Marco Rubio: GOP Can't Be 'Just Like the Democrats'

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., appeared on Sean Hannitys show on Fox News on Tuesday night and weighed in on the future of the GOP and conservatism.

Just today, a poll came out that showed the majority of Americans dont believe the Republican Party is in touch with peoples everyday lives, Rubio said. Now thats not because they think Republicans are too conservative. Thats the mainstream media talking point. Its because we are not the Republican brand it seems oftentimes to just be arguing a different way of being more Democrat, and more government-related as opposed to innovative ideas that return us to the principles of free enterprise and individual responsibility and individual liberty the kinds of things that people understand as a way to make their lives better. So the way for us to become more relevant, and thats why you see this energy to be about these reform ideas, is because we recognize the challenges people face and their answers lie in our principles. And our challenge is to take our time-tested principles free enterprise, limited government and apply them to 21st century challenges. And our frustration, especially mine, seems to be that were not doing enough for that. Were simply trying to figure out, How can we manage our existing government programs better. Thats not enough.

I think most people, what they would like to do is have a job that allows them to provide for their family, to live in peace and security, to be able to worship as they please and to leave their kids better off than themselves. And theyre frustrated that right now, given the direction were going, thats become harder, Rubio added. Conservatives have answers for that. And they dont involve more spending and they dont involve more government. They involve unleashing the power of free enterprise and giving people the skills they need, or allowing them to acquire the skills they need, to take advantage of that. I think if thats our message, were going to win in places that would surprise you. I think if our message continues to be just like the Democrats, except for a couple (of) little things, I dont think thats going to be enough. I think we need to be an alternative a clear alternative to the direction that theyve taken us over the last five to six years.