# Why isn't Marco Rubio considered a legitimate 2016 contender? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 20, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716 "2014-12-20T04:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/1 "2014-12-20T04:05:59Z")
I don’t see much in the way of major flaws with Rubio. He’s young, handsome, intelligent, understands the issues, has experience, comes from a Hispanic background, and comes from a critical swing state. With every other major Republican candidate, I can identify at least one major flaw. Rubio seems like a solid all-around choice. What am I missing that discounts him as a legitimate threat? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/2 "2014-12-20T04:30:21Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > …comes from a Hispanic background, and comes from a critical swing state… His Cuba stance will now be a net liability, not an asset. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/3 "2014-12-20T05:38:45Z")
Also, [this heap of ridiculous horsepuckey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLmZbBh83-I) won’t soon be forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/4 "2014-12-20T06:16:05Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > I don’t see much in the way of major flaws with Rubio. He’s young, handsome, intelligent, understands the issues, There is controversy about the last two there. > **[Marco Rubio says humans are not causing climate change](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/may/13/marco-rubio/marco-rubio-says-humans-are-not-causing-climate-ch/)** > > Scientists have been issuing more new reports on the irreversible effects of climate change in recent weeks. Two groups > [@](#): > > Rubio said human activity is not “causing these dramatic changes to our climate.” An overwhelming majority of scientists agree that humans, by burning fossil fuels, contribute directly to global warming. > > Not only is Rubio incorrect, but he’s ignoring a mountain of concrete, scientific research. We rate his claim False. Considering that the China emissions deal will depend a lot on what is done in congress, not understanding this issue is really a very bad thing. And I’m also an Hispanic and I do agree with what **Peremensoe** said. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/5 "2014-12-20T06:37:18Z")
Amnesty ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/6 "2014-12-20T06:41:22Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > His Cuba stance will now be a net liability, not an asset. And anyway, most Hispanics are not white Cuban-descendants. Still, he’s not as much of an ass as another white Cuban-descendant who actually seems to believe he’s presidential. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/7 "2014-12-20T07:05:41Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Still, he’s not as much of an ass as another white Cuban-descendant who actually seems to believe he’s presidential. “He’s not as bad as Ted Cruz” is very, VERY faint praise. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/8 "2014-12-20T08:18:59Z")
He’s done nothing but pander to conservatives, exposing his dishonesty and hypocrisy. He’s a GOP token Hispanic and he’d be unknown otherwise. At this point I doubt he could even win a primary in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/9 "2014-12-20T08:42:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > He’s done nothing but pander to conservatives, exposing his dishonesty and hypocrisy. He’s a GOP token Hispanic and he’d be unknown otherwise. At this point I doubt he could even win a primary in Florida. How was his moderate stance on immigration reform pandering? It was, in fact, the exact opposite. A principled stand on an issue near to his heart. Regarding Cuba, just because a second-term Democratic president wants to reset relations all of a sudden means Americans turn pro-Cuban? Just like we all turned pro-Russia in Obama’s first term? You’ll have to do better people… ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/10 "2014-12-20T09:24:31Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > How was his moderate stance on immigration reform pandering? > > It was, in fact, the exact opposite. A principled stand on an issue near to his heart. > > Regarding Cuba, just because a second-term Democratic president wants to reset relations all of a sudden means Americans turn pro-Cuban? Just like we all turned pro-Russia in Obama’s first term? > > You’ll have to do better people… He does not have a moderate stance on immigration reform. Not taking the most extreme conservative view doesn’t make him a moderate. You’ll have to do better at pointing out any positive characteristic of Rubio. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/11 "2014-12-20T13:14:01Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Regarding Cuba, just because a second-term Democratic president wants to reset relations all of a sudden means Americans turn pro-Cuban? Just like we all turned pro-Russia in Obama’s first term? > > You’ll have to do better people… The polling indicates this was a very solid political move by Obama (in addition to being the right thing to do, IMO) – big majorities support normalizing relations with Cuba, and even more so among Hispanics and in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/12 "2014-12-20T13:31:30Z")
Rubio is a serious contender for 2016, but he’ll probably fall short. He’s more of a VP contender or a future President. As young as he is, I’d really like to see him be the next governor of Florida, THEN run for President. ---
**Author:** ![Donald\_Rump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/13 "2014-12-20T14:03:41Z")
So all of a sudden one term as a US senator is enough experience to be president? Or only as long as your name isn’t Barack Obama? Just trying to discern a consistent principle here. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/14 "2014-12-20T14:11:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > …You’ll have to do better at pointing out any positive characteristic of Rubio. I’m also interested in hearing a response to this. OP, come back. ---
**Author:** ![Scholar\_Beardpig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Scholar\_Beardpig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scholar_Beardpig)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/15 "2014-12-20T14:23:09Z")
As a Miami boy, may I weigh in for a moment on why Marco Rubio isn’t a meaningful contender in 2016? **Because he’s a fucking clod.** And everyone knows it. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/16 "2014-12-20T15:59:38Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > So all of a sudden one term as a US senator is enough experience to be president? Or only as long as your name isn’t Barack Obama? Just trying to discern a consistent principle here. Rubio is nowhere near ready to be President and it would be foolish to nominate him given the far more qualified choices. Even three term Senators shouldn’t be President unless they have foreign policy experience or have been major leaders in getting things done, preferably outside of official leadership. Joe Biden would qualify even if he wasn’t VP. So would John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Ron Wyden. That’s my opinion, of course, but one thing that has struck be about the last two administrations has been a high level of government failures. We need someone with a proven record of competence, or at least courage to fight the bureaucry and/or work with the other side to get things done. The federal bureaucracy is so unaccountable, so far removed from the people these days, that it may take both parties being united to rein it in and get it serving the public rather than itself. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/17 "2014-12-20T16:06:23Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/18 "2014-12-20T16:17:42Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Rubio is nowhere near ready to be President and it would be foolish to nominate him given the far more qualified choices. By which you mean Bobby Jindal? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/19 "2014-12-20T16:34:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Rubio is nowhere near ready to be President and it would be foolish to nominate him given the far more qualified choices. Yes, but remember, the Republicans need to nominate someone, too. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716/20 "2014-12-20T17:27:48Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > … Yeah, that last post left me pretty speechless, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716.md?page=2)