The Late Republican Party

In the aftermath of their second straight presidential defeat the National Republican Committee (RNC) issued a stinging rebuke of itself. A focus group study conducted by the RNC found that voters view the Republican Party as “Narrow minded, out of touch, stuffy, old men,” apathetic to the difficulties faced by middle income Americans. The study goes on to suggest that without serious change the party won’t be winning the White House anytime soon.

 

The Last Word on NBCNews.com

The antidote for the above affliction, as described by RNC Chair Reince Priebus, is for the GOP to a. concentrate on improving the party's messaging and b. initiate an outreach campaign to younger voters, minorities and women. The report, which offered up some 219 recommendations listed but a single policy change, embrace comprehensive immigration reform, and that was dubiously short on specifics.

 

SEND IN THE CLOWNS

The RNC report came just hours after the closing speech of the much hyped, much cable news covered 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (C-PAC). At the conference the now former Fox News commentator, Sarah Palin, called for a “background check” of President Obama. The 71 year old senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, made a inexplicable remark about the younger Hillary Clinton, referring to Clinton as TV’s “Golden Girls” and finally, the hopelessly ignorant Ann Coulter asserted that former President Bill Clinton was a “forcible rapist.” So much for intelligent political discourse. The C in C-PAC is apparently for “Clowns.”

As inane as the C-PAC conference was, the Washington Press Corps was all over it. That the list of speakers was replete with 2012 losers; Willard Romney, Allen West, Paul Ryan, Rick Perry, et al, did not for a moment dampen their ecstatic anticipation. Days earlier the same press corps anxiously awaited and then breathlessly reported on the puerile Paul Ryan’s latest revived and still going nowhere budget, treating the document as though it were a serious proposal with a life expectancy past press time. Now, the press is consumed with the RNC's self proclaimed “autopsy” on itself. But, here’s the question, where is the liberal or Democratic Party counter balance? While Republicans and professional conservatives may be making fools of themselves- they are nonetheless in the public eye, getting a message across- not all of which is being viewed negatively by all people. To be clear, we are not asking, where is the liberal or Democratic Party clown show. We are asking, what are the liberal and Democratic Party ideas?  

The question above begs to be answered. For this reason, Vote By Mail America is preparing a series of reports under the heading “What Are They Thinking?” In the coming weeks we will pose questions to liberal think tankers, labor and Democratic Party leaders on their ideas, plans and strategies for addressing important political and policy issues between now and 2016. Stay tuned.

by Brent Scott
Executive Director
Vote By Mail America