GOP rivals pile on Ted Cruz over immigration reform, authenticity

Ted Cruz was piled on. — (Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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

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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.