Florida Sen. Marco Rubio defended himself Wednesday against attacks that he’s missing too many votes in the Senate, dismissing local a newspaper editorial that called for his resignation as “evidence of the bias that exists in American media.”
“Back in 2004, one of my predecessors in the Senate, by the name of Bob Graham, a Democrat, ran for President, missing over 30% of his votes,” Rubio said during the third Republican presidential debate. “I don’t recall them calling for his resignation.”
“Later that year, in 2004, John Kerry ran for president, missing 60-70% of his votes,” he said. “The Sun Sentinel endorsed him. In 2008, Barack Obama missed 60% or 70% of his votes, and the same newspaper endorsed him again. So this is another example of the double standard that exists in this country between the mainstream media and the conservative media.”
That moment got a massive applause in the room.
The Sun Sentinal editorial board called on Rubio to resign from the Senate this week because he’s missed more votes than any other Senator during his presidential campaign. The editorial board noted that two other candidates (Kentucky Republican Sen. Paul Ryan and Vermont Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders) have missed only 10 votes during their campaigns, but Rubio has missed 59, citing a tally from Politico.
“Your job is to represent Floridians in the Senate,” the newspaper wrote, reminding readers that Rubio is paid $174,000 a year to represent Floridians in the Senate. “Either do your job, Sen. Rubio, or resign it.”
Marco Rubio's Life in Pictures
Marco Rubio and his father outside his parents first home in Miami, Fla., 1972.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioMarco Rubio in 6th grade.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioMarco Rubio during the Southern Nevada youth football conference, Yesco Cavaliers in Las Vegas, Nev., 1982Courtesy Senator Marco RubioHigh school photograph of Marco Rubio from his 1989 yearbook.Courtesy South Miami Senior High SchoolSouth Miami Senior High yearbook photo of Marco Rubio in 1989.Courtesy South Miami Senior High SchoolFrom right Marco Rubio with his mother and sister Veronica during his graduation from the University of Miami law school in 1996. Veronica graduated from Florida international university bachelor’s degree.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioMarco Rubio with his wife, Jeanette and his parents on his wedding day on Oct. 17, 1998.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioJeanette Rubio and Marco Rubio holding their youngest child Amanda Rubio in 2000.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioThen representative Marco Rubio talks with a colleague during House session in Tallahassee, Fla., on April 1, 2004. At age 32, Rubio was one of the youngest legislators.Phil Coale—APMarco Rubio greets Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, on his way to being sworn in as the new speaker of the Florida House in Tallahassee, Fla., on Nov. 21, 2006.Steve Cannon—APVice President Joe Biden swears in Senator Marco Rubio to the U.S. Senate, as his wife, Jeanette Rubio looks on, in Washington, on Jan. 5, 2010 .Mary F. Calvert—MCT/Getty ImagesMarco Rubio with his son, Anthony Rubio, father, Mario Rubio and daughter Amanda Rubio as he signs election documents officially qualifying him as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Miami, Fla., on April 27, 2010.Joe Raedle—Getty ImagesFrom left, Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek greet each other before the start of their debate at the studios of WESH-TV in Winter Park, Fla., on Oct. 26, 2010.Joe Burbank—MCT/Getty ImagesThen Florida Republican U.S. Senate nominee Marco Rubio celebrates with his family after winning the election in Coral Gables, Fla., on Nov. 2, 2010.Mike Stocker—MCT/Getty ImagesMarco Rubio and his sons Anthony, 5, right, and Dominic, 3, make their way to a swearing in ceremony for the 112th Congress in the Old Senate Chamber in Washington on Jan. 5, 2011.Tom Williams—Roll Call/Getty ImagesSenator Marco Rubio during a visit to the El Paso sector of the United States/Mexico border on Nov. 4, 2011.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioSenator Marco Rubio greets fans and signs copies of his book "An American Son" at Books and Books in Coral Gables, Fla., on June 30, 2012.Aaron Davidson—Getty ImagesFormer Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks with Senator Marco Rubio while flying from Pensacola to Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 27, 2012.Emmanuel Dunand—AFP/Getty ImagesSenator Marco Rubio listens to a question alongside Senator John McCain, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Robert Menendez and Senator Dick Durbin during a press conference on an agreement for principles on comprehensive immigration reform framework at the US Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 28, 2013.Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images
