In a small Italian restaurant located on SR 54 in Land O Lakes, Marco Rubio speaks to an eager crowd ranging from high school students to senior citizens. People stood outside waiting to catch a glimpse of the man they support while talking about how beautiful the weather is and their plans for the rest of the day. Rubio was joined by Gov. Mitt Romney and Congressman Adam Putnam.
The location for Rubio and Romney's Reclaim Amercia Rally is not one that someone would think befitting of such a grand title. Benedetto's Italian Restaurant is part of the Village Lakes Shopping Center. The shopping center's biggest stores are a Sweetbay, Dollar Tree, Goodwill and a Veterinarian's Office. After hearing Rubio's speech, however, it is apparent why the location was chosen.
"What sets America apart is that it is a place where a business can start out of a home where people use their life savings to open the store. There may be ups and downs, but the fact is many businesses exist because of someone's dream of opening that kind of establishment," Rubio said while addressing his views on why America is exceptional.
So in a small restaurant overflowing with people filled with a hope of a better tomorrow Rubio and Romney spoke to the sounds of clapping and cheers.
Romney discussed many of the pitfalls of our current government. "The government is anti-growth and anti-development. They are seemingly at war with private entrepreneurs for the first time in our nations history."
While cheers echoed throughout the small room the words "Marco Rubio will help to keep America strong" rang loud and clear.
Romney may have added a level of excitement to the atmosphere, but it was Rubio who the crowd was waiting for. It was Rubio who had people standing outside unable to hear a word but just as excited to be there.
Rubio began his speech the way any politician would by thanking those who support him. He addressed Congressman Adam Putnam and "the cornerstone of the industry" agriculture. He thanked Romney for "taking his time to help candidates."
Rubio enforced his ideas that the role for government is to help the people and not get in the way of the private sector.
"What distinguishes us from the world is the ability for the worker to be able to become the owner."
Rubio's words resonated with many people in the audience. They were clearly the kind of people who were willing to work for what they had and were not ready to give it up. The audience as Rubio so aptly put it "was not ready to be like everyone else."
Politics can be a dirty battle which Rubio warned would get even worse in the next four weeks. The messages have already begun to get "personal, nasty and vindictive." As any person can see many of the ad campaigns out there are no longer on the issues they are purely smearing people's credibility.
"If people are supporting the wrong issues they cannot focus their ads on those issues. Instead they focus on political personal destruction."
Rubio called for the people in the room to help fix America through what is right. He strongly believed as did many of the people in the room, that on November 2nd it will be those people that are fighting for America in the right way that will win. "They will win up and down the ballot."
Rubio asked the people at the rally for three things: vote, volunteer and with a laugh continue to visit this establishment (Benedetto's).
In a time where many people are looking for something different in our government, Rubio is bringing an outlook that has been forgotten by our current administration. Now whether that difference is widely recognized and agreed upon, only time will tell. It is undeniable though that the sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, and even grandparents that were there want the right kind of change.
This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 6, 2010.