Who can say, in the end, who is an exile and who is not? What's clear is that this smart, ambitious politician felt that he had a better chance of winning elections if he emphasized a narrative that portrayed him as the son of exiles even though, in reality, his story more closely mirrors that of other Latino immigrants who come to the United States in search of work. "Nothing against immigrants," he said in 2009, "but my parents were exiles."
Unfortunately, the story of the hardworking immigrant doesn't sell very well in the Republican Party at the moment, and Rubio understood that. Not too long ago this country put out the welcome mat for those who came to pursue the American Dream. But those days are past.
"Nothing against immigrants..."
Indeed.
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6 comments:
..even though, in reality, his story more closely mirrors that of other Latino immigrants...
Except for the fact that his parents really were exiles, by the actual definition of the word. But hey, why let facts cloud the issue?
I've already expressed my opinion that this is a lot about nothing, but everyone who has lived in South Florida for any length of time knows exactly what being an "exile" has meant to Cuban-Americans up until Marco was busted. There's no need to whip out Merriam's definition.
It's been fun to watch the hardliners protect their Boy Wonder and do headstands, to include watering down the meaning of "exile," to give him some method of escape from his exaggerations.
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No one has to water down anything. His parents were exiles, period. End of story.
Claiming he isn't is no better than claiming that Obama isn't an American citizen. Put the kool-aid down, Rick.
Sheesh, I hate being put in the position of having to defend Rubio. But I can't stand lies, no matter who they benefit.
"Claiming he isn't is no better than claiming that Obama isn't an American citizen."
Not even close. When you start using Merriam to decide a person's citizenship, it might apply. Otherwise, it's apples and oranges.
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C.L.J., is not that he claims his parents were exiles. That's not where the lie was. You can buy his definition of exile as somebody who couldn't go back after Castro took over. What you can't do is tell me with a straight face that was the definition he intended to imply.
The lie is that he claimed they were "ran out by Castro" when they were not. And then, when caught, he fudged it one more time by saying they "went back and could not leave for nine months, going to the airport every day" when in reality, his mother was in and out of Cuba within one month. Those are facts.
There'sa clear line to the Cuban exile experience, drawn in 1959. Every Cuban knows on what side of the line he or his family left.
Imagine you had a Jewish politician claiming his parents were Holocoaust survivors when in reality they had left Europe as immigrants in 1935. That's the equivalent, and no technicality would had masked that claim as nothing more than a lie.
Rubio lied knowingly and for political gain, and since a big part of his appeal is his origin and ethnicity -including his opposition to those who do every day what his parents once did- it is very relevant and worth exposing.
One wonders if Rubio has been able to fully comprehend the irony of this.
Two years ago, he couldn't summon up enough strength to say unequivocally that Obama was a citizen.
Now the shoe is on the other foot.
How's the fit Marco?
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