Marco Rubio won't answer questions because, you know, kids. At least that's Stephen Colbert's take.
When discussing possible GOP candidates for the 2016 presidential election on "The Colbert Report" on Thursday, the host showed a special interest in Florida Senator Marco Rubio and his knack for not answering somewhat controversial questions, like if he's ever smoked marijuana.
"Rubio can't admit that he's burned down, he's trying to win over Republicans," Colbert said. "The party that brought us just say no, first as a drug policy, then as their entire platform." In an interview with Fusion host Mariana Atencio in March, Rubio very obviously avoided the question about drug use.
"I'll tell you why I never answer that question. If I tell you that I haven't you won't believe me," the senator replied, "and if I tell you that I did then kids will look up to me and say well I can smoke marijuana 'cause look how he made it."
Rubio seems to think there are a lot of young fans out there who admire him and want to be as successful as he is. Colbert has his own take on the matter.
"Yeah, think of the message that would send all the teen girls staring up at his poster on their bedroom wall," said the host.
It actually is not the first time Rubio has said he doesn't want to be a bad influence on the younger generation. In an interview with ABC and Yahoo News he brought up an anecdote in his book where he mentioned he wasn't the best student in high school. He said a man had told him that after his son read that he decided he didn't have to be a good student because "look at Marco Rubio, he didn't do well in high school and look at how successful he's been."
Whether or not Rubio will run in 2016 remains a mystery, although he has said he is considering a bid for the White House. For now Colbert paints a pretty clear picture of where Rubio stands: "When it comes to the question of whether he's ever smoked pot Rubio's official position is he would like to be president."
Watch Stephen Colbert's segment on Marco Rubio above.