Ruben Gallego, AZ-7 (central Phoenix)'s newly minted U.S. representative, has an op-ed in the Huffington Post detailing why, as the headline says, Marco Rubio would be wrong for Arizona. He starts out by acknowledging the power of Rubio's oft told (ad nauseam) personal story:
Marco Rubio has built his political career on the narrative of an up-from-nothing immigrant kid who achieves the American Dream.
Rubio's personal story is indeed powerful, and one I know well. Like Rubio, my parents came to the United States from another country with little more than hope for a better future for their kids.
and then proceeds to channel Meteor Blades:
Personal stories can inspire action, but ultimately each of us serving in public office should be judged more by what we actually do than the story we can tell.
Rubio has been successful at selling his story. The same isn't true when it comes to advocating for those who want to follow his path.
In front of a largely Latino audience in Miami on April 27, 2010, Rubio warned that Americans would be uncomfortable with a "police state" in Arizona. Less than two weeks later, Rubio told an ultra-conservative website that he would have voted for the final version of the law, even though there were still concerns over forcing immigrants to show papers.
The fight over SB1070 wasn't just about a single state's immigration law; it was a defining moment for the immigration reform movement. Rubio not only failed to eventually choose the right side, he tried to have it both ways.
I don't want to run afoul of fair-use guidelines; if this is a a subject that interests you, go read the whole thing here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/... It's going to leave a mark, and a timely one, considering Rubio is in Arizona today, and presumably talking out of both sides of his mouth to the relevant constituencies, as he is wont to do based on results.
Gallego's Coup de Grace:
In Spanish, Rubio says we need to do piecemeal reform, in English it's border security first or nothing. We all know how that story ends: No relief for immigrant families.
I certainly understand the complexities and political pressures at play when it comes to comprehensive immigration reform. But if Rubio is so quick to abandon a policy he once showed so much passion for -- at least publicly -- why should we trust anything he says?
What makes achieving the American Dream different from the idea of success in other countries is that when you become successful, you're supposed to find a way to aid others. To Rubio, it seems the American Dream is just a story he likes to tell.
I upped my circumstances, now up yours. This, in my opinion, represents one of the key ethical differences between democrats and republicans, and the powers that be are doing their best to truncate democrats from that ethic of giving a hand up to the next person that needs one. This is a meme that needs to be pounded relentlessly from sea to shining sea until people "get it" (and of course, democrats ought to damn well deliver on it in any and every way possible).
I personally think that Hillary Clinton assured her election yesterday by taking such a forceful stand on immigration. And while I don't consider myself a supporter of hers at this time (I share many of the same criticisms as others on this site have voiced), I appreciate her willingness to articulate an aggressive position on this matter. It will pay dividends in our communities, our party, and our country for generations to come.
Gallego is likely to be in this seat as long as he wants, and is thus free to speak his mind on this issue and others. Hopefully we'll be hearing a lot more from him. I, for one, am proud to have my neck of the woods represented by an articulate, energetic, and forceful voice for sanity on this issue in a place where sanity has often been lacking.