‘I’m Using Your Own Words!’ Democrat Tees off on Marco Rubio in Heated Exchange

Secretary of State Marco Rubio got a grilling from Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) during a meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Matters got heated when Keating asked Rubio if Russian President Vladimir Putin is a war criminal, which in 2017 was exactly what then-Senator Rubio asked of Rex Tillerson, whom President Donald Trump nominated to be Secretary of State.

“The person we’re negotiating with, Vladimir Putin, is he a war criminal?” Keating asked Rubio, referring to the Trump administration’s ostensible attempt to broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“Well, I think you can look at instances that have happened there and certainly characterize them as war crimes, but our intent is to end the war,” the secretary replied.

Keating tried again:

KEATING: Is he a war criminal?

RUBIO: We can’t end the war without talking to Mr. Putin.

KEATING: No, this is pretty simple. Is he a war criminal? This man we’re negotiating with, Vladimir Putin. Is he a war criminal? That’s not–

RUBIO: I’m trying to answer your question by telling you that we’re trying to end the war here.

[CROSSTALK]

KEATING: You are equivocating, Sir. Just answer the question!

RUBIO: I’m answering your question, and the answer is that war crimes have been committed, no doubt. And who is responsible for that? There will be a time and place for that accountability. But right now, the job is to end the war.

KEATING: So you won’t answer the question. Reclaiming my time, Sir. Let me go on, because I don’t understand this, because you’re sitting in front of us now as Secretary of State. It wasn’t long ago that you were sitting as a senator with Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson at the time in the exact same circumstances, only reversed, and you questioned him about Putin directing attacks against schools, markets, hospitals, playgrounds. And on top of this, in this instance, he’s abducted 20,000 children, a clear war crime. So you were very clear then, Vladimir Putin was a war criminal. Now, you’re unmaking him a war criminal, and you won’t answer the question about the exact same circumstances.

RUBIO: You’re putting words in my mouth.

KEATING: I’m reclaiming my time, Sir.

RUNIO: You’re putting words in my mouth.

KEATING: And you know what you said to Secretary Tillerson at the end of his answer when he equivocated just as you are right now?

RUBIO: I’ve not equivocated.

KEATING: You said–

RUBIO: You just don’t let me answer.

KEATING: –it sure sounds like it to me. Then I’ll give you a second chance. Is Vladimir Putin a war criminal?

RUBIO: I already told you, war crimes have been committed.

KEATING: No, you didn’t tell me if he’s a war criminal!

RUBIO: [to the chair] Mr. Chairman, am I allowed to answer questions?

KEATING: I’m reclaiming my time, Sir. Listen, I’m using your own words so you don’t have to answer! Do you know what you said to then-nominee Secretary of State Tillerson? You said you were very discouraged in his inability to accept that Putin was indeed a war criminal. Your words. We don’t need any more. You’re inconsistent.

As Keating noted, Rubio was unequivocal in his condemnations of Putin as a senator over the autocrat’s bombing of the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Watch above via the House of Representatives.