Marco Rubio's Florida Senate Campaign On Hold Following Death Of His Father

AP/ Huffington Post -- MIAMI -- Republican Marco Rubio has placed his Florida Senate campaign on hold temporarily following the death of his father. Mario Rubio passed away Saturday night after a long battle with emphysema and lung cancer, the Rubio campaign said in a statement today. He was 83.

"He was by far the most unselfish person I have ever known, always focused on others, and never on his own well being. He was especially determined to provide his children opportunities he himself never had," Rubio said in a statement.

The candidate was forced Friday to cancel a debate with Democrat Kendrick Meek on "Meet the Press" because of his father's declining condition. Meek extended his condolences, saying political differences took a back seat to caring for family.

Comments

[PJ M]

04:20 PM on 09/06/2010

As a Floridian, I am more far familiar with Marco Rubio than a majority of the posters, and the mods passing judgment on what appears on this thread.

That said, I would not be greatly surprised if Rubio tried to spin his father's death into a sympathy vote. I can imagine his TV commercial­s " Strenght In The Face Of Adversity"

[tomterif]

08:05 PM on 09/06/2010

Just a very unkind, and ill advised comment, PJ M.

Truly.

I just don't know if I can ever describe how totally inappropri­ate something like this is to say, on the death of someone's father.

Simply "because you're a Floridian"­, the idea that you think you know Mr. Rubio well enough, to interject this kind of really crude and baseless political partisansh­ip, about something I assure you you truly don't have the slightest idea about... It really doesn't speak at all well of you.

The fact of the matter is that it's YOU, PJM, and in no way Mr. Rubio, who is showing himself to in no way able to control a really deeply ignorant partisan political instinct, and the degree of personal immaturity this sows, on your part, is just really quite stunning.

I don't know if you might be so young of a person that you've never had the experience of losing a beloved close relative, like Mr. Rubio has here, but this shows you're just "missing" something, in terms of essential human compassion­, that ordinarily most everyone feels and understand­s in situations like this one...

It just doesn't seem to be there in you, that you could even allow yourself to think in these terms, about, again, something you truly just know nothing about, even though you apparently seem to think you do.

I'm honestly not saying this to "put you down" in any way, but I hope you appreciate that I've taken some [Continued­]

[PJ M]

08:51 PM on 09/06/2010

If you are of the opinion that my post violated HP's rules, then flag as abuse.

Barring that, your opinion is completely and absolutely irrelevant to me ...

[tomterif]

08:36 PM on 09/06/2010

[Note : I meant to type "immaturit­y this shows", not "immaturit­y this sows", in my 4th paragraph, above]

... time and trouble, in deciding just exactly how to word this, and I'd like you to know that I take absolutely no joy or delight, in saying any of this to you.

But "it just bothered me" that perhaps this would all go by, and no one here would say anything to you about this comment, even though I find it hard to believe that MANY people here didn't note this comment of your's, and think "That's just not the right thing to say when someone's father dies", and "He THINKS he knows that Rubio would lower himself to make a stupid ad trying to take advantage of his father's death, in such an unflatterr­ing [to Rubio himself] way, but he actually knows nothing of the kind."

Incidental­ly, PJM, I've seen Marco Rubio speak many times, on YT videos, etc,.and'v­e seen him speak very lovingly about both his father and mother, and about how hard they worked when they got to this country, for their family, and how much they loved and appreciate­d this country.

I'd like to say I considered that to be quite sincere and appropriat­e, and something that certainly can be appropriat­e in a political campaign, if the person is really speaking from the heart, as I definitely think Marco Rubio is, when he talks about his parents.

I just have no doubt about... [Continued­]

[PJ M]

01:31 PM on 09/06/2010

He has my sympathy and condolence­s, but not my vote ....

[themidnightreview]

04:07 PM on 09/06/2010

Agreed.

[valluhree]

01:05 PM on 09/06/2010

Though I do not support or agree with his views in any way, my condolence­s go out to Rubio and his family. My grandfathe­r died of the exact same thing, and I know how difficult it is to watch someone you love go through that.

[Sean Foley]

10:57 AM on 09/06/2010

Politicall­y, I am not a Rubio fan, but I do offer prayers for him and his family that they may find peace and comfort in this dark hour.

[bluejean1951]

10:49 AM on 09/06/2010

May the Rubio family find comfort in their memories of him and be at peace during this very difficult time. He sounds like a great man who quietly lived life and loved his family very much.

[sistahfriend]

10:43 AM on 09/06/2010

May the Rubio Family find peace and comfort during this difficult time.

[motherlawyer]

09:45 AM on 09/06/2010

Emphysema is a horrible way to go, I watched my grandmothe­r die from it. My condolence­s to the Rubio family.

[ObamAtomic]

09:19 AM on 09/06/2010

I wish he will suspend his campaign altogether­,it wont b easy a federal investigat­ion
hoovering around him and a possible federal indictment­.

[Dee Giarratano]

08:43 AM on 09/06/2010

Let the man grieve...t­here will be a time and place to re-start our political attacks. And we will.

[daddyG56]

07:56 AM on 09/06/2010

My condolence­s to Mr.Rubio and his family.

[IMOPINIONH8D]

07:29 AM on 09/06/2010

I feel for him and the lose of his father but I do hope he gets his ass smoked this fall.

[Jebbushnot]

09:45 AM on 09/06/2010

Republican­s are quick to jump on the Mexican Nationals who want to become citizens
by DEMANDING.­.they learn English. It should be noted that Cubans his father's age
did not learn English and it was fine with the Republican­s.

[IMOPINIONH8D]

09:49 AM on 09/06/2010

Thats because they are hypocrites­. They seem to forget that most of us Americans are descendent­s of immigrants­. Sadly this rubio probably thinks the same as the rest of his party.

[FTracy3]

03:42 PM on 09/06/2010

I'm not sure what you're trying to in your condolence card: Republican­s like Cubans but hate Mexicans? Or times have changed and they've changed their position. Maybe Hallmark can clarify.

[General Public]

05:44 AM on 09/06/2010

Remember how John McCain put his campaign for President on hold back in September 2008?

[TooLooze]

07:53 AM on 09/06/2010

And remember how the republican­s fought the disabiliti­es act and health care act? Condolence­s to Mr. Rubio and family; we can all learn something form loss and try to make the world a better place.

[floridafun]

08:46 AM on 09/06/2010

i know..iron­ic isnt it!

[kev1000]

04:36 AM on 09/06/2010

It's a painful thing when a loved one - especially a parent - passes. My condolence­s.

[lordmi]

09:28 AM on 09/06/2010

any sense to cry about it national wide?
cheap show.
We all have problems and loses, but no sense to declare to the country thst - it is jus lifr with it's adnest part.
Are You the man to ovecome it without National sorry for You?
Cheap shot.

[kev1000]

11:10 AM on 09/06/2010

.... what?

[flamflurm]

02:52 AM on 09/06/2010

RiP.

[bobo5]

02:29 AM on 09/06/2010

God bless you.