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Is Marco Rubio being vetted for VP?
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Florida senator weighs in
- Duration 7:13
- Date Jun 20, 2012
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Florida senator weighs in
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To help the big G-20 economic summit -- yelled -- President Obama to really work in the immigration because -- -- a good issue of hope to see how we got down to -- -- the plane look at this.
You see that would -- that.
-- -- address right now from Washington DC is senator Marco Rubio of Florida got a brand new book out this week it's called and Americans -- good morning abuser.
-- morning guys thanks for having me on.
Did the president steal your plan and immigration because it sure looks like it to a lot of people.
While our plan -- comprehensive it was being worked on and it was balanced you know in my book one of the things I talk about it how immigration is a complicated issue.
On the one hand it is a very human issue and we do have to have compassion for folks that find themselves.
In these circumstances especially these young people.
On the other hand we have a real illegal immigration problem.
And I think it's important remind people that this is the most generous country in the world when it comes to immigration a million people a year come here legally.
What other country in the world does that and we -- working on as a balanced.
How do you balance our compassion for these kids.
With the illegal immigration problem that we have the president -- even try to strike a balance but the biggest problem I have with that is that he ignores the constitution -- the congress.
And shuts it down our throat when just a year ago he admitted that not only did not have the power to do it but that it was not wise to do it that way it just sets the whole thing backwards that's.
Here's -- thing we've been reading for the longest time at least for the last couple months that you were working on a Republican version of the DREAM Act.
And then yesterday you came forward and said I can't really do my what I wanted to do now my versions dead.
Because with the president did on Friday so can you connect the dots for us what you were -- on.
And what do you think do you think word got out to the administration and that's why they acted the way they it's just in your opinion.
Yeah first of all -- and the minute I began to discuss this the first thing they did is attacked it.
I'm in the majority leader Harry Reid wrote an op Ed in the Miami Herald attacking my idea people on the left accuse me of being in favor of -- -- about.
About three fifths compromise a second class citizen the New York Times which is now celebrating with the presidents did describe what I was talking about which is similar.
As -- you know it's a DREAM Act without a dream now of course he did -- so it's a fantastic idea according to them to -- that were hypocrisy lies -- let me tell you the problem.
The problem is that was so many issues confronting this country a lot of my colleagues would say to me -- why do we do this now why can't this wait.
And I would argue -- because he's young kids wanna start school on September.
Now they're gonna say you see there is no urgency it's being taken care of plus it poisons the well by injecting election year politics and to this issue.
Which should be a nonpolitical issue and it makes it harder to kind of find that balanced bipartisan approach.
To this solution he's having he's doing this as an election -- stunt as much is that he's innocent people see through it.
That's a senators given that that president preempt did your plan where do Republicans go now on immigration.
Well I think our idea continues to be worked on when the timing of it as what's in question now.
But I think what we need to be it's three things number -- we need to remind everybody that America's very generous as it is when it comes to legal immigration.
We have fifty million people waiting to come to this country legally what do we tell them come illegally it's cheaper and faster.
On the other hand and I discuss all this in my book because it's -- it's it's not a black or white issue.
You know we do have compassion for these young kids I mean -- five years old your parents bring you here you grow up you're here entire life for the valedictorian of your school.
And we're gonna -- Chua doesn't feel right but we have to so we have to address that.
And a humanitarian way but.
We have to do it in a way that doesn't encourage or reward illegal immigration in the future and that's why we have a congress.
As inefficient as it may be as frustrated as I may get with the process if we lose these constitutional principles mean what do we have then we're no different than the rest of the world and and no issues that important for us to ignore the constitution.
City book is excellent it tells a story really but an American story this what I wanna do this -- and accomplish and it's not all gonna be smooth for example.
I always thought that you're pretty confident about being then governor Chris.
For this seat.
But for a while you even data does -- this was possible there was gonna go your way right.
Yeah everything I knew about politics that I would lose.
I got discouraged people get discouraged all the time.
But I relied on my face and my family particularly my wife who's not really a big fan politics per say but who believe that we were doing it for the right reasons.
And are you in it to win -- are you went to make a difference if you're -- to make a difference it doesn't matter what the odds are and I'm grateful to her for that and I'm I'm grateful for that kind of race because.
All I had was my principles early on in this race and and certainly I think that's made me a better senator.
Editor -- in the book you also talk about illegal immigration.
And not only do you have compassion for the children were brought here against you know -- no fault of their own.
But for the parents and you say that if you were in that situation if you lived in a country -- Mexico.
Where you couldn't.
Work or afford to feed your children yes you too would cross the border.
A legally and do whatever it takes to feed your children do you think that Mitt Romney.
And other Republicans understand that sort of sentiment well.
I think everyone does I mean if your kids are starving your -- you want to virtually anything to bring food for them and that's provide for them I think the answer is yes this parents will do anything for our kids.
But as a country we've always recognize that that's why a million people Leo get to immigrate here legally what other country in the world does what we do.
Now and we wanna continue to be that country but it has to be to a system of legal immigration that works and Mitt -- in favor of a system of legal immigration that works.
I think we have to make any apologies for our generosity on.
On legal immigration we have to recognize the human element of it but -- policy makers we also have an obligation to this country and that's a balancing act that I hold.
Republicans will lead on I believe we are -- believe we're starting to for sure.
That senator yesterday.
About right now we saw a news flash from ABC that you were not being vetted for vice president.
On them Mitt Romney ticket and in late in the day Mitt Romney himself came out and said this.
There are only two people in this country.
Who know who are being vetted and who were not and that's Beth Myers and myself.
And I know best well she doesn't talked anybody.
The story was entirely false.
Marco Rubio is being thoroughly vetted as part of our process.
Okay so there you go I'm sure this is the number one thing that is driving you crazy because as you promote your book everybody's asking about it what are you wanna say about.
Well that's part of the process and that you know it comes with the territory and that's fine I I would tell you two things and -- I don't discuss the process.
That governor Romney's undergoing an and then the -- -- -- conducting I think he deserves the -- to to conduct on the most professional way possible.
But I do have a new book out.
Usually have had a -- in the book I don't you talk about the fact that people look it look easy US senator.
But he's still pay it off his student loans I am and have a sell enough books thanks to you guys -- -- they ought to pay -- off the senior absolutely.
Still go out glad to get the book it's great American success story which is actually needs a few more chapters either way this book's going to be a lot thicker I would -- to the sequel.
-- Americans on the name that Marco Rubio thanks so much for joining us.
Thank you guys thanks.