The White House/flickr
The debate over comprehensive immigration reform took a rather petty turn yesterday, when Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) office complained that neither Rubio nor any of his aides have ever discussed the policy with anyone at the White House. It led press secretary Jay Carney to note that the claim is wrong -- members of President Obama's team met five times with staffers of the eight senators working on a bipartisan reform package, which includes Rubio.
So, Rubio's office said the five meetings to discuss the policy didn't count as "discussing immigration policy," because the White House didn't seek enough "input" during the meetings.
The process is progressing nicely, isn't it?
Fortunately, Obama tried to elevate the conversation to a less-ridiculous level yesterday, reaching out directly to the GOP senators involved in the process, including the far-right Floridian.
President Barack Obama on Tuesday called three of the four Republican senators working with four Senate Democrats to draft comprehensive immigration legislation that they hope to unveil next month.
"This afternoon, the President placed calls to [the senators] to discuss their shared commitment to bipartisan, commonsense immigration reform and to commend the Senators for the bipartisan progress that continues to be made by the Gang of 8 on this important issue," the White House said in a release.
Obama spoke with Sens. Rubio, John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and would have spoken to Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), too, but he was traveling yesterday and was unavailable.
It's unlikely the one-on-one chats dramatically changed the nature of the debate, but they weren't intended to -- it seems the president just wanted to calm the waters a bit after Rubio starting throwing a fit for reasons that remain a mystery.
And it appears Obama succeeded in his goal of easing the tensions before they spiraled out of control. Rubio's spokesperson tweeted that the senator "appreciated [the president's] call to discuss immigration tonight. Rubio said he feels good about ongoing negotiations in Senate."
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Caption...
"I Can't believe he put me on hold"
Washingtons' High School musical, aren't they a little too old for that.
Rubio just wanted to prove to his TP base that he's the "tough guy" and won't put up with the "uppity" Obama, who is "no better than he should be."
Rubio is a jerk.
We fweel much bedder now. Our fweelings was hurt because the Pres never calls us.
No left one no right one not even a slight one . No balls at all.
Same old, same old. 'The President is ALOOF! He NEVER reaches out! Oh? He DID? Well we didn't LIKE what he said so HE NEVER REACHES OUT!!!'
I don't see this ending well, Rubio has shown his alliegience to orthodox right wing insanity/drivel trumps all. The worm will worm out of this, I can't fathom him compromising with anyone...
I am suprised that Rubio knows how to answer the phone.
"What? We can't do ANY thing to get voted out of office because of gerrymandering?! Why, I accept your pathetic challenge, Sir!"
Rubio's spokesperson tweeted that the senator "appreciated [the president's] call to discuss immigration tonight. Rubio said he feels good about ongoing negotiations in Senate.".
**Whew** I am so relieved that Rubio's fragile feelings have been rescued from the ignoble manhandlings of those crude lefties.
So is this what its going to come down to. So they really don't have to pass anything, they will just stand up at the state of the union, and put blame on Obama, that way next election they can say, "we were all for it but they would not reach out, so still vote for us" I am so ready to live in a country that makes changes. School House Rock LIED to me on how to pass a bill !!!
Unlike the do nothing senate that is allowed to filibuster everything so nothing gets done , and is on vacation more that it is actually working , the president has a full time job that actually makes a difference to america
Rubio said he feels good about ongoing negotiations in Senate."
Until next week when he manufactures another crisis
Rubio started throwing a fit yesterday because the leaked Obama Adm proposal triangulated his own proposal by agreeing with and echoing Rubio's own work.
The GOP party line is that if it comes from Obama, it's toxic on arrival. So Obama just stamped Rubio's proposal as toxic on arrival, by agreeing with large parts of it in his own proposal.
Sure, it is the GOP party line that is painting Rubio into a corner, but typically, his anger is simply blaming Obama for it.
How DARE Obama want the same things Rubio said he wants! There can be NO agreement! This is the Law of the GOP. Obama is evil (and an uppity person of color). Therefore, all proposals the GOP makes have to move, like goalposts, if Obama agrees to them.
Kind of makes you giggle, doesn't it? Is it possible these clowns don't even know they're being made to look like clowns?