16 Things You Should Know About Marco Rubio
Just a month ago, no major candidates had officially announced their intentions to run for President. On Monday (Apr. 13), though, we got our fourth in three weeks.
Senator Marco Rubio has Hillary Clinton , with others, including Jeb Bush, expected to announce soon.
The 43-year-old will certainly become more visible in the months to come, when he'll look to appeal not only to the nation as a whole, but specifically to millennials.
He's set to give official remarks this evening in Miami, but for now, here's a chance to get to know a bit about the senator and devoted 2Pac fan.
- He's A Republican Senator From Florida
Getty Images He's been in the Senate since 2011, but has been politically active for much longer. For two years he was Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, and a member of the House for nine years before that.
- He's Got A Wife And Four Kids
Marco Rubio via Facebook His wife, Jeanette, is a former bank teller and Miami Dolphins cheerleader, and together they have four kids: Anthony, Amanda, Dominic and Daniella. (They are festive!)
- His Parents Immigrated From Cuba
Marco Rubio via Facebook Mario (above, with a young Marco) and Oriales arrived in the U.S. from Cuba in 1956 , and had Marco in Miami in 1971. His father worked as a bartender, and his mother as a maid, cashier and retail clerk. In 1975, they officially became citizens of the U.S.
- He Dreamed Of Playing Pro Football In The NFL
Getty Images This, however, is not a picture of him in college. He got a scholarship to play at the now-defunct Takrio College, but played for only a year. He had bigger dreams though. ...
'Back when I was playing youth football in Las Vegas and thought I would be playing in the Super Bowl one day,' he said on Facebook. Never give up on your dreams, Marco. The Dolphins could use a wide receiver.
- He's A Roman Catholic But Was Baptized As A Mormon, Too
Getty Images Rubio's family moved to Las Vegas when he was 8 years old, and they reportedly briefly joined the Mormon Church . In addition, he has attended Christ Fellowship , which is a Protestant church.
- He Wants To Be Your President, But He Is Not Your Savior https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/299514215679524864
That distinction, instead, he gives to Jesus. Rubio's tweet came in 2013, shortly after Time magazine put him on their cover and called him 'The Republican Savior.'
- He's Anti-Disco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVbn-Ft6-60
'The '70s were a very frightening time,' he once said. 'Most troubling of all, we had to overcome disco and bell-bottoms and the Bee Gees.'
- But He's A Rap Fan With Strong Feelings About One Of Hip-Hop's Most Heated Debates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyfxr-Bzwn0
'Why am I not a Biggie person?' Rubio asked during an interview with Buzzfeed. 'I think 2Pac's lyrics were probably more insightful in my opinion -- with all apologies to the Biggie fans. In fact, right around the time [2Pac] had gone out to California and joined Death Row ... is kind of when I was in college and then law school.'
- He Gave The GOP Response To The State Of The Union In 2013 -- In Both English And Spanish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2ec6HQKsIg
But that wasn't the most notable part of his performance that night. ...
- This GIF Of Him Drinking Water Went Viral
Rubio needed a quick pause for a water break. People can poke fun at him all they want, but name one thing better than drinking water. You can't.
- But He Probably Sees No Need To Savor That Water, Since He Doesn't Believe In Climate Change https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sGs8AwrREY
'I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it,' he told ABC in 2014. 'And I do not believe that the laws that they propose we pass will do anything about it. Except it will destroy our economy.' He should probably talk to someone from California. Or 97 percent of scientists .
- He Strongly Opposes Abortion
Getty 'Just because we believe life, all life, all human life, is worthy of protection at every stage of its development, does not make you a chauvinist,' he said at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2013. Last year, he took some heat for claims that there was 'unanimity' about the beginning of life that was backed by science. What even is science, though?
- He's Personally Opposed To Gay Marriage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHdeNBBKeRw
At a time when the American family is threatened as never before, redefining it away from the union of one man and one woman only promises to weaken it as a child-rearing, values-conveying institution, he writes in his book, 'American Dreams.' But he thinks it should be decided by the states, not the federal government.
- It's Not Totally Clear, But He Might Be Open To A Path To Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants
Getty Images Rubio previously worked on a bill that would have ultimately led to a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the U.S. without documentation. And in his book, 'American Dreams,' he outlined a plan that would introduce a series of bills, which, for those who qualified, could ultimately lead to a status as a permanent resident.
- His Favorite Movies Are 'Wedding Crashers,' 'Pulp Fiction,' And 'The Godfather' Series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e57i1d-LnYQ
Hard to argue with classics.
- Also, Babies Love Him
Getty Images This one does, at least.
