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| Ted Cruz denies immigration policy flip-flop in defense against Marco Rubio | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Marco Rubio’s efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform were always thought to be a vulnerability in the Florida senator’s pursuit of the Republican nomination for president. But few expected it would be Ted Cruz, the Texas senator who has fashioned himself as an immigration hardliner, who would find himself on the defensive. | Marco Rubio’s efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform were always thought to be a vulnerability in the Florida senator’s pursuit of the Republican nomination for president. But few expected it would be Ted Cruz, the Texas senator who has fashioned himself as an immigration hardliner, who would find himself on the defensive. |
| The hints of a brewing storm over immigration – a contentious issue among Republicans, exacerbated this cycle by frontrunner Donald Trump’s controversial tone toward immigrants – have been evident for some time. But a sharp exchange in this week’s presidential debate between Rubio and Cruz, both Cuban-American senators, exposed the fissures that could define the remainder of the Republican primary. | The hints of a brewing storm over immigration – a contentious issue among Republicans, exacerbated this cycle by frontrunner Donald Trump’s controversial tone toward immigrants – have been evident for some time. But a sharp exchange in this week’s presidential debate between Rubio and Cruz, both Cuban-American senators, exposed the fissures that could define the remainder of the Republican primary. |
| It is Cruz, a longtime critic of so-called “amnesty” policies, who has spent the greater part of the debate’s aftermath seeking to clarify his position. | It is Cruz, a longtime critic of so-called “amnesty” policies, who has spent the greater part of the debate’s aftermath seeking to clarify his position. |
| That America’s complex immigration system needs reform is an area of widespread consensus. But the crux of the rift among Republicans is what to do about the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US. | That America’s complex immigration system needs reform is an area of widespread consensus. But the crux of the rift among Republicans is what to do about the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US. |
| It’s a question Cruz had ducked for weeks, despite repeated efforts by reporters to pin down the senator’s position on the campaign trail. Standing on the debate stage before millions of Americans watching at home, Cruz finally addressed the issue by coming out against legal status for undocumented immigrants. | It’s a question Cruz had ducked for weeks, despite repeated efforts by reporters to pin down the senator’s position on the campaign trail. Standing on the debate stage before millions of Americans watching at home, Cruz finally addressed the issue by coming out against legal status for undocumented immigrants. |
| “I have never supported legalization and I do not intend to support legalization,” Cruz said, after Rubio pressed the Texan in a tense back-and-forth between the two senators. | “I have never supported legalization and I do not intend to support legalization,” Cruz said, after Rubio pressed the Texan in a tense back-and-forth between the two senators. |
| It was a tepid declaration, leaving many observers – including Rubio’s campaign – zeroing in on Cruz’s use of “intend” to remain deliberately vague. But Cruz’s campaign chairman later told reporters the senator was “unequivocally” against legalization for anyone residing in the country illegally. | It was a tepid declaration, leaving many observers – including Rubio’s campaign – zeroing in on Cruz’s use of “intend” to remain deliberately vague. But Cruz’s campaign chairman later told reporters the senator was “unequivocally” against legalization for anyone residing in the country illegally. |
| Cruz’s bullishness against legalization, however, marked a shift from two years earlier when the US Senate debated a comprehensive immigration bill co-authored by Rubio. The 2013 legislation, at the time a landmark compromise by a bipartisan group of senators known as the “Gang of Eight”, included a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented. | Cruz’s bullishness against legalization, however, marked a shift from two years earlier when the US Senate debated a comprehensive immigration bill co-authored by Rubio. The 2013 legislation, at the time a landmark compromise by a bipartisan group of senators known as the “Gang of Eight”, included a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented. |
| At the time the bill was debated, Cruz repeatedly advocated for an amendment that would strip citizenship from the compromise and instead stop at simply legalization for the undocumented. On Wednesday, Cruz stumbled through an interview on Fox News when asked to reconcile his prior statements in support of legalization with the position he took in the debate less than 24 hours earlier. | At the time the bill was debated, Cruz repeatedly advocated for an amendment that would strip citizenship from the compromise and instead stop at simply legalization for the undocumented. On Wednesday, Cruz stumbled through an interview on Fox News when asked to reconcile his prior statements in support of legalization with the position he took in the debate less than 24 hours earlier. |
| “The fact that I introduced an amendment to remove part of the Gang of Eight bill doesn’t mean I support the rest of the Gang of Eight bill,” Cruz said. “The Gang of Eight bill was a mess, it was a terrible bill.” | “The fact that I introduced an amendment to remove part of the Gang of Eight bill doesn’t mean I support the rest of the Gang of Eight bill,” Cruz said. “The Gang of Eight bill was a mess, it was a terrible bill.” |
| Fox News host Bret Baier, armed with quotes Cruz gave during the Senate immigration debate, painted a different picture – in which the senator repeatedly pushed for legalization. Among them was an appearance by Cruz at his alma mater Princeton University, in which he cast his pro-legalization approach as a meaningful compromise. | Fox News host Bret Baier, armed with quotes Cruz gave during the Senate immigration debate, painted a different picture – in which the senator repeatedly pushed for legalization. Among them was an appearance by Cruz at his alma mater Princeton University, in which he cast his pro-legalization approach as a meaningful compromise. |
| “I believe that if my amendments were adopted, the bill would pass,” Cruz said in his remarks in May 2013. “My effort in introducing them was to find a solution that reflected common ground and fixed the problem.” | “I believe that if my amendments were adopted, the bill would pass,” Cruz said in his remarks in May 2013. “My effort in introducing them was to find a solution that reflected common ground and fixed the problem.” |
| Asked to respond in his interview with Fox, Cruz appeared somewhat flummoxed. | Asked to respond in his interview with Fox, Cruz appeared somewhat flummoxed. |
| “Of course I wanted the bill – my amendment, to pass,” he said. “What my amendment did was take citizenship off the table.” | “Of course I wanted the bill – my amendment, to pass,” he said. “What my amendment did was take citizenship off the table.” |
| Cruz went on to claim that his measure was a poison pill, designed to kill the broader immigration bill and expose “the hypocrisy” of those pushing for its passage. He also tied Rubio to Democrats for his role in shepherding the immigration bill through the Senate. | Cruz went on to claim that his measure was a poison pill, designed to kill the broader immigration bill and expose “the hypocrisy” of those pushing for its passage. He also tied Rubio to Democrats for his role in shepherding the immigration bill through the Senate. |
| Rubio and his campaign have spent recent weeks arguing that if anyone is guilty of deceptiveness, it is Cruz, in what would seemingly run counter to his brand as an ideological purist. | Rubio and his campaign have spent recent weeks arguing that if anyone is guilty of deceptiveness, it is Cruz, in what would seemingly run counter to his brand as an ideological purist. |
| In his own interview with Fox on Wednesday, Rubio said Cruz was “clearly a supporter of legalization” and was only now singing a different tune as he courts conservatives, skeptical of immigration reform. | In his own interview with Fox on Wednesday, Rubio said Cruz was “clearly a supporter of legalization” and was only now singing a different tune as he courts conservatives, skeptical of immigration reform. |
| “Basically the argument he was making is, we can pass immigration reform but we can’t do citizenship. Let’s just do legalization and if we do that, this bill has a chance of passing,” Rubio said of Cruz. “Now, of course, in this campaign he’s looking for political advantage and so he tries to obscure the lines on it.” | “Basically the argument he was making is, we can pass immigration reform but we can’t do citizenship. Let’s just do legalization and if we do that, this bill has a chance of passing,” Rubio said of Cruz. “Now, of course, in this campaign he’s looking for political advantage and so he tries to obscure the lines on it.” |
| Rubio framed his own involvement in the comprehensive immigration reform effort, which subsequently soured his appeal among grassroots conservatives, as wanting to make a difference under a Senate led by Democrats. | Rubio framed his own involvement in the comprehensive immigration reform effort, which subsequently soured his appeal among grassroots conservatives, as wanting to make a difference under a Senate led by Democrats. |
| He has since disavowed that approach and, for nearly two years, has advocated for a piecemeal approach to immigration reform that begins with enforcement at the border. | He has since disavowed that approach and, for nearly two years, has advocated for a piecemeal approach to immigration reform that begins with enforcement at the border. |
| “At this point it’s the prudent thing to do,” Rubio said on Fox. “We just can’t pass this comprehensively.” | “At this point it’s the prudent thing to do,” Rubio said on Fox. “We just can’t pass this comprehensively.” |
| Of his showdown with Cruz, Rubio added: “The point I was trying to make is, I don’t know how he can attack me on this issue when he himself supports legalization.” | Of his showdown with Cruz, Rubio added: “The point I was trying to make is, I don’t know how he can attack me on this issue when he himself supports legalization.” |
| The rivalry between Rubio and Cruz is expected to dominate the coming weeks, as both senators jockey to dethrone Trump of his frontrunner status when the nominating contests begin. | The rivalry between Rubio and Cruz is expected to dominate the coming weeks, as both senators jockey to dethrone Trump of his frontrunner status when the nominating contests begin. |
| Both senators have steadily risen in the polls and are well positioned in two of the early states – in Iowa, Cruz surged and in one influential poll last week took a 10-point lead over Trump; and in New Hampshire, Rubio has ranked second behind Trump in a series of polls. | Both senators have steadily risen in the polls and are well positioned in two of the early states – in Iowa, Cruz surged and in one influential poll last week took a 10-point lead over Trump; and in New Hampshire, Rubio has ranked second behind Trump in a series of polls. |
| Related: Donald Trump calls Ted Cruz a 'little bit of a maniac' after falling behind in Iowa | Related: Donald Trump calls Ted Cruz a 'little bit of a maniac' after falling behind in Iowa |
| There are several other areas of disagreement between the two – including on surveillance and engaging the US military overseas – but the implications of the immigration debate are arguably the most profound. Rubio’s own pollster predicted that Republicans would need to secure roughly 40% of the Latino vote to win back the White House. In 2012, Mitt Romney pulled in just 27%. | There are several other areas of disagreement between the two – including on surveillance and engaging the US military overseas – but the implications of the immigration debate are arguably the most profound. Rubio’s own pollster predicted that Republicans would need to secure roughly 40% of the Latino vote to win back the White House. In 2012, Mitt Romney pulled in just 27%. |
| Alfonso Aguilar, the executive director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, said Rubio was following a smarter strategy in positioning himself for a general election. | Alfonso Aguilar, the executive director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, said Rubio was following a smarter strategy in positioning himself for a general election. |
| “Rubio has said that the Senate bill he supported wasn’t a perfect bill, but he thought we needed to get the ball rolling. Now he’s saying, look I’m still committed, we just have to change tactics to get things done,” Aguilar said. | “Rubio has said that the Senate bill he supported wasn’t a perfect bill, but he thought we needed to get the ball rolling. Now he’s saying, look I’m still committed, we just have to change tactics to get things done,” Aguilar said. |
| “Cruz, on the other hand, now has a credibility problem by going after Rubio, because in the debate he moved to the extreme. It looks like clear pandering.” | “Cruz, on the other hand, now has a credibility problem by going after Rubio, because in the debate he moved to the extreme. It looks like clear pandering.” |
| While building his candidacy as an inevitable landing place for Trump supporters should the real estate mogul fall from his mantle, Cruz has flipped on other aspects of the immigration debate. | While building his candidacy as an inevitable landing place for Trump supporters should the real estate mogul fall from his mantle, Cruz has flipped on other aspects of the immigration debate. |
| He has called for the suspension of H-1B visas for highly skilled workers, after having previously supported a five-fold expansion of the same program. Cruz has also embraced an end to birthright citizenship, even though he once stated it was “a mistake” for conservatives to fight the protection of birthright citizenship under the US constitution. | He has called for the suspension of H-1B visas for highly skilled workers, after having previously supported a five-fold expansion of the same program. Cruz has also embraced an end to birthright citizenship, even though he once stated it was “a mistake” for conservatives to fight the protection of birthright citizenship under the US constitution. |
| Rubio’s transformation has centered more on process as opposed to principles. The senator has maintained he is “personally open” to some of the law-abiding undocumented immigrants eventually applying for green cards, although he has yet to specify how a pathway to citizenship would be achieved under his step-by-step proposal. | Rubio’s transformation has centered more on process as opposed to principles. The senator has maintained he is “personally open” to some of the law-abiding undocumented immigrants eventually applying for green cards, although he has yet to specify how a pathway to citizenship would be achieved under his step-by-step proposal. |
| Rubio’s Democratic opponents have argued there would be no citizenship under his administration and, along with progressive immigration advocates, labeled the Floridian no less tough on the issue than Trump and Cruz. In a speech before the National Immigrant Integration Conference this week, Hillary Clinton previewed a line of attack against Rubio in a potential general election match-up. | Rubio’s Democratic opponents have argued there would be no citizenship under his administration and, along with progressive immigration advocates, labeled the Floridian no less tough on the issue than Trump and Cruz. In a speech before the National Immigrant Integration Conference this week, Hillary Clinton previewed a line of attack against Rubio in a potential general election match-up. |
| “Now you know, Senator Rubio actually helped write the 2013 immigration bill. Now he renounces it,” she said. “They’re all moving toward the extreme.” | “Now you know, Senator Rubio actually helped write the 2013 immigration bill. Now he renounces it,” she said. “They’re all moving toward the extreme.” |
| Rubio defended his attitude toward immigration in Tuesday night’s debate, speaking of the issue as one he is intrinsically tied to through his family and West Miami hometown, with its sprawling Latino community. | Rubio defended his attitude toward immigration in Tuesday night’s debate, speaking of the issue as one he is intrinsically tied to through his family and West Miami hometown, with its sprawling Latino community. |
| “It’s an issue I’ve lived around my whole life,” Rubio said. “My family are immigrants. My wife’s family are immigrants. All of my neighbors are immigrants.” | “It’s an issue I’ve lived around my whole life,” Rubio said. “My family are immigrants. My wife’s family are immigrants. All of my neighbors are immigrants.” |
| “I see every aspect of this problem. The good, the bad, and the ugly.” | “I see every aspect of this problem. The good, the bad, and the ugly.” |
| While the consequences of adopting too hard of a line could linger should Rubio be the nominee, at least for now, the senator’s main challenge is blunting Cruz’s momentum. And on immigration, it’s a battle in which he has unexpectedly turned the tables on Cruz in this initial round. | While the consequences of adopting too hard of a line could linger should Rubio be the nominee, at least for now, the senator’s main challenge is blunting Cruz’s momentum. And on immigration, it’s a battle in which he has unexpectedly turned the tables on Cruz in this initial round. |
| Craig Robinson, an Iowa Republican strategist, dubbed the Rubio campaign’s move as “pretty savvy” given the obstacles Rubio will face if he is successfully defined as being “pro-amnesty”. | Craig Robinson, an Iowa Republican strategist, dubbed the Rubio campaign’s move as “pretty savvy” given the obstacles Rubio will face if he is successfully defined as being “pro-amnesty”. |
| “Now it’s Cruz that has to do the explaining,” Robinson said. “Cruz is the one who has to say how his position is really all that different from what Rubio’s position is, which puts him at odds with some of the more conservative candidates in the race.” | “Now it’s Cruz that has to do the explaining,” Robinson said. “Cruz is the one who has to say how his position is really all that different from what Rubio’s position is, which puts him at odds with some of the more conservative candidates in the race.” |
| “This is new to a lot of people.” | “This is new to a lot of people.” |