Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio’s makeovers
Behind the Curtain: About this weekly feature
Behind the Curtain is a reported column, Web show and online conversation about the behind-the-scenes intrigue that shapes politics and policy. It will unfold every Tuesday (and beyond, when news dictates).
Marco Rubio doesn’t want to be the “Hispanic candidate.” Paul Ryan doesn’t want to be the “austerity guy.”
Both want to run for president, or keep the option wide open. So each is trying to change his own image — and with it, the Republican Party’s — starting Tuesday night with dueling speeches at the Jack Kemp Foundation’s awards dinner.
Continue Reading(PHOTOS: Republicans, 2016 contenders)
While Congress dawdled this summer, Rubio, 41, assigned his policy experts to figure out ways to help make the middle class wealthier — and add a dose of substance to the charismatic presidential hopeful’s résumé. Reaching out to academics and think tanks to build Rubio’s network, the senator and his staff developed a two-year reinvention project and an “upward mobility agenda,” including programs like early childhood education, school choice and incentives for entrepreneurs. Those are some of the proposals he’ll test-drive at the Kemp Foundation dinner, where he’ll receive the group’s second leadership award. The first winner: Paul Ryan.
Rubio also plans new ideas on immigration, aimed not at broad citizenship but at creating a bigger Hispanic middle class. “The answer,” Rubio will say in his after-dinner remarks, “is not to make rich people poorer. The answer is to make poor people richer.” If he makes the sale in countless such appearances over the next two years, he’ll begin a formal presidential campaign shortly after the midterm elections of November 2014, Rubio sources tell us.
Ryan, 42, will kick off his own drive to redefine the party — and himself — as the pre-dinner keynote speaker before 300-plus conservative faithful on the same stage, detailing his thinking on how people of all classes can rise up economically and improve socially. Top Republicans tell us Ryan tried to push his ideas for a more creative “war on poverty” during the presidential campaign but was muzzled by nervous Nellies at Mitt Romney’s Boston headquarters who didn’t see an immediate political payoff. So Ryan seethed when the “47 percent” tape emerged, convinced that the impact was worse because the campaign had no record on issues relating to inclusion or poverty, exacerbating the out-of-touch image that the hidden camera cemented.
(Also on POLITICO: What happens to @PaulRyanVP?)
Republicans are eager for both men to perform an image makeover on a party dominated by older, straight, white men. Ironically, Romney’s double debacle of getting caught on tape lampooning the “47 percent” of voters who get government benefits, then blaming those “gift”-getters for his defeat, has created an enormous opening for Rubio, Ryan and other 2016 hopefuls. Suddenly, even Sean Hannity seems hungry for some change.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal — the new chairman of the Republican Governors Association and himself a possibility for 2016 — told us that the need for fresh policies is urgent. “The rich can defend themselves,” Jindal said. “It’s not about betraying our principles or becoming a second Democratic Party but, rather, showing how our principles work to help real families, and connecting that to the American dream.”
By our count, upward of 20 Republicans are giving strong consideration to running for president to set the new GOP direction. Rubio and Ryan sit atop the list. But Jindal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Jeb Bush have serious ambitions — and serious GOP cred.
(Also on POLITICO: Poll: Christie rating sets record)
In the next year, though, no two men in American politics will get more attention, have more power and speak more prominently about the direction of the post-Romney GOP than Rubio and Ryan. Rubio is now the party’s biggest draw. And Ryan’s post as House Budget Committee chairman keeps him front and center in the fiscal fights dominating Congress. He is the policy pope for many, if not most, House Republicans.
So Tuesday’s dinner at Washington’s Mayflower Renaissance has become an unofficial kickoff to 2016.
Readers' Comments (281)
I like the idea of the Middle Class becoming more wealthy.
Indeed, the wealthy United States Middle Class has given to others around the world.
yeah... get back to me when elected members of the GOP stop kissing the rings of folk like rush limbaugh and grover norquist. until then there are no makeovers for the GOP nor those in elected office under the brand.
Ryan is damaged goods. He'll be portrayed as the man who followed in the footsteps of Sarah Palin. That plus the stench of Romney will be to much to overcome.
But will Progressives vote for the Hispanic Marco Rubio, that will run as an American candidate, if he is the best person instead of First Lady Hillary Clinton?
Will the Democrats nominate the liar Hillary Clinton?
Both are both just versions of Saved by the Bell Characters
Zach Morris
Kelly
Screech
And both are Liars.
Rubio's parents were in the Cuban Elite and missed Battista, and he lied about that - he has as much in common with teh average Latino as I do.
Ryan is going to pretend to give a crap about the non-wealthy? When he wants to make medicare a voucher?
Why does the GOP hate the average American? The tape of Romney dumping on 47% just confirmed what we all knew - they equate a person's worth with their wealth.
Then how can you be for the GOP????
The top 1% now have greater net worth than the entire bottom 90% - that's the mark of a third-world country.
The Trickle Down Fairy myth has been exposed for what it is - a scheme to funnel money to the top few.
Rubio is the 'Hispanic' candidate and Ryan is the 'austerity' guy. Lipstick on a pig
So ya got Lyin Ryan. Who proved for months to be nothing but a cronic liar!!!
And then ya got Marco who spent decades fashioning his political career around a whole SET of LIES about his family fleeing Cuba !
So basically they are just Republicans.
Rejects.
Speaking of being a runner
Ryan lied about his marathon time
Not a lie to get elected like Romney, or a lie to keep him out of trouble like Clinton
but a totally unnecessary lie about a personal accomplishment
Front runner indeed
If there is a political make over artist out there who can redefine Lyin', Pot-Scrubbin' Randian, Marathon Man Ryan into a champion of the poor, they should be paid hundreds of millions. I do not believe in miraculous conversions, even when the Pope is on your side.
Quit looking at meaningless political speeches, Politico. If we want to know who Ryan and Rubio are, we need to ask them about what our country faces now -- the fiscal cliff.
Republicans claim they want to reduce tax rates for all Americans. If so, then why doesn't Boehner put what Democrats and Republicans have already passed in the Senate before his House members for an up or down vote? What the Senate passed does exactly what Boehner claims he and his fellow Republicans want to do: it lowers the tax rates for all Americans. The Senate bill does this on the first $250,000 in income each year -- for all Americans. Boehner is going into the infamous Republican ostrich approach: sticking his head in the sand to avoid recognizing the reality surrounding him. He thinks if he drags his feet and drags out the process, President Obama will cave before the new year and give Boehner and his fellow slaves of the richest what they really want: tax cuts for the richest Americans (paid for by the rest of US or China). Such an obstinacy reinforces the image of Republicans as unreasonable people, stupid and stubborn beyond belief. They have an easy opportunity -- they can vote on it today -- to reduce marginal tax rates for 100% of Americans but have decided to hold all those tax cuts hostage and threaten raising taxes on all Americans IF they do not get their tax cuts for all the money multimillionaires and billionaires make (not just the first $250,000).
What we should watch today is Nancy Pelosi's actions. She is inviting and exhorting House Republicans to sign a petition that will make a vote on the tax cuts the Senate passed come to the House floor. Since all Republicans say they are in favor of reducing those tax rates, she should be able to get the number of Republican signatures she needs. If she can't get them, it means Republicans have united to hold hostage those tax cuts in an attempt to extort more money for the richest. If she does get the needed Republican signatures, then we will have a vote on it in the House this week and one big part of the fiscal cliff will have been eliminated. I'm hopeful enough Republicans will put country before party and make this happen for 100% of Americans.
Rubio voted against the Senate bill that reduced tax rates on 100% of Americans. He's in the pocket of the richest and likes the Republican hostage/extortionist approach. Will Ryan sign the petition? We'll see, and in seeing, we'll see who Ryan is.
Most Hispanics wont vote for Marco Rubio for President. He is Cuban, only other Cubans might vote for him, his base of support is in Miami. Their immigrant experience is very different than that of other Hispanics.
But of course if you are a conservative you think anyone with a Hispanic last name can be President, its just not true.
Marco Rubio also voted against the Dream Act and Sonia Sotomayor, the first hispanic nominated to the US Supreme Court.
Rubio is TOAST
You probably know of horoscope where they will post, if you were born on this certain date you are. You probably know of the 12 years of Chinese calendar, where this is the year of the blank. Now I do not fully agree with these theories; however, did you know certain past US presidents were born on similar years?
For example, Bush Senior and Jimmy Carter were both born on 1924. Bush Junior and Bill Clinton were both born on 1946. Did you know the 2 people who lost the presidential bid to Obama were both born on 1947. They are Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton. Is it by chance or was it by the certain astrology and certain Chinese year of the blank?
Mr. Obama was born on 1961. What if our next President of the United States is also born on 1961, as well? Or will this pattern be broken the next time around? Does anyone know of a leading Republican or Democrat who is also born on 1961? Then that person may have astrology and the year of the blank advantage to become the next President of the United States.
all their makeover rhetoric will be nullified and belied by their actual voting records for the next 4 years; they will vote with their parties against any social programs, for any and all restrictions on freedom, and in all instances, will stand with the most extreme elements of the GOP on issues of taxes and women's rights.
neither has the personal strength or base to stake out a real independent position, and neither has the intellectual heft to distinguish themselves without alienating chunks of the lunatic base needed in the primaries
Here is the problem every right wing extremist faces if they want to be elected president:
Republicans have now lost the popular vote in five out of the last six elections. The 332 to 206 Electoral vote majority for Obama means that from 1992 on, no Republican has won 300 or more Electoral votes, and Democrats have won 300 or more in four out of the six. Democrats have now won 18 states (plus DC) in six consecutive elections, with a total of 242 Electoral votes, 89.6% of the 270 needed to win.
With the changing demographics thee only state that seems to be a swing state now is North Carolina. The only tactic the right has now is to hope for failure which is why they have been trying to sabotage the economy for over 4 years
Rubio would be the second best person if he ran against Hillary and no Republican will have a chance aginst her in 2016. Nate Silver can take 2016 off
As President Obama prepares to blame Susan Rice for jumping under his bus while he does his Kabuki dance at the edge of the cliff, Politico does a "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" for their first behind the curtain article. I am a "tomorrow is only a day away" person and I hope that Marco Rubio will be are next president.
Of course, Hillary Clinton's and Susan Rice's before, during, and after involvements in both 9/11s will be interesting to explore. IMO
dbIV
Party: Democrat
Reply #2
Dec. 4, 2012 - 5:20 AM EST
yeah... get back to me when elected members of the GOP stop kissing the rings of folk like rush limbaugh and grover norquist. until then there are no makeovers for the GOP nor those in elected office under the brand.
I agree. I have no doubt that there are some in the GOP with honest desires to do something to get the country going. The problem is that they are beholden to unelected people who hold their purse strings and therefore lead them by the nose. And, of course they are concerned about their political futures. If you want an example, you need look no further than House Speaker John Boehner. I think he wanted a deal two years ago. He HAD a Grand Bargain on the table 2 years ago and it was blown up by his own caucus. This time, he is guaranteed to get far less than he would have if he'd stuck with his own convictions. But now, there are those same forces at work, and he also has to worry about whether or not any deal he makes will cost him his speakership.
AngelEyez Member Since: Nov. 2, 2011 Party: Independent #4 Dec. 4, 2012 - 5:52 AM EST But will Progressives vote for the Hispanic Marco Rubio if he is the best person instead of First Lady Hillary Clinton? No offense, but on what PLANET would a complete and total newbie like Rubio ever be a better person than an experienced woman like Hilary Clinton? That said. If Mrs. Clinton runs, they might as well just allow her to start measuring drapes, as they say, as soon as she announces. Why do I say that. First, if the 2012 electorate was overwhelmingly loathe to unseat this sitting President despite the still poor economy, how do think people will feel after four more years of recovery ... a recovery that even Mitt Romney admitted was already happening and would continue on no matter who won this past election. Add to that the instability in many parts of the world. Who do you think the public would prefer... a complete novice in the real of foreign policy or a former Secretary of State with the full respect of the world at her back.
You must be logged in to comment
Not yet a member?
Register Now