Marco Rubio: Social Conservatives Are Being 'Silenced'

Marco Rubio

Florida senator Marco Rubio is getting a fresh look by Republicans searching for their next big thing, and he uses the spotlight in an interview with GQ to condemn same-sex marriage.

Rubio, who has never been shy about his opposition to marriage equality, claimed social conservatives are being "silenced."

The GQ reporter pointed out that younger people see gay couples as "no big deal" and want Republicans "to stop putting these social issues out there." Rubio didn't like the assumption in the question, calling it an "unfair" request.

"There are a very significant number of Americans that feel very strongly about the issue of life, about the issue of marriage and are we saying that they should be silenced or not allowed to speak or voice their opinion?"

Rubio's voice was heard clearly this election cycle when he added it to robocalls for the National Organization for Marriage in three states where marriage equality was on the ballot — Maine, Maryland, and Washington. The calls were also directed at swing states.

Here's the entire exchange:

GQ: "You talk a lot to young Republicans. Recently I met a Republican who said, my kids are in high school and there's a prom. There's straight kids, gay kids. It's no big deal to them. And he says, my party, the Republican party, has to stop putting these social issues out there and talking more about stuff that effects people."
Marco Rubio: "I think that's unfair. A significant percentage of Americans feel very strongly about this issue. What I'm hearing is that it's ok for one side to express their view and the other side needs to be quiet. There are a very significant number of Americans that feel very strongly about the issue of life, about the issue of marriage and are we saying that they should be silenced or not allowed to speak or voice their opinion? There's a way to do that that is respectful and productive. There are things we'll always disagree on, but it doesn't mean we go to war over them or divide our country over them. We agree to disagree, but we continue to work together on the things we all know that we have to do."


In the rest of the interview, Rubio says South Carolina senator Jim DeMint is his best friend (other than his wife), and he expounds on why Eminem is one of the most thoughtful of rappers. Read it here.