Thursday, May 14, 2015

Marco Rubio Dismisses Pope Francis’ Views on Cuba, Israel

Marco Rubio Dismisses Pope Francis' Views on Cuba, Israel
Philip Elliott @Philip_Elliott May 13, 2015

Running for President, Leading a Global Faith Have Different Goals

During a Q&A on foreign policy Wednesday, Sen. Marco Rubio took a shot
at an unlikely public figure: Pope Francis.

After delivering a meaty speech outlining his hawkish foreign policy
priorities at the Council on Foreign Relations, the Florida Republican
criticized the 78-year-old pontiff's take on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and the U.S.-Cuban standoff.

"His desire is peace and prosperity, he wants everyone to be better off.
He's not a political figure," Rubio said. "Anything he can do to open up
more opportunities for them, he's going to pursue."

Rubio contrasted that with his own approach.

"My interest as an elected official is the national security of the
United States and embedded in that is the belief that it is not good for
our people—or the people of Cuba—for an anti-American dictatorship 90
miles from our shores," he said.

And asked about the Vatican's support for separate states of Israel and
Palestine, Rubio said the United States must stand with its ally Israel.

"It is the only free enterprise, democratic, pro-American country in the
Middle East. If we had more free enterprise, pro-American democracies in
the Middle East, my speech would be a lot shorter," Rubio said.

Asked about his earlier support for separate states of Israel and
Palestine, Rubio was dour: "I don't think the conditions exist for that
today."

It won't be the last time Pope Francis plays a role in U.S. presidential
politics. He's set to visit Philadelphia in September of 2015, as the
presidential race gets even more heated.

Source: Marco Rubio Dismisses Pope Francis' Views on Cuba, Israel | TIME
- http://time.com/3858001/marco-rubio-pope-francis-cuba-israel-palestine/

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