U.S. Rep. David Jolly,R-Indian Shores, was one for two on honest, non-disingenuous responses to politically slippery issues the last fortnight.
First, he came across as credible–and earnestly pragmatic–when asked which of two Florida favorite sons he would back as a GOP presidential nominee. He acknowledged that when it comes right down to it–a Republican in the White House in 2017–he’ll be backing former Gov. Jeb Bush and not U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.
It’s a matter of experience, Jolly pointed out. Bush’s “executive” (gubernatorial) background and “length and diversity of his career uniquely qualifies him.”
Then he went on to equate Rubio’s experience with that of Sen. Barack Obama in 2007, which probably strikes Rubio supporters as an unnecessary jab for Jeb.
Chances are, Bush’s establishment/right-of-center standing, his impressive, early staffing-up, his Right to Rise super PAC and his VIP-infused, fund-raising pipeline were game-changing. Just ask Mitt Romney. It was certainly enough to trump the younger, more charismatic Rubio in the judgment of Jolly.
Plus, Bush’s appeal to Hispanics–from Spanish fluency to a Mexican wife to a more moderate take on immigration–would transcend South Florida Cubans. Moreover, if Jeb Bush is the Republican nominee against Hillary Clinton, his “legacy” name, ties to Wall Street and pricey speeches would be largely neutralized as an issue.
And then there’s this: This likely is the 62-year-old Jeb’s last rodeo.
Rubio, after maxing out on his current book-tour national forum, can return to the Senate, add more heft to his resume–especially on foreign policy–and live to run another day. He’ll be 49 in 2020, 53 in 2024. Time for Jolly payback.
As for that other Jolly answer, it was knee-jerk rhetoric couched in politically partisan, Cuban exile-speak.
He was asked why he didn’t travel to Cuba recently with a group organized by Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long. Jolly said he felt it would be “inappropriate for a member of Congress to visit until Cubans enjoy greater freedom.”
That’s right out of the Rubio/Ros-Lehtinen/Diaz-Balart hymnal. That’s what you say when what is best for your region, your state and your country matters less than maintaining the partisan divide that keeps you in sync with Little Havana, your party’s top leadership and virtually nobody else in the world. Ask Rick Scott.
Imagine if such a disingenuous, hypocritical standard were to apply to every country that didn’t enjoy democracy. Here’s hoping Jolly, for example, isn’t planning to visit Saudi Arabia, our key Middle East ally and trade partner, any time soon. His own democratic standards would preclude it.