Whom you back says who you are, Mr. Rubio

lazy, his birther nonsense and his assertion that an Indiana-born jurist of Mexican descent was unfit to judge him and his support for neo-Nazis, any argument to the contrary must be regarded as asinine.

And despite your claim that people voted for him “despite” all this, a mounting body of research says just the opposite. Trump’s bigotry was a big part of his appeal for white Americans scared spitless by the notion of a nation where Muslims, people of color and LGBTQ people play ever larger and more visible roles. In an analysis based on data from the 2016 American National Election Study and published in the current issue of Critical Sociology, University of Kansas professors David N. Smith and Eric Hanley put it as follows: “The decisive reason that white, male, older and less educated voters were disproportionately pro-Trump is that they shared his prejudices and wanted domineering, aggressive leaders ...”

But let’s say you’re right, senator. Let’s say there were armies of people who were repelled by Trump’s bigotry, but voted for him anyway. It returns us to my question. What is the functional difference between being a bigot and supporting one?

The answer, which you couldn’t bring yourself to give, is that there is none. If, 10 years ago, I had told you, a Cuban American, that I stood in solidarity with the exile community, then, despite the U.S. embargo, visited Cuba as a money-spending tourist, essentially giving aid and support to the Castro regime, how much would my “solidarity” mean to you? Very darn little, I’m sure.

It’s an axiomatic truth, senator: Actions speak louder than words. And the actions of you and 63 million others in supporting this guy are deafening. Now you tell selfserving, conscience-salving lies to cover the reality of what that means, what it says about America, because the truth is too painful to face, much less speak.

But me, I haven’t the luxury of medicating conscience with lies. So we’re done here. If you’ve got something else to say, you know where to find me. But do us both a favor.

Bring answers this time.