BuzzFeed

Politics

Marco Rubio “Is Supposedly Representing Hispanic Issues,” Harry Reid Says

A nonplused Rubio spokesman responds: “Rubio represents Florida. posted

I know, right? Now tell your friends!
Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representing Hi...
Buzzfeed Politics

Rubio at CPAC.

(Reuters / JONATHAN ERNST)

Majority Leader Harry Reid's suggestion that the job of Florida Senator Marco Rubio is to represent Hispanics nationally raised some eyebrows this morning.

“In Nevada, [ambassadorial nominee Mari Carmen Aponteis seen by the Puerto Rican community, the Hispanic community, as really somebody who is an up-and-rising star. … I just think it’s a mistake for someone who is supposedly representing Hispanic issues to do what [Rubio] has done,” Reid told POLITICO's Glenn Thrush.

BuzzFeed asked Rubio spokesman Alex Conant what he made of the implication that Rubio "is supposedly representing Hispanic issues."

"Senator Rubio represents Florida," he replied.

A conservative Hispanic group sharply criticized Reid's comment.

The comment was a "blatant attempt at racial identity politics is offensive and condescending to all Latinos," said the executive director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative principles, former Bush Administration official Alfonso Aguilar, in a statement.

UPDATE: In an email, Reid spokesman Jose Parra didn't back down: “From supporting Arizona’s law legalizing the racial profiling of Latinos, to opposing the DREAM Act, to attacking Justice Sonia Sotomayor and voting against Ambassador Aponte twice, Sen. Rubio’s record speaks for itself.”

Check out more articles on BuzzFeed.com!

Facebook Conversations

17 Responses So Far

  • benr11   Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi...  about 3 months ago
  • R.T. Firefly thinks Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... is Fail  about 3 months ago
  • evelynb27 thinks Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... is WTF & Fail  about 3 months ago
  • Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... is starting to get hot on StumbleUpon Stumble It  about 3 months ago
  • CharlesEastwest thinks Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... is Fail  about 3 months ago
  • Yeah, okay. That was stupid, Harry.

    CharlesEastwest
    3 months ago
  • Alas… So many “Jackass” democrats to talk about. So little time to do it. This is why I give to Jim DeMint's “Senate conservatives fund”.

    Joseph Picone
    3 months ago
  • My guess is that Rubio represents ALL of his constituents - not just the ones that “look like him”. You must have him confused with one of those racist Congressional Caucuses…

    jamesbw
    3 months ago
  • There we go…it has begun. The 'Is Cuban Really Hispanic?' and 'Cuba: Not Mexico' headlines. Go to hell, Harry. It ain't gonna work.

    art corvelet
    3 months ago
  • Let it be heard loud and clear, NO ONE PERSON represents any entire racial group, No not One! People have a mind of their own and can make their own choices. If they vote strickly on racial background they are “nuts” and don't have a clue what this world is all about. White folks don't have ONE person who represents them at all. Neither do any of the other races even though some “individuals” like to think they do!! I do allow however, if a person with any racial background is seeking an office, those with “like” ethic backgrounds usually are attracted somewhat to their views and may look more favorable toward that. Obama was a case in point. They made a BAD mistake voting on the basis of his skin color thinking they were going to get some special favors - they didn't!!

    lamarc
    3 months ago
  • Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... is starting to get hot on Facebook Share It  about 3 months ago
  • ig.gmodules.com readers just made Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... hotter  about 3 months ago
  • weaselzippers.us readers just made Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... hotter  about 3 months ago
  • I am tired of snob Demorat racists like Reid telling Hispanic like me what to think. Sen. Rubio describes the path for Hispanic prosperity and the liberals can't stand it. Any Hispanic who lets Democrats smear Rubio is magnifying this terrible American racists divide in which the left feels so comfortable.

    Tim Vega
    3 months ago
  • Harry should read a history book—primarily consisting of indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, South America, Cuba and the islands of the West Indies. Bet he doesn't know of the Ciboney, Arawak populations—Now that Class Warfare is firmly in place we should all redefine ourselves based on history
    of our ancestors—not accomplishments of the modern world. Shall we continue to “race bait” or perhaps stand for each established countries morals, ideals. I am an American.

    gailc2
    3 months ago
  • Reid is a brain dead communist who needs to be sent to the glue factory. Marco Rubio represents AMERICANS! This is something the fools on the left don't understand, since they divide the country into “groups”.

    Rick Shelby
    3 months ago
  • That's ok Harry…you supposedly uphold the Constitution

    maxkain
    3 months ago
  • When dealing with a racist idiot like hypocrite harry reid you have to expect that he will behave like a racist idiot.

    jeffreydond
    3 months ago
  • Hey harry,
    Rubio has more brain cells close to his sinus than you have in your whole semi-empty cranium.
    You democratic American haters and dividers are going this November

    davidm68
    3 months ago
  • Democrats always see the differences in people and use that as a wedge between different groups. They have no shame.

    martinw7
    3 months ago
  • This corrupt and dangerous Obama adm. is more like Germany in the 1930's. Propagandizing people to hate one group over another. The media hiding stories that looks bad for their Fuhrer. Sound familiar???

    freddyv
    3 months ago
  • drudgereport.com readers just made Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... hotter  about 3 months ago
  • Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... is starting to get hot on Twitter Tweet It  about 3 months ago
  • dennisal2 thinks Marco Rubio "Is Supposedly Representi... is WTF  about 3 months ago
  • Such a droll little insignificant man Harry Reid is, with any luck he will dry up and shrink even further to the point of disappearing from public life.

    melvinl
    3 months ago
  • The republicans had their TEA party, when will the democrats have theirs and rid us of these national disgraces like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

    acese
    3 months ago
  • Reid is right, no matter how angry it makes you right-wingers. Rubio takes the OPPOSING side to the Latino community on EVERY MAJOR ISSUE. He is even for abusive immigration laws implemented in states like Arizona, and he opposes college funding for children of immigrants (which even Rick Perry supported in TX). Republicans assume that making Rubio the VP pick would automatically win major votes from the Hispanic community, but Rubio does not even poll well amongst Hispanics outside of Cuban-Floridians.

    BSPhenom
    3 months ago
  • I love when white Democrats tell minorities
    what they are supposed to think.

    dwaynep
    3 months ago

Add Something Interesting