Marco Rubio’s Weird Obamacare Twitter Q&A
Why so many politicians and public figures continue to think that live Twitter Q&As are a good idea is a bit of a mystery, but it’s usually good for a laugh, as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio demonstrated this morning.
Perhaps the epic #askJPM debacle of last year, when Twitter trolls took over a JPMorgan Chase executive’s Q&A, had faded into memory, and clearly Rubio must have missed controversial education reformer Michelle Rhee’s abortive attempt at a Q&A earlier this week, which was likewise overrun by her detractors. Whatever the reason, Rubio got the ball rolling at 9:30 a.m. with the following.
I have few minutes this morning to for a live q&a about the #obamacarebailout send your questions to #AskMarcoRubio
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 17, 2014
He followed that one up at 9:04 with a second tweet, correcting the typo, and then the questions started coming in, the first from a Rubio constituent in Florida.
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@marcorubio How do you answer people who've been denied healthcare because of FLA's rejection of medicaid expansion? #AskMarcoRubio
— Greg Coogan (@Greg_Coogan) January 17, 2014
Perhaps wisely, Rubio ignored that one and answered a friendlier query.
.@arpit_chauhan: Exchanges r disaster b/c not enough young ppl sign up.Next yr most companies will drop out or raise premiums #AskMArcoRubio
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 17, 2014
Rubio plainly wanted to keep the focus on the supposed “bailout” of insurers under the Affordable Care Act, but Twitter Q&As, as he quickly learned, have no rules.
.@marcorubio How can we ever trust your word after your Amnesty vote? #AskMarcoRubio
— Tully Chickpea (@Schwabcycler) January 17, 2014
#AskMarcoRubio Why does Obama have a fake Birth Certificate? Why did he HIDE all of his personal documents? Why does he have a FAKE SS# ???
— fordgt40 (@nobamanoway) January 17, 2014
@marcorubio What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? #askmarcorubio
— Mikéy Ramoné (@ThePantau) January 17, 2014
As the list of questions grew longer, some folks began noticing something peculiar. This Q&A had plenty of Q’s, but the A’s were few and far between.
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WOW, 1 "answer" in 15 minutes, you killin' it @marcorubio #askmarcorubio
— Werdna Yelsew (@hearyeehereyee) January 17, 2014
Shortly afterward, with exactly two answers to his credit, Rubio warned everyone that time was running out.
I have a few minutes left please tweet questions using #AskMarcoRubio and #noObamacarebailout
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 17, 2014
Eventually, people started getting restless.
How much tar should the private citizenry invest in to coat the traitors in Washington D.C.? Will 300lbs of feathers suffice? #AskMarcoRubio
— PCS (@PCS1776) January 17, 2014
Hurry, just a few minutes left to #askmarcorubio a Q he has no intention of answering @marcorubio
— Werdna Yelsew (@hearyeehereyee) January 17, 2014
In the end, Rubio answered all of four questions, blaming his lack of responsiveness on a bad WiFi connection.
Time for 1 more.Slow response using wifi reminds me of another topic 4 another day, more wireless spectrum. Send questions to #askmarcorubio
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 17, 2014
He ended the exchange 25 minutes after it began…
Thank you. Good questions. First time I have done this.Will be doing more. Stay tuned. #AskMarcoRubio #NoObamaCareBailout
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 17, 2014
…but hours later the #AskMarcoRubio hastag was still going strong.
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