Rubio Talks Taxes at Sarasota Town Hall

Todays News

When reporters ask Marco Rubio why he is only polling in third place in the Republican primary for president, a grin rolls across the senator's face. “You want to talk about polls? When I started running for Senate, I was at 3 percent in the polls,” he said. It’s a story that many a Florida voter in attendance at a Whitfield town hall event already knows, the tale of this Miami legislator who took on a sitting governor in a race for an open Senate seat in 2010—and won.

So Rubio is happy to talk about running as an underdog, but as he spoke to people gathered at Marine Concepts, it was clear that wouldn’t be his primary focus for the day. A discussion of such broad philosophical matters as the American history of free market prosperity, with some hyper-specifics on matters like the value-added tax, set him apart as a presidential aspirant with a foundation in policy. “We have the greatest economic system in history, where poor people can become richer without making rich people poorer,” he said. “Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton don’t understand that.”

The candidate spoke with signature eloquence and telegenic flair, and speaks frequently of the need for America to change the trajectory set by President Barack Obama. But he also has his hopes pinned on voters wanting not only change, but a nominee who knows the finer details of what he is talking about.

Rubio was in Sarasota Monday for a private fundraiser, then held an hour-long town hall at Marine Concepts. The format allowed some guests to ask unscripted questions, the first asking whether his attendance record indicated he gave up on changing the country through Congress. He said he had not, and noted he sponsored legislation passed just last week regarding U.S. treatment of Hezbollah. He drew large applause promising to repeal ObamaCare, and also stressed he would not work through executive order. 

Many of his policy points aimed straight at primary opponents, suggesting a business flat tax supported by Chris Christie is just a value-added tax, something President Reagan labeled a chance for government to “blindfold the people” from seeing taxes on businesses. But Democratic frontrunner Clinton was the only opponent he called out by name (Democrat Bernie Sanders was referred to as the “avowed socialist” running against her). “I can’t wait to run against Hillary Clinton,” he said. “In my opinion she is disqualified from being president of the United States… she was a terrible secretary of state.”

« View The Tuesday Jan 12, 2016 SRQ Daily Edition
« Back To SRQ Daily Archive

Read More

Gruters Pushes to Fund Selby Scientific Priorities

Gruters Pushes to Fund Selby Scientific Priorities

Jacob Ogles | Feb 26, 2024

Liz Cheney Tells Sarasota Audience to Fear Trump

Liz Cheney Tells Sarasota Audience to Fear Trump

Jacob Ogles | Jan 17, 2024

Cooper Running For Hospital Board

Cooper Running For Hospital Board

Jacob Ogles | Jan 12, 2024

Florida Republicans Hosts GOP Presidential Field

Florida Republicans Hosts GOP Presidential Field

Jacob Ogles | Nov 6, 2023