The Tea Party got Marco Rubio elected to the U.S. Senate his leading role in the Senate immigration reform bill shows he is “bankrupt morally” and greatly endangering his political future, according to Florida-based talk show host Joyce Kaufman.
Kaufman, who hosts a daily talk show in WFTL radio, admits she has never been a Rubio fan because she considered him to be untrustworthy when he was Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. She got behind Rubio’s insurgent U.S. Senate bid after strong listener support and because she considered anyone better for the job than then-Gov. Charlie Crist.
Rubio visited Kaufman’s program numerous times during the campaign, and Kaufman says he gave very clear answers on where he stood on immigration.
“He told me he was against amnesty, no pathway to citizenship, secure the borders that’s all we’ve got to worry about. Blah, blah, blah. It was a lie,” said Kaufman, who says she has a very simple approach to the illegal immigration problem.
“Just enforce the existing laws and be conscious of the fact that every nation has a right to its sovereignty. No other nation on earth allows people to come in without registering, without signing the guest book, and then affords them a pathway to citizenship as a reward when they sneak in. This is absolutely anathema to what America stands for,” said Kaufman.
As their differing views on immigration reform became evident over the past several months, Kaufman says Rubio is much harder to find than during the campaign.
“He refuses to appear on my show. He refuses to take my calls. We took a posse up to his office in D.C. and we were politely asked to stand in the hallway. We were summarily dismissed while we watched members of SEIU and La Raza welcomed with open arms,” she said. “He is bankrupt morally. He is a horrible example of what happens when a party decides that they really like the way a guy looks and sounds and could care less if he has any principles.”
“I just think it’s an example of how we ended up with Barack Obama in the White House. He looks good, but he really doesn’t stand for what he says he stands for,” said Kaufman.
Rubio, the rest of the Gang of Eight and numerous other lawmakers claim a new amendment on border security should alleviate concerns that the bill focuses on legalization and not enough on border enforcement. The amendment reportedly calls for a major increase in border agents and requires completion of the border fence before any green cards are handed out. Kaufman isn’t impressed.
“Been there, done that. In 2006, they authorized a border fence and three months later they refused to fund it. All this talk is nothing unless there’s appropriations,” said Kaufman. “I know these guys. I know Chuck Schumer. I’ve been doing this a long time. As soon as they get what they want, they will not appropriate the funds for the border patrol agents, therefore there won’t be any. They will not appropriate funds to build any more fence, therefore there won’t be any more fence.”
Kaufman says anti-amnesty and pro-legal immigration groups are making their voices heard and don’t need much help from her. She joined them in protesting at Rubio’s office in Miami-Dade County, even holding a mock funeral for the American worker in connection with the unveiling of the immigration bill.
“Marco Rubio’s people had us thrown off the premises. He works for me. I helped get him elected. I pay his salary and he treats me like garbage. He treats all his constituents like that unless they have a checkbook,” said Kaufman.
2016 holds multiple options for Rubio. He is up for re-election that year and many also expect him to seek the GOP presidential nomination. Kaufman says Florida conservatives have little enthusiasm more more Rubio and he should expect a fierce challenge if he runs for re-election.
“Absolutely, he’ll get a fierce primary challenge. He won’t be able to beat back Charlie Crist if he decides to run as a Democrat, only because of this issue. He has ruined his political future,” she said.
