Rand Slams ‘Inauthentic’ Cruz on Immigration: ‘He Easily Adapts to My Ideas’

KILMEADE: “And Ted Cruz believe it or not disagreed with that. (Laughter) Here to discuss how it all went down is presidential candidate and Kentucky senator, who’s also running for re-election there, Senator Rand Paul. Senator, you went out. You went out on a limb a little bit and said, listen, I’m for — you are for legalization for the 10 to 12 to 14 million that are here. Does it bother that Ted Cruz — you and Ted Cruz seems to have both sides of the fence on that?”
PAUL: “Well, you know, he was always for this as well. We had the same position when the bill came up. I guess the problem with his authenticity is that he’s now saying, oh, he was never for amnesty. Well, I’m not for amnesty either but I think we’ve dumbed down the debate when we start pointing fingers and calling everybody and saying oh, they’re for amnesty, and this and that. What I’m for is border security. Secure the border first, but then I think we can find a way to maybe give work visas or some way of accommodating the people who are here. But it’s not amnesty, but I think Ted wants to have it both ways, but he also wants to accuse everybody else of not being as pure as he is. But in reality, I think he’s creating a false narrative.”
HEGSETH: “Senator, you’ve been in the Senate with both Senator Cruz and Senator Rubio both. Last — there was a lot of finger pointing on of authenticity. Does one — above the two of them, has either been more consistent on immigration or do you feel like they’ve both changed their positions?”
PAUL: “Well, I think that’s the interesting thing. You know, Rubio has always been for a pathway to citizenship. And now he’s backing away from that. Ted had always been for legalizing those who are here and now he’s backing away from that. So I think in both instances, they’re backing away from something they had previously been for. And I think what really gets to the heart of the matter is whether or not you’re authentic. Even on the ethanol issue, you know, Ted and I’ve been not in favor of the mandate. Ted now has sort of backed away from that position. He’s kind of for the mandate continuing, but he also said last night that he’s for getting rid of what’s called the blend wall, where you can produce higher percentages of ethanol. Well, that’s my bill. The question I’m asking is, ‘Hey Ted, how come you haven’t co-sponsored my bill that does exactly that? So, I think he easily adapts to my ideas but isn’t really following through with being authentic about it.”