From NBC News · Kyla Guilfoil · · 2m
Rubio tells conservatives to build beyond elections
Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplays Republican midterm losses and urges supporters to focus on long-term ideological influence.
In brief
Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplays Republican midterm losses and urges supporters to focus on long-term ideological influence. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told conservatives that political power extends beyond winning elections, urging them to influence universities, the press and civil society despite…
Rubio downplays midterm defeat
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Federalist Society at the National Lawyer's Convention in Washington, D.C. on Friday that Republicans' devastating midterm losses do not spell the end of conservatism.
Politics requires more than winning
Rubio told supporters that one setback or bad election should not discourage them. He said great things that last are built in decades, not election cycles.
“Great things that last are built in decades, not election cycles.”
Power extends beyond government
Rubio urged conservatives to remember that government is not the only source of political power. He pointed to universities, the press and the whole expanse of civil society.
Elections do not decide everything
Rubio told the crowd that elections decide who holds office for a season, but they do not decide what institutions teach or what lawyers believe.
“Elections decide who holds office for a season, but elections, they do not decide by themselves what our institutions teach or what our lawyers believe.”
Rubio attacks international law
Rubio condemned what he called an endless barrage of claims about American violations of international rules, including allegations over drug trafficking strikes in the Caribbean and immigration enforcement.
International law serves global elite
Rubio said international law is not a neutral body of rules but an instrument used by global elites to advance their interests under the pretense of universal principles.
“International law is an instrument, an instrument to advance their interests under the pretense of universal principles.”
Rubio denounces ICC and UN
Rubio denounced the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, saying Americans never agreed to submit to the ICC's authority but the court appointed itself judge and jury.
Activist courts weaponize law
Rubio criticized activist courts on American soil, saying they seek to govern by injunction and twist the law to fit their preferences, weakening the United States.
“The weaponization of international law is not altogether different from what we've seen here at home.”
Trump clashes with Supreme Court
Rubio's remarks echo Trump's attacks on judges. The Supreme Court, which has a six to three conservative majority including three Trump appointees, ruled against Trump this year on tariffs, birthright citizenship and mail-in ballots.
The bottom line
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told conservatives that political power extends beyond winning elections, urging them to influence universities, the press and civil society despite Republican midterm defeats.
