Rubio's immigration strategy worked brilliantly, but disappointed many (Pyrrhic Victory)

Washington Examiner ^ | June 27, 2013 | Byron York

[Timber Rattler]

In the end, immigration reform really was a done deal in the Senate. Debates come down to numbers on Capitol Hill, and the Gang of Eight reform team had the numbers. Needing 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, they started with the Senate's 54 Democrats and then added the four Republican Gang members. With 58 votes in the bag, it wasn't hard to get to 60. So most of the 14 Republicans who ultimately voted to get the Gang bill past a filibuster were extras, not needed for passage but helpful to allow the reformers to claim a broad mandate.

From the beginning, many Senate Republicans were terrified of immigration reform. They knew a large part of their base opposed any measure that smelled of "amnesty." But they were also deeply shaken by last November's election results, in which Mitt Romney won just 27 percent of the Hispanic vote. Some GOP strategists, and some Senate colleagues, told them the Republican Party would be finished unless it supported reform.

What to do? First, they tried not to stick their necks out. For several months, if you asked a Republican senator a substantive question about immigration, the answer was, "Let's see what Marco comes up with."

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has been more than the GOP point man on immigration. From January, when the Gang of Eight announced its intentions, until April, when it unveiled its bill, Rubio was the man Republicans hid behind. "We're waiting for Marco" became the Senate Republican caucus' unofficial position on immigration.

[Timber Rattler]

"Menendez told me that Rubio's role was to 'work over the conservative universe, particularly the conservative opinion-maker universe,' in order to 'neutralize them' and, in some cases, 'proselytize them,'" the New Yorker's Ryan Lizza reported recently, referring to Democratic Gang member Robert Menendez. The leader of the Gang, Democrat Charles Schumer, "was delighted to have a Tea Party conservative who could sell an immigration bill to the right," Lizza wrote.

The plan worked brilliantly. Conservative talk radio hosts who might have instinctively opposed immigration reform as conceived by Schumer gave Rubio a respectful hearing and a lot of room. When Rubio told them the bill would secure the border first, they believed him.

Great job, Conservative Talk Radio!

[Standing Wolf]

Rubio should build a consensus in Cuba and leave America the [fill in the blank] alone!

[Timber Rattler]

You got snookered.

[cripplecreek]

Former FReeper Pissant was dead on target with Rubio.

[Timber Rattler]

Yeah, he was.

[Bullish]

Yeah, Pyrrhus would be so proud of Marco.... Lovers of America, not so much.

[Mr. Peabody]

Yep, the pride of the talk radio guys wouldn’t let them admit they had been snookered, even now.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Sorry, no one puts one over on Rush.

If anything, the Tea Party was handed 14 RINOS to primary while believing this deal is dead in the house.

Now if Boehner and House leadeship sell out the Conservatives, it guarantees a third party which the RINOS and the establishment probably want.

This isn’t about immigration, this is about the destruction of the conservatives and the constitution.

[OldNewYork]

The patient died, but the operation was a success?

[Christie at the beach]

=>When Rubio told them the bill would secure the border first, they believed him.

So, he knowingly lied to talk radio. Those talkers should have stopped him sooner in my view. Their silence help to create a politician with a teflon suit. Though, his supporters are onto Marco now. Talk radio should be solid in principles, forthright to call Rubio out, Now.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Menendez told me that Rubio’s role was to ‘work over the conservative universe, particularly the conservative opinion-maker universe,’ in order to ‘neutralize them’ and, in some cases, ‘proselytize them,’

So Rubio — how’s it feel to be the puppet of a guy who travels the caribbean in search of underage girls to boink?

Bet you’re proud...

[svcw]

Rubio's immigration strategy worked brilliantly, but disappointed many (Pyrrhic Psycho Victory)

[Seaplaner]

They were speaking politically, in the hope that they could vote for the Gang of Eight bill and then begin to reap benefits with Hispanic voters.

Ann Coulter's latest column explains why this is fiction.

That's highly unlikely...[Ha!]... but one thing is for sure: They have disappointed a lot of their conservatives supporters, most likely for a long time.

"Disappointed" does not come close, and "long time" would properly read..."EVER".

.

[Chgogal]

Yup, especially since Marco the republicRat lied about the bill.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has been more than the GOP point man on immigration. From January, when the Gang of Eight announced its intentions, until April, when it unveiled its bill, Rubio was the man Republicans hid behind. “We're waiting for Marco” became the Senate Republican caucus’ unofficial position on immigration.
After the Gang unveiled its bill, one might have expected GOP lawmakers to take a stand. Instead, many still deferred to Rubio, saying they were waiting to see what kind of improvements he might deliver.
Republicans were able to keep their heads down in part because there wasn't a lot of pressure coming from the anti-reform conservative base. And that owed a great deal to the Gang's decision to dispatch Rubio, elected as a Tea Party favorite in 2010 and viewed as a future leader of the Republican Party, on a mission to allay conservative suspicions about the bill.
“Menendez told me that Rubio’s role was to ‘work over the conservative universe, particularly the conservative opinion-maker universe,’ in order to ‘neutralize them’ and, in so/the New Yorker's Ryan Lizza reported recently, referring to Democratic Gang member Robert Menendez. The leader of the Gang, Democrat Charles Schumer, “was delighted to have a Tea Party conservative who could sell an immigration bill to the right,” Lizza wrote.
The plan worked brilliantly. Conservative talk radio hosts who might have instinctively opposed immigration reform as conceived by Schumer gave Rubio a respectful hearing and a lot of room. When Rubio told them the bill would secure the border first, they believed him.”

After Rubio’s scamming Rush, Levin and Hannity you have to wonder if Obama went GOP and then when on their shows and complimented them and their listeners, if they would praise him too.

Is Ryan now the House GOP Rubio con-man?

[SpaceBar]

Yes, Rubio’s move was masterful. After the kiss, the Roman soldiers knew exactly who to arrest. FYMR

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

He’s ‘former’? Dang! I’m not on here enough.

[Timber Rattler]

Is Ryan now the House GOP Rubio con-man?

Yes, he is. Same strategy.

[tumblindice]

Setting yourself on fire is a great act. But you can only do it once.

[D Rider]

Just signed a petition to recall Rubio. This must be done to all the Rino's that voted for this POS.

This could had pressure to the house to keep them from touching the topic altogether.