Marco Rubio in Chattanooga
photo by Dennis Norwood
A Chattanooga crowd packed the Lindsey Street Hall for presidential candidate Marco Rubio on Thursday afternoon.
Former Congressman Zach Wamp, the statewide Rubio chairman, helped build the frenzy with a spirited introduction. "I believe in him 100 percent," he said of the 44-year-old junior Florida senator.
The candidate stepped onto the stage of the former church just after a call with his 10-year-old son on the topic of homework.
He told the crowd about his parents coming from the island of Cuba in 1956 and "living the American dream" though they did not have prestigious jobs. He said, "The United States is the only place in the world where people like them could have a chance."
Senator Rubio said this generation is on the verge "of being the first to leave their children and grandchildren in worse shape."
He cited burdensome regulations and an $18 trillion national debt and said the U.S. needs to react to the new economic order that focuses on innovation. "The economy is rapidly changing," he said.
The speaker said Medicare and Social Security are in need of reform, such as curbing some benefits, moving back ages of eligibility and giving the option of an individual being able to use accrued funds to buy a private policy. With the reforms, the current programs could remain viable, he said.
He said the setup of American education has not changed in many years, though he said four-year colleges are less effective now. "But without them how would we have college football?" he joked.
The candidate, calling for more technical and vocational training, noted, "A welder makes a lot more than a Greek philosopher."
He decried the high cost of student loans and suggested easier ways for working parents to get additional education - such as getting credit for some of their life experiences and taking online courses.
He also said the U.S. needs to "repeal and replace Obamacare." That brought the largest applause.
Senator Rubio said the world is increasingly a very dangerous place. He spoke of "a lunatic in North Korea" and "a gangster in Moscow" as well as Islamic Jihadists and the regime in Iran with access to nuclear weapons.
A leader of the Students for Rubio said the group has chapters in 47 states - more than any other candidate.
Senator Brian Kelsey came from West Tennessee to take part in the campaign rally. He said, "We are excited about this guy." He said he received a book from Marco Rubio in 2006 on 100 innovative ideas for Florida's future. He said Tennessee has borrowed some of those ideas.
He said Marco Rubio was speaker of the House in Florida when he was 35 and he won his Senate race by almost 20 percent though at one time he was down in the polls by double digits. "Every time he delivers," he said.
Mr. Wamp pointed out that Senator Rubio has been on Senator Bob Corker's foreign relations committee for five years and also on the intelligence committee. He said, "He knows the real problems we face and is the best of the candidates on national security and foreign policy."
He said Senator Rubio will "reach out to immigrants who are here legally and broaden our base."
Mr. Wamp called Senator Rubio "the wisest, most dynamic leader in our party in a generation."