Politicians need water, too

Watergate forced a U.S. president to resign.

Now Waterbottlegate has forced a U.S. senator to explain why he took a water break.

Marco Rubio won’t satisfy everyone with this stated reason for his evidently controversial action: “My mouth got dry, what can I say?”

But if the up-and-coming Florida Republican never rises to the presidency, it won’t be because he paused briefly to take a drink of water Tuesday night during his GOP response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech.

Yet CNN replayed the reach-and-sip clip of Sen. Rubio on Wednesday’s “Situation Room,” with the letters “CAREER-ENDER?” on the screen as host Wolf Blitzer asked: “Can a drink of water make or break a political career?”

A CNN spokesman said Wednesday that the question was merely a “tease.” The spokesman also pointed out that Mr. Blitzer eventually predicted that Sen. Rubio has “a huge future ahead of him.” However, as Sen. Rubio made his move toward the water bottle during CNN’s live coverage of his presentation, Mr. Blitzer could be heard saying “uh-oh” off camera.

And CNN analyst Cornell Belcher gave Sen. Rubio’s thirst-quenching — and visible perspiration — this negative review: “He goes in stylistically, he’s sweating like Nixon. He goes for the water in a really awkward way which will, quite frankly, be what’s most remembered from this. Style matters.”

OK, so it was hot, the senator looked nervous and that bottle was too far away for a quick and easy grab and swig.

Still, it’s better for a politician to reach for a bottle of water than for a bottle of booze.

And, regardless of which brand of politics wets your whistle, Waterbottlegate did deliver this healthy reminder:

Stay hydrated.