By far the most contentious point in the Fox News/Google debate in Des Moines, Iowa, was when moderator Megyn Kelly brought up the issue of immigration reform to the field of Republican presidential candidates.
Kelly directed the first question to Rubio, where she pointed out that Rubio had changed his position on the issue, and then directed them to watch a video montage of Rubio stating his past and present positions on immigration reform.The video montage that Fox put together of Rubio was nothing less than brutal.
The very first video clip in the montage was of a interview I conducted with then-Senate candidate Marco Rubio back in early March 2009. Rubio was very hawkish on immigration, and promised many pro-legal immigrations activists that he would never support any form of pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
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Here is complete video of Rubio’s past immigration reform issue that Fox News clipped from:
A visibly bothered Rubio tried to defend his position on immigration, but couldn’t offer a viable reason for his change in position. Governor Jeb Bush, who has owned up to his support for a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, peppered Rubio from what some say was “the left” side of the issue.Senator Cruz then poured salt into Rubio’s gaping immigration wound, as he pointed out that Rubio chose to stand with President Obama and Senators Chuck Schumer (R) and Harry Reid (R) ” to support amnesty.”
Cruz then added that when Rubio ran for the Senate in 2010, he said that “he would lead the fight against amnesty,” but that Rubio instead failed Americans by cosponsoring and pressing his “Gang of 8” immigration bill.
After the debate, many politicos and surrogates from their respective campaigns were out in force spinning for their candidates, including Jeb Bush Campaign Manager, Danny Diaz.
Diaz said of the exchange between his boss and Rubio, that Rubio had a difficult time defending his position on immigration, and just “turned and walked in an another direction” when he had the opportunity to lead on the issue.
Cruz spokesman Rick Wyllie said that Rubio was just trying to “muddy the waters,” and was attempting to change history,” adding that Bush “attacked him from the left.”Rep. Steve King, a Cruz surrogate, also said that he knew Bush would attack Rubio from the left of the issue, but gives Bush credit for at least owning up to his support for amnesty.
I thought Marco seemed a little angry, for the first time he wasn’t smiling, and I think Jeb landed a few punches. Jeb didn’t have the unfortunate situation of having videos being played about what he said previously. That’s a tough spot to be in when you see you words in video. My sense was the Jeb landed a few blows from the left.- Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union
As it stands right now, if Rubio fails to place in a strong second or third in next week’s Iowa Caucus, and comes in a distant second or third in the New Hampshire primary, the end of Rubio’s presidential aspirations could be weeks away.
