Marco Rubio sends a harsh message to those considering a U.S. visit
Ideally, the secretary of state would make clear to the world that the United States is eager to welcome visitors. He’s doing the opposite.
https://bsky.app/profile/democracyblue.bsky.social/post/3ln3wijl6ak22
Ideally, the secretary of state would make clear to the world that the United States is eager to welcome visitors. He’s doing the opposite
Link to tweet
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/marco-rubio-sends-harsh-message-considering-us-visit-rcna201740
A report in Fortune noted that a Goldman Sachs analysis estimated that in a worst-case scenario, “the hit this year from reduced travel and boycotts could total 0.3% of gross domestic product, which would amount to almost $90 billion.”
Ideally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio would make clear to the world that the U.S. is open for business and eager to welcome visitors. Instead, Trump’s chief diplomat authored a piece for Fox News that was unmistakably hostile toward would-be tourists.
Visiting America is not an entitlement. It is a privilege extended to those who respect our laws and values. And, as secretary of state, I will never forget that. U.S. law lays out clear rules about who can and cannot come to the United States. The State Department’s consular officers are required to apply these rules to each of the millions of visa applicants around the world each year. ... We expect — and the law requires — all visa holders to demonstrate their eligibility every day their visa is valid. This includes respecting our laws, behaving appropriately according to their visa type, and continuing to meet these standards throughout their stay in our country.
A welcome mat it was not.
For what it’s worth, Rubio is from Florida, and as a Florida native, I’m comfortable reminding the secretary of state that tourism represents a significant chunk of that state’s economy. Indeed, just last year, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, Florida’s tourism industry hit a new high in 2024.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Boy I cannot even prioritize the legions of MAGATs along w Trump in his administration I want to see the worst of Karma come down upon them... Hell, I'm not sure I can even keep up with a complete list. 
Last edited Fri Apr 18, 2025, 04:35 PM - Edit history (1)
The first generation of Cuban exiles were BATISTA supporters and beneficiaries who were running from CASTRO. A curse on both their houses, since CASTRO turned out to be just another petty dictator reaping billions in Swiss bank accounts for himself and all the daily sex desserts.
As for Marco, not the first generation but its offspring, who knew that this pipsqueak in the Senate would have his inner petty dictator *loosed*? Why don't he and Cancun CRUZ and the whole bunch install themselves in Havana and fulfill themselves now that there are openings over there?
There are spectrums of politics everywhere - such that, the wingnut extremes are in other countries, too. Marco BATISTA Rubio.
********ON EDIT, well, Wiki says I have some misinformation, as shown below, but so did he in his previous accounts, but the overall confusions don't change my radar for detecting wingnuts and other frauds in my trying to understand their maleficence:
*********QUOTE******
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Rubio
.... His parents were Cubans who began living in the United States in 1956 during the regime of Fulgencio Batista, two and a half years before Fidel Castro ascended to power after the Cuban Revolution.[5] His mother made at least four return trips to Cuba after Castro's takeover, including a month-long trip in 1961,[5] and a return to Cuba had been planned before the changes in their native country. Rubio's parents were not U.S. citizens at the time of Rubio's birth.[6][7] They were naturalized in 1975.[5] Some relatives of Rubio's were admitted to the U.S. as refugees.[8] ....
In October 2011, The Washington Post reported that Rubio's previous statements that his parents were forced to leave Cuba in 1959 (after Fidel Castro came to power) were falsehoods.[5] His parents left Cuba in 1956, during the Batista regime.[5] According to the Post, "[in] Florida, being connected to the post-revolution exile community gives a politician cachet that could never be achieved by someone identified with the pre-Castro exodus, a group sometimes viewed with suspicion".[5] Rubio denied that he had embellished his family history, stating that his public statements about his family were based on "family lore".[5] Rubio asserted that his parents intended to return to Cuba in the 1960s.[5] He added that his mother took his two elder siblings back to Cuba in 1961 with the intention of living there permanently (his father remained behind in Miami "wrapping up the family's matters" ) , but the nation's move toward communism caused the family to change its plans.[5] Rubio said that the "essence of my family story is why they came to America in the first place and why they had to stay".[13]
Rubio has three siblings: older brother Mario, older sister Barbara (married to Orlando Cicilia), and younger sister Veronica (formerly married to entertainer Carlos Ponce).[14] ... ....
*** BONUS, Carlos PONCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Ponce
Carlos Armando Ponce Freyre Jr.[note 1] (born September 4, 1972) is a Puerto Rican actor, musician, model, and television personality. Ponce began his acting career by participating in Spanish language soap operas for Televisa and Telemundo. Ponce continued to expand his acting career by participating in various American television series. He did not limit himself solely to a career in television. Ponce, who is also a singer, is also active in the American movie industry as a character actor. In film, he played Salvadore in Couples Retreat, Matthew Wright in Spy and Rodrigo in Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo. In television, he played Felix Gonzalez in Cristela, Max Duran in Hollywood Heights, as well as voicing Santiago Santos in Maya & Miguel.
Early life
Ponce was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. His parents, Carlos Ponce Sr. and Esther Freyre, emigrated from Cuba after the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro. After his birth, the family moved to Humacao, where Ponce was raised. ... ....
In 1986, the Ponce family moved to Miami, Florida, and Ponce continued to participate in his school's productions at South Miami Senior High. ... ....
In 2003, Ponce played himself in the movie Chasing Papi alongside fellow Latinos: Puerto Ricans Roselyn Sánchez, Lisa Vidal, Walter Mercado, Colombian actress Sofía Vergara, and Latin pop singer Jaci Velásquez. After this experience, he went to New Zealand to film Meet Me in Miami.[1][2][3] ....
In 2006, Ponce participated in the controversial recording of the Spanish-language version of the Star-Spangled Banner, called "Nuestro Himno", alongside Wyclef Jean, Gloria Trevi, and Olga Tañón.[1][2][3] He hosted the Miss Universe 2006 pageant in Los Angeles, along with Nancy O'Dell and Carson Kressley. He also appeared in the movie Just My Luck, with Lindsay Lohan, Chris Pine, and McFly.
********UNQUOTE****
What a comical dumbass. 
Sarcasm!that business too.
What's with that picture accentuating his chin up, is that his "dictator" wanna be pose???
Boy he kissed the felon's ring and other bodily parts.