In "The Book of Man," his new book offering readings to help educate boys, William Bennett offers a quick profile on U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to illustrate two forms of polis -- democratic America and tyrannical communist Cuba.
Bennett focuses on the contrasting experiences Rubios father faced under Castro and in America. He also offers some moving words regarding the death of Mario Rubio in the weeks before his son went on to win the Senate election in 2010.
But the fact that Bennett includes Marco Rubio as a model for boys to follow is a bit troubling. In the introduction to the book, Bennett makes no bones about the fact that he believes there is a need for heroes and for boys to model themselves on them. Fair enough. The problem is, Bennetts book was published with Rubio in the Senate for less than a year -- a period in which Rubio purposely played down his profile in Washington. There is certainly a great deal of potential in Rubio and he shows the right instincts. For example, in recent days, Rubio has been pushing a bill defending religious freedom from the health-care law President Barack Obama signed. But, having been on the national public stage for such a short period, Rubios record of accomplishment is, naturally, still being developed, which can only be expected.
To his credit, Rubio is handling his political ascent with modesty, downplaying talk about ending up as the Republican vice presidential candidate later this year. Perhaps Rubio grasps, unlike Bennett, that potential can often go unfulfilled and that some of the most heavily hyped American politicians often end up as failures -- as, increasingly, the current occupier of the White House appears to be.
Its a bit early to put Rubio in the pantheon -- but Bennetts mistake in doing so is compounded by the focus of the book.
Bennett is, of course, a scholar, but he's probably best known for his work in public office -- education secretary under Ronald Reagan and federal drug czar under George H.W. Bush. There was talk about a possible Bennett presidential run or vice presidential spot on the GOP ticket in the 1990s and he still remains a leading conservative voice on his radio show despite revelations about gambling in Las Vegas.
But perhaps all those decades in Washington and on the national public stage are finally catching up with Bennett. One of the chief foundations of American conservatism is the simple belief that there are more important things than politics and government -- family, home, faith, earning a living.
Based on "The Book of Men," Bennett needs to be reminded of the basic conservative principles. The book is littered with political speeches, often at the expense of other material. Bennett includes Ronald Reagans moving speech on the 40th anniversary of D-Day while not finding room for accounts from the men who stormed the beaches. There are plenty of fine speeches from Winston Churchill -- but not from the heroes who defended the skies of Britain from the Nazi invaders.
Bennett is at his worst when he offers a section on "Man in Prayer and Reflection. While the section starts off with the Lords Prayer and there are passages from the likes of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas and Martin Luther, Bennett summons a procession of politicians to teach young boys about prayer. There are passages from George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush specifically included to educate boys about prayer and reflection. Bennett also includes something on the matter from Thomas Paine -- who claimed to be a deist and perhaps an atheist. The fact that Bennett thinks these host of presidents and pundits have a lot to say on prayer and reflection -- and gives Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush the same amount of space in the section that he gives to Jesus Christ -- speaks volumes.
Bennett is a leading social and religious conservative. But as a man who has been on the political stage for more than three decades, Bennett has apparently lost sight of one of the simple truths of life that most conservatives would agree to: there is much more to life than politics and government. Its something that Bennetts old rival, the late Mel Bradford, would have not forgotten. And, based on the start of his national career, its something that Marco Rubio knows, even as his star continues to ascend.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
