The case for MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO

The case for MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO

----------------------------------------

Marco Rubio is in the minds of many political pundits the front Republican running to be the GOP’s nominee for President in 2016.  This is due to obvious reasons like the need to shore up the Hispanic vote, a community that should be solidly Republican due to there strong religious profile, most are comfortably Roman Catholic, and their devotion to family and family values.  But many of the reasons are harder to articulate, but they are still key to his popularity.   

1. The poise of this 41 year old father of four is remarkable for its Reaganesque ease.  He speaks in perfect sentences with a bit of a lilting cadence of a Jack Kennedy off camera.  His rhetoric may be elegant but it is non-complicated and approachable, and most important it is genuine.  This is something that people naturally hone in on.

2. Senator Rubio’s positions are certifiably conservative. “The Greatness of our country has never come from our government; it comes from our people.” He speaks with enough detail to make his point about smaller government leads to more businesses and therefore more taxes without sounding like some “wonk” that has just been bitten by a rabid dog.  Callista’s husband comes to mind.

3. His Depth of Knowledge is impressive.  Although the exposure to Mr. Rubio gives some politicos the impression that he is more style than substance, he is never at loss for the explanation of a complicated policy question. 

4. His poise is part of a package of considerable charisma, a charisma that few politicians can master; he has a Reaganesque ability to put people at ease while giving them hope.  And of course Ronald Reagan was early on a discipline of FDR.  In addition, the package includes a college football player who graduated and married a former Miami Dolphins’ cheerleader.

5. Mr. Rubio has considerable experience already in the political arena.  He is the former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, and the author of a brilliant compilation of citizen input into public policy called 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida’s Future.  He was able to marshal 34 of these citizen suggestions into Florida Statuary law. (PolitiFact, Florida)  He is also the author of a memoir called An American Son.  Republicans are already drooling over a candidate that is the son of Cuban immigrants.

6. Marco Rubio is a man of restraint.  He could have easily secured the nomination for vice-president or even considered running for president after two years as a senator, a la Barack Obama – but Mr. Rubio did not.  Rather he is now set to learn the lessons of Capitol Hill prior to running for president in 2016.  This decision not to play in the major leagues now will give him the needed temperament of a future chief executive.

7. Mr. Rubio’s comfortable with his message and himself and therefore he can leave Thomas the Traveling Teleprompter at home on occasions, unlike President Obama who is a fish out of water without Thomas.

8. Marco Rubio has the healthy ego of any US Senator but he doesn’t believe all the accolades said about him, unlike Thomas’ best friend.

The future for Marco Rubio will be to see how he compares to some of our great presidents.  Take a look.

George Washington is listed as one of our greatest presidents by historians due to his character, experience, and charisma.  As to character General Washington voluntarily gave up command of the Continental Army in 1783 when he returned to Mount Vernon, prompting an incredulous King George III to state, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world."  Fourteen years later Washington would again voluntarily hand over the reins of power when he relinquished the presidency.  Mr. Rubio understands this aspect of true greatness – the people form government in order to secure its God given rights.

EXPERIENCE is also vital to a great commander-in-chief.  Men like Washington, Jackson, and Eisenhower, all had well tempered experience that made being president a seamless process.  Mr. Rubio knows that he doesn’t have the needed experience yet.

CHARISMA is needed for the making of a great president but it is the least necessary of all the ingredients mentioned so far.  That being said, Washington, Lincoln, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Reagan had it as does Barack Obama.  No one comes out of thin air to win the presidency, and then win re-election with 7.9% unemployment, and $16 Trillion in debt without charisma.

For now look to Marco Rubio as the favorite for the Republican nomination.  If the Democrats continue to label him as simply a brown face instead of a hardening super star they do so at their own peril. Word Total: 786

----------------------------------------

Geoffrey G. Fisher is a highly-qualified state-certified history teacher working in southwest Florida as a guest teacher.  He holds a BA in History from the University of Connecticut and a MA in Public Policy from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.  In addition to teaching he is a former elected official and speechwriter.  Mr. Fisher now writes the political blog: THE THINKING CAP at  

www.theamericanthinkingcap.blogspot.com.