Marco Rubio will discuss Card Check Monday 06-07 in Ft Lauderdale

Miami, FL – In light of his opponents’ either sounding open to or openly supporting “card check” and the elimination of secret ballot union elections, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio will hold an event with the Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter on Monday, June 7, at 3:30 p.m. in Ft. Lauderdale to talk about “card check” and its impact on workers, businesses and our economy. The following event is open to the media:

Monday, June 7, 2010:
3:30 p.m. EDT
Facchina Construction Of Florida
6600 N. Andrews Ave.
Suite 200
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Rubio is on record as apposing "Card Check'.

“I oppose card check and any efforts like the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) to tip labor law in favor of unions through binding federal arbitration. I am concerned by labor unions’ unrelenting campaign for card check, which would eliminate workers’ right to a secret ballot in unionization elections. I believe workers’ rights should be protected and that a card check system would open the door to pressure and intimidation that would disrupt the workplace and threaten businesses’ livelihoods. I also oppose EFCA’s arbitration provision, which would give labor and management just months to reach a labor agreement before a contract is imposed by a federal arbitrator.”

Rubio Calls Crist's Bluff-Debate Me Then!

Marco Rubio wasted no time in "calling-out" Charlie Crist after Crist vowed to fight back against Rubio's successful and accurate attempts to paint him as a RINO.

Rubio's answer to Crist's promise to fight back? DEBATE ME!

Very smart on Rubio's part. Here is the press release issued by the Rubio camp:

“Let the buyer beware of anything Charlie Crist is selling. If Governor Crist can’t be honest about his own record of endorsing the stimulus, he shouldn’t be trusted to talk about other people’s records truthfully and accurately. While his history of running false, misleading and negative campaigns says otherwise, we nonetheless hope this signals a new phase in this campaign where Governor Crist will actually step up and directly engage Marco Rubio in a series of debates. Floridians deserve better than candidates hiding behind ‘anonymous’ websites and lobbyist hatchet men.” ---Alex Burgos

UPDATE!
Rubio campaign sends a letter and direct challenge to Crist to debate the issues.

Eric Eikenberg

Campaign Manager
Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate
P.O. Box 1694
Tallahassee, FL 32302

Dear Eric:
As you are probably aware, on June 22 of this year, Marco Rubio invited Governor Crist to participate in a series of at least 10 U.S. Senate debates, beginning this fall. Organized by GOP organizations in each of Florida’s media markets, these unprecedented debates would cover a full range of state and national issues, while showcasing Florida as a national leader in promoting the very best political discourse the Republican Party has to offer.

At that time, Marco acknowledged the differences that exist between him and Governor Crist on issues like wasteful stimulus spending that has failed to create jobs, cap-and-trade, property tax reform, judicial appointments, property insurance and a struggling Florida economy that has seen unemployment rise to a 34-year high. Marco expressed his belief that several debates would help bring these and other differences to light.

Unfortunately, Governor Crist has shown no interest in debating Marco thus far.

Instead, the media has widely reported on behind-the-scenes maneuvering by your campaign to attack Marco and his record. Today, the National Journal’s On Call reports that, “FL Gov. Charlie Crist will step up his direct engagements with his opponent. … Crist will attack former FL House Speaker Marco Rubio.”

Marco welcomes the challenge and invites Governor Crist to reconsider his reluctance to directly engage in face-to-face debates. In light of Governor Crist’s “governing” commitments, we would be happy to work with you to formalize a debate schedule that will help our campaigns rise above the typical 30-second commercials, slick slogans and bumper stickers that define too many of our country’s political contests.

For example, we hope you will consider the December 17 debate being sponsored by the Biscayne Bay Young Republicans and the FIU College Republicans, which will be moderated by Michael Putney from Miami’s WPLG-TV. There is also a January debate sponsored by the Tampa Republican Club, which will be moderated by the St. Petersburg Times’ political editor Adam Smith.

I look forward to your reply and the contest ahead.
Respectfully,
Pat Shortridge
Senior Advisor
Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate

Rubio Campaign to Launch most Powerful Fundraising site in Fl History.

The Rubio campaign intends to launch a new fundraising site that they describe as the "MOST POWERFUL ONLINE FUNDRAISING SITE IN FLORIDA HISTORY"

Developing! Here is the press release:

Miami, FL – Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate today announced its plan to launch what will be the most powerful online fundraising website in Florida’s political history. The site will go live on Tuesday, November 3 to coincide with elections across the country, including the hotly contested special election in New York’s 23rd congressional district.


“A major part of our fundraising success has been and will continue to be from online donors,” said Rubio campaign spokesman Alex Burgos. “This new site will help us continue expanding our online fundraising network in ways that were unimaginable just a year ago.”


Additonal details to follow

Marco Rubio Campaign Launches Two new Web Ads

Take a look and enjoy these awsome new Marco Rubio web ads:

"Higher and Higher"


"Free Fallin"

Rubio Campaign Responds to new Crist Radio Ad

The Crist campaign decided to spend a little of it's huge war chest by releasing a radio spot today which is airing on conservative talk radio shows. Here is the text of the Crist campaign ad. I will add the audio when I can get it. Read the Rubio campaign Response below!

Udpate: Here is the link to the audio of the Crist ad.

Washington is out of control, yet the president has the same tired answer for every problem – to spend more of your money.
I’m Charlie Crist. I’m running for the U.S. Senate because Washington needs a dose of Florida common sense.
In the last two years, federal government spending has grown by over 25 percent.
Here in Florida, I’ve slashed government by 10 percent. That’s $7 billion.
And we’ve passed the biggest tax cuts in Florida history.
Last fall, the conservative Cato Institute graded all 50 governors with a fiscal report card.
I’m proud to say that I was ranked #1 in America.
Less government, less taxes. It’s more than a slogan. It’s my commitment and the record I’ll bring from Tallahassee to Washington.
We can’t spend our way into prosperity or tax our way into growth.
Let’s cut the size of the federal government and return your family’s money so you can decide how to best spend it.
I’m Charlie Crist and I approved this message.

The Rubio campaign quickly responded with a countering fact check of the ad and released the following statement.

“Just like government can’t tax and spend its way to prosperity, Charlie Crist can’t fundraise and spend his way into being a conservative. By hitting the airwaves this early in the campaign, it’s clear he’s concerned that his abysmal economic record, embrace of Obama spending policies and Marco Rubio’s rise are a recipe for his defeat. Despite his best efforts to sell himself as a conservative, Charlie Crist can’t fool Floridians who are feeling the pain of the Crist economy and know his record of embracing wasteful stimulus spending, raising taxes and supporting cap-and-trade." -- Alex Burgos, Rubio campaign spokesman

The Sun Sintenal has a Great breakdown of the ad and tears it apart.

Marco Rubio Hits Back Twice as Hard

In a letter to supporters, the Marco Rubio campaign sent out this email in response to Charlie Crist's newest attacks against rival Rubio.

The Rubio team does not seem intimidated by the tactics. In fact, they hit back twice as hard asking for Crist to debate the issues.  Crist has continued to hide from any debates.

Here is the letter(with links):
Supporter-


We all knew this day would eventually come. After months of negative headlines about his stewardship of Florida, pretending he is unopposed in the GOP primary and refusing to debate Marco Rubio on the issues affecting Florida’s and America’s future, Charlie Crist has finally acknowledged he has a real fight on his hands and is reverting to his tried and tested approach of smearing whoever stands in his way.

Faced with Marco’s growing momentum and a public growing increasingly sour about his own record of supporting tax increases, the wasteful Obama stimulus package and cap-and-trade, Crist and his allies are lashing out with misleading, negative and personal attacks. As the Miami Herald reports today, “Crist allies are starting to push back at the notion that Rubio is a conservative’s dream candidate.”

Unfortunately for Crist and his allies, they are running up against a wall of respected conservatives who have seen Marco up close and can vouch for his credentials:

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich: “… has pegged Rubio as a rising national political figure and calls 100 Ideas ‘a work of genius.’”

Former Gov. Jeb Bush: “He’s got all the tools. He’s charismatic and has the right principles.”

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey: “Marco Rubio is a champion of freedom and an inspiring leader for the next generation of the conservative movement. His track record and conservative convictions are a breath of fresh air in a party looking for new leaders to advance the principles of limited government, lower taxes and economic liberty.”

Sen. Jim DeMint: “There is no question Marco Rubio will be a big part of the Republican Party’s future, but I believe if we are to defeat the forces of Big Government now controlling Washington, Marco Rubio needs to be a big part of the Republican Party’s present. He has the skills and ideas we need to rebuild our party, reform our government, and renew our nation.”

Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist: Rubio is “the most pro-taxpayer legislative leader in the country.”

Syndicated Columnist George Will: “His preventive medicine includes limited government, tax reform, spending restraint and removal of all impediments to the entrepreneurship that makes America a place ‘where poor people can put billionaires out of business.’”

National Radio Host Laura Ingraham: “He's not the favorite in this race, but he's the best one running. I'm all about supporting true conservatives.”

You see, Marco has the truth on his side and the conservative credentials to back it up. But he needs your help to get the word out and fight the smears, which is why we’re asking you to help today in two ways:

First, help make sure Marco has the resources to set the record straight by donating to his campaign. Your support will help ensure Marco’s message reaches all Floridians.

Second, urge Charlie Crist to accept Marco’s Debate Challenge. As voters, you deserve to see candidates go face-to-face on the issues of greatest concern to you. So far in 2009, Governor Crist has shown more interest in standing on stage with President Obama at a pro-stimulus rally than he has in standing on stage with Marco debating ideas. That’s not the kind of campaign you deserve.

Thanks for your support,
Team Rubio

Charlie Crist having Trouble with the Facts in Michigan

Florida Governor Charlie Crist seems to have trouble with some of the facts as he addresses the 28th biennial Republican Leadership Conference on Mackinac Island Michigan.

Click here for the full story. ( "Charlie Crist looks to be dissing Jeb Bush's legacy in speech" )The story above gives the TRUE details of Crist's claims.


The office of Crist's republican rival for the 2010 US senate seat, Marco Rubio, quickly responded.Here is their statement:

"Unfortunately for Charlie Crist, what happened in Michigan this weekend, didn't stay in Michigan. If the beleaguered citizens of Michigan are looking for answers to their economic problems, they can do better than listening to Charlie Crist. Michiganders should ignore Charlie Crist's suggestion that they copy his prescription of historic tax increases, bigger government, more wasteful spending and no jobs to show for it. As Floridians can attest, the pain of the Charlie Crist Economy is nothing to brag about.

"In an effort to hide his own economic record, Charlie Crist even appears to have taken a page out of the Obama playbook by blaming a Bush for what he inherited. Charlie Crist needs to own up to the fact that he inherited a state with 3.3 percent unemployment that has now soared to 10.7 percent on his watch."