American Dreams

November 24, 2014
Rubio is a photogenic 43-year-old Cuban-American senator from Florida whose popularity has waned after surging among GOP loyalists in the 2012 election. His presidential ambitions remain, however, with one result being this brand-building campaign manifesto. True to the genre, Rubio sticks to well-worn themes unlikely to be controversial, such as tax reform. His plan for economic restoration starts with a disciplined work ethic. He highlights the importance of fiscal soundness, free enterprise, solid families, and demanding schools. He worries about teenage sex and young people who lack strong family guidance. For his many constructive ideas, Rubio deserves attention and even praise. One notable omission, though, is a clear position on immigration policy. His blue-sky promises of universal economic opportunity pale in the light of the winner-and-loser facts of the global economy, and his use of first-name-only stories involving prototypical Americans like “Joyce” and “Brad” is a contrived attempt to humanize the book’s issues. American Dreams offers little that will be new to anyone familiar with the literature produced by modern American politicians, and it’s unlikely to burnish Rubio’s reputation as a statesman.