Last night Cesar Conda, former Chief of Staff to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., tweeted an op-ed piece in the Miami Herald by A. J. Delgado. The op-ed, which is favorable to Rubio’s political prospects bluntly (and accurately) describes the Florida Senator’s “Gang of Eight” immigration reform bill as amnesty:
He [Rubio] embraced amnesty for millions of undocumented immigrants … As much as grassroots conservatives loved Rubio, they hated amnesty more … while his advisers undoubtedly thought his amnesty push would at least help him with Hispanic voters, it failed to do so…
Less than two years ago, of course, Conda famously proclaimed that the Gang of Eight bill was “the toughest enforcement and border security law in American history”:
If enacted, Senate #immigrationreform will be the toughest enforcement and border security law in American history.
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) April 11, 2013
At the time, Conda was Rubio’s chief of staff. Both he and Rubio insisted over and over again that the bill was not amnesty:
@NDoilbaron It is incorrect to say that this bill grants amnesty. The facts are here: http://t.co/H2saGA9Hpc
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) April 20, 2013
@SonsofReagan Paying fines, penalties, taxes, no welfare, going to the back of the line, etc. isn't "amnesty". But lets agree to disagree.
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) April 19, 2013
@CommieJuice There is no amnesty. To qualify for RPI status, one must pass criminal background check, pay fines, pay taxes, no welfare.
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) April 19, 2013
@missADelgado And @marcorubio remains opposed to amnesty. The status quo is a de facto amnesty.
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) April 14, 2013
.@marcorubio: "This is not amnesty. Amnesty is the forgiveness of something. Amnesty is anything that says, 'Do it illegally.'
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) April 14, 2013
RT@AlexConant: Rubio on @FoxNewsSunday: This isn't amnesty… Road for undocumented tough, but fair & humane.http://t.co/BNpy7iljo6
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) April 14, 2013
Senate #immigration bill creates provisional legal status. Freezes illegal population. No special pathway. No amnesty.
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) April 11, 2013
RT@rumpfshaker: .@MarcoRubio's #immigration plan is NOT amnesty. Get your facts straight, @AnnCoulter. #CPAC2013
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) March 16, 2013
@savetheusa: Requiring ppl to pay fines, back takes, assimilate, get back of the line, all triggered when border secured is not amnesty
— CesarConda (@CesarConda) January 18, 2013
Conda no longer works for Rubio, but has been promoting his former boss on Twitter. We wonder if he read all of Delgado’s piece, or just the flattering headline.
Rubio, for his part, is still in denial.
Sigh.
Related:
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