Marco Rubio Aims, Misses

Senator Marco Rubio and I are about the same age. He grew up in Miami and I in Tampa. However, it is his self-professed interest in improving his community, state, country and the world that makes me root for him. This son of Cuban immigrants and darling of the Tea Party has articulated a willingness to search for solutions to vexing issues like immigration and healthcare. He is capable of forwarding a G.O.P. vision and was the obvious choice to present the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address last night.

In the days leading up to the speech, the Republican media machine made much of the powerful voice this new leader is bringing to the debate. Care was taken to select the right Rubio family photos to grace the table in the grand window of the Speaker of the House’s conference room where Senator Rubio would speak. Rubio was poised to connect with Americans.

Instead, Senator Rubio continued a long bi-partisan tradition of making the response to the State of the Union the most awkward political moment of the year. Like many who have given the speech before, Rubio resembled an earnest member of the high school debate team trying to manufacture passion for a topic he was randomly assigned moments before taking the microphone.

Many are making much of Rubio’s inelegant reach for a poorly placed and much needed bottle of water, but that very human moment was more endearing than problematic. Lack of substance was the issue. Rubio squandered an opportunity to convince Americans the Republican Party has a plan. This was a moment to inspire. He chose to be defensive.

Marco Rubio continued to follow the same strategy Republican nominee Mitt Romney used during last year’s unsuccessful campaign. He attacked the President for failing to lead. He criticized Obama for detrimental policies and for impeding progress. Yet, Rubio failed to demonstrate he and his party have a better plan for governing.

Senator Rubio took the hackneyed route, telling listeners the President believes the government doesn’t tax enough, spend enough and control enough and the free enterprise economy is the source of America’s problems. Rubio insisted Obama wants more government and that the President attacks Republicans for trying to right-size a bloated bureaucracy

By the time Rubio got to the line “I hope the President will abandon his obsession with raising taxes,” I had nearly given up hope Rubio’s address would offer any substantive solutions.

The Senator did suggest more federal lands be opened for the exploration of coal, oil and natural gas and that the tax code should be simplified. He agreed with the President that the corporate tax rate should be lowered.

Senator Rubio sounded the pro-education trumpet by saying American schools should offer “more advanced placement courses and more vocational and career training” and that school choice should be available for parents with children of all ages. He said college student aid shouldn’t “discriminate against programs that non-traditional students rely on – like online courses, or degree programs that give you credit for work experience.” Yet, while he acknowledged many students leave college with massive debt, he only offered “We must give students more information on the costs and benefits of the student loans they’re taking out.” Rubio provided nothing about how to reduce debt by making education more affordable or any details about what Congress would do to improve schools.

The Senator said Americans were heart broken by violent gun deaths, but that we cannot undermine the Second Amendment. And, America’s position of strength in the world depends on our ability to build a strong economy. But, Rubio didn't inspire, nor did he offer a plan to bolster America. He continued using broad political brush strokes saying, in effect, the President and Democrats are wrong, we Republicans are right.

Senator Rubio had one line I believe with which all Americans agree, “At a time when one showdown after another ends in short-term deals that do little or nothing about our real problems, some are starting to believe that our government leaders just can’t or won’t make the right choices anymore.” Americans are tired of the game playing in Congress, and yet this member took his moment in the limelight to point a finger and blame instead of take responsibility and chart a new course.

Republicans can win again if they show they are capable of improving national security and helping more to realize the American dream. Doing this takes more than tearing down the other party. It takes vision and courage. Senator Rubio was unable on Tuesday to illustrate he possessed either.

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Graham Gillette can be reached at grahamgillette@gmail.com 
This entry was first published as a Des Moines Register online essay.