“We’re making sure that we’re talking to them, that we’re
listening to them and that we understand their concerns.”
listening to them and that we understand their concerns.”
— Izzy Santa, director of Hispanic
communications
for the
RNC
RNC
“It would be a colossal mistake for us to take up
anything that just ends up changing the subject” from Obamacare.
anything that just ends up changing the subject” from Obamacare.
Congressman Steve King, R-Iowa, urging
no action on
immigration reform
immigration reform
While Michigan Republicans seem more divided than ever
over issues such as gay rights and religious tolerance, it appears that the
national party is making no progress toward creating a bigger tent.
This week’s meeting of the Republican National Committee
could be especially interesting as Michigan’s two representatives on the RNC,
Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land and the highly controversial Dave Agema, head
to Washington.
could be especially interesting as Michigan’s two representatives on the RNC,
Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land and the highly controversial Dave Agema, head
to Washington.
The Associated Press took a thorough look at the RNC’s post-election
autopsy, a report released one year ago, and found that the GOP is no closer to
diversity and inclusion than they were during the reflective period after Mitt
Romney’s loss for the presidency.
autopsy, a report released one year ago, and found that the GOP is no closer to
diversity and inclusion than they were during the reflective period after Mitt
Romney’s loss for the presidency.
Here’s a slice of the piece written by AP’s Thomas
Beaumont:
Beaumont:
“‘The issue that remains an open book for the Republicans
is: What is the character of the party?” said Ari Fleischer, a top aide to
President George W. Bush, who helped author the report of the Growth and
Opportunity Project. ‘Are we a more inclusive and welcoming party yet?’
is: What is the character of the party?” said Ari Fleischer, a top aide to
President George W. Bush, who helped author the report of the Growth and
Opportunity Project. ‘Are we a more inclusive and welcoming party yet?’
“As the Republican National Committee opens its winter
meetings (in Washington) Wednesday, the party is counting on the political
geography and expected lower turnout of the 2014 midterm elections to give them
control of the Senate. If that happens, Fleischer said, it would be a ‘false
narcotic’ for the larger problems facing a party that has lost the national
popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections. Those will take
years to fix.
meetings (in Washington) Wednesday, the party is counting on the political
geography and expected lower turnout of the 2014 midterm elections to give them
control of the Senate. If that happens, Fleischer said, it would be a ‘false
narcotic’ for the larger problems facing a party that has lost the national
popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections. Those will take
years to fix.
“In the past year, (RNC Chair Rience) Priebus has
launched new efforts to reach out to racial and ethnic minorities, hired about
170 state-level staff — with more planned — and invested in technology to
better track potential voters, a tactic Republicans pioneered and Democrats
have perfected over the past eight years. He also renewed efforts to win over
Hispanics nationally with voter outreach staffers.
launched new efforts to reach out to racial and ethnic minorities, hired about
170 state-level staff — with more planned — and invested in technology to
better track potential voters, a tactic Republicans pioneered and Democrats
have perfected over the past eight years. He also renewed efforts to win over
Hispanics nationally with voter outreach staffers.
“But these structural changes can end the GOP’s White
House losing streak only if its messengers fulfill the report’s larger goal: ‘Change
course, modernize the party and learn once again how to appeal to more people.’”
House losing streak only if its messengers fulfill the report’s larger goal: ‘Change
course, modernize the party and learn once again how to appeal to more people.’”
