On the Democratic side, a mood of cynicism tends to pervade discussions of Mr. Rubio: Representative Ted Deutch, a Democrat who joined Mr. Rubio in the Wednesday town hall and whose district includes Stoneman Douglas High, accused Mr. Rubio of favoring only “legislation that the N.R.A. Students who disagreed with Mr. Rubio nevertheless thanked him for attending the televised meeting, unlike Mr. Trump and Gov. Senator Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat who appeared at the event with Mr. Rubio, also applauded Mr. Rubio for showing up. There were no illusions within his circle that Mr. Rubio would not face indignant and sometimes hostile questions — and loud jeers on national television — but Mr. Rubio decided to proceed all the same. “No one forced me to run for re-election — I wasn’t even going to,” Mr. Rubio said on Thursday.

Source: New York Times February 22, 2018 20:30 UTC