Marco Rubio seen by some Tea Party members as ducking on immigration

[seafan]

Uh-oh, Rubio. Your base is finally figuring out they've been used. And they are coming after you.


Tea party wants U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio to step into contentious immigration debate Republicans want to avoid

By Alex Leary, Times Staff Writer
May 29, 2011

WASHINGTON — A crack is forming in U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's tea party.

Conservative activists — still raw over what they say was his role in blocking illegal immigration legislation while speaker of the Florida House — say the burgeoning Republican star needs to deliver on campaign rhetoric for tougher enforcement.

"We've been waiting for him to come up with something and to be a leader on this issue," said Danita Kilcullen, founder of Tea Party Fort Lauderdale.

.....

But Rubio has not made an effort to sponsor immigration legislation or even highlight the issue — it is not listed on his website, tea party members note. And he remained on the sidelines as E-Verify was narrowly defeated this month in the Florida Legislature, where Rubio is held in almost holy regard.

.....

Rubio's pledge to vote against the Dream Act, which would create a path to citizenship for some children of illegal immigrants, has struck some Hispanics as particularly offensive.
Still, talk is not enough for the other side of Rubio's base — the conservative activists who provided early momentum for his once long-shot campaign.
"He wants to have it both ways," said George Fuller of Sarasota, who is aligned with several tea party groups. "We're going to be zeroing in on him like a laser."

.....

And, later today, my, how they do protest too much....


Rubio supporters push back on tea party-immigration story

Alex Leary at 7:51:08 pm on May 29, 2011, reports:

.....

This evening, the head of FreedomWorks' Florida effort issued a statement saying any suggestion there is a "crack" in Rubio's tea party is wrong and the "bond and mutual respect" between Rubio and the tea party movement in Florida has "grown stronger than ever." FreedomWorks provided financial and organizational support for the tea party.

"The Tea Party’s expanded regard and admiration for Rubio is simple to understand by those actively involved in the Movement. Since taking office, Rubio has honored his campaign promises to the Movement, and he has consistently shown great deference for the concerns and wishes of the Movement on specific issues," Tom Gaitens said.

“The Tea Party loves Marco Rubio because he has the character and the courage to do the right thing and stick to his principles, no matter what,” explains Ron McCoy, a co-founder of the West Orlando Tea Party. “Just the mention of Rubio’s name at one of our meetings recently was met with resounding applause – and, he wasn’t even in the room.”

Most importantly, Senator Rubio has time and again proven to the Tea Party Movement that his decisions and his votes are not motivated by self serving political expedience or affected by pressure from special interest groups. What drives Rubio’s decisions is his belief in and adherence to the core principles and values which are the bedrock of the Tea Party Movement: (1) Limited Constitutional Government; (2) Fiscal Responsibility In
Government; and (3) Free Markets.

....."

(...and more protestations of the Tea Partiers' undying love for Rubio)


'Character'? 'Not motivated by self serving political expedience'? 'Not affected by pressure from special interest groups'?


Please.


You know what is so regrettable about all of this?

It didn't have to happen.


We tried to warn them before last November, but it all fell on deaf (from the shouting) ears.


Wonder how they feel now about Rubio's vote to end Medicare as we know it. Or how he spent nearly $110,000 on personal expenses with his GOP American Express Card when he was in the Florida legislature, including as House Speaker, and then tried to blame it on Governor Crist.
Or how he was one of the 'heroes' in securing secret funding for the lavish mahogany and granite Taj Majal Appeals Court in Tallahassee, in a time of great budgetary shortfall and hardship for Floridians.

That is only a drop in the bucket with Mr. Rubio. (scroll down for the sordid details)



A few of the take-home messages about Mr. Rubio:


1. He isn't particularly *fiscally responsible*.

2. He has a history of using his position to fatten his own personal finances.
(And to entertain his family.)

3. He refused to join the Senate Tea Party Caucus. He "loves" the Tea Party, and rode the wave to D. C., but doesn't want to hang out with them.


It's better late than never for Tea Party members to wise up and drop kick this little opportunist who talks out of both sides of his mouth and has used their hard-earned money to enrich himself and his family, ever since he was in the Florida Legislature.



Florida deserves infinitely better "representation" than this.

[QC]

1. Let us not forget the strange case of Amber Stoner!

http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2010/09/30/just-what-is-going-on-here-between-marco-rubio-healthcare-lobbyist-amber-stoner/

[seafan]

2. We haven't forgotten this strange tale of Rubio's either.

Mr. Rubio, who is Amber Stoner?

[seafan]

3. ‘There’s a Benedict Arnold feeling,’ says executive director of Hispanic civic engagement group.

http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2011/05/27/22/B82751585Z.1_20110527221732_000+GRD2PGD4A.2-0.embedded.prod_affiliate.56.jpg
Critics say U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is dancing the Republican two-step on immigration: He talked tough on the campaign trail, but now that he's in office, he's not doing anything.
MARSHA HALPER / MIAMI HERALD File




(photo via HuffPo)



Rubio faces a growing problem from within the Hispanic community.

May 24, 2011

Many in the Latino community and its leadership are still reeling from Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio’s stance on the DREAM Act – which is a no vote. The Cuban-American senator, is only one of two Hispanics in the senate and the son of Cuban immigrant-exiles.

Rubio now has defined his position on immigration - no amnesty, no DREAM Act with ramped up workplace enforcement and border security – twice. Once on a Spanish-language TV interview and the other with Politico.

‘There’s a Benedict Arnold feeling,’ said Jorge Mursuli, a Cuban immigrant and executive director of Miami-based Democracia, a Hispanic civic engagement group. ‘Having known him, his political career and knowing where he comes from — a hardworking immigrant family — one has to wonder what it is that he’s thinking or how his political ambitions outweigh his life experiences. ... It’s not only disappointing; it’s disheartening and, frankly, almost unbelievable.’

Some feel he is letting political ambition guide his stance on immigration, since he was more of a moderate during his state house tenure. Others correctly point out he was never that warm and fuzz on the issue of immigration and smartly tried to avoid the issue during the election. And for others he has always been a Tea party darling and in line with their value system which is not pro-immigrant.

‘To be against comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship and against the DREAM Act defines you in the Latino immigrant community as a hard-liner and an enemy of the community,’ said Frank Sharry, founder and executive director of America’s Voice, a pro-immigration advocacy group.

Some advice for freshman Marco Rubio:


It's difficult to address issues important to many people when it is your own ambition that both propels and blinds you.

[butterfly77]

4. K&R..

[pampango]

5. Conservatives to Rubio: Act on immigration now

http://floridaindependent.com/31967/conservatives-to-rubio-act-on-immigration-now

The immigration debate — comprehensive immigration reform versus just immigration enforcement — is a difficult one, even for Miami Republican and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

Rubio has stayed on track with the GOP message about heightening security on the Mexican border, remaining opposed to the DREAM Act and supporting E-Verfiy.

But the Herald says that’s not enough for many supporters. Rubio’s tea party advocates note that immigration is not even posted on his website, saying that he can’t have it both ways. The Herald writes that Rubio “is being torn in opposite directions by his base: Washington’s Republican elite and Florida’s grass-roots activists who propelled him into office.”