Florida's Pensacola News-Journal Endorses Marco Rubio For President
"Florida Republicans have an opportunity to be the grownups in the room with their winner-take-all presidential primary by selecting Sen. Rubio."
- Pensacola News-Journal Editorial Board
Editorial: Vote Rubio on March 15
Pensacola News-Journal Editorial Board
February 27, 2016
http://www.pnj.com/story/opinion/2016/02/27/editorial-vote-rubio-march/81037370/
Many touted ideals of conservative Republicans are universally admirable: The sanctity of all forms of liberty. The virtues of slow reason and moderation over swift passion and overreach. The faith in individual thought and contemplation versus the collective blindness of a herd mentality.
For the sake of those ideals, we believe it’s time for Florida Republicans to put the brakes on Donald Trump’s glitzy, mainstream-media-hyped rush toward our state primary. For the sake of the Sunshine State and the larger future of the Republican Party, we encourage Florida Republicans to pause, think and vote for Sen. Marco Rubio on March 15.
Indeed, candidate Trump’s rocket-course from reality-TV star to GOP leading-man has been a spectacle. He’s defied all expectations. He’s ousted former political powerhouses such as former Gov. Jeb Bush. He’s filled arenas with long lines and chanting crowds clamoring for the hope and change promised by a fresh, new leader.
But then again, so did candidate Barack Obama in 2008.
That’s the great, glaring, psychological parallel between the voters who adored President Obama then, and those who’ve flocked to Trump now. Indeed, the two men are different. But they are not the point. Their followers lack of self-awareness is.
Candidate Trump is fond of demanding that media turn its cameras onto his crowds. But it’s become far more critical for sober-minded individuals to stand up and force the crowd to look at itself. Because when you do, what you see isn’t leadership. What you see isn’t rugged individualism. The abundance of passion and the absence of reason should raise any true conservative’s caution. Otherwise, the very history that Republicans criticize is likely to repeat itself.
Florida Republicans have an opportunity to be the grownups in the room with their winner-take-all presidential primary by selecting Sen. Rubio. His nomination would potentially put one of our state’s native sons in the White House. But more importantly for Republicans, Rubio’s youth, inspiring personal story and record of political victories would blaze an unprecedented new trail for the GOP that promises to extend far beyond 2016.
On the issues, Sen. Rubio is light years ahead of candidate Trump. Rubio presents nuanced positions on foreign policy, gun rights, immigration, tax policy, veterans affairs, and many other challenges. He has been particularly articulate on the importance of faith and families as cornerstones of America’s future. He has proposed creating a new $2,500 per child tax credit, “to allow working parents to keep more of their money,” under the compelling premise that America’s families deserve tax cuts and incentives more than the businesses and corporations that receive them now.
Whether or not conservatives agree with the many details of his platform, Sen. Rubio has offered a comprehensive argument for what he believes conservative priorities should be. Contrast that with the endless, shallow promises of candidate Trump — Walls? Winning? Greatness?
Again, conservative voters who value logic and reason are obligated to demand more from a presidential candidate than an exciting personality. So far, Trump’s supporters have given him a shameful and inexplicable pass on the prerequisites of thoughtfulness and depth. Florida Republicans have an opportunity to finally change that.
As it stands, Sen. Rubio is the most formidable Republican who stands in greatest contrast to both Trump and the increasingly inevitable Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. That’s a crucial consideration when it comes to November’s general election. Republicans should ask themselves who would best oppose a potential Clinton dynasty: A passionate 44-year-old who talks like Reagan? Or a rich 69-year-old who has Bill and Hillary in his wedding photos?
