GOP rivals pile on Ted Cruz over immigration reform, authenticity


At Thursday's GOP debate, Fox News moderator Megyn Kelly suggested that Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) was lying when he said his own immigration amendment was meant as a poison pill, and she showed clips to back up her contention. Cruz responded by saying that he was merely trying to expose the Washington "hypocrisy" on immigration, and named immigration opponents who support him.
Kelly then turned to Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) for his response. "The lie that Ted's campaign is built upon," Rubio said, mentioning Sen. Rand Paul's similar critique of Cruz's "authenticity," is "that he's the most conservative guy, and everyone else is a RINO. The truth is, Ted, throughout this whole campaign you've been willing to say or do anything to get votes." The video record is pretty clear, Rubio added, and "we're not going to beat Hillary Clinton with someone who will do or say anything." Watch the Cruz-Rubio showdown below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Trump set to hit Canada with 35% tariffs
Speed Read The president accused Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of failing to stop the cross-border flow of fentanyl
-
Mahmoud Khalil files $20M claim over ICE detention
Speed Read This is the 'first damages complaint' brought by an individual targeted by the Trump's administration's 'crackdown' on Gaza war protesters
-
Trump threatens Brazil with 50% tariffs
Speed Read He accused Brazil's current president of leading a 'witch hunt' against far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro
-
AI scammer fakes Rubio messages to top officials
Speed Read The unknown individual mimicked Rubio in voice and text messages sent to multiple government officials
-
SCOTUS greenlights Trump's federal firings
speed read The Trump administration can conduct mass federal firings without Congress' permission, the Supreme Court ruled
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling