Latinos Object to Likely GOP VP Pick Marco Rubio

Hispanic group Presente.org says Florida senator gels more with Tea Party than Latinos.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is not a Republican candidate for president, but nonetheless he’s the target of a negative political ad. Why? Because last week GOP presidential contenders Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich name-dropped him when asked during a debate last week to name Latino politicians they would appoint to positions in their administration. That’s led to buzz that Rubio will be chosen as vice president by the candidate who emerges as the Republican nominee. But political group Presente.org points out in a video ad featuring Rubio’s remarks on the Dream Act and Arizona’s immigration law that the Cuban American has more in common with the Tea Party than he does with the Latino community. Here are three reasons why:

Rubio said last year of the Dream Act, which would put undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as small children on the path to citizenship: “I’ve said repeatedly I want to help these kids. I think these were kids who were brought to this country by their parents when they were very young; they were high academic achievers and want to go to college and contribute to America’s future or serve in the armed forces. And I think helping them would be good for America. I do want to help them; I just don’t think the DREAM Act is the right or best way to do it.” NInety-one percent of Latinos support the Dream Act, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

Rubio supported SB 1070, the 2010 Arizona immigration which led to boycotts against the state: “But right now, for the people of Arizona, this is not (from I gathered) this is not even an immigration issue. This is a public safety issue. And the fact is that Mexican drug violence has tragically crossed over the border and into an American state and American cities. So I congratulate them on taking steps to clarify even further the intent of the law.” Eighty-one percent of Latino voters in Arizona opposed SB 1070.

In 2009, Rubio opposed Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court pick. Sotomayor became the first Latina to sit on the high court: “The role of the Supreme Court is to interpret the Constitution, not to make law. Given this, I am deeply concerned about Judge Sotomayor's past comment that the courts are ‘where policy is made’ and look forward to hearing her explanation and defense of that view.” Sotomayor’s supporters argued Rubio took the judge’s comment out of context.