State of the Union Crib Sheet for April 22, 2012

Today on State of the Union, in an exclusive interview, Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) predicted that presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney will receive more support from Hispanics in his state than Republicans garnered in the 2008 presidential election. Rubio downplayed his higher office aspirations, refusing to talk about his vice presidential prospects and saying he does not think about a future presidential run. President Obama’s re-election senior adviser, David Axelrod, blamed Republicans for the failing to pass immigration reform in the president’s first term. Axelrod said a congressional "reign of terror" has prevented supportive Republicans from cooperating on immigration issues, which were a hallmark of President Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) confirmed that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on which he serves as Ranking Member, is sending a letter of inquiry to the Department of Defense (DOD) about their knowledge of the prostitution scandal now that has engulfed the Secret Service.

HIGHLIGHTS

David Axelrod, Sr. reelection campaign strategist for President Obama
“I think a lot of Republicans in Congress want to cooperate and know better, but they're in the thralls of this reign of terror from the Far Right that has dragged the party
to the Right. In your own polling and other polling, you see the Republican Party has really moved out of the mainstream.”

David Axelrod, Sr. reelection campaign strategist for President Obama
“ In your poll, the president is winning among moderates by 41 points. And there's a reason for that, Governor Romney and the Party has gone way out to the right. I think that these folks are going to recognize when they lose this election that that was the wrong path to take, and now is the time for a season of cooperation. We're not going to agree on everything, because that's why we have two political parties. But we shouldn't reflexively disagree on everything, just for the sake of politics.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on the Secret Service and concerns for the President’s safety:
“I have concern about all presidents and everybody that the Secret Service guards. … But the fact is that African-American people have always expressed concern to me about this president. They see, Candy, folk around this president with guns strapped on their legs. And they say, you know, how can that be? And they're just - they worry. They're concerned, but, again, I believe that the Secret Service is going to get through this. I think this is a time that they have to take a look at themselves.”

Sen. Marco Rubio on speculation that he may be Romney’s choice for the GOP Vice Presidential nominee
RUBIO: “Up to now it's all been theoretical, we have a nominee now, and our nominee, Mitt Romney, the leader of the Republican Party, has a vice presidential process in place. And I think from this point moving forward, I think it'd be wise for all Republicans to kind of respect that process, myself included, and say moving forward, we're going to let his process play itself out. He's been a great decision maker throughout his career in both the private sector and in politics and he's going to make a great choice.”
CROWLEY: “Sorry, do you still stand by 'I wouldn't accept it if he offered it?'”
RUBIO: “Yeah, I'm not even going to discuss the process anymore. I'm going to be respectful of the process he's put in place. And I think that's-“
CROWLEY: “That's kind of different though, than what you said before.”
RUBIO: “No, it's the same. I think the fairness in it is that he now has a real process in place. He has folks that he's hired and has asked to go through a vice presidential process. The last thing he needs are those of us in the peanut gallery to be saying what we would or would not do. So, here's what I know: I know that Mitt Romney's going to make a great choice for vice president. And I know Mitt Romney's going to make a great president for this country. …I'm not going to discuss it anymore. Because now there's a real process in place and I want to be respectful of the process that he's working on.”

Sen. Marco Rubio on Hispanic voters
RUBIO: “… I think we just got out of a primary cycle and now that's why we're going to have a campaign where each side is going to tell and try to convince people to vote for them. I think what those numbers explain is what I know instinctively to be true and that is; Americans of Hispanic descent, especially in Florida, are swing voters, that they're willing to vote for Republicans or Democrats on an election by election cycle. The number one issue in the Hispanic community, let's be clear is economic empowerment.”