During an interview with Florida Senator Marco Rubio on Wednesday’s CBS This Morning, co-host Gayle King claimed it was “offensive” for President Trump to highlight the victims of MS-13 gang violence during the State of the Union address and argued that he was trying to paint all immigrants as criminals. The Republican lawmaker immediately called out her unfair accusation.
King fretted: “Senator, many people took offense when he seemed to tie the Dreamers to MS-13 gang members. He – you know, he introduced the family who had lost two of their daughters and he seemed to tie the two together. Did that trouble you?” Rubio dismissed the slanted characterization of the President’s comments: “No, I understand why people get upset, you know, about that. But in the end, I’m not sure that’s justified. That’s like saying, you know, you can’t criticize the mafia because they’re Italian-American.”
“I mean, the bottom line is MS-13 is an evil, horrifying organization that’s killing and hurting people all over the country,” he added.
The Senator continued: “Of course the majority of immigrants are not members of MS-13. In fact, the majority of the victims – ” King cut him off: “And that’s the point of them are not members of MS-13, that’s what was so offensive.” Rubio replied: “Hold on a second. But he never said they were.”
After stopping the morning show host from putting false words in the President’s mouth, Rubio explained the reality of MS-13 to viewers:
And my second point is the majority of the victims of MS-13 happen to be from immigrant families and immigrant communities. MS-13 does not go into Beverly Hills. MS-13 is in communities where other immigrants are living. And that is who they prey on and that is who they harm. So when you’re going after MS-13, first and foremost, you’re going after a gang that is hurting immigrants.
He then concluded: “So I understand that in this environment, people want to say that, but I’m not sure that’s a fair criticism, I really am not.”
A dejected King simply responded: “Okay.”
Even mentioning the negative impact of illegal immigration is automatically portrayed as racist by the liberal media.
Here is a transcript of the January 31 exchange:
8:08 AM ET
(...)
GAYLE KING: Senator, many people took offense when he seemed to tie the Dreamers to MS-13 gang members. He – you know, he introduced the family who had lost two of their daughters and he seemed to tie the two together. Did that trouble you?
SEN. MARCO RUBIO: No, I understand why people get upset, you know, about that. But in the end, I’m not sure that’s justified. That’s like saying, you know, you can’t criticize the mafia because they’re Italian-American. I mean, the bottom line is MS-13 is an evil, horrifying organization that’s killing and hurting people all over the country. Of course the majority of immigrants are not members of MS-13. In fact, the majority of the victims –
KING: And that’s the point of them are not members of MS-13, that’s what was so offensive.
RUBIO: Right, and – hold on a second. But he never said they were.
And my second point is the majority of the victims of MS-13 happen to be from immigrant families and immigrant communities. MS-13 does not go into Beverly Hills. MS-13 is in communities where other immigrants are living. And that is who they prey on and that is who they harm. So when you’re going after MS-13, first and foremost, you’re going after a gang that is hurting immigrants.
So I understand that in this environment, people want to say that, but I’m not sure that’s a fair criticism, I really am not.
KING: Okay.
(...)
