ANDERSON, S.C. — Confronted several times by hecklers demanding immigration reform, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio told attendees at a Republican fundraising barbecue that no country has been more generous to people from elsewhere than the United States.
Rubio, whose parents left Cuba in the 1950s, mentioned his childhood as part of a family of immigrants during his keynote address at the fourth annual “Faith and Freedom BBQ” fundraiser hosted by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-South Carolina.
The event in Anderson, the state’s conservative northwestern corner, has become a go-to stop for Republicans with strong national profiles and potential presidential contenders. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, headlined last year’s event.
Rubio has been trying to recover from his failed push for an immigration law overhaul, now seen as a political misstep. He helped write the bipartisan immigration overhaul that passed the Senate but stalled in the House as some Republicans balked. Conservatives grew wary of the measure, and the Republican-led House signaled that the comprehensive Senate plan would go nowhere.
The Florida Republican also stressed the importance of innovative educational programs, saying a four-year college degree isn’t necessary for middle class success.
“I don’t know why we have stigmatized vocational and career education,” Rubio said. “We need more programs that help people graduate from high school and get ready to go into one of these professions.”
[A version of this story ran on page 4 on 8/26/2014 under the headline "Rubio boosts SC Republicans "]
