Reid defends call for Rubio to resign

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is defending his call for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to resign, accusing the presidential candidate of “denigrating the Senate.”

“When Marco Rubio started denigrating the Senate, I couldn’t keep quiet,” Reid told reporters Thursday. “I am very disappointed. … He’s a senator. He was elected to represent the people of Florida, and I’ve said the people of Florida aren’t getting what they voted for. They need a senator.”

{mosads}The Nevada Democrat has gotten pushback from Republicans after he suggested that Rubio should resign, citing his missed votes while campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination.

“Why shouldn’t he [resign]?” Reid asked last week. “Why should the taxpayers of this country and people of Florida put up with having only one senator? Doesn’t seem fair to me.”

Reid added Thursday that he’s watched senators of both parties run for president — including Secretary of State John Kerry and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — without insulting the Senate.

“Every one of those senators was extremely respectful and talked about their enthusiasm for the work they did in the Senate,” he said. “They did not denigrate the Senate in any way. They missed votes, but they never in the process said I hate the Senate, I don’t like it, it’s a worthless place to be.”

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) defended Rubio’s frequent Senate absences amid growing criticism, suggesting that critics are applying a double standard to the Florida Republican.

“I can’t remember Democratic senators complaining about Sen. Obama missing votes. I can’t even recall them complaining about Sen. McCain missing votes,” he told reporters, adding, “Senators running for president missing some votes is not terribly unusual.”

The Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board has also called on Rubio to step down if he intended to miss more votes while running for president.

He’s also facing increasing attacks from his presidential opponents including Donald Trump and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Bush raised the issue directly with Rubio during the last Republican presidential debate.

Trump also ripped Rubio’s voting record Tuesday, saying Bush’s criticism is accurate.

“Marco doesn’t show up to the United States Senate, he is representing the people of Florida,” Trump said. “The facts are on Bush’s side, and ultimately I think Marco is going to be hurt very badly.”

Bush suggested during the last presidential debate that Rubio should “resign and let someone else take the job.”

Rubio’s office has defended his voting record, suggesting he will attend important votes when his vote could be decisive.

Rubio missed 18 of 22 Senate roll call votes in October, according to GovTrack. He has also missed two of the Senate’s four roll call votes this week.