Marco Rubio Calls Paris Terrorist Attacks “A Positive Development” For Americans

On Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, Florida Senator Marco Rubio referred to the deadly Paris terrorist attacks as “a positive development,” because it would make Americans focus more on national security issues and the realities of terrorism. In one of the most brutally honest statements of the 2016 Republican presidential campaign, Rubio revealed his priorities by noting that the terrorist attacks might help give his campaign a boost.

Senator Rubio stated:

I obviously am not happy about the events that happened last week in Paris. But I think it’s a positive development that it suddenly has forced Americans to confront more carefully the issue of national security because it is the most important thing a President will do and it is the most important function of the federal government.

Perhaps recognizing that he had been a bit too candid in noting that he was exploiting the attacks for political gain, he went on to add:

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I hope that we focus on that note more, not just for political advantage but because the world has become a very dangerous place.

Sure, Rubio qualified his comments by saying he was not happy with what happened in Paris, but the words “not happy” seemed rather mild words of disapproval for a brutal massacre that killed 129 people. Using the word “positive” to describe the attacks revealed Marco Rubio’s political ambitions clearly exceed his capacity for empathy. Over the course of a long campaign, every politician is apt to make some verbal gaffes, but Rubio’s gaffe exposes a character flaw.

The Florida Senator is a Machiavellian opportunist who is willing to exploit a tragedy, as long as he can use it in a way that advances his political career. The senator who no longer shows up for work regularly, because he is bored of casting important votes and tired of sitting through security briefings, wants to be president. He wants it so bad that he sometimes reveals how excited he is that horrifying global events might help give his campaign a boost. He wants to be president, but Americans should want somebody other than Senator Rubio to lead the nation in these turbulent times.

Keith Brekhus

Keith Brekhus is a progressive American who currently resides in Red Lodge, Montana. He is co-host for the Liberal Fix radio show. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Missouri. In 2002, he ran for Congress as a Green Party candidate in the state of Missouri. In 2014, he worked as a field organizer for Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick’s successful re-election bid in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. He can be followed on Twitter @keithbrekhus or on Facebook.