Right now, Washington, D.C., is buzzing about the immigration bill, legislation that could radically change the country's stance on who's in and who's out. The one guy who seems to have put all his political chips on the passage of the legislation is Sen. Marco Rubio. And because Rubio is essentially now the frontman for the bill, he's come under fire from anti-immigration groups right here in Florida. And they are good and steamed about it.
Floridians for Immigration Enforcement (FLIMEN) is particularly upset with the "TRAITOR MARCO RUBIO." They've taken out some billboards on major roadways in the state plastered with a message about the "Rubio-Obama Immigration Plan." One of the billboards is off I-75 in Ocala, another off the Arlington Expressway near the Jacksonville Jaguars' football stadium. The group is also encouraging followers to send pink-slip termination memos to the senator, the Republican National Committee, and the Republican Party of Florida.
Now, the group is particularly butt-hurt over Rubio's moderate backstabbing stance on the immigration legislation because back in the Tea Party Golden Era, he was one of their own.
"Not only did Senator Marco Rubio break his solemn pledge to our organization and Florida Tea Party leaders that he would oppose amnesty and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants when he ran for Senate, but he abandoned his promise to make sure the border is secure before considering what to do with illegal immigrants already here," FLIMEN Legislative Director Jack Oliver said in a statement.
It's ironic that the very same anti-Washington ire that Rubio rode into office is now swinging back on him. We emailed members of FLIMEN's brain trust to talk to about the billboards, their feelings about Rubio, the immigration bill, hobbies, favorite color, Tupac versus Biggie -- just normal questions.
But they weren't having it with either New Times or your humble correspondent here.
"The immigration issue is in great need of honest accurate reporting," David Caulkett, FLIMEN's vice president, wrote in an email. "As I see it, both you and the New-Times have demonstrated anything but honest accurate reporting."
What? Me?
Caulkett had done a hasty Google search, digging up and attaching a couple of past (and very well-reported, in our humble opinion) "despicable" New Times articles about immigration issues. He also attached a real golden oldie from when this reporter was just a wee newbie reporter back in 2009 working in a different city and had the audacity... nay, the gall... to quote the Southern Poverty Law Center in an article about hate groups.
"FLIMEN declines your interview request because of the high probability of being just another butt of a smear," Caulkett signed off.
*Shrugs*
Right... we're the ones mentally clogged with ideology... all we wanted to do was talk Rubio.
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