Cruz: I stood with Jeff Sessions while Rubio led Dems' push for amnesty
By Ryan Lovelace (@LovelaceRyanD)
Washington Examiner
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz let loose a new line of attack on Republican rival Marco Rubio on Friday. Cruz argued that while he sided with Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions against amnesty, Rubio led the Democrats' fight against conservatives.
The GOP presidential candidates have publicly squabbled over their positions on the 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed the Senate in 2013. "Gang of Eight" bipartisan senators authored the legislation, including Rubio.
Cruz chastised Rubio in remarks to reporters after unveiling his own immigration reform plan on Rubio's home turf in Florida.
"[I]n the Gang of eight fight, Marco chose to stand with Chuck Schumer and to lead the fight tooth-and-nail for a massive amnesty plan," Cruz said. "I chose to stand with Jeff Sessions and to lead the fight to defeat amnesty. And we were successful in defeating it in the Congress."
Cruz avoided directly answering what he thought should be done about illegal immigrants already residing in the United States, but noted that he does not believe in comprehensive reform. His plan also seeks to increase the level of deportations.
Before Cruz unveiled his plan on Friday, Rubio told reporters he found the Texas senator's statements and actions confusing.
"On the immigration front, as I said, I'm puzzled and quite frankly surprised by Ted's attacks, since Ted's position on immigration is not much different than mine," Rubio said. "He is a supporter of legalizing people that are in this country illegally. If he's changed that position, then he certainly has a right to change his position on that issue, but he should be clear about that."
Rubio and Cruz are ranked first and second in the Washington Examiner's GOP presidential power rankings. The public spat between the senators began when conservative personality Laura Ingraham invited Cruz to criticize Rubio's position on immigration during her radio program. Ingraham used her megaphone to help oust House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a 2014 Republican primary, largely because of his willingness to work with Democrats on their immigration proposals.