(CNN) - Sen. Marco Rubio takes the starring role in a Romney campaign ad released Thursday, where he argues changes to Medicare for future recipients are necessary, while keeping the current system in place is the "least we can do" for current beneficiaries.
"My mother's 81 and depends on Medicare," the senator from Florida says. "We can save Medicare without changing hers, but only if younger Americans accept that our Medicare will be different than our parents' when we retire in 30 years.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
– Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
"But after all they did for us, isn't that the least we can do?" he asks.
Romney's selection of Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate increased the program's profile on the campaign trail. Ryan's plan would allow future beneficiaries to take credit from the program toward the price of private health coverage, but would not change the benefits of current recipients.
Romney has said his proposal would be similar to Ryan's, but has not made clear particular differences.
Democrats have criticized the proposal for turning the program into a voucher system that increases the cost burden on seniors, while Romney has accused President Barack Obama of cutting funds from Medicare to pay for his health reform law. But instead of cuts, the $716 billion Romney and Republicans cited was cost savings, which Ryan also included in his budget plan.
The Romney campaign did not say where the spot would run nor how much it would cost.
Rubio - a rising star in his party – is from a state that has a significant population of seniors and retirees. Romney held a campaign event and taped a television forum appearance in Florida on Wednesday.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Rubio talking about himself more? What else is new?
Snake Oil Sales Man, no Latino would buy that this guy is on thier team. The fact that this clown is the only guy they can parade is Sad and says all you need to know about all MItts.
About the only thing Rubio said that was the truth was that Republicans will do the least that they can do for seniors and the future generations. I'm not sure that telling my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will have to pay more for less benefits, just so I can keep mine as they are sounds good to me. Then again, that is exactly what Republicans are doing to the middle class and poor so the richest people in American can get tax breaks of $250,000.
I am not sure about the Republican politicians, but asking future generations to pick up the tab for my comfort makes me feel slimey. Republican tolerance for slime must be higher than mine.
lol, the fake latino Rubio
The Romney/Ryan plan is to kill Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. It is all in writing in the Ryan budget passed by the Republican Congress and fully adopted by Romney as "marvelous". If Rubio stands and tells people Republicans are out to protect Medicare – they are lying – something they feel very comfortable doing since We the People are just "parasites" to them.
A rising star indeed. He wouldn't even be the Sen if the Democratic Candidate who couldn't had simply withdrawnn and given those votes to Crist. Look at the numbers and try doing your job instead of following party line voting instyructions. UGH!
Why not get Eastwood to play the part of a conservative Cuban ? ?
Im flip romney I approved this half told truth messege,poor americans want medicaid yeah so do superrich peoples,and on my firstday if im just get me in the whitehouse please 47% poor suckers im slipping in the poles romney kinda approved this messege um hold on let me check in with the koch brotheretts yeah they approved this crazy misguided messege
Are you going to give a hug to your madre too like the lying altar boy did.
If your mother, like most seniors in Florida and around the country, are on medicare she better vote for Obama because if they live long enough to see the twit/liar voucher ticket take hold of our country they will die before their time when they find that the health care they need is NOT going to be there for them.
Gee is different the same as being gone? As a nation not partisan republicans we can decide what we all want to seein the future. It is what we decide not those precious rich creators and their stooges. I don't see letting anything in the private sector just sucking the life blood out of people for a one time check of 6000$. But look how many of these partisan are basically stupid?
Put this animal in psychiatric unit.
Did he know that Paul budget plan cuts Entitlements like Medicare and SS?????????? In fact they ban.
My mother's 81 and depends on Medicare
but obama promised, no taxes on middle class, oh I guess obama lied again about obamacare, more obama lies oh my is that all obama is, all lies.
Just another gop stooge puting his career in the tank for a loser gop bafoons party ticket ,time to clean house and get rid of the gop in all public office ,romney the tax cheat said he doesn't need our votes . Obama ,four more years .
Romney going down in Nov and will take all these gop stooges with him ,like rubio . The gop has no credebility on social issues such as Medicare and soc sec ,forget being president ever !!!!
Romney is damaged goods now....no matter how he spins it, no matter what he says......everything he says now is what he knows he has to say to get back on his feet, but that doesn't mean that's what he will do once elected......and now he has the debates to try to correct his stance on the issues......but this is going to be a challange for him......OBAMA 2012
Lets do the math. My wife pays $1500 hor her private health insurance premium. At the rate of 15-17% increase owe year. By the time the 55 yrs old turn 67, the premium will be $7400/ month. An average social sec recipient receives $1500/month. @3% inflation rate, you will be receiving $2300/ month on your social security at 67 years of age. Will Ryan voucher be $5400 (I doubt) to cover the difference? $7400-$5400-$2300= 0. So you have nothing left for housing and some dog food for your meal.
yeah its gonna be different allright ......the ryan plan. God help us!
Why do Republicans insist on telling LIES!? If their plan is so good for seniors, why wait, why not implement it for the seniors of today?
Rubio,
That is not true. Romney would repeal ACA whereby reinstating the doughnut hole to increase costs for current seniors' Medicare.
Romney-Ryan would also cut $800 billion from Medicaid affecting the disabled and seniors so the rich could get more tax cuts.
"After all they've done for us, isn't that the least we can do?"
Mm hmm.
"Here's a nice pretty red apple. I've even scrubbed it clean for you. Isn't taking a bite of it the least you can do?"
The GOP has crafted a financial emergency with the goals of getting rid of the New Deal programs that have saved millions of senior citizens' lives over the years, and now the serpents are offering us a false choice.
You want to trust these two gop clowns with your Medicare anns soc sec ?????? Not ,Obama in Nov , no brainer !!!!!!
No thanks. As a woman in her 40's, for me and my family, I'd personally rather not go on a voucher system-it's way too haphazard and would only provide spotty coverage at best, PLUS the loopholes would be back.
By the way, isn't a voucher system putting healthcare more towards the direction of welfare?
i got mine ,to bad about you