Rubio, Paul kick off Faith and Freedom Conference

Focusing on the persecution of Christians abroad, both Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., discussed United States' duty to preserve religious liberty worldwide as they kicked off the three-day Faith and Freedom Coalition's "Road to Majority" conference.

Rubio, who began with a reference to his "water bottle-gate" moment during his response to State of the Union earlier this year, highlighted the unique role of the U.S. to "set an example" for how nations should protect citizens' "God-given rights." Rubio suggested some level of U.S. involvement in regions where individuals aren't guaranteed freedom.

"If America doesn't step forward and say 'this is wrong,' who will?," Rubio said.

Paul, who spoke before Rubio, centered on how a "war on Christianity" has spread from domestic "liberal elites" to nations "worldwide" because of U.S. foreign aid donations to countries in the Middle East. Since the United States helped establish new leadership in Iraq, Paul said Christians have fled to Syria from Iraqi government prosecution. Before the regime change, Paul said Iraq had been a "relatively safe place for Christians."

"These countries are not our true allies and no amount of money will make them so," Paul said. "I say not one more penny to countries that are burning the American flag."

Paul also referenced the political controversies facing the Obama administration, condemning the president's "moral authority" to lead.

"I think it's like the Old McDonald farm of scandal," Paul said. "Here a scandal, there a scandal, everywhere a scandal."

In addition to Rubio and Paul, the conference, which runs through Saturday in Washington, D.C., features several potential 2016 presidential candidates including Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., as well as prominent conservatives such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.