Republican operatives spinning Rubio's flop

[itshappening]

This will make Brian smile...

-
Sen. Marco Rubio’s inopportune case of cotton mouth during his State of the Union response may slow his rapidly rising stock, but will likely have no little lingering impact on his 2016 prospects, Republican operatives said Wednesday.

“The water moment did not bother me,” said Republican strategist Bruce Haynes, of Purple Strategies. “I thought it made him human. Washington types will snort and buzz about it but it probably made the average voter smile. And for Republicans, making voters smile is a welcome change of pace.”

Alex Castellanos, another Republican operative at Purple, said, “I think it was great first step for Marco Rubio and a great first step for the Republican party. I think he passed a very tough test… it’s like following Secretariat on the race track.”

Still, a number of operatives questioned the wisdom of Rubio giving the response in the first place, suggesting that while he showcased his political strengths, he also highlighted a weakness — that he is still young and relatively new to the national stage.

“Whatever they wanted out of it, I’m not sure they got,” said one Republican operative. He was among many who were privately calling the SOTU response the most over-hyped, and least rewarding, opportunity Republicans have (“It’s a hostage-tape,” said one).

“It’s kind of like the bad Clinton speech,” the operative said, referring to Bill Clinton’s Democratic National Convention bomb in 1988. “Do I think it’s lasting damage? No. Do I think it slowed down the Rubio hype a bit? Yes.”

To look at Twitter, Rubio’s parched performance and water-seeking squat were the biggest takeaways from a speech that focused otherwise on an aspirational, I’m-one-of-you message. GIFs popped up within minutes, showing Rubio taking a quick swig from a Poland Spring bottle, and allowing a seconds-long pause in his speech.

Among Democrats, comparisons quickly cropped up to another famous SOTU response during the Obama era, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s 2009 speech that prompted widespread mockery. (Jindal, on NBC News right after Rubio spoke, praised his potential 2016 rival’s performance.)

Rubio made the most of it on the morning shows. The Florida Senator brandished a water bottle and made light of his awkward moment, which his team hoped would counter the “weird” factor (a term that appeared mid-morning next to Rubio’s name on Yahoo).

Among Republicans, those who thought it was problematic mostly held their tongues. But there were plenty who defended him publicly – and cut him slack.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/general-consensus-rubio-water-flap-shall-pass-87614.html#ixzz2KpDjwB00

[itshappening]

“Rubio’s national introduction is now a punch line,” declared one veteran operative, adding that the issue had left the Twitterverse and entered real coverage, leaving the potential for real harm.

“For the Republican Party, it might be a net positive that a new face appeared on the stage. But for Rubio, a real setback.”

Scott Reed, Bob Dole’s campaign manager from 1996, called the discussion “silly” and said he thought Rubio did “very well.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/general-consensus-rubio-water-flap-shall-pass-87614_Page2.html#ixzz2KpEjabL0


ROFL, Dole's campaign manager defending him. These people have serious judgement questions on the candidates they like. Voters will hopefully ignore them.

[Tax the Fed]

The very fact that the water boy label is what came out of the
opportunity to give the official GOP response to the SOTU in 2013 . . .
means it was a flop.

At least for 2014, the Kentucky Senator will be given the opportunity for the official GOP response -
if the Grand Ol' Party has any sense left in it.

[itshappening]

Also you can tell from the article "refused to be named to not offend Rubio's team" and the amount of people spinning -especially from Purple Strategies - that the establishment and professional neocon infiltration class have a lot invested in Rubio. This is where the push is coming... from these guys and they have a lot of connections in the media.

The question is can they sell Rubio in Iowa and NH regardless of the fawning media coverage and where he will encounter Ron Paul supporters? I'm not so sure. They seem to be relying on an MSM echo chamber to establish a path for him but the voters in IA and NH will not pay much attention to that.

They want to meet the candidate in person and see him on the debate stage which is where he'll crack under the pressure, much like last night.

[Jackie Moon]

“It’s a hostage-tape,” said one.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/13/article-2277891-178BE259000005DC-414_306x406.jpg

[angelatc]

Alex Castellanos, another Republican operative at Purple, said, “I think it was great first step for Marco Rubio and a great first step for the Republican party. I think he passed a very tough test… it’s like following Secretariat on the race track.”

Really? A Republican said that ????

[Spikender]

After reading through this, I suggest a revised title to this thread:

Republican operatives spinning Rubio's floppy dick

[John of Des Moines]

Also you can tell from the article "refused to be named to not offend Rubio's team" and the amount of people spinning -especially from Purple Strategies - that the establishment and professional neocon infiltration class have a lot invested in Rubio. This is where the push is coming... from these guys and they have a lot of connections in the media.

The question is can they sell Rubio in Iowa and NH regardless of the fawning media coverage and where he will encounter Ron Paul supporters? I'm not so sure. They seem to be relying on an MSM echo chamber to establish a path for him but the voters in IA and NH will not pay much attention to that.

They want to meet the candidate in person and see him on the debate stage which is where he'll crack under the pressure, much like last night.


It work for pretty good Santorum here in Iowa.

[itshappening]

It work for pretty good Santorum here in Iowa.

Santorum lived in Iowa for about a year but yes, he got a nice push at the end

[itshappening]

Really? A Republican said that ????

Remember, these are the same kind of people who think Bob Dole, Romney and McCain are good presidential candidates and their senate picks are even worse.

[erowe1]

I didn't watch it, and I don't really get why anyone ever watches any of these things.

But I don't get it. How could drinking water in a speech be that bad? It's kind of annoying that people are being told that it should matter, and they're believing it.

[Tax the Fed]

. . . How could drinking water in a speech be that bad?

I guess when you are the chosen savior . . . hispanic neocon and all . . .

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo161/sunblush/rubiotime01_zpsa0468d0e.png

people should be more used to walking on water more

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo161/sunblush/rubio1_zps7ab7f817.gif

[itshappening]

The other problem with Rubio is that he has an annoying voice and speaks too fast. I think Rand's southern drawl is much more preferable.

[Henry Rogue]

I hadn't seen it till now. It's kind of funny. You can tell his mouth is really dry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19ZxJVnM5Gs&feature=player_detailpage

[Jackie Moon]

http://g.virbcdn.com/_f2/files/a5/FileItem-279607-Marco_Rubio_Drink_Water_Watergate_Small.png (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=468038369929302&set=a.349161998483607.77250.349159118483895&type=1&relevant_count=1)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=468038369929302&set=a.349161998483607.77250.349159118483895&type=1&relevant_count=1

[Spikender]

http://g.virbcdn.com/_f2/files/a5/FileItem-279607-Marco_Rubio_Drink_Water_Watergate_Small.png (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=468038369929302&set=a.349161998483607.77250.349159118483895&type=1&relevant_count=1)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=468038369929302&set=a.349161998483607.77250.349159118483895&type=1&relevant_count=1

Smooth Criminal.

[paulbot24]

At least when he's busy drinking he can't speak.

[Jackie Moon]

Just saw that Rubio tweeted this earlier:


Quench your thirst for conservative leadership? Order a bottle now
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BDBoD7GCMAAu-5y.jpg
http://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/301866193084641282

[Working Poor]

Bush/Cheney endorsed ug!

[Tod]

Today was a rough day to listen to talk radio because they were really pushing this clown.

[angelatc]

Anybody watch The Soup?

Joel McHale made fun of him the whole half hour.

[parocks]

Just saw that Rubio tweeted this earlier:


http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BDBoD7GCMAAu-5y.jpg
http://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/301866193084641282

Could not have been executed in 24 hours. It just wouldn't have happened like that. (obviously it could've, but...) Planned stunt?

That looks like a real water bottle. https://www.reclaimamericapac.com/donate/water-bottle/?utm_source=DrudgeReport&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=20130213_b64m51k57a24a72h38k21m33g80n 97g66b46k95m12n74l03m12h25h38k20l03c76b46h73f58o34 c17m34l14h12f54o27b80h12b53m83o34f70a52w87b64m51k5 7a24a72h38k21m33g80n97g66b46k95m12n74l03m12h25h38k 20l03c76b46h73f58o34c17m34l14h12f54o27b80h12b53m83 o34f70a52f82e69

all up on the website 5pm wednesday. bottles already made in less than 24 hours? Or take a sip of water, as planned, knowing full well that that sip of water would get people talking about you and then sell those water bottles.

[Isaac Bickerstaff]

That is what the GOP gets for finding some young D-bag somewhere and putting him in the "the bubble" (30 Rock).
They will never win an election on merits if they keep pushing these idiots who have been conditioned to believe that they simply cannot fail. But then again, the Democrats do the same damn thing.

[A Son of Liberty]

Could not have been executed in 24 hours. It just wouldn't have happened like that. (obviously it could've, but...) Planned stunt?

That looks like a real water bottle. https://www.reclaimamericapac.com/donate/water-bottle/?utm_source=DrudgeReport&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=20130213_b64m51k57a24a72h38k21m33g80n 97g66b46k95m12n74l03m12h25h38k20l03c76b46h73f58o34 c17m34l14h12f54o27b80h12b53m83o34f70a52w87b64m51k5 7a24a72h38k21m33g80n97g66b46k95m12n74l03m12h25h38k 20l03c76b46h73f58o34c17m34l14h12f54o27b80h12b53m83 o34f70a52f82e69

all up on the website 5pm wednesday. bottles already made in less than 24 hours? Or take a sip of water, as planned, knowing full well that that sip of water would get people talking about you and then sell those water bottles.

The text seems pretty obviously shopped into a pic of a water bottle.

[jmdrake]

http://g.virbcdn.com/_f2/files/a5/FileItem-279607-Marco_Rubio_Drink_Water_Watergate_Small.png (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=468038369929302&set=a.349161998483607.77250.349159118483895&type=1&relevant_count=1)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=468038369929302&set=a.349161998483607.77250.349159118483895&type=1&relevant_count=1

LOL. But actually Rubio DID lose eye contact at least 3 time in that painful 13 second video clip.