“Marco Rubi — Oh My God!”
What do the AP Government students of Mamaroneck High School have to say about Marco Rubio?
Marco’s Volunteers
Danielle DeVito, who has now volunteered for the Senator for several days said,
“Rubio seems like he genuinely cares about this country. I think he’s the epitome of what the American dream is today.”
After hours of canvasing in the freezing temperatures, trekking through the snow, and getting dozens of doors slammed in her face, DeVito remains confident that Rubio can win the New Hampshire primary. “Trump is too extreme. He is definitely extreme. And Cruz is too conservative.” Despite the demanding weather conditions and some difficult locals, DeVito said that this field trip has certainly been no ordinary school excursion. She wasn’t invested in politics before she started taking A.P. Government and the class has gotten her excited about the subject. She made it clear that this trip has been the highlight of the course and that getting to be in New Hampshire, getting hands on experience, has been truly unforgettable.
Will Roberts, who originally wanted to campaign for Rand Paul, said that Rubio seems like “the most electable candidate.” Although Roberts, a mix between a conservative Republican and a Libertarian, doesn’t love all of Rubio’s positions, he agrees with the Florida Senator’s stance on immigration. His favorite part of the trip has been being in New Hampshire during this “extremely” critical election year and getting to meet Rubio at his Hudson Town Hall event. “You see them on TV and in debates but being here is different, and it’s been amazing,” Roberts said.
“You feel like you’re a part of something really big.”
Stuck in the Middle
Sophia Lepore, who decided to volunteer for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at the beginning of January, but then switched to Rubio toward the end of the month, said she chose a Republican to “broaden [her] horizons and get a new perspective on policy.” Classmate Miles Coplin, who overheard the name Rubio when walking past the interview and came over to chat, took this opportunity to state his opinion on the Senator. “After the 25 second soundbite thing in the debate I have lost a lot of respect for him,” Coplin said. He hates when politicians are “rehearsed actors” and thinks of Rubio as “part of the machine.”
Lepore’s biggest problem with Rubio is that he preaches that his policy-making isn’t affected by his faith, but she has heard him contradict that statement. “He always says that ‘God gave us our natural rights’ and ‘we have to respect God.’ Even making everyone say the pledge of allegiance at beginning of the Town Hall! I feel like his faith gets in the way […].” As a left-leaning moderate, she would never vote for someone who’s a social conservative but approves of his plan for national security and likes how he prioritizes it. If she was asked right now to choose the next President of the United States, however, she would choose Hillary Clinton. She does not regret volunteering for Marco though. She concluded,
“I’m actually really glad I chose Rubio because honestly I haven’t been exposed to that many conservatives living in lower Westchester. Everyone [there] is young and left-leaning and all ‘Bernie Sanders, woohoo!’ so I wanted to do something different.”
Bernie’s Volunteers
When sitting at a table full of Bernie Sanders supporters, try to avoid mentioning the name Marco Rubio. Just saying the words “establishment Republican” caused Nina Moskowitz, Maria MacArdle, Tiarnan McCaffrey, Kate Gisondi and Rachel Ramirez, all avid Sanders enthusiasts, to break out into a frenzy.
“He hates the gays.”
“He doesn’t understand separation between Church and State.”
“He’s completely under-qualified.”
Moments in the conversation were serious, but the transitions were filled with jokes, Instagram checks, and plenty of curse words - a pleasant reminder that the girls, however intelligent and poised they may be, are still high-schoolers. When asked about the Rubio volunteers, students who are their friends and peers, there was a mix of responses.
MacArdle said, “I know people where it’s genuinely a matter of policy but I think a lot of the time people’s beliefs are based on their friends and their family, which is how my beliefs are formed too, but I think it’s important for everyone to think critically about issues and policy before they really solidify their candidate.”
“Are you saying that [the Rubio volunteers] didn’t?” McCaffrey responded.
“No, I’m saying that a lot of them did but all of the candidates have some people who didn’t. Some people are just following their parents. For a long time I felt like when I talked to young, liberal people they seemed to have real, personal reasons they go and vote and when I talk to young conservative people a lot of times I felt like it was a ‘Oh, that’s what my dad does and I don’t want to talk about it’ thing.” MacArdle paused, thinking.
“I have a title idea! Rubio Shmubio. That’s it.” MacArdle exclaimed.
Gisondi jumped in saying, “No, Marco Rubi— oh my god!”
No matter what these students’ opinions are on Marco Rubio, they have all contributed an immense amount to the political process and the United States as a whole by dedicating their time to canvasing and campaigning. To quote A.P. Government teacher, Joe Liberti,
“If you don’t go door to door, you don’t win.”
None of the candidates could get anywhere without the help of volunteers, and it is obvious that the MHS students have brought a great amount of passion and enthusiasm to the days building up to the New Hampshire primary.
