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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

This is why Marco Rubio is a Hero on the Right

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  January 18th, 2012 at 10:15 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

This morning I noted that we should primary Senators and Representatives on the left and right who refuse to back away from SOPA and Protect IP.

Included in the list, unfortunately, was Senator Marco Rubio. I would hate, hate, haaattttteeeee to primary such a great guy. We spent a lot of time, energy, effort, and money getting him elected. But SOPA/Protect IP is that bad.

Now, I’ve made clear that we wouldn’t do this unless the left was on board too and I’ve only really heard crickets from them. But it was a threat so many of us felt needed to be made to emphasize just how bad this legislation is.

Today, about 40 minutes ago, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida showed again why he is a real leader and listener within the conservative movement. He is dropping his co-sponsorship of Protect IP.

I hope other Republicans in the Senate follow his leadership on this issue. and please call Senator Rubio’s office and thank him for his leadership. His number is (202) 224-3041. We often fight. We should also often say thanks.

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COMMENTS

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  • fpete13527

    Marco does well to remove himself from this garbage bill.

    I’m glad you posted this. I was getting ready to make a call to Marco’s office that would have been un- retractable.

    To you Marco – thanks for withdrawing…..AND…. your name should never have been on this bill to start with.

  • gekster

    Therefore, I have decided to withdraw my support for the Protect IP Act. Furthermore, I encourage Senator Reid to abandon his plan to rush the bill to the floor. Instead, we should take more time to address the concerns raised by all sides, and come up with new legislation that addresses Internet piracy while protecting free and open access to the Internet.
    LikeUnlike ? ? Share ? 27 minutes ago ?

    (posted around 9:30 AM, 1/18)

  • http://teapartisan.wordpress.com Loren Heal

    The likelihood that Marco Rubio would have received a primary challenger over this issue is roughly zero. Senator Rubio knows that. His decision could not have been made out of fear of Redstate, though he may have had his eyes opened by how hopping mad the online right is over SOPA/PIPA.

    On the other hand, every incumbent needs a primary challenger from the right in every cycle.

  • BillC

    Thanks for keeping us up to date on this travesty. Politicians often make mistakes and it is up to a well informed public to let them know. Red State has done a great job informing us.

  • jakeofalltrades

    Good job for backing down. Keep Uncle Sam’s Jackboots off the Internet! If we’re going to trade that much freedom, we need a lot more in return than what PIPA provides.

  • mkozikowski

    M. Rubio is a great man because he is able to see above the crowd and pressures pushing him in one direction in order SEE the True Path of our Great Country.

    Thank you, once again Sen. Rubio, for your decisive leadership and command of your title.

  • eburkedisciple

    WIth all the hype there is still a real problem with intellectual property and trampling on the USA that we must address – and address strongly.

  • The_Rebel

    if he endorses Romney.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    .

  • tjpeco

    Then I saw this announcement. Thank God. I would have really hated to have to vote for a primary challenger against him.

  • joayn

    it concerns me that he did so only with a great amount of blowback. Hero? Hardly. Darryl Issa and others are the heroes, not any of the Republicans who will eventually withdraw their support.

    I see Rubio’s support more as a Santorumesque inclination and not for the deeprooted principles towards smaller government.

  • expanding_man

    We need more like him in the Senate. Sign the on-line petition against SOPA.

    http://dontcensorthenet.com/kill-sopa/

  • runner12

    whose leadership made the choice to stand on principle, even if it meant primarying people who have up to this point been Conservative stalwarts. This could not have been easy for them to do.

    Secondly, I will applaud Rubio for having the courage to withdraw his support. No Congressman or woman is perfect and they will at times make mistakes. The real test of character is whether they are open to being corrected by their constituents. Marco Rubio passed that test of character today. I hope that more will follow his lead.

  • MikeWas

    So I just wrote him, by hand, a letter thanking him.

    I urge you all to do the same. It will stand out.

  • http://www.sunshinestatesarah.com SunshineStateSarah

    …before calling for his head?

    I did. I know several people in Rubio’s office and had shared my concerns and the concerns that many others had with them.

    I would never expect my Senator to immediately rip his name off a bill the moment it was criticized. Rubio acted prudently here – he’s been researching the issues and seeing if there was a way to amend the bill so that it would be more narrowly tailored. There didn’t seem to be support for making the needed changes to the bill so he withdrew his support.

    Piracy isn’t a joke – it costs us billions every year. I’m in agreement with everyone here that SOPA as written was not the solution, but I don’t think doing nothing is a good idea either.

    Also not a good idea – going on a witchhunt against a good conservative Senator without giving him the time to analyze the situation.

  • http://www.sunshinestatesarah.com SunshineStateSarah

    http://www.sunshinestatesarah.com/2012/01/rubio-announces-he-is-withdrawing.html

  • Matt Genk

    But real thanks goes to RedState and EE. Great job team!

  • TexasTami

    This is leadership: listening and making the best choice.

  • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

    of SOPA today.

  • Lesstressrx

    Rubio did the correct thing withdrawing his support, but his reason for changing his mind is because the people spoke.
    It seems to me that he should have been looking out for us by not supporting such a bill to begin with. In fact, he should have reported this to the people and have warned us it was coming.
    We need representatives in congress looking after us, there is no way we can possibly know what they are doing behind our backs. My trust for Rubio has been weakened. Sort of weird, we are thanking him for not doing what he should not have done to begin with.
    Tennessean?s contact Marsha Blackburn. I will.

  • btpull

    Georgia truly should be able to do better than Chambliss and Isakson. There is not big government idea these guys won’t support.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    8 months is enough time.

    Face facts: Erick succeeded where others failed. Be the bigger person and admit you were wrong to give him cover on this.