Marco Rubio, Candidate for U.S. President
Candidate Full Name: Marco Rubio
Office: U.S. President
Party: Republican
Email Address: contact@marcorubio.com
Web Site: www.marcorubio.com
Campaign Name: Marco Rubio for President
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 558701 Miami, FL 33255
Phone: 877-557-8246
Survey Questions (Character limit of 2,000 per response)
1. Please tell us about yourself, your background and why you believe you are qualified to hold this office.
I am running for president because while America doesn't owe me anything, I have a debt to America I will never fully repay. America changed the very history of my family. It provided me with opportunities that would have been unthinkable anywhere else in the world.
There has never been a country like America. But we did not become an exceptional nation by accident. For over two centuries, each generation before us did what they needed to do to make this the greatest nation on earth. And now, at a time when too many people are wondering what will come of our long-held values and whether the American Dream is still possible, the time has come for our generation to do its part.
Our next president needs to be someone prepared on day one to execute his duty - someone with the judgment and the vision to lead this country. I will be that president.
As a former leader in the Florida state legislature and now as a U.S. Senator, I've led a bold effort to institute innovative, conservative ideas to address the fundamental issues facing our country and to restore hope in the American Dream. My ideas are firmly rooted in a simple truth - America has changed significantly in recent decades and our policies must change with it. I've proposed conservative reforms to our nation's antipoverty laws, tax code, regulatory policies, higher education system, vital senior safety net programs and national defense. All of my efforts are aimed squarely at one thing - restoring the hope and promise that the American Dream is real and that every American can achieve their own unique version of that dream.
It's also imperative that our next president be a Commander-in-Chief with a record of leadership and judgment. Of all the candidates running in either party, only I have that record. I am also the only candidate to have laid out a detailed strategy to roll back our president's failures - a strategy to rebuild our military, revitalize our alliances, defeat ISIS, and restore American leadership to a world badly in need of it.
Across America today, too many people are wondering if the American Dream is still possible. I have no doubt that it is. But make no mistake: it will require new leadership and a bold conservative reform agenda built for the 21st Century.
2. As President, what is the first significant step you would take to address the ISIS threat against the U.S.?
The U.S. needs to take the lead on a strategy, in conjunction with our local allies, that will destroy ISIS and deprive it and other terror groups of safe havens. This will require a larger number of American troops on the ground, especially Special Forces, working with the Kurds, Sunni tribes, and other partners. If America does not make this our fight, the West will not win it.
The conflict is not just about ISIS, either: ISIS is only the most prominent manifestation of radical Islam, an ideology bent on destroying the West and eradicating its values. In this civilizational struggle, either we win, or they win.
On the military front, I will build a multinational coalition of countries willing to send troops into Iraq and Syria with embedded U.S. forces and U.S. logistical and intelligence support to aid local fighters on the ground in destroying ISIS safe havens expand airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, deploying forward air controllers to call in air support. I will also develop a plan to oust Bashar al-Assad from power, including ramping up training of Syrian rebels to fight both Assad and ISIS and to establish safe zones within Syria.
Finally, I will provide arms directly to Sunni tribal and Kurdish forces if Baghdad fails to support them.
On the political front, I will counter ISIS recruitment and propaganda by broadcasting U.S. victories, showing the world that ISIS is not invincible. I will work with Baghdad to increase Sunni inclusion and autonomy for the provinces; push back against Iranian influence in Iraq, which only stokes further conflict; coordinate with regional allies to plan for Assad's fall. I will also advocate on behalf of and protect ethnic and religious minorities throughout the region.
3. As President, would you uphold the Affordable Care Act or would you move to amend or repeal it? Explain why.
America needs health care reform that will cut back government's role and harness the forces of competition to keep health care prices low and spur innovation. That means not just repealing ObamaCare, but replacing it with a market-driven alternative and reforming Medicare and Medicaid for the 21st Century.
As president, I would repeal and replace ObamaCare. I will expand access to affordable, quality health coverage by providing every American with an advanceable, refundable tax credit that can be used to purchase insurance. I will work to reduce healthcare costs, promote innovation, and ensure access for the most vulnerable by expanding access to consumer-centered health plans, reforming insurance regulations, and putting protections in place to ensure those with pre-existing health conditions can get access to affordable coverage. I will also promote innovation in the Medicaid program by giving states a per-capita block grant, which preserves funding for Medicaid's unique populations while freeing states from Washington mandates.
4. For the last 8 years, many presidential candidates, including President Obama, have campaigned on promises to end the political gridlock in Washington. Yet most experts say the stalemate has gotten worse. What steps will you take to end the gridlock and fight for bipartisan cooperation?
Politicians with these extreme views have always been around. But in 2008, one of them was elected president. And he has spent the last seven years carrying out a deliberate and systematic effort to redefine our government, our economy and our country.
Now millions of people feel out of place and insecure in their own country. So many are angry and frustrated with both political parties. Because Washington has never before more out of touch with our people than it is are right now.
I want people to be realistic about our challenges and optimistic about our future. We need a president who knows how to reverse the damage Barack Obama has done to America. I know what needs to be done, and when I am president, we will do it.
5. Voters say they are turned off by the negative and misleading TV ads that dominate the airwaves. However, campaign and election experts say candidates rely on them because "they work." Will you and your campaign agree to refrain from running negative ads from now until the election?
I'm not running for president to beat up on other Republicans. I'm running to unify this party. As president, I will help this country return to the principles that made us great. If we confront the challenges and seize the opportunities of our time, not only can we save the American Dream, it can reach more people than ever before. Then, the 21st Century will not just be as good as the 20th Century, it will be better -- it will be a New American Century.
