Let’s imagine what it would be like if we held accountable Marco Rubio on immigration for his changing positions.

Rand: You ran for Senate saying you opposed amnesty. Why did you oppose it?

Marco: Blanket amnesty isn’t the solution, I do oppose it.

Rand: But then you worked with the liberal Democrat Doug Schumer and endorsed his Path to Citizenship bill.

Marco: This is also a personal issue. I’m a legal immigrant. I’m not positive that my parents were always here legally, but they did apply for and gain citizenship. Recently I learned my grandfather was probably here illegally at times. Should he have been deported? It’s a tough issue for many immigrants.

We need a solution to the problem. So we compromised. The bill was good. It beefed up border security and proposed a wall. It had a guest worker program and an agricultural worker program. It wasn’t amnesty- it didn’t allow illegal immigrants to be citizens. If they paid fines and taxes they could merely be documented immigrants, not citizens.

Rand: But then you threatened to vote against it and then voted for it.

Marco: The liberals wanted some changes that I thought went too far. So yes, I threatened to vote against it if they made those changes, so they didn’t. Then I voted for it. Yes, the right wing of the Republican party is against any sort of compromise, and with today’s political system, they’re important if I want to stay in office. But you have to realize, 72% of Americans want there to be a way for most illegal immigrants to stay here legally.

Rand: How about when you proposed your own Dream Act and then abandoned it?

Marco: It was a good bill. Unlike the original Dream Act, mine gave college graduates the right to work here, but not permanently. They wouldn’t be given green cards. Republicans were open to it. It seemed like a good solution.

Rand: And then you abandoned it?

Marco: There’s a lot of anti-immigration sentiment among Republicans. The leadership thought it just wasn’t the right time to pass such a bill, so it was stalled. One thing about today’s political system in Congress- nothing can get done unless the leadership is behind it. And I haven’t really abandoned it. If the House speaker revives it, he knows he can count on me.

Any story can be told in a way to make someone look bad. But with a system that supports true accountability, politicians can tell their stories and we can judge them. At the same time, we can hear from challengers as well to give an the opposing viewpoint, if they wish.

In the beginning, we’ll focus on accountability on issues. After we launch, as we grow, much more will be possible. Please add your email address to our mailing list and join us when we launch this Spring.