By Raisa Camargo, VOXXI
After Romney’s remarks were publicized in a secret video some Republicans including Sen. Marco Rubio were quick to stand by their presidential hopeful.
Tensions are escalating after Romney’s remarks were publicized in a video that went viral throughout the web and some Republicans were quick to stand by their presidential hopeful.
In May, Mitt Romney was taped during a fundraiser and exclaimed that he doesn’t care about 47 percent of Americans who believe they’re entitled to government services. This same percentage was going to vote for Obama either way, he said.
Republicans went on damage control mode shortly after.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is considered a rising Latino politician, was asked how he felt Romney’s remarks would play out in [last night's] Univision debate with the Hispanic community during a press conference call with reporters.
The Senator worded his response to clarify that Romney was “acknowledging that this is going to be a very close race.” He went on to say that Hispanics are not going to buy into Obama’s “redistribution message,” a remark Obama made as a state senator in 1998.
“The enormous number of people come to this country to get away from big government economics,” Marco Rubio said.
Marco Rubio in company with Reince Preibus, Republican National Committee chairman, echoed that message to reporters a couple of hours before the Massachusetts governor was expected to meet with Univision anchors. They made the case that Romney believes in free enterprise and Obama’s entitlement philosophy encourages a society of dependency.
The call was followed after Republicans dug up a remark after the video was released. He cited a quote that Obama made as an Illinois State Senator. The president had said he believes in redistribution “at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody’s got a shot.”
Marco Rubio: Hispanic Americans understand the fundamental difference between Obama and Romney
The Senator clarified that the Republican Party just needs to do a better job at communicating their platform to communities.
“I think when we go to Americans of Hispanic descent and you make the argument that look we think that the economy can grow for all of us—we don’t think we have to take money away from your boss to leave you better off,” Rubio said.
Events were held in 13 states where surrogates tried to switch the focus to the economy. Some of these events took place in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Romney faces tough election prospects as a majority of the mainstream media has already cast a shadow on his prospects for November. Some have even gone so far as to say he already lost the election. Still, Preibus stated the president has not fulfilled his mission and his remark in 1998 echoes a philosophy that isn’t in line with where the economy is going.
“It makes sense then that his presidency has been defined by high unemployment, the worst economy that we’ve seen since the Great Depression. We know that his agenda is an agenda of dependency—because the proof is in the pudding as far as that’s concerned,” said Preibus. “We look forward to victory in November.”
Republican strategists have considered that Romney’s remarks go against the ideals of the party. His phrase targets specific population groups essential to the Party including blue collar workers, people of color,and seniors.
“There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it.”
“Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax,” Romney said.
The Latino vote highly coveted this November is particularly at play in three battleground states such as Nevada, Colorado and Florida. Today, Romney was campaigning in the sunshine state where he is expected to gain a large margin.
Rubio who is a top surrogate for Romney, considering the weight of the Latino vote, also responded to Romney’s remarks on whether being Latino would help him win the race.
Rubio chuckled at the question.
“I think he meant it as a joke. I think that’s how most reasonable people would take it,” said Rubio. “It’s not the first time he said something like it. He said something publicly with Jorge Ramos in Florida—it’s just a joke.”
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