A new book by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who has raised his profile in recent weeks as he considers making a presidential bid in 2016, was released nationally on Tuesday as he offered his take on policy and drew fire from the Democrats.
Rubios American Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone," published by Sentinel Press, came out across the nation on Tuesday though there have been copies in bookstores across Florida earlier in the month. Back in 2011, Rubio penned American Son, an autobiography released after his upset win over then-Gov. Charlie Crist in the 2010 U.S. Senate race.
On Tuesday, Rubio sent out an email promoting the book and outlining the basics of his vision for America.
As the son of immigrants, I was raised to believe that every citizen had an equal opportunity to get an education, work hard, and save money to help the next generation, Rubio wrote. But today I see the American dream blocked for too many of us, because of well-intentioned but badly designed liberal policies.
This is my call to action, Rubio continued. We must restrain our power-hungry, debt-ridden federal government. We must help businesses create more stable, middle-class jobs. We must help our families stay healthy and secure. We must promote the values and can-do spirit that made our country exceptional. I wrote American Dreams to help point the way toward restoring the land of opportunity.
As his new book hits the stands, Rubio is feeling the heat from the Democratic National Committee (DNC). On Monday night, the DNC launched an attack on Rubio, insisting his ideas were dated and noting his opposition to same-sex marriage and hitting him on Medicare and Social Security.
Marco Rubio wants to talk about the age of his ideas, said Mo Elleithee, a spokesman for the DNC, on Monday night. Raising the Social Security retirement age? Turning Medicare into vouchers? Opposing marriage for all couples? His book reads more like a history textbook of failed ideas. This is the same kind of backward, anti-middle class agenda voters have come to expect and reject from the Republican Party for years. Lets be honest -- the only thing innovative about Marco Rubios ideas are the ways he panders to the fringe of his own party."
Rubio has said he expects to make a decision about a presidential bid in the first quarter of 2015.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
