OPINION:
Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the hardest-working man in the current administration, took a turn as press secretary and fielded reporters’ questions on all kinds of topics.
At one point, he was asked by a reporter from CBN: “You’ve had a deep faith for God and country. … What is your hope for America at a time such as this?”
Note the inflection (“at a time such as this”). It means, I think, a time of trial, of difficulty, of challenge.
Without hesitation, Mr. Rubio, a former senator from Florida, former speaker in the Florida House of Representatives, first-generation American and son of immigrants whose mother worked as a hotel maid and whose father was a bartender, offered the following: “My hope for America? It’s the same as it’s always been. I think it is the hope I hope we all share. We want [America] to continue to be the place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything. Where you’re not limited by the circumstances of your birth, by the color of your skin, by your ethnicity. But frankly, it’s a place where you are able to overcome challenges and achieve your full potential.
“I think in the U.S. we’re not perfect. Our history is not one of perfection. But it’s still better than anybody else’s history. And ours is a story of perpetual improvement. Each generation has left the next generation of Americans freer, more prosperous, safer. And that is our goal as well. [America] is a unique and exceptional country. And as we come upon this 250-year anniversary, I think we have a lot to learn and be proud of in our history. It is one of perpetual and continuous improvement, where each generation has done its part to bring us closer to fulfilling the vision that the Founders of this country had upon its founding.”
There, as concisely as possible, you have a citizen’s personal manifesto, an evergreen argument for American greatness and the creed of a first-generation American. In fewer than 200 words, Mr. Rubio embraced and defended the core beliefs and precepts of the United States.
American exceptionalism? Yep. The unique and salutary role of the United States in the history of the world? You bet. That we are getting closer to the incredibly aspirational goals of our Founders? Yes. That our national history is worthy of pride and emulation? Absolutely.
Mr. Rubio also made it clear that he is unabashedly optimistic with respect to America’s future, which is always the truest, most correct, most defensible position.
Most important, Mr. Rubio managed to articulate a substantive message in a positive frame. He attacked no one, belittled no one and made no reference to political adversaries. Rather, right from the outset, he placed all of us in that frame: “I think it is the hope I hope we all share.”
It is not accidental that Mr. Rubio’s time in the briefing room was energetic and collegial and jammed with actual questions and responsive answers. It turns out that when you treat people with respect, they respond. Who knew?
The United States of America has already been fortunate enough to have Mr. Rubio in the Florida Legislature, the U.S. Senate and the State Department. Asking for anything more would be greedy.
However, in about 18 months, Republicans will be choosing sides. It seems reasonable to assume one or more candidates will try diligently to run on the politics of grievance and smallness. Others will run as the heirs to President Reagan’s politics of optimism and greatness.
Choose wisely.
• Michael McKenna is a contributing editor at The Washington Times.
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