On Tuesday's All In show, MSNBC host Chris Hayes accused Republican Senator Marco Rubio of "showing both faces" in trying to make additions to his immigration reform plan, as he found fault with the Florida Senator for trying to add border security and an English language proficiency requirement to the bill. Hayes complained:
I thought it was pretty shameless for Rubio to pull this bait and switch once? But three times? I'm sorry, Marco Rubio, but you cannot be in two places at once. You don't get to have it both ways.
After recounting reports that Rubio had tried to get assistance from New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte on border security, the MSNBC host continued:
And if you think that's the most counterproductive amendment he's trying to add, here's one right out of the transcripts of the Rush Limbaugh show. Rubio announced today he wants an English-only requirement added to the bill. Remember this is a bill he helped create, and now he wants to add a requirement for an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language as if the bill was written by Pat Buchanan.
He ended up recommending that Rubio emulate Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in supporting immigration reform, even though Hayes has found the South Carolina Senator to be a "demagogue" and "grandstander" on other issues:
I know Lindsey Graham is a demagogue and a grandstander. He's Mr. Benghazi and a war hawk of the highest order, but he has been a stalwart leader from the Republican side on immigration reform.
After a soundbite of Senator Graham, Hayes continued:
That's been Lindsey Graham's position on this from the get go. He's been very consistent. He's not playing footsie with the far right immigration opponents. He`s not trying to blow up the bill on the sly. Lindsey Graham knows how important an immigration reform bill is to a Republican party that has almost completely alienated Latino voters.
So I guess that's what you have to live up to, Marco Rubio. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you need to be more like Lindsey Graham. If you want to be a Republican leader and guy with a political future in the national GOP, this is my advice to you, Marco Rubio: Just be the best Lindsey Graham you can be. Believe me, I'm setting the bar very, very low.
Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Tuesday, June 11, All In with Chris Hayes on MSNBC:
CHRIS HAYES: Now, just last week, we were hearing murmurs that the Senate bill was doomed, and some worried the motion to proceed would not even pass, and if it did Republicans told us to expect a squeaker of a vote. But then, here we were, at about 2 p.m. today, the bill sailed through its first cloture vote with only 15 Republicans voting no.
Whenever you get 82 votes for cloture that is to end a filibuster in the United States Senate for the President's signature domestic policy priority, that is a pretty big deal. Even instigators like Tea Party Republican Ted Cruz admitted the full bill was likely to pass the Senate. And in a moment of triumph and confidence, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia delivered his full statement in Spanish.
(SENATOR TIM KAINE SPEAKING IN SPANISH)
Translation, let's show this country and the world it is not a Republican bill, it is not a Democratic bill, but it is a strongly bipartisan bill, an American bill. So, all in all, a pretty good day for the possibility of comprehensive immigration reform, except for the back door shenanigans of one man. Oh, yes, Marco Rubio, I still see what you're doing.
Last week, I told you how Rubio is trying to have it both ways on this bill. He wants to look like a hero of the Republican donor and consultant class by bridging the gap with disgruntled Latino voters, but, at the same time, he's adding amendments to his own bill like one about tighter border security in order to win kudos from the hardcore anti-immigration people in his party. And today, Rubio was showing both faces in the span of a couple of hours. Here he is on the Senate floor explaining why the bill should pass.
SENATOR MARCO RUBIO (R-FL): Who else is being helped by the status quo? Who else likes what we have right now? The answer is nobody, and leaving this in place is not an alternative. It is not an option. This is the problem that's hurting our country, and the only way I know how to solve the problem is get involved in trying to solve it. That's why I came here.
HAYES: Okay. That sounds great, but behind the scenes he's still trying to kneecap a bill that he negotiated. He's apparently using fellow Republican Kelly Ayotte as the bargaining chip to get his border amendment added to the bill. The Huffington Post reporting that Rubio had privately urged Ayotte to remain quiet about her support for immigration reform in hopes that Senate negotiators would amend the bill's border security measures to win her vote.
And if you think that's the most counterproductive amendment he's trying to add, here's one right out of the transcripts of the Rush Limbaugh show. Rubio announced today he wants an English-only requirement added to the bill. Remember this is a bill he helped create, and now he wants to add a requirement for an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language as if the bill was written by Pat Buchanan.
I thought it was pretty shameless for Rubio to pull this bait and switch once? But three times? I'm sorry, Marco Rubio, but you cannot be in two places at once. You don't get to have it both ways. Just look around your side of the aisle, and you'll see what I mean.
And take Senator Lindsey Graham, for instance. Yes, I know Lindsey Graham is a demagogue and a grandstander. He's Mr. Benghazi and a war hawk of the highest order, but he has been a stalwart leader from the Republican side on immigration reform.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC) Yes, I believe it will pass the House because it secures our borders, it controls who gets a job. As to the 11 million, they'll have a pathway to citizenship, but it will be earned, it will be long, and it will be hard, and I think it is fair.
HAYES: That's been Lindsey Graham's position on this from the get go. He's been very consistent. He's not playing footsie with the far right immigration opponents. He`s not trying to blow up the bill on the sly. Lindsey Graham knows how important an immigration reform bill is to a Republican party that has almost completely alienated Latino voters.
So I guess that's what you have to live up to, Marco Rubio. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you need to be more like Lindsey Graham. If you want to be a Republican leader and guy with a political future in the national GOP, this is my advice to you, Marco Rubio: Just be the best Lindsey Graham you can be. Believe me, I'm setting the bar very, very low.
