Marco Rubio's fancy shoes

[smock]

Apparently Marco Rubio wears "girly" boots, and his Republican rivals are not afraid to take a stand against #bootghazi.

As the article says, "In this country, the common, conservative man is expected to wear a bunch of greasy McDonald’s wrappers on his feet, tied together by the intestines of a freshly murdered grizzly bear."

The offending footwear:


Check out the link for images/tweets.
 
www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/01/06/republicans_make_fun_of_marco_rubio_s_fancy_heeled_boots.html

Serious Adult Presidential Candidates Make Fun of Marco Rubio's Fancy Shoes

It is January of a presidential year. Voting begins in a few weeks. It is time that voters stop dabbling with silly clowns like Donald Trump and his childish insults and consider serious candidates. Political leaders, like Jeb Bush, who will soberly discuss complex issues of great import including trade, budgeting, diplomacy, war …

… and Sen. Marco Rubio’s girly little girl boots.

The Republican side this week is consumed with chatter about Marco Rubio’s choice of footwear during a recent visit to New Hampshire. The problem, in short, is that Rubio’s may well be fancy, made of the choicest leathers and featuring a disconcerting rise in the heel region. To the naked eye, they look suspiciously Eye-talian. In this country, the common, conservative man is expected to wear a bunch of greasy McDonald’s wrappers on his feet, tied together by the intestines of a freshly murdered grizzly bear.

The New York Times’ Michael Barbaro first noted that Rubio was wearing nice shoes in New Hampshire.


From there, Vanity Fair speculated about the model and price of this “stunning pair” of shoes. Giorgio Brutini (a modest $85)? Maison Margiela (on sale for $597)? Tom Ford ($1,990)? Rubio’s campaign told Politico that the boots are Florsheim, going for roughly $100. Florsheim makes fine shoes that can be purchased at stores such as Macy’s—nowhere in same ballpark as, say, Sen. John McCain’s Ferragamo loafers.

The heel offers two valuable openings for Rubio’s rivals. First, it suggests that Marco Rubio dresses like a woman, which is unacceptable to the conservative electorate. That Rubio is availing himself of heeled footwear also reminds the public that Rubio is not an especially tall man, roughly 5’9”. A politician’s shortness implies not just physical weakness, but a devastating moral deficiency as well.

So, off we go.

Sen. Rand Paul is short, too, so he approached the issue from the Rubio’s shoes are gay angle, mocking his rival’s “cute new boots.”


Jeb Bush is the hale, hearty product of aristocratic American breeding. He has no need for heeled boots.


And here we have Sen. Ted Cruz’s rapid response director, Brian Phillips, demonstrating why he makes the big bucks by playing up the European aura of Rubio’s boots, while making a war pun.


Carly Fiorina is suggesting that her high heels are better than Rubio's high heels because they are higher heels.

So, this is all dumb. Which ensures that it will probably work in a primary campaign dominated by Alpha-male guttural signaling. Expect Rubio to be wearing the McDonald’s wrappers from now on.

[elleblue]

Ew to all of this. Girly boots? Ugh. I'm so sick of macho posturing.

[mbcdefg]

Haha! He looks like a woman and women are stupid. 

[Deleted]

This is going to be a loooong election year.

[sparrowsong]

Didn't Dubya wear boots? Or Texas cowboy boots are ok, just Italian/foreign ones are not?

[josieposy]

OMG who cares? If Rubio wanted, he could pull some Saturday Night Fever at the next debate and I will totally watch.

[simpsongal]

Is he short? That's quite a heel.

[ttt]

Those are nice shoes. But yeah, kind of a high heel for a man's shoe. I didn't realize he was that short.

[smock]

This is so not the point, but I kind of don't believe those are $100 shoes. They look more expensive.

[ttt]

Jan 6, 2016 15:52:14 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

i have kitten heels shorter than that and they kill my feet.

i fucking bet men's high heels are 1000x more comfortable than women's

OF COURSE they are. Men can't be expected to be physically uncomfortable during the day! They have important man things to do! 

[josieposy]

You know what's really sad is that his shoe collection probably looks better than half of this board's. Myself included!

[ttt]

Jan 6, 2016 15:51:15 GMT -5 smock said:

This is so not the point, but I kind of don't believe those are $100 shoes. They look more expensive.

Those are at a minimum, $300 shoes. But we already know how fiscally irresponsible Rubio is! 

[ESF]

There's something very weird about some of the criticism that's going on around Rubio. I can't quite put my finger on it but there seems to be a theme developing. First you had the articles about how the Rubios were broke and making irresponsible financial choices, like boring from retirement vehicles and leasing flashy cars. There were stories about how he and his wife seem to like to glom on to rich people. Now the mocking of the boots, which are quite obviously very expensive.

It's almost like there's a whisper campaign going on, trying to portray him as a phony, a poor person trying to act rich and elite, a sad little Mitt Romney wannabe who will never really fit in.

It could all just be a coincidence that I'm imagining, but is anyone else starting to pick up on that vibe?

[eclaires]

I think those boots look cheap in the heel area. The leather looks okay but where they meet the heel looks low budget to me and the heel itself looks off/cheapish.

So I am buying $100 shoes, lol.

But seriously what a weird criticism. They should focus on the fact that he has large ears and might actually be 90 years old.

[ttt]

Jan 6, 2016 16:08:02 GMT -5 ESF said:

There's something very weird about some of the criticism that's going on around Rubio. I can't quite put my finger on it but there seems to be a theme developing. First you had the articles about how the Rubios were broke and making irresponsible financial choices, like boring from retirement vehicles and leasing flashy cars. There were stories about how he and his wife seem to like to glom on to rich people. Now the mocking of the boots, which are quite obviously very expensive.

It's almost like there's a whisper campaign going on, trying to portray him as a phony, a poor person trying to act rich and elite, a sad little Mitt Romney wannabe who will never really fit in.

It could all just be a coincidence that I'm imagining, but is anyone else starting to pick up on that vibe?

Yes, I've picked that up too. I was jokingly alluding to that with my post above, actually. There's a definitive narrative going on with him being the guy who lives beyond his means and tries to impress people with wealth he doesn't have, the Rubios the social climbers. 

I'm highly curious as to where this is originating. 

[bowies]

My grandpa wore boots like those.

[klingklang77]

Jan 6, 2016 17:54:24 GMT -5 bowies said:

My grandpa wore boots like those.

My H wears boots like this (with a bit less of a heel). I convinced him to get them- for some strange reason. Now he can't even style them properly. 

[claudiajean]

I thought this was an onion article at first.

[ESF]

Jan 6, 2016 16:58:46 GMT -5 ttt said:

Jan 6, 2016 16:08:02 GMT -5 ESF said:

There's something very weird about some of the criticism that's going on around Rubio. I can't quite put my finger on it but there seems to be a theme developing. First you had the articles about how the Rubios were broke and making irresponsible financial choices, like boring from retirement vehicles and leasing flashy cars. There were stories about how he and his wife seem to like to glom on to rich people. Now the mocking of the boots, which are quite obviously very expensive.

It's almost like there's a whisper campaign going on, trying to portray him as a phony, a poor person trying to act rich and elite, a sad little Mitt Romney wannabe who will never really fit in.

It could all just be a coincidence that I'm imagining, but is anyone else starting to pick up on that vibe?

Yes, I've picked that up too. I was jokingly alluding to that with my post above, actually. There's a definitive narrative going on with him being the guy who lives beyond his means and tries to impress people with wealth he doesn't have, the Rubios the social climbers. 

I'm highly curious as to where this is originating. 

It's very strange. I imagine some of it, like the hit pieces about the Rubio family finances, were probably initiated by the Bush campaign, since they came pretty early on, before Rubio seemed like he had a shot, so it's hard for me to imagine how any campaign without Florida ties would have had that kind of research on him and played that card that early. At the time, it seemed like they were trying to show he was financially reckless and maybe a little sketchy. But it took this weird, kind of racial turn.  Even some of the criticism of his attendance record in the Senate has a tinge of that to it. Kind of along the lines of the criticism of how Obama thought he was a celebrity, not a senator.  His attendance record is abysmal and certainly worthy of criticism, but at the same time, it's weird he's being singled out, when it's not markedly worse than most (white) people who run for office at the same time.

[Deleted]

I like the boots.

[One Girl In All The World]

Jan 6, 2016 16:08:02 GMT -5 ESF said:

There's something very weird about some of the criticism that's going on around Rubio. I can't quite put my finger on it but there seems to be a theme developing. First you had the articles about how the Rubios were broke and making irresponsible financial choices, like boring from retirement vehicles and leasing flashy cars. There were stories about how he and his wife seem to like to glom on to rich people. Now the mocking of the boots, which are quite obviously very expensive.

It's almost like there's a whisper campaign going on, trying to portray him as a phony, a poor person trying to act rich and elite, a sad little Mitt Romney wannabe who will never really fit in.

It could all just be a coincidence that I'm imagining, but is anyone else starting to pick up on that vibe?

I'm not even sure that it's much of a whisper. Wasn't he grilled about his credit or something along those lines in one of the debates? I feel like that has been a recurrent theme for a while now, and if not for the Donald Show that is dominating coverage, would probably seem less subtle.

[centralsquare]

Old money vs new. Smells like Barbara Bush's work to me.

[bronxgirl]

He should start posting on GBCN for OOTD.

[bowies]

The thing about his finances though...that's been in Florida newspapers and on political blogs (of all stripes) for years. Someone just needs Google. I would expect a junior researcher to have that in Rubio's one page summary during the first week (not saying it didn't come from Bush, it likely did, but really any intern for CNN could have found it just as easily). And it's not even something I consider as a hit piece. His dealings have been shady as hell. One of his co-conspirators in defrauding the Florida Republican Party is in jail.

I recognize that I am incredibly biased here but Rubio's dealings should be examined and much more thoroughly.

The boot thing though, yeah that completely smacks of otherizing him. Look at that girly man, he probably gets $500 haircuts with John Edwards at a (gasp) salon. He's got more campaigns worried if they're resorting to childish shit like this. I wouldn't be surprised to see his next filings showing a marked improvement in his cash flow.

[KateAggie]

Jan 6, 2016 17:54:24 GMT -5 bowies said:

My grandpa wore boots like those.

Mine, too.

[smock]

Jan 6, 2016 19:26:36 GMT -5 bowies said:

The boot thing though, yeah that completely smacks of otherizing him. Look at that girly man, he probably gets $500 haircuts with John Edwards at a (gasp) salon.

REAL conservative men let a wild grizzly bear chew their hair to the appropriately manly length, and then shoot the bear afterwards.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Oh come on, GOP. It's not like they're Prince-inspired heels.

[epphd]

Jan 6, 2016 18:30:49 GMT -5 One Girl In All The World said:

Jan 6, 2016 16:08:02 GMT -5 ESF said:

There's something very weird about some of the criticism that's going on around Rubio. I can't quite put my finger on it but there seems to be a theme developing. First you had the articles about how the Rubios were broke and making irresponsible financial choices, like boring from retirement vehicles and leasing flashy cars. There were stories about how he and his wife seem to like to glom on to rich people. Now the mocking of the boots, which are quite obviously very expensive.

It's almost like there's a whisper campaign going on, trying to portray him as a phony, a poor person trying to act rich and elite, a sad little Mitt Romney wannabe who will never really fit in.

It could all just be a coincidence that I'm imagining, but is anyone else starting to pick up on that vibe?

I'm not even sure that it's much of a whisper. Wasn't he grilled about his credit or something along those lines in one of the debates? I feel like that has been a recurrent theme for a while now, and if not for the Donald Show that is dominating coverage, would probably seem less subtle.

Anyone read the New Yorker article about him? They covered this pretty well. www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/11/30/the-opportunist

Rubio has struggled to manage his personal and professional finances. On several occasions, he used a Republican Party American Express card to charge personal expenses—$3,765 for landscaping stones at his house, ten thousand dollars for a family reunion in Georgia, a hundred and thirty-four dollars in a hair salon. In each case, he made good on the charge before it was publicly reported and explained it as a mixup. A state ethics commission investigated the incidents and cleared him, but that hasn’t stopped his opponents from bringing them up.

His income has fluctuated dramatically. In 2000, his first year in the legislature, he was still saddled with student debt. As he ascended in the House leadership, he was hired by Broad & Cassel, a prominent law and lobbying firm, and his annual income grew to more than four hundred thousand dollars. In 2012, he received a contract for his memoir, worth at least eight hundred thousand dollars, and yet, even with his rising income, he cashed out sixty-eight thousand dollars from a retirement account, paying a heavy tax penalty. When reporters asked about it, he said, “My refrigerator broke down.” Political rivals wondered if he had a gambling problem, and searched for evidence but found none. Indeed, Rubio has incorporated the questions about his financial dealings into his self-narrative. “Here’s the truth,” he said, flanked by prosperous rivals, during the third Republican debate, in Boulder, Colorado. “I didn’t inherit any money.” He added, “But I’m not worried about my finances. I’m worried about the finances of everyday Americans.” 

And this: www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/yes-marco-rubios-finances-are-a-big-deal

[karinothing]

Jan 6, 2016 16:11:45 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I think those boots look cheap in the heel area. The leather looks okay but where they meet the heel looks low budget to me and the heel itself looks off/cheapish.

So I am buying $100 shoes, lol.

But seriously what a weird criticism. They should focus on the fact that he has large ears and might actually be 90 years old.

This caused me to burst out in laughter and DS1 is asking me what is so funny. Each time I see Rubio, all I can think of is how big his ears will be at 90! 

[karinothing]

Jan 6, 2016 19:38:35 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Jan 6, 2016 19:26:36 GMT -5 bowies said:

The thing about his finances though...that's been in Florida newspapers and on political blogs (of all stripes) for years. Someone just needs Google. I would expect a junior researcher to have that in Rubio's one page summary during the first week (not saying it didn't come from Bush, it likely did, but really any intern for CNN could have found it just as easily). And it's not even something I consider as a hit piece. His dealings have been shady as hell. One of his co-conspirators in defrauding the Florida Republican Party is in jail.

I recognize that I am incredibly biased here but Rubio's dealings should be examined and much more thoroughly.

The boot thing though, yeah that completely smacks of otherizing him. Look at that girly man, he probably gets $500 haircuts with John Edwards at a (gasp) salon. He's got more campaigns worried if they're resorting to childish shit like this. I wouldn't be surprised to see his next filings showing a marked improvement in his cash flow.

They all get $500 hair cuts, who are they fooling? 
Do they really think the American people believe politicians just roll in to Supercuts and Fantastic Sams? 

In DC its the hair cuttery.