After having Barack Obama in the White House the past seven years, this country is in desperate need of change. The “change” Barack Obama brought only shrunk the middle class and hurt the people at the bottom even more than before. He has politicized nearly every single issue, and as a result, divided the country more than any president preceding him.
The last thing Republicans want is to have a third Obama term, which would happen if Hillary Clinton is elected, so they need to consolidate support behind one person, and that man is Marco Rubio. With his anti-establishment label but center-right views, Rubio is the GOP’s last hope at taking the White House in 2016.
While he’s only third in the polls in the primary, he’s the only candidate out of the top three who would have any chance in a general election. Donald Trump is talented at appealing to the frustration of conservatives, but he has no real chance to win a general election, as his campaign is very similar to the campaign that Barack Obama ran in 2008, heavy on the buzzwords and light on the substance. Ted Cruz, while appealing to conservatives with the ‘anti-establishment’ label, would not make a good president because there is no way he would be willing to work across the aisle, and that’s a necessity to be president.
Conservatives argue that there is no way Rubio’s electable because of the “Gang of 8” amnesty bill that he co-sponsored. However, that notion is completely incorrect, especially since his views on amnesty have changed as the threat of ISIS has increased. Aside from his view changing, there is a bigger, more positive message here: he is willing to work across the aisle to get something done. He had to compromise a little bit, as he was a part of a liberal Senate at the time and rather than objecting to an entire bill based on one single thing, he compromised so that they could actually get something done. As president, you need to build consensus and work across the aisle to be successful, and Rubio is the only one of the top 3 Republicans who can do so.
People also argue that Marco is a career politician, as he has been in politics since his mid 20’s; however, that is not a bad label at all. In order to be a successful president, you must have a deep understanding of the government. Somebody with no understanding of government and a solid understanding of business (*cough* Donald Trump) may be knowledgeable on the economy but would never get anything done, as he has no true understanding of making deals and passing legislation in the government.
Marco may only be a freshman senator, but he’s arguably the most knowledgeable Republican in the race on national defense, an issue that will play a massive role in this year’s election. He stresses the importance of boarder security, as ISIS seeks to enter through our boarders, all while protecting Americans’ Second Amendment right. Along with national security, Rubio has a solid understanding of foreign policy. Rubio seeks to acknowledge Israel as our biggest ally, something Obama shied away from each of the last seven years. Furthermore, Rubio will repeal the Iran Nuclear Deal, a bogus deal done by President Obama to help his legacy. Unlike President Obama, Rubio will make decisions for the best interests of the country, rather than how politically charged it is or how it will look in history books.
Finally, many people saw his debate performance this past Saturday night, and may think he’s too scripted and rehearsed. But the thing is, there have been eight debates total this year and he has said hundreds of speeches to potential voters in both Iowa, New Hampshire, and all across the country. When you are continuously campaigning or debating, you are bound to repeat yourself. It’s nearly impossible to stay off-script when you are giving hundreds of speeches. This should not be a deterrent from him, as he has remained a strong candidate who has the potential to unite the ‘establishment’ and far-right conservatives.
The truth is, this is a must-win election for Republicans and the odds are in their favor if Marco is the candidate. It is time for all Republicans to look past his “establishment” accomplishments and unite behind the one candidate that can keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House, all while limiting the role of the government.
