Marco Rubio lauds Ronald Reagan, laments Democratic socialism in speech to young conservatives

Sen. Marco Rubio, who only a few years ago was the shining star of movement conservatives in the presidential race, spent part of Wednesday morning discussing the “unique challenges and opportunities that young conservatives face in America” with Young Americans for Freedom.

The address, as pitched by his press shop, had a bittersweet quality: Rubio’s own vision for conservatism in America was ultimately derailed by President Donald Trump remodeling the Republican Party in his image. Thus, Morning in America became Morning at YAF, with Rubio reprising more than a few neo-Reaganesque tropes

Rubio invoked Ronald Reagan early and often in his remarks, using quotes like “shining city on the hill” to illustrate his belief in conservatism as a pursuit of “truths … all too often forgotten, or replaced by ideologies.”

“Truth is often replaced by outrage … tribalism,” Rubio said, seemingly describing what had happened to the right as much as on the left.

Rubio went on to describe “identity politics on college campuses” as “indicative of our challenges.”

And “the spirit of our youth,” meanwhile, is being “misdirected” in a way that impacts national “cohesion,” including a willingness to tell a pollster they are “extremely proud to be Americans.”

Social indicators, such as decreases in marriage rates, were also brought into scrutiny.

“The bedrock institutions of social life,” according to Rubio, have been undermined, with many young people “adrift.”

“What we need now is a new American courage … the same courage that Reagan had when he [told] Gorbachev to ‘tear down this wall’ … the same courage Reagan had when he took his message to the American people,” Rubio said, lauding Rubio for explaining “conservatism in plain terms” to the working class.

Rubio urged the audience to stand for the “dignity of work” and against the “tide of elite opinion” regarding proposals such as a universal basic income.

People think “socialism is this courageous thing we should get into,” Rubio said, but the examples of Cuba and Venezuela present evidence that runs contrary to the claim.

“Democratic socialism is not rebellious, it’s just fashionable,” Rubio said.

Rubio lauded programs like the expansion of child tax credits and family leave as potential ways forward for the conservative movement.

“President Trump was elected on the promise to Make America Great Again,” Rubio said, a promise that can only be filled through “national consensus.”

Rubio closed with an optimistic rejoinder, saying that national decline was not “destined” but “shaped by what we do and what we fail to do.”

“Our greatest challenge,” said Rubio, “is that paralyzed by fear, we will fail to act at all.”