Marco Rubio Lied About Parents’ Escape From Cuba

The story used to go that Senator Marco Rubios’ parents were forced to flee Cuba, that they were exiles, because of Fidel Castro. The truth, however, which is now reflected in his updated biography on his website, is that his parents left Cuba before Castro ever came to power.

Woops!

Here’s what The Washington Post reported:

During his rise to political prominence, Sen. Marco Rubio frequently repeated a compelling version of his family’s history that had special resonance in South Florida. He was the “son of exiles,” he told audiences, Cuban Americans forced off their beloved island after “a thug,” Fidel Castro, took power.

But a review of documents — including naturalization papers and other official records — reveals that the Florida Republican’s account embellishes the facts. The documents show that Rubio’s parents came to the United States and were admitted for permanent residence more than two-and-a-half years before Castro’s forces overthrew the Cuban government and took power on New Year’s Day 1959.

Of course Rubio has dismissed this story as nit-picking, but the truth is, he based his entire political career on the fact that his family was forced to flee Communist Cuba, something that turns out to be a fabrication. I don’t think this will affect him that much politically, but it certainly underscores that Rubio likes to play to the crowd and will even change his family’s story to do so.