics at present.
Our country needs more bipartisan work. Unfortunately, with gerrymandered districts, the most extreme voices can easily be voted in (as opposed to a more centrist politicians). Extremists in the Tea Party put the interests of their buyers (Koch brothers) before their party, and party before country. Such blind hatred toward people in opposing parties should be grounds for dismissal from office (regardless of party).
I'm tired of hearing moral relativity arguments - the "but they do it too!" defense. Redistricting by independent/non-partisan commissions, I think, would go a long way toward bringing civility back to politics. If you know your district is guaranteed 60% in your favor, you don't need to make any attempt to elect a moderate. Unfortunately, both parties benefit from gerrymandering, so are unlikely to tackle such things.
Diane, I love your show and how you always conduct yourself in such a calm, polite and respectful manner. Then Senator Rubio began explaining how, with debt being what it is, the government should consider cutting out National Public Radio (if you can’t control the message, eliminate the source). You reminded him that many small underfunded stations would go silent. He assured you that if we eliminate NPR, you needn’t worry because he was certain your show would be ‘picked up’. You’ll be ok. I stopped in my tracks, waiting... And you, God Bless You, you apologized for what you were about to say, and then calmly, politely, and respectfully tore into him, calling him out for his complete broiler plate responses. I literally clapped my hands and hooted! Yes! You were not rude; you simply stood up to him and reduced him to the standard, “attempting to talk over you to silence your questions” responses. I gravitate to NPR (and PBS) to avoid divisive fear mongering, so I cannot say I enjoyed listening to Senator Rubio’s opinions. However, if he is being considered as a running mate, we ‘Fox News avoiders’ need the opportunity to hear directly from him what he/the Tea Party believes. And then we need to speak up even more about how we feel about that.
I am very interested in seeing the data on at least one of his claims. He said that a T-shirt company with $200,000 in revenue will see a dramatic tax increase next year thanks to Obama (41% increase I think was his number). I'd like to see the numbers that support this. I don't want to be told what to think. I want clear information that allows me to make my own educated opinions.
I am Floridian, at least for the moment. I am independent and thought Rubio had a pretty level head. Then I heard what he really thinks, thanks to you Diane. He is a complete ideologue. Except for his disclaimers about people having a better idea how to do things, I thought I was listening to Rush Limbaugh. Only Marco has this smooth calm voice. I was glad to see it when you got under his skin, and he showed a bit of his true skin. I don't think he has an ounce of humor in him. Anybody that unhappy with life at his age is a true fool. Tea Party people are all so gloomy. Rubio also showed his complete arrogance by his failure to acknowledge one good thing that the President has done. He and his hate Obama so much that they have dedicated themselves to seeing America fail so they can win an election. You now know at least one independent that will not vote Republican this year. Lincoln weeps.
I used to think that Senator Rubio was just a male, Cuban-American version of Sarah Palin that would flame out of his own stupidity, but I was wrong. Senator Rubio is much more dangerous because he knows he is peddling lies and he can do this in such a calm/convincing way.
As a Cuban-American myself I am ashamed to have someone like this front and center. I hope that most people realize that Senator Rubio does not represent many Cuban-Americans.
It continues to amaze me that Republicans continue their ability to get minorities to do their dirty work (sometimes against the same minority group that these people belong to) when Republicans will dump these people the minute they are no longer useful to their cause. Just look at Clarence Thomas, Alberto Gonzales and Colin Powell. It is incomprehensible to me that any Hispanic would be willing to listen to Republicans after the Party has been conflating legal/illegal immigrants for years as a way to demonize us Hispanics and it was so blatant during the primaries, especially from Governor Romney.
In terms of the VP post for Rubio - it won't happen. Polling has already been done in FL and Rubio on the ballot does not increase the percentage of Hispanic voters in FL that say they will vote for Romney, yet it decreases the non-Hispanic voters in FL that say they will vote for Romney by 3-5% (as opposed to not having Rubio on the ballot). And that is just in FL, imagine nationally where Rubio loses the Hispanic vote for Romney and, more importantly, the same Republican base that has been energized by the anti-immigrant (they only say "illegal" as a dog whistle since they are attacking all immigrants) rhetoric will not be too happy to vote for Romney if a Hispanic is on the ballot (these people were not too keen on Romney to begin with).
Contrary to what some of the previous comments seem to indicate, I found the interview fairly balanced and respectful on both sides. Yes, Diane tried to get him to answer questions that he didn't want to comment about (i.e. VP nom and Bachmann letter), and he responded with a typical political sidestep (though I appreciated his fairly straight-forward denouncement of the Bachmann letter). Rubio speaks well, and comes across as polished without be "slick" (whereas George W. Bush was just the opposite). I don't agree with his stance on many issues, but I "get" why he is considered a rising star on the Right/Conservative side of the aisle.
Re-posted.
An S Corp is taxed as a pass-through entity, the owner(s) of the S Corp are taxed on business’s income on their personal tax returns. Income (gross receipts - eligible and deductible business expenses) from the S Corp flows to the 1040 and from there to adjusted gross income, AGI is income after adjustments. From AGI the taxpayer takes a slew of allowed deductions. After all these allowed deductions/credits the taxpayer determines taxable income, which is what tax liability is based on. It seems like Senator Rubio is using the public’s potential confusion between the terms revenue and income (revenue is total receipts collected and income is total receipts - expenses). If the pizza parlor owner has revenue of $200,000 one could be confident his income would be significantly less than $200k.Restaurant margins are notoriously low, so this business owner may have income of perhaps $50k-$75k, placing him far below the top marginal tax bracket which begins at an income level of $379,150 (same regardless of filing status unless married filing separate). If the pizza parlor owner has net business income of $200,000 this would flow to his AGI and he would be taxed on this amount (less allowed adjustments, deductions, and credits). I think most people would agree $200,000 is a decent income. It appears as though Senator Rubio is trying to give his “little guys are taxed too much” argument validity by specifically mentioning the pizza parlor owner’s chosen business structure. Many listeners may have said, “he sounds specific so he must be right,” or “I hate talking about tax returns, let’s accept his argument and move on from this abhorrent topic.” What one should point out is that S Corps are taxed the same as partnerships, LLC’s, and sole proprietorship, so no need for the distinction. Unless you are organized as a C Corp, you are taxed once.
i was entering Helena, AR (highly impoverished Delta town) right about the time Rubio was dismissing the need for public radio, citing all the other channels out there, like the hundreds on his satellite radio. just then i passed an enormous grown man riding a child's bike in the 100+ degrees, drenched in sweat, clearly not in it for fun; this was how he got around. how can a politician be so out of touch that he can talk about his satellite radio when discussing public options for news and culture, which i for one consider a basic human need.
Hi Mike Sargeant;Are you as bored as i am with bai's fundrisers ? [why they can't fund raise and stay in the present at the same time -i don't get]. NPR has good stuff on like Diane Rehm.Looking forward to your
next niteshift!
"I think if there is one person on the voter rolls that doesn't belong there, if there was one non-citizen voting, that's one too many. "
On the other hand, given that the number of incidents of that happening are so small that in many places there's NO evidence of it, while the evidence of hundreds if not thousands of legally registered citizens being denied the right to vote because of the very purges Rubio champions, one can only conclude that denying citizens their right to vote is perfectly okay with him.
Why not apply that "philosophy" a little more generally? Let's deny Latinos and Hispanics as a group the right to vote, because it's better they all be denied rather than allow a few illegals to hypothetically get through. And why don't we execute anyone accused of murder, without bothering with such nonsense as due process, a fair trial, the right to counsel, etc.? After all, better a thousand innocent people die than one guilty person "gets off". That's one too many - right?
All we have to do is rip up the Constitution!