Rubio calls Tea Party attacks on immigration 'a real trial for me'

The Hill ^

[Sub-Driver]

Rubio calls Tea Party attacks on immigration 'a real trial for me' By Ramsey Cox - 06/26/13 02:06 PM ET

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Wednesday defended his decision to work on bipartisan immigration reform and said "it has been a real trial" hearing Tea Party charges that he has turned his back on conservatives.

“I have received numerous emails and calls from conservatives and Tea Party activists,” Rubio said on the Senate floor Wednesday. “Their opinions and concerns really matter to me because they stood with me during my election.”

Rubio said Tea Party activists aren’t “anti-immigrant” — they just don’t trust the federal government to enforce immigration laws that have gone unenforced over the last 30 years.

“It’s because the government has failed them so many times before,” Rubio said.

Rubio enjoyed strong support from Tea Party activists when he won his Senate seat in 2010 and has been touted as a potential 2016 GOP presidential nominee.

But some conservative Republicans have said his bipartisan work on immigration reform could hurt his chances of winning the nomination.

Rubio was a central player in the Gang of Eight negotiations that produced the immigration reform legislation, and led the early effort to sell the bill to conservatives.

Former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) has said he wouldn't rule out a primary challenge to Rubio if he runs for reelection in the Senate.

"To hear the worry, anxiety and growing anger in the voices of so many people who helped me get elected to the Senate, who I agree with on virtually every other issue, has been a real trial for me,” Rubio said.

Rubio has repeatedly said he’s not working on the legislation to increase his political stock and got involved in immigration reform talks for the right reasons.

“I got involved in this issue for one simple reason: I ran for office to try to fix things that are wrong with this country,” Rubio said. “And that’s what this is about for me.”

Rubio said he didn’t want to leave immigration reform simply to Democrats because he knew the issue of border security wouldn’t have been strong enough.

Earlier Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) applauded Gang of Eight members, but noted their work might not be appreciated by all of their constituents.

“This is really America at its best. Each one of those eight senators don’t know, just as I don’t know, whether this work will help them or hurt them in their political careers,” Reid said. “But we have a broken immigration system, and they have come up with a solution to fix it.”

The Senate is expected to pass the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act later this week.

The bipartisan group of eight senators, known as the Gang of Eight, introduced S. 744, which would create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country, toughen border security, create a guest-worker program and boost high-skilled immigration.

Rubio, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) comprise the Gang of Eight.

[oldbrowser]

This bill is wrong on so many levels.
It is not about immigration. Nor will the immigration problem be solved.
It is about pork.
It is about increasing the scope and size of government.
But the worst one is that it is a legal nightmare. Twelve hundred pages of double talk, blank checks, and questionable phrases that the administration and the courts will never unravel.

[princeofdarkness]

His wife told him to turn on his supporters? If it is true, this fact really reflects very badly on him. This guy is so easily manipulated.

[RetSignman]

Here are a couple of items I found in the bill before my eyes gave out.

(b) SOUTHERN BORDER FENCING STRATEGY.—
2 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days
3 AFTER the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec4
retary shall establish a strategy, to be known as the
5 ‘‘Southern Border Fencing Strategy’’, to identify
6 where fencing, including double-layer fencing, infra7
structure, and technology should be deployed along
8 the Southern border.

(A) IN GENERAL.—The DHS Task Force
8 shall be composed of 26 members, appointed by
9 the President, who have expertise in migration,
10 local crime indices, CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS,
11 community relations, cross-border trade and
12 commerce, quality of life indicators, or other
13 pertinent experience, of whom—
14 (i) 11 members shall be from the
15 Northern border region and shall include—
16 (I) 2 local government elected of17
ficials;
18 (II) 2 local law enforcement offi19
cial;
20 (III) 2 civil rights advocates;
21 (IV) 1 business representative;
22 (V) 1 higher education represent23
ative;

Congress doesn’t have the time or will to read the bill but every American citizen SHOULD:

http://www.schumer.senate.gov/forms/immigration.pdf

[rolling_stone]

Benedict Rubio

[roses of sharon]

He reminds me of Scott Brown, just another stupid pretty boy trying to get good press.

Well now he has it, why is he complaining?

[rockrr]

Nonstarter. He’s certain that he knows better than we. So any references to discord or diverted paths MUST be that we simply can’t fathom how bloody smart he is.

/s

[Democrat_media]

Your Phone Calls are Making an Impact on Capitol Hill

Stop Amnesty.

Tell congressmen we don’t want ANY bill passed, no matter what they promise. This bill is Amnesty for 30 million illegals, and a 1200 page bill that brings in 80 million 3rd world immigrants. The bill will destroy the U.S. and will turn the USA into a socialist state as is the democrats/Obama’s plan.

To call your Member of Congress:
US Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121

To locate your Member on-line:
U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov
U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov

Call all remaining GOP members of the US Congress to back the efforts of those fighting back.

Call and say “I am calling to ask Congress member ___________ to support Michele Bachman, Steve King, and Louie Gohmert’s effort to demand that Speaker John Boehner stop trying to help Obama and the Democrats pass amnesty for illegal aliens. Please sign their petition to require the Speaker to honor the ‘Hastert Rule’! If the Senate passes an amnesty for illegal aliens, it will be important that the House refuses to pass any immigration legislation in 2013! Stop the amnesty legislation!”

ALIPAC’s Contact List for GOP Members of Congress....
ALIPAC’s US Congress Contact List

Remember to call, call, call! Regardless of where you live, call all that you can and get others involved with the calls. Once you call, try to send in a written reinforcement of your message by website,twitter, facebook, fax, or mail.

http://www.alipac.us/f8/revolt-house-against-amnesty-needs-your-backing-281274/

Your Phone Calls are Making an Impact on Capitol Hill :

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3035964/posts

[Huskrrrr]

[Night Hides Not]

“I got involved in this issue for one simple reason: I ran for office to try to fix things that are wrong with this country,”

Hey Marco, I prefer that you uphold and support the Constitution. The rest will take care of itself.

I don't see how providing a path to ciitzenship for at least 11 million aliens as Constitutional.

[rocksblues]

I read the whole statement and all I heard was Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah.

[txrefugee]

Poor little victim Marco. If it were not for conservatives, the GOP establishment would have had Charlie Crist occupying that senate seat, you ingrate.

[Logical me]

Rubio, wake the F up. There will be no border fence or any other kind of effective security with this bill. King Obama and his communists political machine will see to that. There should be one small bill, build the damn fence and secure it. Then work on a immigration bill.

[ZULU]

Third, say good-bye to a once promising political career unless you switch parties.

[Right Wing Assault]

"To hear the worry, anxiety and growing anger in the voices of so many people who helped me get elected to the Senate, who I agree with on virtually every other issue, has been a real trial for me,” Rubio said.

But he has managed to ignore what they want. He forgets the end results of this fiasco are going to be a trial for this country forever.

Rubio said he didn’t want to leave immigration reform simply to Democrats because he knew the issue of border security wouldn’t have been strong enough.

That makes no sense. What they came up with would not pass if you guys didn't help them! The American people don't want this. Don't you listen to them??

What a bunch of lame excuses.

[PATRIOT1876]

BooHoo!

[VRWC For Truth]

In the words of the Donald ... “Rubio, you’re fired!”

[Night Hides Not]

Say good-bye to a once promising political career unless you switch parties.

[formosa]

So let me get this straight. Rubio lied to his constituents to get elected and then chastises them when he betrays their values, dreams and jobs. The trash in Washington is just overflowing these days.

[formosa]

So let me get this straight. Rubio lied to his constituents to get elected and then chastises them when he betrays their values, dreams and jobs. The trash in Washington is just overflowing these days.

[longfellow]

Mr.Rubio, you betrayed the Tea Party. You became one of them. You have sold your soul and now you are surprised when you wake up next to the devil.

Let this man be an example. We must defeat him with another Tea Party Patriot. and I do mean Patriot Mr. Rubio.