Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) on Tuesday found himself getting slammed even by his fellow conservatives after he attacked a local restaurant — and even went so far as to post its phone number and encourage people to call.
Rubio began his Tuesday by calling out Nusret Gokce — the chef who goes by the name of “Salt Bae” — after he hosted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at one of his restaurants.
“This guy… who admires dictator Nicolas Maduro so much actually owns a steakhouse in, of all places, Miami,” Rubio said, before he proceeded to post the restaurant’s address and phone number while encouraging people to call.
This guy @nusr_ett who admires dictator @NicolasMaduro so much actually owns a steakhouse in, of all places, #Miami. It’s called NUSR-ET STEAKHOUSE MIAMI located at 999 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131
The phone number is 1 305 415 9990 in case anyone wanted to call. https://t.co/7CDkgHVZWh— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) September 18, 2018
Conservative publication The Weekly Standard proceeded to call out Rubio for using his platform to “harass” Gokce’s restaurant — and Rubio responded by doubling down.
“Sad you don’t see the big difference between shaming someone because you disagree on a political issue and shaming a celebrity chef, who didn’t just host Maduro, he promoted videos of the lavish feast he provided for a criminal that is systematically starving the people of Venezuela,” Rubio wrote.
Sad you don’t see the big difference between shaming someone because you disagree on a political issue & shaming a celebrity chef,who didn’t just host Maduro,he promoted videos of the lavish feast he provided for a criminal that is systematically starving the people of #Venezuela https://t.co/qN1noG5sAF
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) September 18, 2018
This prompted many of Rubio’s followers — including many conservatives — to hammer him for continuing to be a “clown.”
Check out the top reactions below.
If you gaze long into a Trump, the Trump will also gaze into you.
— SupersedingHat (@Popehat) September 18, 2018
Sad that you don't see the big difference between doing your job as a senator and being a clown on Twitter. Please resign, Little Marco, you're the worst senator in US history.
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) September 18, 2018
I have no defense of any individual that would support someone like Maduro. But I'm not sure every employee at that restaurant deserves to be harassed over your dispute or their chef's flaws. I thought we were supposed to support speech we hated as much as speech we loved.
— Ben (@BenHowe) September 18, 2018
Then I hope you would also shame a celebrity game show host that became president that has also cheated on 3 wives, brags about watching pageants change in a dressing room, and has been accused numerous times of sexual assault.
— CJSchmidt (@C0ryw00d) September 18, 2018
Your pissed off at a chef celebrating a dinner with a dictator, while the president made fucking commemorative coins celebrating his meeting with north korea’s dictator.
— LavenderMagnus (@LavenderMagnus) September 18, 2018
Now do Trump and Putin, or Trump and Edoğanan or Trump and Kim.
— Deborah Pugh (@LadyRu) September 18, 2018
U r silence towards @realDonaldTrump is worst than somebody hosting Maduro for a dinner. Get real little marco
— S N (@ForBetterTime) September 18, 2018
Did you read the article @marcorubio ? The whole point was all you actually accomplished was to harass hard working miami restaurant staff (your actual constituents)
— Amanda Sherlock (@amanda_sherlock) September 18, 2018
What bible verse promotes public shaming again? Turn the other cheek? No … that’s not it. Love your neighbors? No … Do unto others? Not that one either …
— Tiffany Aldinger (@TiffanyAldinger) September 18, 2018
Because harassing the staff of a restaurant literally on the other side of the world from where Maduro ate sure does accomplish a lot.
— Rudy Juuliani (@Tha_WZA) September 18, 2018
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER