Florida Sen. Marco Rubio attacked his GOP presidential rival Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Thursday's debate stage, with Rubio ticking off a list of items he said Cruz has flip-flopped on.
"Ted Cruz, you used to say you supported doubling the number of green cards, now you say that you're against it. You used to support a 500 percent increase in the number of guest workers. Now you say that you're against it," Rubio said. "You used to support legalizing people that are here illegally. Now you say you're against it. You used to say you were in favor of birthright citizenship. Now you say that you are against it."
Cruz also once supported Trade Promotion Authority, and now opposes it, he said.
"I saw you on the Senate floor flip your vote on crop insurance because someone told you it would help you in Iowa," he continued. "Well, last week we all saw you flip your vote on ethanol in Iowa for the same reason. That is not consistent conservatism. That is political calculation."
He wasn't finished. He also said Cruz has called NSA leaker Edward Snowden a "great American citizen" when he, Rubio's opinion, is a "traitor" who should be prosecuted.
Every time there is a defense bill in the Senate "three people team up to vote against it: Bernie Sanders, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, Rubio said.
Cruz said Rubio "launched 11 attacks" on him. " I appreciate you dumping your oppo-reasearch folder on the debate stage."
Cruz said at least half were "flat-out false," and said he actually voted for Rubio's amendment on the military budget.
Then he hit back: "Marco stood with Chuck Schumer and Barack Obama on amnesty. I stood with Jeff Sessions and Steve King. … Marco supports legaliziation and citizenship for 12 million illegals."
When former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush got the microphone next, he attacked both.
"This last back and forth between two back-bench senators, it explains why we have the mess in Washington, D.C.," Bush said.