Sen. Marco Rubio smacked down Jeb Bush in the GOP presidential debate Wednesday, suggesting his former mentor was attacking him out of desperation.
The two Floridians have steered clear of each other for much of the election cycle so far, choosing instead to aim punches at Republican front-runner Donald Trump. But on Wednesday in Boulder, Colo., Rubio did not hold back when his former mentor criticized his voting record in the Senate.
Rubio had just dismissed a panellist question about reports the he had missed dozens of Senate votes, saying they were Democratic attacks that had already been debunked.
But Bush decided not to let the matter rest, and pounced, turning on Rubio and saying, “I’m a constituent of Rubio’s and I helped him and I expected that he would do constituent service, which means that he shows up to work. When you signed up for this, this was a six-year term and you should be showing up to work. I mean, literally, the Senate, what is it … like a French work week? You get three days where you have to show up.
“You can campaign, or just resign and let someone else take the job. There are lot of people living paycheck–to–paycheck in Florida as well that are looking for a senator that will fight for them each and every day.”
Rubio shot back immediately and forcefully, saying Bush’s attack could be explained by his low poll numbers in the race. “It’s interesting, in the last few weeks I’ve listened to Jeb as he’s walked around the country and said [he’s] modeling his campaign after [Arizona Sen.] John McCain – that you’re going to launch a furious comeback the way he did by fighting hard in New Hampshire, carrying his own suitcase in the airport, things like that.
GOP Senators Running for President – Missed Votes InsideGov
“You know how many votes McCain missed when he was running his campaign that you’re now modeling after? I don’t remember you ever complaining about McCain’s vote record. The only reason you’re doing so now is because we’re running for the same position and someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you.”
It was a belittling response and appeared to establish Rubio’s dominance over Bush.
Prior to his exchange with Bush, Rubio noted that his voting record in the Senate, which was criticized in a scathing editorial Wednesday by the Southern Florida newspaper The Sun Sentinel, isn’t much different from previous lawmakers who’ve run for higher office.
“I read that editorial today with a great amusement. It’s actually evidence of a bias that exists in the media today,” he said to applause.
“Back in 2004, one of my predecessors to the Senate by the name of Bob Graham ran for president, missing over 30 percent of his votes. I don’t recall them calling for his resignation. Later that year, John Kerry ran for president, missing close to 60 to 70 percent of his votes. I don’t recall the Sun Sentinel – in fact, the Sun Sentinel endorsed him. In 2007, Barack Obama missed 60 to 70 percent of his votes and the same newspaper endorsed him again,” Rubio continued.
“So this is another example of the double standard that exists in this country between the mainstream media and the conservative movement,” he said to overwhelming applause.
