By Teri O'Brien -
Last week, I asked Illinois Review readers, especially Trump supporters, a few of the many questions that have occurred to me about the front-running businessman's candidacy. (Yes, OF COURSE I have more! Stay tuned.) Now that the slow motion train wreck that was the Jeb Bush presidential campaign has finally reached its inevitable crash, all eyes are on Fox News' Channel darling, Sen. Marco Rubio, Bush' protege and fellow Floridian. So, now I have a few questions for the baby-faced first-term senator (and by extension, his supporters.)
- In an October 2010 debate during his election for the U.S. Senate from the State of Florida, would-be U.S. senator Marco Rubio said ""First of all, (an) earned path to citizenship is basically code for amnesty. It's what they call it. And the reality of it is this: This has to do with the bottom line that America cannot be the only country in the world that does not enforce its immigration laws." Yet, when he got elected, with the help of the Tea Party, overcoming what appeared to be impossible odds against former governor Charlie Crist, he joined up with radical democrats Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Dick "Eddie Haskell" Durbin and come up with the horrific Gang of Eight bill, which gave that very same "path to citizenship" to people who violated our immigration laws. How do you respond to those who say you lied to the voters of Florida to get elected to the U.S. Senate? Why should voters trust you this time?
- You continue to deny that the Gang of Eight bill provided "amnesty," which would come as a surprise to many of its democrat supporters, such as Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barack Obama. You did an interview last month in which you said again that the bill was not "amnesty." Since it granted legal status to illegals, gave them work permits, allowed gang members, child abusers, drunk drivers and other criminals to stay in country, and receive certain federal and state benefits, and enabled sanctuary cities, many people say it will do until "amnesty" comes along. (For more on just how bad this bill was, please see this piece.)How do you respond to them?
- In the wake of the San Bernardino terrorist murders, Donald Trump called for a moratorium on Muslim immigration to the United States. You said that this plan "violates the Constitution," when in fact it does no such thing. The Constitution provides that there be no religious test for office holders, and prohibits the establishment of a state religion. In short, when it comes to aliens seeking entry to the United States, “due process” is whatever our government says it is. Why would you say something that is manifestly not true? Are you unaware of the law, or are you just saying it out of political expediency?
- Recently Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Council President Chris Crane called you out, not only for ignoring changes to the Gang of Eight bill he suggested on behalf of law enforcement, but also for sitting by silently when he was ejected from a press event merely for attempting to ask a question. After he spoke to Breitbart News about this incident, and expressed his general unhappiness over your approach to illegal aliens, you responded by slamming Breitbart as a site that publishes "conspiracy theories," and blasted Mr. Crane, saying ‘He’s not an ICE official, he’s head of a union." Yet, Mr. Crane served as an ICE officer for 13 years and is a former Marine. Do you really want to let that "just a union guy" remark stand? Are you saying that Mr. Crane is lying when he says that you knowingly misled the American people about the Gang of Eight Bill?
- Recently, your former opponent for the nomination, Rick Santorum endorsed you, which led to the following uncomfortable exchange between the former Pennsylvania senator and Joe Scarborough with his co-host Mika Brzezinski. From Politico:
“I’m just asking you to name one accomplishment that Marco Rubio —” Scarborough said as Santorum tried to interrupt. “But list one accomplishment. Just one. Just one that Marco achieved. Maybe a bill that he wrote. Maybe a moment in a committee.”
Brzezinski then jumped in to make it easier on Santorum, offering a fill-in-the-blank question. “Jeb Bush ran Florida. Donald Trump built a company,” she began. “Marco Rubio… — finish the sentence.”
Why did Sen. Santorum have such a hard time citing one accomplishment for you? How would you finish Ms. Brzezinski's question?
- Writing about your involvement in the Gang of 8 bill in 2013, the extreme left-wing magazine Mother Jones stated "Rubio's presence in the gang was crucial to passing reform. Elected in 2010 on the tea party wave, the senator from Florida had credibility among conservatives; the other seven members hoped he would provide cover to other Republicans to support the legislation. Rubio, in turn, needed a bill that was conservative enough to sell to his fellow Republicans." The story goes on to state that you made major concessions to Democrats, so large that even they were surprised. "Rubio "gave up a lot, probably for something he should have still held firm," says one aide. "And it's not clear if that was because he was a bad negotiator or he had a good heart." Why would you be comfortable being a frontman patsy for Obama and the democrats as they foisted amnesty on the American people? Why were you comfortable making so many concessions to Chuck Schumer?
- How do you respond to those who suggest that you bear a disturbing similarity to another recent presidential candidate, also a first-term senator with very few, if any, notable accomplishments who was also known for his ability to make an inspiring speech, someone who seemed to barely set foot in the U.S. Senate before starting to run for president? That man is Barack Hussein Obama, and many of us think his presidency has been an unmitigated disaster. Why should we think you would do any better?
There are many other questions about Sen. Rubio and his candidacy, but this list is a very good start. The American people deserve answers to them before the GOP nominee's selection.
