Gowdy Disappoints with Rubio Endorsement

I don't know if it's something in the water, or Congressmen lose touch too quickly with their constituents. But I have noticed that so many conservatives in Washington start to lose it on immigration. Trey Gowdy is the latest to falter. One conservative activist in California told me that Gowdy was a fraud. When she wanted to talk to him about immigration issues, he literally jumped over a small fence to avoid talking to her.

Despite this account, I listened to a number of his impressive speeches on the floor of the US House of Representatives, and his spectacular interrogations in committee. I respected his logic about avoiding impeachment for President Obama. I understood why he would have voted for John Boehner at the beginning of the year. Now he has endorsed Marco Rubio for President. I am very disappointed. Rubio just does not possess the solid panache to lead. He follows, and too much of the time his actions please Big Business or the Democratic caucus instead of the Republican base or the good of the country. Rubio betrayed his constituents with the Gang of Eight compromise on immigration. This country needs enforcement, not reform. There is no point in changing laws or expanding clemency if the President and his executive departments will not protect our rights and secure our borders. Gowdy lectured his House colleagues on their rule as lawmakers, and Obama's failure to enforce the law. And yet Trey Gowdy endorsed Rubio. How profoundly disappointing. Rubio released a campaign eblast from the South Carolina Congress a few days ago:

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Fellow Conservative,

I do not fault Gowdy calling me a conservative, and I will not diminish his dedication to the cause of promoting life and liberty. No, I will not refer to Rubio or Gowdy as RINOs, either.

I wanted you to be the first to know why I'm voting for Marco Rubio for President. Marco is a rock solid conservative and a leader we can trust. He is someone we can count on in Washington to stand true to his word.

No, he is not a leader. He does what powerful interests want him to do, rather than doing what is right.

All eyes are on Marco's campaign, and he needs our support right now more than ever. The outcome of this election is going to come down to every dollar donated, which is why your donation is so urgent.

Actually, recent reports suggest that there are fewer eyes on Rubio at this time. One poll shows Trump hurting Rubio's numbers, all while Ted Cruz continues to gain strength.

Marco's campaign has set a goal to activate 10,000 donors before New Year's Eve, and they will only get there if you stand with him right now.

His donors will drop from major business interests, if any. Most grassroots conservatives are stumping for Trump or cruising towards Cruz.

Sincerely, Trey Gowdy P.S. As President, Marco will stand true to all of our conservative values and fight for our beliefs. I look forward to campaigning in Iowa with Marco, and across the country. I hope we will see you out on the campaign trail in the near future. But in the meantime, please stand with Marco and me by making an instant online contribution before NYE!

No thanks. What are we to make of Gowdy, now? Breitbart unearthed some troubling news about him:

Gowdy's extreme immigration declarations come in addition to his long-standing support for donor-class Republican lawmakers. For instance, in a closed-door GOP leadership election in November of 2014, Gowdy seconded Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)s nomination as House Speaker. Similarly, Gowdy was the Congressman who nominated Paul Ryan for Speaker. According to Politico, Boehner "secretly urged Gowdy to run" for House Majority Leader.

Ugh! There's more. Here are some of his remarks on the DREAMers:

In a quote, which has been absent from virtually all reporting about Gowdy's endorsement of Rubio, Gowdy declared during a 2013 Congressional hearing: "When children wander into neighborhood yards, we don't call that trespassing. When children cry and yell and scream at restaurants or on airplanes, we don't call that a violation of the noise ordinance. When children eat a grape at the grocery store or eat a piece of candy waiting in line before mom or dad pays for it we don't have them arrested for petty larceny." "Children can't sign contracts, vote, purchase certain items, or even work in some instances because the law treats children differently," Gowdy said. Ironically, if Gowdy's philosophy were put into effect, illegal alien children could vote in U.S. elections as soon as they turn 18.

Oh brother! This line of argument falls apart when the country faced an unprecedented illegal alien youth crisis along the southern border in 2014. Eric Cantor lost his job that year, and the Republicans took back the US Senate. Grassroots conservatives wanted Congress to stop President Obama's executive amnesty. They wanted a secure border, and an end to the hollow discussions about amnesty, pathways to citizenship, and open borders. The fight for these demands has not abated, but the future of otherwise well-respected conservatives like Gowdy may have. There can be no compromise on a secure border. Every attempt at immigration 'reform' has generated amnesty but no security. And the American People will not stand for the legislative bait-and-switch again. Gowdy disappoints with his Rubio endorsement. There are better, more qualified candidates for President, with a record of standing on principle without betraying his base or upending the United States Constitution/ Because of Rubio's Cuban background and his relative youthfulness and telegenic presentation on camera, Rubio has charmed some elected officials, but not the base. The donor class is now looking to the junior Senator from Florida as their best alternative to his former mentor and governor. Gowdy is mistaken, and this lapse in political judgment merely affirms that conservatives still have their work cut out for them to purge the undue influence of Big Business from the Republican Party.