United States Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) knows where his bread is buttered by wowing the audience today at the Conservative Political Action Conference by hitting on only the themes that the conference attendees want to hear. Rubio spoke about issues like same-sex marriage, abortion, taxes, federal deficit, healthcare, and America's posture in world affairs. However, Marco Rubio left one subject untouched: immigration.
A touchy subject with the typical conservative attending the conservative conference.
A huge mistake for Marco Rubio since it puts the focus on what he didn't say, as opposed to what he did say. Not only a huge mistake, but it shows a lack of political courage. It helps Marco Rubio's future opponents in 2016 to help define him as a man that tailors his message to his audience and doesn't have the courage to stand up for what he believes.
First, it will fuel one of his possible opponents in the Republican primary, Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ). It gives Chris Christie ammunition. The fact that Chris Christie was not invited to CPAC, Chris Christie can clearly distinguish himself and set himself apart from Marco Rubio. It is Marco Rubio who could be the toughest opponent for Christie.
Marco Rubio could have been booed had he broached the subject of immigration, something that Christie could use against Rubio in future television ads. Rubio did play to his audience by taking the conservative view on issue like same-sex marriage and abortion.
"As soon as I'm done speaking, I'll tell you what the criticism on the left is going to be. Number one, he drank too much water. Number two: that he didn't offer any new ideas. And there's the fallacy of it. We don't need a new idea. There is an idea: the idea is called America, and it still works," reinforcing the notion that conservatives will not change. Rubio knows as well as many Republicans that these ideas were rejected by the electorate in the 2012 election.
It would have been nice to hear something about immigration reform. Perhaps at his next meeting of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" drafting an immigration bill in the Senate. He is much freer to talk there.
Send John Presta an email and your story ideas or suggestions at johnpresta@att.net.
John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books. John has volunteered for many political campaigns.
Comments