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| Marco Rubio speech at CPAC conference brings conservatives to their feet |
| 2010-02-19 |
| Marco Rubio, the 38-year-old son of Cuban immigrants and candidate for an open Senate seat in Florida, electrified thousands of conservatives Thursday morning with an impassioned defense of American exceptionalism. In the opening address at the three-day Conservative Political Action Committee conference in Washington, Rubio delivered a fiery assault on President Obama's economic policies and his administration's handling of national security. The annual conference, known as CPAC, comes at a time of heightened optimism among the nation's conservatives about their chances in November's midterm elections, when they hope to knock off not only Democrats but Republican moderates such as Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Rubio's opponent in the state's Aug. 24 primary. Hosted by the American Conservative Union Foundation at a Washington hotel, this year's CPAC features speakers including radio and television commentator Glenn Beck and several Republican politicians mentioned as potential 2012 presidential candidates. Among the latter are former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (who also addressed the conference Thursday), Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.). Former vice president Richard B. Cheney made an unscheduled appearance onstage at CPAC, stepping out after his daughter, Liz, spoke. The crowd erupted with cries of "Run, Dick, Run!" "Knock it off," Cheney said. "A welcome like that's almost enough to make me want to run for office, but I'm not gonna do it." Cheney said he was at CPAC merely as "arm candy" for his daughter, but told the audience that Obama would be "a one-term president." "It's a remarkable time to be an American; it's a remarkable time to be a conservative," Cheney said, "and good luck!" |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 I hope Allen West makes it in as well. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-19 08:09 |
| #2 I hope he gets in. Then gets out before becoming just another trough-feeder. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2010-02-19 07:56 |
| #1 Very impressive young man. I hope he is elected. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-19 04:05 |