Rubio rallies for Romney at former school

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on Saturday rallied hundreds of supporters of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the Florida senator's former grade school in Las Vegas, where he returned to familiar ground to argue President Barack Obama should be replaced in the White House.

In a 20-minute speech, Rubio said voters face a choice between Romney, a businessman who "believes in free enterprise," and Obama, who he said imposes too many government rules and regulations and wants to move the U.S. backward "into the dark days of human history" when people didn't have choice and opportunity.

Like other Republicans, Rubio mocked Obama's recent comment about business when he said, "You didn't build that," arguing it takes government infrastructure to provide entrepreneurs opportunity.

"If you built the business, you built the business," Rubio said to applause from the standing-room-only crowd.

"He doesn't believe in the free enterprise system and, quite frankly, he doesn't understand it," he added of Obama, contrasting the president with Romney, who ran Bain Capital, a turnaround company. "It is a choice between two very different visions of the world."

Rubio painted a dismal picture if Obama remains in office of a society where opportunity is lost.

"Now is not the time to go backwards to the dark days of human history," Rubio said.

Rubio, a contender to be Romney's vice presidential running mate, said America was founded on the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Obama administration is eroding the ability of businesses to grow and create jobs.

Under Obama, Rubio said, taxes are too high and businesses don't know whether more levies are coming or more laws such as the health insurance mandate will be pushed through. He argued that every dollar that goes to the government as it expands is one less dollar to spend on job-creating private enterprises.

"Obama wants to fund a big government experiment," Rubio said "That's hurting you."

Rubio told Romney supporters the election isn't just about removing Obama from office, but about putting in a man who knows how to promote free enterprise in the best American tradition

"You're not just working to get rid of somebody. You're working to replace somebody," Rubio said.

CROWD KIND TO THE FAVORED SON

A crowd of more than 800 people crammed into the assembly area of Ronnow Elementary School to cheer Rubio, a rising Hispanic star of the Republican Party who delivered a rousing speech. In the 90s outside, the heat rose nearly as high in close quarters and people waved fans to keep cool.

"Marco Rubio for vice president!" a man called out in the middle of the speech and a cheer followed.

Rubio made a joke of it, saying, "That's not the kind of heckler I expected."

Rubio is among about half a dozen potential vice presidential candidates thought to be on Romney's short list. Romney has confirmed he's considering Rubio and is expected to announce his decision before the Republican National Convention begins in Tampa on Aug. 27.

Other front-runners to share the GOP presidential ticket include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Sen. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Rubio would be a riskier choice, a conservative tea party favorite with a compelling history but so new on the national political scene that he hasn't been thoroughly vetted. His parents left Cuba in 1956, seeking more freedom and economic opportunity in America. They moved to Miami where Rubio was born.

The family moved to Las Vegas in 1979 and returned to Miami in 1985. Rubio began the third grade at Ronnow and attended the school through fifth grade, he said. In opening his speech, Rubio pointed to one of his old classrooms, Room No. 12, from when he was in fourth grade. He joked that it was a good thing the administrative offices were closed so the press couldn't ask for his grades.

"I was the champion of marbles," Rubio said.

U.S. SENATOR EXTOLS AMERICAN DREAM

Rubio told the crowd his family's story is typical of how working-class immigrants can achieve the American dream. His father worked as a bartender in Las Vegas and his mother as a maid, yet one of their sons rose to become a U.S. senator despite the economic struggles they endured.

"Now is not the time to abandon the American miracle," Rubio said, arguing Democratic policies of expanding government and imposing more taxes and rules harks back to centuries ago when there were few rich men ruling over poverty-stricken masses. "We are better than the rest of the world. The reason why we're better than the rest of the world is because we are the rest of the world.

"America is not a race. America is not a religion."

Rubio didn't mention immigration policies during his speech, although Romney and Republicans have been criticized by many Hispanics for their strict immigration stances. In Nevada, most Latinos lean toward the Democratic Party. Obama won three-quarters of the Hispanic vote here in 2008.

BALANCED IMMIGRATION POLICY URGED

After the speech, Rubio said the nation's immigration system is broken because more than 11 million immigrants are in the country illegally and the government needs reforms to deal with them. He said the guest worker program needs to be improved. And he said he's still working on finding a solution for young immigrants brought to the United States illegally when they were babies or children.

"It's important to find that balance when immigration is a partisan issue," Rubio said.

Rubio is developing a GOP version of the DREAM Act, which is aimed at allowing young immigrants who grew up here to stay in the U.S. legally and work and study. His proposal wouldn't go as far as the original DREAM Act supported by Obama. The Democratic plan would offer a path to U.S. citizenship for immigrants who attend college or join the U.S. military. Romney backs citizenship for immigrant soldiers.

After the speech, Rubio said he still plans to introduce his DREAM Act-like legislation after the election. But he said Obama pre-empted him by announcing recently that his administration would offer young illegal immigrants two-year work permits as a stop-gap measure.

"I know people who are undocumented," Rubio said. "But we have laws we have to enforce."

Outside the school, about 10 protesters gathered to support the DREAM Act and oppose Rubio.

"Rubio, Crown Prince of Tea Party," one sign held by a protester said.

Blanca Gamez, an undocumented immigrant who would be helped by the DREAM Act, said the GOP solutions aren't enough. She said some young immigrants are disabled and can't join the U.S. military. Others can't afford to attend college for four years and obtain a degree, a requirement under one GOP proposal.

"What he wants to do defeats the purpose," Gamez said of Rubio's plan that wouldn't offer citizenship.

GOP TREATMENT OF HISPANICS CRITICIZED

Democratic State Sen. Mo Denis of Las Vegas, who is Rubio's cousin, was among about a dozen extended family members who came to the school to chat with Rubio. Denis praised Rubio's speaking abilities but said when it comes to immigration and economic policies the two cousins are on opposite sides.

"He's an inspirational speaker," said Denis, who said he didn't listen to Rubio's speech Saturday.

Denis said he still lives in the Hispanic neighborhood where the two cousins grew up. He said the needs of the Latino community are not being met on everything from health care to education and jobs. Denis said the budget-cutting policies of the Republican Party go too far and don't offer enough community support.

As for the DREAM Act youth, Denis said he's glad Rubio is considering ways to help the young immigrants, but he said his ideas fall short of a real long-term solution.

"They didn't ask to be brought here," Denis said, noting they were raised and educated in the United States and many would thrive as citizens. "Why wouldn't we keep the best and the brightest here?"

Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow @lmyerslvrj on Twitter.