Rubio Refuses to Stand By His Words As Republican Ethics Implosion Continues

As the ethics implosion of the Florida Republican Party continues, GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio refuses to meet the same standards of accountability he effused from the campaign stump, illustrated by a Web video released by the Florida Democratic Party today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHAwL1M67w8
On the campaign trail, the former lobbyist strongly advocated accountability in government and Florida taxpayers holding their elected official accountable. But as revelations continue about Florida Republican leaders' ethics scandals - specifically questions about former House Speaker Ray Sansom's budget dealings - Rubio called questions on the issue a "distraction." [Rotary Luncheon, 12/7/09, Tampa; Marco Rubio, Miami Herald 1/28/10]

Now it appears as if Rubio is trying to avoid ever testifying on the record about his knowledge of Sansom's dealings and Attorney General Bill McCollum's refusal to investigate the State GOP's practice of giving legislators credit cards means Rubio may yet dodge the accountability for which he previously advocated.

"What does a politician-turned-lobbyist-turned-politician like Speaker Rubio do when he advocates accountability and then gets questions about his own potential involvement in or knowledge of allegedly shady dealings? He gets his political cronies to make sure he doesn't face the same accountability he preaches for other politicians," Eric Jotkoff, Florida Democratic Party spokesman said.