'People Buy Into My Agenda': Watch Marco Rubio Refuse to Swear Off NRA Cash on National Television

"Can you tell me right now that you will not accept a single donation from the NRA in the future?" student Cameron Kasky asked, sparking cheers from the audience. (Photo: CNN/Screengrab)

'People Buy Into My Agenda': Watch Marco Rubio Refuse to Swear Off NRA Cash on National Television

The Florida senator said he will "always accept the help of anyone who agrees with my agenda."

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) received over a million dollars in donations from the National Rifle Association during his successful 2016 reelection bid, and--in the aftermath of last week's school shooting in his home state that left 17 dead--the senator appears reluctant to ditch this reliable source of campaign cash.

During a CNN town hall Wednesday night, Rubio was pressed by Cameron Kasky--a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting--to swear off donations from an organization that opposes even minor and widely popular gun control measures, while also suggesting that teachers should be armed.

"Can you tell me right now that you will not accept a single donation from the NRA in the future?" Kasky asked, sparking cheers from the audience.

After a few moments of ducking and dodging, Rubio essentially rejected Kasky's plea, saying people "buy into" his agenda and that he will "always accept the help of anyone who agrees with my agenda."

Watch:

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.