Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Friday used the growing controversy around former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s assertion that President Obama “doesn’t love America” to take a dig at gaffe-prone Vice President Biden.
The potential 2016 presidential contender was asked about Giuliani’s remarks by Florida TV station WPBF.
“I don’t feel like I’m in a position to have to answer for every person in my party that makes a claim,” Rubio responded, according to a transcript provided by his office.
“Democrats aren’t asked to answer every time Joe Biden says something embarrassing, so I don’t know why I should answer every time a Republican does,” he continued. “I’ll suffice it to say that I believe the president loves America; I think his ideas are bad.”
Rubio’s comments were first reported by CNN’s Chris Moody on Twitter.
The freshman senator made the statement while speaking with reporters on Friday after an official event in his home state.
Giuliani made the controversial remark at an event featuring Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) in New York on Wednesday.
He has been criticized by a number of Democrats, including Rep. Steve Cohen (Tenn.), and White House press secretary Josh Earnest, who said on Friday that he feels “sad” for the former mayor.
But Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), another potential 2016 contender, has defended the “gist” of those comments, and Giuliani himself has refused to walk them back.