5 Ways the 'Moderate' Marco Rubio Is a Right-Wing Extremist

1

Leads fight against lifting Cuban blockade

A Cuban-American from Florida, Rubio has emerged as a leading voice against normalizing relations with Havana and has repeatedly criticized Obama for restoring diplomatic relations. He wants to add Cuba to the “State Sponsor of Terrorism List” and pledged to oppose the confirmation of a U.S. ambassador to Cuba. His campaign website summarizes this stance as a policy to “fight communism.”

As chair of the Senate Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Rubio has also urged widening sanctions against Venezuela, which he called a “democracy in name only.”

As chair of the Senate Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Rubio has also urged widening sanctions against Venezuela, which he called a “democracy in name only.”

2

Wants to keep immigrants and refugees out

Rubio has called for deporting “criminal illegal aliens,” completing a 700 mile-long wall along the border with Mexico and spending billions of dollars on more cameras, sensors and border patrol agents. He has promised to undo all of Obama’s executive actions on immigration that protect some from deportation. Syrian refugees would also be denied entry to the United States unless it is possible to vet them.

3

Supports intervention in the Middle East

Rubio would undo the Iran Deal and force the country to “choose between having a nuclear weapons program and having an economy,” despite the fact that the Islamic Republic has already submitted to a vigorous inspection regime.

Russia and the United States are approaching a second Cold War, he says, and he would amplify tensions by countering all Russian policy, especially in Ukraine and Syria.

Israel is another key focus of his foreign policy strategy, with Rubio dubbing the state a democratic ally in a sea of enemies. Rubio would push to uphold the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act that would move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and declare it as an undivided city and the capital of Israel, a policy opposed by all previous U.S. presidents. To top it off, Rubio says he would extend the Patriot Act and expand, not curtail, the government’s surveillance powers.

Russia and the United States are approaching a second Cold War, he says, and he would amplify tensions by countering all Russian policy, especially in Ukraine and Syria.

Israel is another key focus of his foreign policy strategy, a democratic ally in a sea of enemies. Rubio would push to uphold the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, even blocked by Bush’s administration, that would move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and declare it as an undivided city and the capital of Israel.

To top it off, Rubio would extend the Patriot Act to expand surveillance powers.

4

Opposes abortion in case of rape and incest

U.S. society is complicit in abortion, Rubio says, and Americans can rightly be considered “barbarians for murdering millions of babies.” Roe v. Wade — which affirmed a woman’s right to abortion — is morally wrong and should be overturned, he maintains, and Planned Parenthood should not receive any federal funding. He also supports banning embryonic and adult stem cell research.

5

Denies climate change is caused by pollution

“I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it,” Rubio said in an interview with ABC.

"I do not believe that the laws that they propose we pass will do anything about it, except it will destroy our economy,” he added.

The League of Conservation Voters gave Rubio a grade of 9 percent for his voting record on environmental issues.